Little Pink Starfish

The Bandit Leader’s Considerations

Most of what the bandit leader said was true, but not all. He knew he was working for Consort Zhao, yet he only told the old master that it was Prime Minister Zhao’s idea. The bandit leader had his own considerations—if a consort colluded with a foreign official, both would be guilty of capital crimes. And as for him, a mere bandit, going down with Consort Zhao wasn’t much of a loss. But what if the Gu family wasn’t a match for her? If Consort Zhao survived, and considering that Li Yuanle had accompanied Gu Xinglang to Mount Ruyun, could she possibly spare the Li family’s young lady, who was also in the palace?

Gu Xinglang asked the bandit leader, “It was really Zhao Qiuming?”

The leader nodded. If he could, he wouldn’t have said Zhao Qiuming’s name. The prime minister was Consort Zhao’s father. Naming him was equivalent to turning against her. But all his brothers knew they only managed to escape the Eastern Sea because of Zhao Qiuming’s help. Even if he didn’t talk, he couldn’t guarantee that his men wouldn’t.

“Fortunately, not many of the brothers know about Consort Zhao,” he thought with some relief. “As for Prime Minister Zhao, let’s see how the Gu family fares against him. As long as I don’t name Consort Zhao directly, maybe there’s still room for maneuver.”

Gu Xinglang looked at the bandit leader and pressed his lips together slightly. If Zhao Qiuming had ordered the assassination of the Seventh Prince, who else could it have been for? “All he told you to do was detain the Seventh Prince in the mountains?” Gu Xinglang asked.

The leader said, “After kidnapping the prince and the second young master, I didn’t receive any more orders from Prime Minister Zhao.”

“And that didn’t worry you at all?” Gu Xinglang asked coldly.

The bandit leader forced himself to stay calm. “It should be the prime minister who’s worried. I’m just someone carrying out orders—what’s there for me to worry about?”

“You’d better be telling the truth,” Gu Xinglang warned coldly. “You know the consequences of lying.” His gaze shifted toward General Li.

The bandit leader gritted his teeth. With just these few exchanges, he already understood that this Third Young Master of the Gu family was far more formidable than the second. And the one who hadn’t even shown up yet—rumored to be the most powerful of them all—the eldest Gu son… the bandit leader suddenly saw only darkness in his future.

Meanwhile, Gu Xingnuo sat by his second brother’s bed and asked the doctor, “Sir, how is my brother’s health?”

The doctor respectfully replied, “Please rest assured, Eldest Young Master. Second Young Master is only weakened in strength. With a few days of rest, he’ll be fine.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Gu Xingnuo felt relieved. He looked at his brother’s personal servant. “Go with the doctor and get the prescription.”

“Yes,” the servant replied with a bow and left with the doctor.

Gu Xingyan said nonchalantly, “It’s just that I’m weak right now. Once the drug wears off, I’ll be fine. Why bother calling a doctor? Do I even look injured?”

Gu Xingnuo knocked on his brother’s forehead. “A dignified general, ambushed by a bunch of pirates—and on land, no less. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Gu Xingyan replied helplessly, “My wife already lectured me. Can’t you let me off the hook too?”

Gu Xingnuo shook his head. Getting lectured by the princess was even more embarrassing, wasn’t it?

“Hasn’t anyone in the family been looking for me?” Gu Xingyan asked.

Gu Xingnuo’s face remained composed. “What’s the deal with these pirates?”

Gu Xingyan explained how he had been captured and everything that happened at Mount Ruyun.

Gu Xingnuo asked, “After you were captured, did you see anyone from outside the mountain come in?”

Gu Xingyan shook his head.

“Did you overhear the pirates talking about anything?”

“They didn’t believe I was really Second Young Master of the Gu family.”

“So they didn’t know the baby was the Seventh Prince,” Gu Xingnuo deduced.

Gu Xingyan muttered, “How would I dare let them know his identity? What if they were after him from the start?”

Whack! Gu Xingnuo slapped his brother’s forehead again. “You said you were the Gu family’s second young master. Do you think those pirates wouldn’t put two and two together and realize the baby was the Seventh Prince? Where’s your brain?”

Gu Xingyan pouted. In his big brother’s eyes, it seemed like he could do no right.

“Think again,” Gu Xingnuo said. “Are you sure you didn’t leave anything out?”

Gu Xingyan thought for a while, then said, “I remember once hearing them mention the palace, but the guard was talking too quietly. I couldn’t catch the rest.”

The palace? A cold light flashed in Gu Xingnuo’s eyes. He casually tucked the blanket around his brother. “Your wife is outside. I’ll let her in. Chat with her for a bit and get some rest if you’re tired.”

“Big Brother?”

“My grandfather and I will handle the rest. You just focus on recovery.”

As Gu Xingnuo was about to leave, Gu Xingyan quickly added, “The princess probably brought that bear back to the house, right?”

Gu Xingnuo asked, “Is there a problem with it?”

“No,” Gu Xingyan said, “I just don’t want to miss out on the bear paw!”

Whack! Another slap to the head. Gu Xingnuo finally left the room.

“Big Brother,” Madam Lin stood waiting outside, holding little Gu Xu in her arms. When she saw Gu Xingnuo come out, she quickly curtsied.

“The doctor says Second Brother is fine.” Gu Xingnuo gently stroked his nephew’s face and said warmly, “Please take care of him for us.”

“Yes,” Madam Lin responded politely.

Gu Xingnuo walked down the steps outside and left the courtyard.

Madam Lin felt a bit resentful—her husband had been carried home injured, yet only Gu Xingnuo had come to check on him. Still, with all the servants watching, she dared not show her displeasure. Gu Xingnuo was the legitimate eldest son—sooner or later, the Gu estate would be his. Gu Xinglang was now a royal prince consort—wealth and status were guaranteed. Among the three Gu brothers, their branch of the family had the most uncertain future.

Holding her son tightly, Madam Lin turned and returned to the room, full of worries.

By the time Gu Xingnuo arrived at the study, the bandit leader had already been taken away. The old master, Gu Xinglang, and Li Yuanle all looked grim.

“Did you learn something shocking?” Gu Xingnuo glanced around at the three and asked with a smile.

Li Yuanle realized there was no hiding the matter between his sister and Xiongxiong from Gu Xingnuo. Instead of letting Gu Xinglang relay it, he decided to speak for himself. He told the story of the conflict between the Li family and the bandit leader.

After hearing it, Gu Xingnuo let out a soft sigh. “This was Consort Zhao’s idea. This Xiongxiong, out of concern for Consort Li, didn’t tell the whole truth.”

Gu Xinglang asked, “Should we summon him again for questioning?”

Gu Xingnuo shook his head. “Kidnapping a prince is a serious crime, but without physical evidence, and given the power and cunning of Zhao Qiuming and Consort Zhao, I doubt we’ll be able to do anything to them.”

“So we’re just going to let this go?” Before the old master or Gu Xinglang could speak, Li Yuanle was already anxious and indignant.