Little Pink Starfish

No One in This World Can Save Gu Xinglang

“Heh.”
Wuhuan had somehow picked up this particular laugh all on his own. He glanced at Yu Xiaoxiao and said, “His Majesty must be a generous man.” After all, he’d managed to raise a daughter like her, even marry her off. If Emperor Xianzong wasn’t magnanimous, he probably would’ve been driven to death by now.

“Yup,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “He’s always very forgiving—when it comes to beautiful women.”

Wuhuan: …

The conversation could go no further.

“So we’re not killing Wen Fenglin today?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

“Your eldest brother doesn’t approve,” Wuhuan replied.

“Oh, then we’ll wait. You get some sleep. My Xiao Gu’s still waiting for me in the palace. I’m leaving now. Bye!” she said, climbing onto the courtyard wall.

Wuhuan watched her disappear into the night, then drew out a small bronze bell from his sleeve. Delicately carved and no bigger than half his finger, the bell shimmered faintly red under the moonlight.

“I’ll help you save her.”
Those had been Yu Xiaoxiao’s words.

Wuhuan’s face, hidden behind his mask, shifted subtly. He crushed the bell in his palm. Though it looked like simple bronze, blood-like liquid oozed from it, staining his hand red.

—
Inside the palace, Gu Xinglang suddenly opened his eyes.

Xiao Wei, who was keeping watch, jumped in shock and rushed over. “Your Highness, you’re awake?”

But Gu Xinglang only stared blankly at the silk canopy above. He didn’t seem to register Xiao Wei’s voice.

Panicking, Xiao Wei pushed his shoulder. “Your Highness? Are you alright? Should I call a doctor? Your Highness?!”

Finally, Gu Xinglang blinked and turned to him. The dull haze in his eyes cleared. “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Wei cautiously studied him. “You… are you really okay?”

Gu Xinglang shook his head. “I’m fine. The princess hasn’t returned yet?”

Relieved, Xiao Wei said, “She hasn’t. It’s still not dawn—please, rest a bit more.”

Gu Xinglang glanced at the sleeping Yu Ziyi beside him and reached up to touch his head. A faint pain throbbed again at the spot.

Wuhuan, back at his quiet courtyard, tipped the copper powder from the shattered bell into a small pond.
No one in this world can save Gu Xinglang.
Just like back then—no one had been able to save his wife and son.

—
Meanwhile, Gu Xingnuo galloped straight into the Gu estate.

“The young master is back?” The steward rushed out in surprise.

Without replying, Gu Xingnuo tossed his reins to a servant and stormed into the house.

The steward paled. Something terrible must’ve happened to fluster the always composed eldest young master. He ran after him.

But by the time he rounded the screen wall, Gu Xingnuo had vanished.

“Did he go to his rooms?” the steward asked a servant.

“No,” the servant replied nervously. “The young master rushed past me—I didn’t see where he went.”

Panicked, the steward ran to the old master’s study.

At the same time, Gu Xingnuo stood before Madame Xu’s bedchamber. A maid outside jumped when she saw him.

“Young Master?!”

“Is Mother asleep?” Gu Xingnuo asked.

“She’s in the prayer room,” the maid whispered.

He strode there immediately.

Inside, Madame Xu was seated before the Buddha statue, turning a string of prayer beads in her hands. Startled by the sudden intrusion, she turned and rose to her knees. “What happened?”

“Out,” Gu Xingnuo ordered the attending maids behind him.

Sensing his strange mood, the maids fled in silence.

“Xingnuo?” Madame Xu was alarmed. She hadn’t seen her son look this shaken in years.

Gu Xingnuo shut the doors, steadied his breath, and faced his mother.

“Did something happen? Did the court—did something happen to Xinglang and the princess?” she asked, voice trembling.

Gu Xingnuo looked toward the statue of the Goddess of Mercy. “Did Xinglang go to Yongsheng Temple?”

Madame Xu’s hand trembled. Her beads fell to the floor with a loud snap.

Gu Xingnuo stared at the rosary she always held. The polished wood was smooth like jade from years of use. “Did Xinglang go to Yongsheng Temple?” he asked again.

“How could he?” Madame Xu said. “He and Xingyan don’t even believe in their gods because of you…”

“Nineteen children,” Gu Xingnuo said coldly. “Only Xinglang survived.”

Her face paled further. Still, she said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t?” he asked, stepping close. “Then why are you so afraid? When did you take him to see Mo Wen? What did that monk do to him?”

Madame Xu stood her ground. “Xingnuo, you’re being ridiculous!”

“You took him during Father’s funeral,” Gu Xingnuo growled. “While Grandfather took me and Xingyan north to pursue the rebel Gu Li, you went to Yongsheng Temple, didn’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re saying.”

“You haven’t left the capital since,” he hissed. “That was your only chance.”

“What are you implying?!”

“You made a deal with Mo Wen. You gave him Xinglang. In exchange… you thought he could bring Father back, didn’t you?!”

SLAP!

Madame Xu’s hand cracked across his face. Her voice shook as she said, “I am your mother. Is this how you speak to me?!”

---

Pinky says: Don’t look at me, it skipped again.