Tao Mo stared at him blankly. “Catch a big fish? You… you mean you want to…”
For Old Tao?… That seemed impossible.
Then could it be… Hao Guozi?
He struggled to make sense of it. Other than Old Tao and Hao Guozi, he truly could not think of anything about himself that could possibly be worth Gu She “casting a long line to catch a big fish” for. Or perhaps Gu She, like Tao Mo’s father, hoped that he would become a good official who stood up for the common people?
…That did not seem much like Gu She either.
Gu She suddenly reached out and flicked him on the forehead.
Tao Mo instinctively covered the spot that had been flicked.
“If the fish is too foolish, perhaps a flick or two will make it a little smarter,” Gu She said.
Although a trace of disappointment passed through Tao Mo’s heart, he quickly said, “I’ll become a good official!”
Gu She paused.
“I won’t disappoint you. I’ll become a good official.” Tao Mo hesitated, then added, “I’ll prove that you didn’t cast your bait for nothing.”
“Is that so?” Gu She’s expression became distant.
Tao Mo had no idea what he had said wrong. Thinking Gu She simply did not believe him, he hurriedly continued, “Yes. I’ll practice my writing properly, I’ll study the laws of the realm diligently with Adviser Jin, I’ll… Where are you going?” He watched Gu She’s figure recede and could not help hurrying after him.
“To find Yue Ling.”
Yue Ling was painting in his room and did not stop even when Gu She and Tao Mo entered.
Gu She walked over to the writing desk.
Beneath Yue Ling’s brush was a solitary peak veiled in dense mist, with wild geese flying beside it. His brushwork was exceptionally free and graceful, perfectly suited to capturing scenery hidden within the fog, appearing and disappearing from sight. Even the geese seemed unusually light and ethereal beneath his hand.
Gu She said, “If you had devoted yourself entirely to painting, your achievements today would have been immeasurable.”
Yue Ling stopped, laid his brush beside the inkstone, and sighed. “Had I never met you, perhaps such a day might indeed have come. But with Brother Gu’s masterpiece already before the world, how could I dare display my own crude work afterward?”
Gu She remained unmoved by the praise. “Did you give up painting because of me, or because of that person whose singing and painting are both peerless?”
The corner of Yue Ling’s mouth twitched, making his little mustache tremble. Slowly, he turned his head. “With Gu Xianzhi in the world, who would dare call anyone else peerless in painting?”
“I have seen his paintings,” Gu She said.
Yue Ling froze, then immediately asked, “How were they?” He might be indifferent to praise of his own skill, but when it came to that person, he could not stop himself from asking. It was easy enough to imagine how delighted that person would be if he could earn Gu Xianzhi’s approval.
“There is something for which I would like to humble myself and ask your help,” Gu She said.
“…” Yue Ling stroked his mustache. “I was under the impression that ‘humbling yourself’ was supposed to refer to your attitude.”
“It does.”
Yue Ling said, “Whether in attitude or merely in words, being able to hear Gu Xianzhi personally utter the word ‘ask’ once in my lifetime leaves me with no regrets. Go on, then. What is it?”
“I believe Huang Guangde should be punished for the crimes he actually committed.”
Yue Ling glanced at Tao Mo and smiled meaningfully. “Is that what you believe, or what someone else believes?”
Tao Mo hurriedly said, “It’s me. Huang Guangde may be guilty of countless crimes, but colluding with Prince Lingyang is an accusation being forced upon him. If he were convicted because of that, wouldn’t I also be knowingly breaking the law?”
“I would handle the entire matter of the supposed collusion,” Yue Ling said. “You needn’t concern yourself with it. You could simply stand aside and pretend not to know.”
“I am a county magistrate. Upholding the law and its discipline is part of my duty.”
“He truly cannot read?” Yue Ling asked Gu She.
Gu She said, “If righteousness is already in his heart, what need has he for the words of the ancients?”
