Because of the case, Shi Qianshan had remained at the inn the entire time and rarely gone out. Judging by his complexion, however, he certainly lived up to the saying that peace of mind agreed with the body; there was not the slightest sign that he was worried.
“The truth of this matter has now come completely to light.” After inviting Shi Qianshan to sit, Tao Mo explained everything that had happened from beginning to end.
When Shi Qianshan heard that the man behind it all was Huang Guangde, he was genuinely stunned. “Huang Guangde?”
Watching his expression, Adviser Jin asked, “Young Master Shi knows Prefect Huang?”
Shi Qianshan answered frankly, “I’ve met him in the capital.”
Adviser Jin said, “May I ask whether Young Master Shi can tell us where you met him?” Huang Guangde was a local official, so there were only two reasons he might have gone to the capital: either he had gone privately, or he had returned to report on his duties. If he had gone privately, then Shi Qianshan had most likely seen him at the Grand Preceptor’s residence, which would mean Huang Guangde was very possibly colluding with Grand Preceptor Shi. But if he was colluding with Grand Preceptor Shi, why would he frame Shi Qianshan? Could it have been a sudden counterstroke meant to catch them off guard? If Huang Guangde had returned to the capital to report on his duties, then given that Shi Qianshan held neither office nor noble title, the place where Huang Guangde was most likely to encounter him… was still the Grand Preceptor’s residence.
Adviser Jin realized that after going in an entire circle, he had somehow ended up right where he started.
Shi Qianshan said candidly, “Lord Tao has cleared me of an unjust accusation and can be considered my benefactor. Naturally, I have no reason to hide anything from you. To tell you the truth, Prefect Huang and I once met at the Ninth Prince’s residence.”
“The Ninth Prince?” Adviser Jin froze. He had thought that once Huang Guangde was drawn into the matter, the Ninth Prince could be set aside. How had they gone around in another circle only to end up back at the Ninth Prince again? He looked at Shi Qianshan, his eyes full of suspicion.
Shi Qianshan smiled bitterly. “It isn’t that I’m deliberately trying to drag the Ninth Prince into this. That simply happens to be the truth.”
Tao Mo asked, “Why did Huang Guangde go to see the Ninth Prince?”
Shi Qianshan exchanged a glance with Adviser Jin and smiled meaningfully. “Huang Guangde may be no more than a prefect, but in the capital he can still be considered a man of some standing. He has close ties with quite a few powerful officials and nobles.”
Adviser Jin said, “Please enlighten us, Young Master Shi.”
Shi Qianshan said, “When he passed the jinshi examination that year, Chancellor Gu was the chief examiner. From then on, he began presenting himself as Chancellor Gu’s protégé.”
Both Tao Mo and Adviser Jin had heard something of this before.
“Every year on my uncle’s birthday, he sends someone with expensive gifts,” Shi Qianshan continued. “As far as I know, my uncle is hardly the only person granted that particular honor.”
Adviser Jin could not help marveling at Huang Guangde’s audacity. In a place like the capital, where high officials and nobles gathered in great numbers, sending lavish birthday gifts year after year could not possibly be a small expense. That was most likely why Huang Guangde stopped at nothing to take bribes, twist the law, and bleed the common people dry. No wonder he had regarded Tao Mo’s father, who stood in the way of his wealth, as a thorn in his side.
Tao Mo asked, “Then does that mean the person truly behind this could still be the Ninth Prince?”
“Ahem, ahem.” Adviser Jin hurriedly glanced at Shi Qianshan. Only after seeing that his expression remained unchanged did he say, “We have no evidence of that and must not make reckless guesses. Based solely on the evidence before us, Huang Guangde is the mastermind. But Miss Wu is safe and sound now, no murder ever occurred, and the misidentified corpse has already been properly buried. What remains depends on whether Young Master Shi wishes to accuse the Wu couple and Huang Guangde of false accusation.”
Shi Qianshan laughed heartily and waved a hand. “I’ve lingered in Tanyang County for several days and have nothing left here to interest me. It is time I took my leave. As for the false accusation, let us simply treat it as a joke and be done with it.”
Tao Mo frowned. “You truly don’t wish to pursue the matter any further?”
Shi Qianshan looked at him. “And what would come of pursuing it?”
The crime of false accusation could be treated as serious or minor depending on the circumstances. Shi Qianshan stood before them completely unharmed, so what might have been serious naturally became minor, and what was minor could naturally be reduced to nothing. That would put an end to the whole matter.
Adviser Jin was more than happy to see the case end here as well. He cupped his hands. “Young Master Shi truly is broad-minded.”
Shi Qianshan returned the gesture. “You flatter me. I’m only a commoner with nothing to my name. Better one less trouble than one more.”
After Shi Qianshan left, Gu She and the others came in from the adjoining room.
Tao Mo rose from his chair, revealing behind him the hole Old Tao had pierced through the wall with a single finger.
Adviser Jin said, “Shi Qianshan gave nothing away. He plainly has no intention of wading into these muddy waters.”
Gu Xiaojia gave a cold snort. “If he doesn’t want to wade in, why drag the Ninth Prince into it? I think he wants to kill with a borrowed knife, then sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.”
Adviser Jin said, “I actually think he was telling the truth.”
