Little Pink Starfish

The Indispensable Prince Consort

Delicate flowers?

Xiao Wei sneaked a glance at his princess. If the emperor raised a daughter to be like this, what about the princes? Xiao Wei thought of the round, chubby Seventh Prince and the Sixth Prince with his eternally blinking big eyes, and he fell silent. Slandering the emperor was a capital crime—best not to dwell on such thoughts.

“Where do you think Xiaozhuang and Xiongxiong might be?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked as she walked, “The palace is so big, should I climb somewhere high and shout for them?”

“No, you definitely shouldn’t!” Xiao Wei quickly shook his head. If she shouted like that, would His Majesty still let them live?

“Oh my god,” Yu Xiaoxiao groaned, “So we have to go room by room looking for them? In this huge palace? We’ll never finish!”

Xiao Wei also looked miserable.

“How about this,” Yu Xiaoxiao said, “we wait until they’re caught, and then go save them. What do you think of my idea?”

Xiao Wei: …

Every time he acted alone with the Princess, Xiao Wei deeply realized how indispensable the Prince Consort was. When the princess was about to go off the rails, the Prince Consort was always the one who tried to pull her back — even if he rarely succeeded, at least he tried. That was better than no one trying, right?

Just as Xiao Wei was missing the Prince Consort dearly, Gu Xinglang was lying in bed worrying about Xiaozhuang and Da Dangjia. The night had passed — who knew how those two were doing? Then Gu Sanshao began worrying about his father-in-law. If Wen Fenglin was truly set on opposing Fengtian, what would they do? Could they really count on Wuhuan to help deal with Wen Fenglin? The more he thought, the more his head hurt. Gu Xinglang raised his hand and massaged his aching skull.

Master Chengguan entered the room. Seeing Gu Xinglang holding his head, his expression immediately darkened, and he strode silently over to the bed.

Noticing the shadow in front of him, Gu Xinglang turned his head to see Master Chengguan had come right up to him.

Chengguan leaned forward slightly, observing Gu Xinglang with concern.

This look on Chengguan’s face made Gu Xinglang nervous. Had Da Dangjia been captured? Had their plan to set the fire and rescue someone been exposed? Was the emperor coming to settle accounts with him and the princess?

“I heard you had a headache last night, and were even taken by assassins?” Chengguan asked gently.

“I think so,” Gu Xinglang said. “Master, I don’t remember much from last night.”

Chengguan reached out and began feeling Gu Xinglang’s head — thoroughly and meticulously.

Goosebumps rose all over Gu Xinglang’s body. Even his grandfather and older brothers had never touched his head like this. “M-Master?” he stammered.

But Chengguan’s expression was grave. “When your head hurt, did you feel anything else unusual?”

Gu Xinglang shook his head. “No, just the headache for a while. I’m fine now.”

Chengguan finished feeling his head — aside from noticing that Gu Sanshao’s hair was soft, smooth, and dark, he sensed nothing else. He sat down on the round stool beside the bed, looking thoughtful.

Being stared at made Gu Xinglang uneasy. “Master, is something wrong with me?”

Chengguan finally gave him a smile. “It’s nothing. Just take care of your health, Prince Consort.”

Gu Xinglang’s face darkened. Chengguan had looked at him like he was on death’s door, and now he was suddenly smiling and saying he was fine? Was he toying with him?

“The princess really hates Yongsheng Temple,” Chengguan suddenly said.

Gu Xinglang quickly defended his wife, “Master, the princess respects you very much.”

Chengguan shook his head with a smile. “Although I come from Yongsheng Temple, I left long ago. I have little connection to it now.”

So he wanted Gu Xinglang to pass the message — that she shouldn’t dislike him just because of Yongsheng Temple? Gu Xinglang grimaced. It was already hard enough communicating with his wife, and now this master’s words were equally cryptic. Maybe he was the problem?

“Stay away from Yongsheng Temple,” Chengguan leaned in closer and said quietly. “The farther, the better.”

Gu Xinglang blinked.

Chengguan said, “I mean well. Since you’ve married the princess, just live a good life together. I hope you’ll have many children and grow old together. A simple life isn’t a bad thing.”

Gu Xinglang was touched at first — of course he wanted to grow old with Yu Xiaoxiao. But then he felt awkward. Could life ever be simple with a wife like his?

“Xinglang?” came Gu Xingnuo’s voice from outside the room.

“Big Brother?” Gu Xinglang answered.

Gu Xingnuo pushed the door open. Seeing Chengguan, he paused.

Chengguan stood up and said, “Young Master Gu, I was just about to speak with you. Let’s step outside.”

Gu Xingnuo nodded, but walked over to the bed first. He bent down and carefully looked at his younger brother. “How are you? Still unwell?”

Gu Xinglang was tired of hearing this. Why did everyone keep asking? It was just a headache, not a fatal illness! “I’m fine,” he replied with a bit of impatience. “Big Brother, why are you here again?”

“Have you eaten?” Gu Xingnuo asked. “Tell me what you want — I’ll get it for you.”

Gu Xinglang looked at his brother, then at Chengguan, and suddenly asked, “Do I have some serious illness? Did the imperial doctors tell you something?”

Gu Xingnuo’s heart ached at that, but he smiled and gently tapped his brother’s forehead. “You rascal. I’m just worried you’ll go hungry. Don’t be ungrateful.”

“Big Brother?”

“Where’s the princess?” Gu Xingnuo changed the subject.

“Uh…” Gu Xinglang said, “She went to the imperial kitchen with Xiao Wei.”

Chengguan frowned. The story didn’t match — clearly both had lied.

But Gu Xingnuo had seen Yu Xiaoxiao’s enthusiasm for food many times, so he didn’t suspect a thing. He helped tuck the quilt around Gu Xinglang and whispered, “Wait here for me. We’ll go home together soon.”

Gu Xinglang nodded.

Gu Xingnuo followed Chengguan out of the palace room. Seeing the people in the courtyard, he didn’t dare speak much.

“Come with me,” Chengguan led Gu Xingnuo into an empty palace chamber.

Once inside, Chengguan shut the door. Gu Xingnuo dropped to his knees before him.

Chengguan quickly reached out to lift him up.

Gu Xingnuo took the opportunity to grab both of Chengguan’s hands and asked quietly, “Master, what did Mo Wen do to my little brother?”