“He is a little pedantic.”
“Since ancient times, treacherous officials have always enjoyed slandering loyal ministers and worthy generals.”
Yue Ling coughed dryly. “If I remember correctly, you came here this time because you need a favor from this treacherous official.”
“It is never too late for one who has strayed to turn back.”
Yue Ling: “…”
Tao Mo looked at one, then the other, only half understanding what they were saying.
“How do you want me to help? Tell me,” Yue Ling said.
“I already have.”
Yue Ling’s expression immediately darkened. “Don’t tell me you intend to hand the entire matter over to me?”
“Precisely.”
Yue Ling swept his sleeve aside. “What does any of this have to do with me?”
“Thank you.”
Yue Ling: “…” If word of this ever spread, no one would believe that the model admired by scholars throughout the realm and its foremost literary talent possessed such astonishingly thick skin.
“Huang Guangde is arrogant and overbearing by nature, so collecting evidence of his crimes should not be difficult,” Yue Ling said. “However, I come from Prince Lingyang’s residence, so it would be inconvenient for me to appear openly. Otherwise, Huang Guangde might not even have fallen before I was arrested and escorted back to the capital myself. Rather than me, I have someone else in mind.”
Gu She pressed his lips together.
“I imagine Brother Gu has already thought of the same person,” Yue Ling said. “As far as I know, Huang Guangde does have a fair number of connections at court, but every one of them was built with money. They are fragile things. Shake them even slightly and I guarantee they will fall apart. Brother Gu needn’t have any reservations. You can act as you see fit.”
“What if he has managed to attach himself to Grand Preceptor Shi?” Gu She asked.
Yue Ling smiled. “Then they truly are a nest of snakes and rats. Brother Gu, you’ll have to look after yourself.”
Tao Mo left the Gu residence alone.
Gu She and Yue Ling had been classmates, and they had not seen each other for many years. Naturally, they had much to discuss.
Yue Ling had originally wanted Tao Mo to stay as well, but after glancing at Gu She’s expression, Tao Mo politely declined.
There was no need for anyone to spell it out. Tao Mo knew that when it came to dealing with Huang Guangde, he had chosen the more difficult and circuitous path. Yet as a county magistrate, he also felt that it was the proper path. If even he, as the official entrusted with administering the law in his jurisdiction, did not believe in the law’s fairness, how could he expect the common people to believe in it?
He did not regret his decision, but he still felt deeply guilty for dragging Gu She into the trouble it caused.
When Tao Mo returned to the county yamen, Old Tao and Hao Guozi were both busy in the kitchen.
A servant told him that Qingming was approaching, and the two of them were making qingtuan—green glutinous-rice cakes—to bring when they went to burn incense for Master Tao.
Tao Mo’s heart jolted.
His father’s grave lay within the territory governed by Huang Guangde. Going to pay respects at his father’s grave meant there was a very real possibility that they would encounter Huang Guangde directly. Tao Mo remembered the assassination attempt that he and Gu She had suffered, Wan Feng’s gruesome death, and everything concerning Yi Yu. A chill rose through him in wave after wave.
When Old Tao and Hao Guozi heard that Tao Mo had returned, they brought two freshly made qingtuan for him to taste. But when they entered, they found him sprawled over the table, staring blankly into space.
“Young Master, what happened?” Old Tao set the qingtuan on the table.
Tao Mo happened to need someone to confide in, so he told them everything from beginning to end.
Hao Guozi gritted his teeth. “Young Master! Every day a piece of scum like Huang Guangde remains alive is another day he can bring disaster upon someone! Why should you still care whether the crime used against him is one he truly deserves?”
“Young Master is an official of the imperial court,” Old Tao said. “There are certain matters in which he has no choice but to set an example himself.”
“It isn’t as though Young Master would be the one doing it,” Hao Guozi said. “All he has to do is pretend he knows nothing.”
“But unfortunately, I do know.”