Gu Xiaojia glared at him. “You actually trust Grand Preceptor Shi’s nephew?” Grand Preceptor Shi and Chancellor Gu had never gotten along, so in Gu Xiaojia’s mind, even if Shi Qianshan was not yet guilty of some monstrous crime, he was surely well on his way to becoming so.
Adviser Jin said, “The Ninth Prince’s status is far too exalted. We already have this much trouble dealing with Huang Guangde, let alone an imperial prince. How could we possibly do something as futile as an ant trying to shake a great tree?”
Gu Xiaojia said, “You really think he was being that kind?”
Adviser Jin replied, “Whether he told us or not makes no difference to him. Why wouldn’t he say it?”
Gu Xiaojia curled his lip.
Adviser Jin turned toward Gu She. “What does Young Master Gu think?”
Gu She said, “The case can be closed.”
Adviser Jin smiled. “True enough. The Wu couple may not eat much, but we can hardly keep feeding them in jail forever.”
Old Tao suddenly asked Tao Mo, “Young Master, when are you planning to leave?”
Gu Xiaojia frowned. “Leave? Where are you going?”
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but Old Tao felt that Gu Xiaojia was looking at him as though he were some swindler trying to abduct the family’s Madam. He gave a dry cough. “Qingming Festival is only a few days away. Young Master wishes to sweep his father’s grave.”
Elio’s Notes: Qingming Festival is traditionally a time for visiting and sweeping family graves, making offerings, and paying respects to deceased ancestors.
Gu Xiaojia looked at Gu She.
Gu She asked, “Where is his grave?”
“Wuwei Mountain.”
Gu She turned to Tao Mo. “I’ll go with you.”
Ever since Old Tao mentioned visiting the grave, Tao Mo had been looking at Gu She expectantly. The moment he heard those words, his face blossomed into a smile and he nodded repeatedly.
Gu She said, “Bring more clothes. We’ll go to the capital on the way.”
Tao Mo’s expression tightened.
Old Tao hurriedly said, “Naturally. Now that you are married, of course you should go to the capital and pay your respects to Chancellor Gu.” He said the words easily enough, but inwardly he could not help worrying. What parent under Heaven could calmly accept a male daughter-in-law? And Gu Huankun was the foremost civil official of the dynasty, while Gu She was his only son. Merely thinking about it made the road ahead seem bleak.
Gu She saw Tao Mo’s unease and said softly, “Don’t you want to bring Huang Guangde down?”
Old Tao said, “Young Master Gu means…”
Gu She said, “If you want to bring him down, naturally you have to go to the capital.”
Old Tao said, “I only wonder whether Chancellor Gu will…” His gaze shifted toward Tao Mo.
Gu She said, “He is himself. I am myself.”
Old Tao was taken aback by the cold hardness in Gu She’s voice when he spoke of his father.
Tao Mo stood and walked to Gu She’s side, silently tugging at his sleeve.
Gu She turned to him.
Tao Mo said, “Actually, as long as I can be with you, that is enough. Even if we have to keep our marriage hidden, I don’t mind.”
Old Tao shot Adviser Jin and the others a look. They quietly filed out, and Hao Guozi, who left last, even closed the door behind him.
Gu She said, “My father and I haven’t spoken in a very long time.”
Tao Mo looked at him in surprise.
Gu She said evenly, “We don’t need him for Huang Guangde’s case. I can still help you without him. You don’t need to worry.”
“That isn’t what I meant.” Tao Mo became anxious.
Gu She said, “Nor do you need to worry that my father will make things difficult for you. In truth, he does not care whether I marry. Just as I do not care whether he approves of my marriage.”
Tao Mo had never imagined that the relationship between father and son could be this bad.
Gu She fell silent for a while, then stood. “Go back and pack. We’ll leave tomorrow.”
Tao Mo looked at the cold profile of Gu She’s face and had no idea how to comfort him. All he could do was gently place a hand on Gu She’s arm. The next moment, he felt a powerful force pull him forward and into a tight embrace.
“Xianzhi?”
“When we reach the capital, I’ll take you to see my mother.” His voice remained as calm and level as still water.
“Mm.” Tao Mo lifted his arms and hugged him back.
Local officials were not permitted to leave their posts without authorization, so Tao Mo had to request permission from the Prefect of Qincheng before departing. That very night, Old Tao took a letter personally written by Gu She and rode through the night to Qincheng. Even without stopping along the way, the round trip still took considerable time. By the time Old Tao returned to Tanyang with the official document granting Tao Mo leave, it was already noon the following day.
After everyone had eaten lunch, they formally set out.
As before, Tao Mo entrusted Tanyang’s affairs to Cui Jiong.
Cui Jiong now knew Gu She’s identity and also knew that Gu She and Tao Mo’s relationship was anything but ordinary. He no longer dared entertain any other thoughts and agreed repeatedly. With Adviser Jin holding down the county yamen, even if Cui Jiong wanted to try something, he would never escape Adviser Jin’s eyes. Tao Mo therefore felt quite reassured. He merely reminded Adviser Jin again and again to send him a letter at the slightest sign of trouble.
By the time all the arrangements had been made, it was already late afternoon when the carriage finally rolled slowly away from the county yamen.
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