Little Pink Starfish

Fate Is a Fickle Thing

Emperor Xianzong asked Yuxiaoxiao, “Did I see that right? Prime Minister Zhao’s daughter just tried to assassinate Master Fenglin?”

Yuxiaoxiao said, “Father Emperor, that dagger was the one I had—”

Before she could finish, Emperor Xianzong grabbed her and spun her around, saying, “Are you stupid? We’ve never seen that dagger before.”

“Huh?” Yuxiaoxiao, forever clueless when it came to scheming, froze.

“Wen Fenglin wishes your father were dead!” Xianzong whispered into his daughter’s ear. “If he dies, wouldn’t that be perfect?”

“What about Erqiu?”

“Zhao Qiuming’s daughter is named Erqiu?”

“Father, listen to me, she’s not that treacherous Zhao’s daughter. She’s—”

“Shh,” Xianzong hushed his daughter. Better her than me. He didn’t care if Erqiu was Zhao Qiuming’s real daughter or not. If Eternal Life Temple came demanding justice, he’d just hand over Zhao Qiuming. The thought made him cheerful—he’d be off the hook! As for Zhao Qiuming dying? Xianzong thought, He’s not my son. I care about my daughter’s life, not his.

Gu Xinglang reacted quickly, shouting at the imperial guards and inner palace guards, “Miss Zhao tried to assassinate the Master. Why haven’t you arrested her yet?”

Xianzong joined in, yelling, “Where’s the imperial physician? Hurry! Go see to the Master!”

Erqiu sat on the ground, shaking her head at Master Fenglin. She had no intention to kill!

Master Fenglin, clutching his chest and staring at Erqiu in disbelief, couldn’t comprehend why she would stab him. He had no feud with this girl—she was even from the Zhao family. What reason did she have to attack him?

Two guards rushed forward and restrained Erqiu.

All Xianzong could see of her was her long black hair.

Yuxiaoxiao sniffed—Erqiu had long, thick hair, and with it hanging loose like that, it was like a silk veil, half-concealing her face. You couldn’t clearly make out her features.

Gu Xingnuo rushed up to Xianzong, righteously declaring, “Your Majesty, is Prime Minister Zhao trying to destroy our Feng Tian?”

“Uh…” Xianzong let out a long tone. As long as Wen Fenglin was dead and the killer wasn’t Linglong, Feng Tian would be just fine.

Pfft! Master Fenglin spat out a mouthful of dark blood.

“Master!” several accompanying monks cried out in alarm.

“The imperial physician,” Xianzong now wore a concerned expression. “How is the Master?”

The physicians all shook their heads. The dagger was poisoned, and it had pierced his chest. The poison had entered his bloodstream—virtually incurable.

At that moment, Consort Zhao gasped on her soft palanquin. What was supposed to be the offering of a beauty had turned into a trap that was closing in on the Zhao family!

Gu Xingnuo gave Yuxiaoxiao a discreet thumbs-up behind Xianzong’s back.

Yuxiaoxiao knew Big Brother Gu was praising her. Looking at Wen Fenglin—who had been fine just a while ago and was now barely hanging on—Yuxiaoxiao suddenly felt a deep realization: Fate really is unpredictable. In their past life, these two were a “true love conquers all” pair, even separated by life and death. Now? They had become enemies destined to destroy each other.

“I-I didn’t…” Erqiu, restrained by the guards, frantically shook her head at the Emperor. She hadn’t meant to kill anyone—she was innocent!

Yuxiaoxiao asked, “Then why did you stab him?”

Xianzong said coldly, “Take her to the Department of Severe Punishments and interrogate her thoroughly!” Since he couldn’t see her face, he felt no sympathy and barked his order. In his mind, a pampered noble daughter like her would probably confess after a few lashes.

“Your Majesty!” Consort Zhao suddenly wailed, “How could my younger sister ever try to assassinate the Master? If it weren’t for the Princess, how would my sister have gotten to the Master? Your Majesty is wise—please give my sister justice!”

Everyone paused—true, if the Princess hadn’t thrown her, Zhao’s third daughter would never have reached Master Fenglin. This whole thing wasn’t adding up.

Xianzong glanced at Yuxiaoxiao and whispered, “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

Yuxiaoxiao shook her head. She really didn’t.

Xianzong said, “Remember, we’ve never seen that dagger before.”

Yuxiaoxiao replied, “What’s the point in me remembering? Big Brother already mentioned the hidden guard—plenty of people heard it.”

Xianzong paced behind his back, deep in thought.

Gu Xingnuo leaned in and whispered, “Zhao’s third daughter grabbed the dagger and attacked?”

Xianzong replied, “You think that girl could grab a dagger from Linglong? If we’re lying, at least make it believable. Who would buy that story?”

Meanwhile, the guards who had been dealing with the aftermath carried Zhao Qiuming out from under a tree.

“Father!” From a distance, Consort Zhao saw her father being carried out and began wailing again. The Zhao family absolutely could not take the fall for this crime!

“Get me another dagger,” Xianzong said to Gu Xingnuo as he glanced at Zhao Qiuming, who looked practically dead. “One that looks exactly the same.”

“A coincidence?” Yuxiaoxiao asked.

“Shut up,” Xianzong told her. “Go to that Gu boy.”

“Go on,” Gu Xingnuo whispered as he took the order and winked at Yuxiaoxiao.

Yuxiaoxiao walked over to Gu Xinglang. Things had come this far—what else could she do? Save Wen Fenglin? Pfft. Yuxiaoxiao thought to herself, No way I’m that much of an idiot.

Master Fenglin’s chest had gone numb. As the pain faded, he once again felt the approach of death. His mind was clear—he could sense his blood slowing, his heartbeat weakening. This torment was worse than just dying outright.

Xianzong, hearing Consort Zhao’s cries, waved for the guards to drag Erqiu away, all the while eyeing Master Fenglin, mentally chanting: Just die already. Hurry up and die. If you die, I’ll be free!

A large clot of dark brown blood gushed from Master Fenglin’s mouth as his pupils dilated.

“Master!” The monks shouted desperately, but not one of them knew how to heal.

“Save him now!” Xianzong put on a show, yelling at the imperial physicians. “If anything happens to him, I’ll execute your entire families!”

The physicians pulled the dagger from Master Fenglin’s chest, but they were helpless against the unknown poison already circulating in his bloodstream.

Standing beside Gu Xinglang, Yuxiaoxiao whispered, “My dad’s threatening to wipe out another clan again. He says that every day. Who still believes him?”

Gu Xinglang turned and gave her a smile. “You should show respect to His Majesty.”

“Okay,” Yuxiaoxiao replied. “Let’s pretend I didn’t say anything. But honestly, doesn’t he look pretty convincing right now? Consort Zhao’s voice is hoarse from crying and he hasn’t even glanced her way. Respect.”

Gu Xinglang lightly patted her hand. He was helpless—that’s still disrespectful to the Emperor, isn’t it?

While some were rescuing people from under the tree, others were gossiping, some panicking, some anxious, Consort Zhao wailing, and Xianzong, Yuxiaoxiao, and the Gu brothers all waiting for Master Fenglin to drop dead—

Suddenly, a deep, solemn Buddhist chant echoed through the scene:

“Amitabha…”