“Then erase the whole thing from your mind and let Young Master Gu and that other fellow bring Huang Guangde down together!” Hao Guozi said. “Young Master Gu is Chancellor Gu’s son, so that makes him half a man of the imperial court himself. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to seek justice for the people?”
“That is not how being part of the imperial court works,” Old Tao said.
“Who cares how it works? As long as Huang Guangde is brought to justice, everyone will rejoice.” The moment Huang Guangde was mentioned, Hao Guozi ground his teeth with hatred.
Looking at the anger on Hao Guozi’s face, Tao Mo felt his conviction waver slightly.
By temperament, Old Tao naturally agreed with Hao Guozi. But seeing Tao Mo’s lost expression, he could not help feeling sorry for him. “This matter should be considered carefully. Why don’t we wait until after Qingming, when we have paid our respects to Master, before deciding what to do?”
Hao Guozi asked, “We’re going back to pay our respects?”
“With me there, the two of you have nothing to worry about,” Old Tao said.
Hao Guozi said, “It would be perfect if we could use Huang Guangde’s head as an offering to Master’s spirit that very day.”
Old Tao looked at Tao Mo and silently sighed. He pushed the qingtuan toward him. “Young Master, have a taste.”
Tao Mo picked one up and took a bite. His eyes gradually reddened.
Startled, Old Tao asked, “Does it taste bad?”
Tao Mo shook his head. “It tastes a lot like the ones Father used to make.”
Hao Guozi said, “Actually, Master once admitted that all the qingtuan he claimed to have made himself were really made in the kitchen. I learned how to make them from the cook, so of course they taste similar.”
“I knew Father hadn’t really made them himself,” Tao Mo said. “But I liked how happy he looked whenever he saw the qingtuan being carried in.”
“In that case, Young Master should be even more determined to avenge Master,” Hao Guozi said.
“I want to.”
Hao Guozi’s eyes lit up. “Then does that mean Young Master agrees with Young Master Gu’s plan?”
Tao Mo shook his head. “When I am simply Tao Mo, I want to avenge my father. But when I am the magistrate of Tanyang County, I want Huang Guangde to be brought to justice according to the law.”
Old Tao seemed to understand what he meant. “Then we should bring him to justice as soon as possible.”
Hao Guozi shook his head. “That’s easier said than done. Huang Guangde has so many enemies, yet I’ve never heard of anyone managing to bring him to justice.”
“We are different,” Old Tao said. “I will gather evidence of Huang Guangde’s crimes, and Gu She can send the evidence to the capital. We will certainly be able to bring him down in one stroke!”
Hao Guozi’s expression eased somewhat. “That still depends on Young Master Gu agreeing. From what I’ve seen, he doesn’t seem to like anyone bringing up Chancellor Gu.”
“We can discuss that when the time comes,” Old Tao said. “For now, gathering evidence against Huang Guangde takes priority.”
“That’s true.”
Tao Mo looked at Old Tao gratefully. “I’ll have to trouble you.”
“Master showed me kindness as weighty as a mountain and gave me a second life,” Old Tao said. “Without him, there would be no me as I am today. Avenging him and assisting Young Master have always been my deepest wishes. Naturally, I will do everything in my power to accomplish both.”
Tao Mo’s eyes dimmed, but he forced a smile. “I definitely won’t disappoint either of you.”
“Young Master still seems to have something on your mind,” Old Tao said.
Tao Mo hurriedly replied, “No.”
“If something is troubling you, Young Master, there is no harm in saying it.”
Tao Mo thought for a moment. “Gu She hopes I will become a good official.”
Old Tao and Hao Guozi both froze. Given how Gu She normally acted entirely according to his own whims, neither had expected him to harbor such an aspiration. Yet with Gu She’s talent and reputation, becoming an official himself would be effortless. Why would he place that hope upon Tao Mo instead?
They exchanged a glance.
