Little Pink Starfish

A Thousand Years of Poetry, All in Vain

When Yu Xiaoxiao saw Emperor Xianzong with blood all over his mouth and robes, her heart ached. No matter how useless a father is, he’s still a father. “Who hit you?” the princess asked angrily.

Being cared for by one’s daughter should be a good thing, but Xianzong’s face flushed with embarrassment. Who hit you?— that question was an utter disgrace for the Son of Heaven to hear.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t need Xianzong to answer. With Wen Fenglin right there, who else could the culprit be?

Gu Xingnuo gently laid Zero on the ground and first saluted Xianzong.

Xianzong impatiently waved his hand. “Why haven’t you taken them out of the palace yet?” This man had requested permission to enter the palace to escort the Princess and Prince Consort out. How much time had passed, and yet they were all still here?

At that moment, the imperial physicians arrived and quickly began treating Xianzong’s bleeding mouth.

Yu Xiaoxiao made a move toward Grand Tutor Fenglin, but Gu Xingnuo reached out and stopped her, shaking his head slightly.

Fenglin was calmly watching the people trapped beneath the tree. He could clearly see Zhao Qiuming underneath, but he couldn’t save him. Though his face looked composed, his heart was anything but. Zhao Qiuming’s injury meant that Consort Li and the pirate were surely rescued. And the only one capable of such a feat… Fenglin looked at Yu Xiaoxiao—besides her, who else could it be?

Yu Xiaoxiao whispered to Gu Xingnuo, “He’s still staring at me.”

Gu Xingnuo led Yu Xiaoxiao to Gu Xinglang’s side and leaned in to say quietly, “She’s your wife—you take care of her.”

Gu Xinglang glanced around, saw everyone’s attention was still on Xianzong, and subtly reached out to hold Yu Xiaoxiao’s hand.

Feeling her hand held, Yu Xiaoxiao’s mood improved slightly. “Does your head still hurt?” she asked.

Gu Xingnuo’s ears perked up immediately.

Gu Xinglang shook his head gently. “No, not at all.”

“And your ankle?” she asked.

“Doesn’t hurt either.” Gu Xinglang gently rubbed her hand with his thumb and silently mouthed, Where’s Xiao Wei?

Watching his daughter interact with her husband while he sat there wounded and ignored, Xianzong couldn’t help the wave of despair washing over him. She only asked who hit him and then didn’t even spare him another glance. The pain of raising an ungrateful child—only those who had done it could understand. “What’s wrong with my secret guard?” he asked Gu Xingnuo gruffly.

Gu Xingnuo promptly replied, “This man attempted to assassinate the Princess.”

Shock swept the crowd. Assassinate the Princess? Who in the world would be foolish enough to try that?

Xianzong glanced at his secret guard commander. “Is he mad?”

Following Gu Xingnuo’s signal, Yu Xiaoxiao took out the dagger. “Yes, Father Emperor. He tried to kill me. This is the weapon.”

Xianzong’s expression darkened as he looked at the blade tinged faintly green. This was a secret guard who only obeyed his orders. How could he turn against his daughter?

“Your Majesty,” Gu Xingnuo added, “he was trailing the Princess and me. When the Princess discovered him, he attempted to kill her.”

Xianzong’s brows furrowed. “Trailing you two?”

“Yes,” Gu Xingnuo confirmed.

“You—come out,” Xianzong called out suddenly.

A secret guard immediately appeared and knelt before the emperor. “Your Majesty, Commander Zero was scheduled for night duty.”

A guard supposed to be off-duty had followed the Princess? Xianzong walked over to Zero, unable to believe this man, who had grown up by his side, could betray him.

“Your Majesty,” Gu Xingnuo said, “this man likely has a higher-up behind him. It would be best if Your Majesty personally interrogated him.”

“Take him away,” Xianzong said coldly. “I’ll question him myself.”

Two more secret guards emerged from the shadows and dragged the unconscious Zero away.

At that moment, a palace maid ran past the two guards but was stopped by inner court guards. She immediately dropped to her knees and said, “Your Majesty, Consort Zhao has heard that Chancellor Zhao is injured and is terribly worried. She begs Your Majesty’s permission to visit her father.”

Xianzong already felt nauseated at the mention of Consort Zhao. But Zhao Qiuming was still pinned under the tree, his fate uncertain. Denying Consort Zhao would seem heartless—filial piety came above all. “Let her come,” he waved his hand.

Yu Xiaoxiao whispered to Gu Xingnuo, “That’s it for the secret guard?”

Gu Xingnuo replied, “Now that we’ve got him, there’s no rush. Let His Majesty do the interrogation.”

“You think he’s up to it?” Yu Xiaoxiao had little faith in her father’s intelligence.

“They have their own methods,” Gu Xingnuo smiled. “Don’t worry, Princess.” Since it concerned his own life, Gu Xingnuo believed the emperor would take it seriously. A thousand warnings from others wouldn’t be as effective as a conclusion His Majesty reached himself.

“Then let’s go,” Gu Xinglang suggested.

“No rush—let’s watch a bit more,” Gu Xingnuo replied, settling into a front-row seat to the drama. Zhao Qiuming brought Consort Li and Bear-bear into the palace, and Grand Tutor Fenglin entered too. Gu Xingnuo didn’t believe for a second that there was no connection between them.

Consort Zhao arrived quickly, carried in a soft sedan. Her wailing could be heard long before she reached the scene.

Yu Xiaoxiao, sharp-eyed as always, spotted the girl walking beside her. “Er Qiu?” she cried out.

Grand Tutor Fenglin turned as well—and his eyes landed instantly on the third daughter of the Zhao family. His feelings in that moment were hard to describe.

“Zhao Qiuming’s youngest daughter,” Gu Xinglang whispered to his older brother.

Gu Xingnuo glanced at Miss Zhao and immediately walked over to Xianzong, who was still nursing his lip. “Your Majesty, I have something to report.”

“What now?” Xianzong snapped.

“There he is,” Consort Zhao wept dramatically, but still managed to whisper to Zhao Yingqin near the gate, “When we reach the front, act heartbroken. Remember, you’re the third young miss of the Zhao family, not some village peasant.”

Zhao Yingqin nodded. Walking into the imperial palace, with its majestic towers and dazzling sights, her eyes were overwhelmed. Her limbs stiffened, unsure of where to go or what to do.

Consort Zhao found her peasant mannerisms annoying but also knew well—this delicate, frightened expression was exactly the type His Majesty liked. Coupled with Zhao Yingqin’s stunning looks, her own expression dimmed slightly. The girl really was beautiful.

Grand Tutor Fenglin looked at Zhao Yingqin in her plain white dress. A few pearl hairpins in her black hair, no makeup on her pale yet radiant face—he suddenly recalled something his master once said when describing a woman’s beauty:
A thousand years of poetry, all rendered void.

But at that moment, Xianzong had no interest in admiring her. He was annoyed as hell. He glared at Gu Xingnuo and snapped, “You’ve been going on and on—just what do you want to tell me?!”