“Did Young Master Gu say that himself?” Old Tao asked.
“Not exactly. But that is definitely what he meant.”
“How did Young Master Gu put it?”
Tao Mo repeated the conversation from beginning to end. His memory was exceptionally good, and he reproduced Gu She’s exact words without missing a single one.
Old Tao looked at Hao Guozi.
Hao Guozi’s expression became strange.
Old Tao coughed dryly and said with deliberate double meaning, “Young Master must be sure not to disappoint Young Master Gu’s heartfelt intentions.”
Tao Mo nodded. “Of course!”
Old Tao pulled Hao Guozi out of Tao Mo’s room.
Hao Guozi stared at him. “Why didn’t you tell Young Master that Gu She didn’t mean that at all?”
“It isn’t time yet.”
Hao Guozi eyed him suspiciously. “You aren’t secretly opposed to this, are you?”
“Would my opposition accomplish anything?”
“Actually…” Hao Guozi hesitated. “If Young Master is determined to be a cut sleeve, then I have to admit that Young Master Gu is a remarkably good choice.”
“I seem to remember saying exactly that to you last time,” Old Tao said.
“So you really don’t oppose it? This isn’t some kind of smokescreen?” Seeing Old Tao nod, Hao Guozi asked again, “Then why won’t you tell Young Master?”
“If Gu She has intentions toward him, then he ought to show some sincerity.”
“Aren’t you afraid Gu She will run away?”
Old Tao slowly raised one arm. His joints cracked crisply.
Hao Guozi swallowed. “I understand.”
Steam curled lazily above the freshly served tea.
Yue Ling and Gu She sat across from each other over a game of Go.
“You’ve truly decided to head north and ask Chancellor Gu for help?” Yue Ling asked, though his hand did not slow in the slightest as he played his move.
Gu She picked up a white stone and placed it on the board. “Mm.”
“I thought you and Chancellor Gu intended never to have anything to do with each other again for the rest of your lives.”
“I once planned to go overseas.”
“Oh?” Yue Ling smiled. “Don’t tell me you were planning to find some immortal mountain and live there as a recluse.”
“That would not be an inaccurate way of putting it.”
“Now that is true obsession,” Yue Ling said. “The lands overseas are barren. Forget miraculous pills and elixirs—I doubt you could even find chickens, ducks, fish, or meat there.”
“What existed in the Central Plains before Nüwa created mankind?” Gu She asked.
Yue Ling laughed. “So you were planning to go overseas and create people. As expected of Gu Xianzhi—truly unlike anyone else.”
“But I changed my mind,” Gu She said slowly.
“That much I can see. I can even see why you changed it.”
“Oh?”
“Your heart has chosen someone, and now you cannot free yourself.”
“You still owe me a favor,” Gu She said. Since Yue Ling had ultimately declined to involve himself directly in the matter of Huang Guangde, that earlier request for which Gu She had supposedly humbled himself naturally no longer counted.
“You still haven’t told me what you thought of the painting.” Yue Ling gave him a meaningful look. “Wasn’t that our condition of exchange?”
“Natural spiritual vitality.”
“And the brushwork?”
“A style of its own.”
“And the artistic conception?”
“The painting reflects the painter. Broad-minded and openhearted.”
Yue Ling nodded in satisfaction, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably.
Gu She lightly tapped a finger against the table.
Yue Ling hurriedly asked, “Then what do you want?”
“Repay me with a favor.”
“Fine.” Yue Ling agreed readily. “Take your time deciding. So long as it lies within my ability, I will not refuse.”
“I have already decided.”
Yue Ling stroked his mustache. “Go on.”
“I want you to act as a matchmaker for me.”
Yue Ling’s fingers froze. He stared at Gu She in disbelief. “What did you say?”
Gu She enunciated every word slowly and clearly. “I want you to act as my matchmaker.”
Clack.
The Go stone slipped from Yue Ling’s fingers and fell onto the board.
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