Little Pink Starfish

Grasshoppers Tied to the Same Rope

“Didn’t Mo Wen come alone?” Yuxiaoxiao asked.

“It’s best to be cautious,” Gu Xingnuo replied softly. “Princess, you must be careful. If possible, have Wuhuan leave the capital immediately.”

Gu Xinglang tensed a little. “Big Brother… would Mo Wen really kill Wuhuan?”

“You go back home first,” Gu Xingnuo said, managing a smile. “The Princess and I will return shortly. Don’t mention any of this to Grandfather yet—we’ll explain everything when I get back.”

“Big Brother?”

“It’s fine,” Gu Xingnuo reassured him. “We’ll talk at home.”

“Go home, eat something good, then sleep,” Yuxiaoxiao told Gu Xinglang. “I’ll bring you something tasty.”

“Be good,” Gu Xingnuo said as he patted Gu Xinglang’s leg.

“Princess, Prince Consort, Young Master,” Xiao Wei came running from the royal study and stopped in front of them.

Gu Xingnuo stood and quietly asked, “Where are Xiong Xiong and the others?”

“In the study. I’ve hidden them. How… how are things out here?” Xiao Wei asked nervously.

“Take Xinglang out of the palace and back home,” Gu Xingnuo instructed, giving Xiao Wei a pat on the shoulder.

Yuxiaoxiao adjusted her robe sash and tightened her hair tie. “I’m heading out now. Xiao Gu, wait for me at home!”

“Be careful,” Gu Xinglang said. At this point, that was all he could manage.

“Mm,” Yuxiaoxiao nodded. She pushed off with her toes and sprinted toward the palace gate.

Gu Xinglang watched her disappear into the distance. He looked down at his unmoving legs and pressed his lips into a tight line.

“It takes a hundred days for bones and tendons to heal,” Gu Xingnuo said, knowing what was on his brother’s mind. “Focus on recovery.”

“I understand,” Gu Xinglang said listlessly. “Xiao Wei, let’s go to the study.”

Sensing something had happened again, Xiao Wei didn’t dare ask about the incident at Xiaozhuang. He summoned two palace guards to carry Gu Xinglang and accompanied him toward the study.

Once his brother was gone, Gu Xingnuo gave the order: “Rescue the trapped.”

The imperial guards quickly got back to moving fallen trees and helping victims.

“To all ministers—please wait for news from His Majesty at the imperial study,” Gu Xingnuo then told the gathered officials.

Having heard that the Emperor had entrusted Gu Xingnuo with command, no one dared object. They silently followed orders and headed to the imperial study.

One of the inner palace guard commanders stepped forward and quietly asked, “Young Master Gu, what should we do about Prime Minister Zhao?”

Gu Xingnuo glanced at Zhao Qiuming, still lying on the ground.

“He’s unconscious,” the commander said. “The imperial physicians say his left leg is broken. The rest are minor injuries.”

Gu Xingnuo let a mocking smile slip. A massive tree fell, and this treacherous official only broke one leg? What kind of luck is that?
“Send Prime Minister Zhao back to his residence,” Gu Xingnuo instructed.

The commander hesitated. “But with Miss Zhao’s crime…”

“If His Majesty hasn’t given an order, let Zhao Qiuming recover for now,” Gu Xingnuo said generously. “If the Emperor gets angry, I’ll take full responsibility. It has nothing to do with you.”

The commander bowed and ordered his men to escort Zhao Qiuming out of the palace.

A few guards familiar with Gu Xingnuo came over and said, “Consort Zhao is still over there.”

Gu Xingnuo didn’t even glance her way. “She’s a royal consort. That’s not something us ministers can interfere with.”

“But her staying there alone with all these men… isn’t that inappropriate?” a guard muttered. The Emperor was gone, and she was surrounded by non-relatives—this wasn’t good.

“If you know it’s inappropriate, then stop staring!” Gu Xingnuo shot back, half amused. “Are you trying to die?”

The guard gave a dry cough and went back to work.

“Your Ladyship?” one of Consort Zhao’s older maids finally broke the silence. She turned to her mistress. “Do you still want to stay here?”

Consort Zhao’s eyes were vacant. She stared at the crowded path ahead but seemed to see nothing.

“Your Ladyship,” the maid tried again, distressed by the consort’s despondence. “We need to leave. His Majesty has already gone.”

After a long pause, Consort Zhao raised her hand slightly.

“Return to Chuqing Palace,” the maid ordered quickly.

Cuiyu followed behind the palanquin, trembling. She’d tried to stop the princess and ended up helping her throw the third young miss instead. Who knew if Consort Zhao would take it out on her once they got back?

By now, Yuxiaoxiao had exited the palace gates. She glanced around—this wasn’t a place where just anyone could linger, so it was quiet and deserted. She thought about Gu Xingnuo’s warning to be careful not to be followed by Mo Wen’s people… but she didn’t even know what Mo Wen’s people looked like. Were they all monks?

The guards at the gate watched her stand there expressionlessly. The two commanding officers on duty didn’t dare approach to ask.

Eventually, Yuxiaoxiao gave up thinking about it. If I just move fast enough that no one can see me clearly, won’t that solve everything? Simple. With that decided, she pushed off the ground with both feet and shot forward.

The guards saw the princess’s figure blur—and then she was gone.

“Was… was that a ghost?” one officer muttered.

His companion rubbed his eyes and slapped the first officer. “You dare call the princess a ghost? You must have a death wish!”

---

“You said Xiaozhuang was taken to the Ministry of Justice?” Gu Xinglang, now in one of the study chambers, exclaimed at Xiao Wei’s words.

“What should we do, Prince Consort?” Xiao Wei asked in a panic.

The gang leader, lounging in a chair, said, “First, let’s figure out how we’re getting out of the palace. Where did the princess go?” He clearly had no faith in her.

“You think you’re qualified to ask where the princess is?” Xiao Wei shot back.

The gang leader raised his hands. “Fine, I didn’t say anything. Whatever. We’re all grasshoppers tied to the same rope—if I go down, you’re all going down with me.”

Gu Xinglang glanced at the stunned Li concubine beside him. She was awake, but her eyes were dull and unmoving, making her seem just as dazed as when unconscious. He couldn’t tell if she was just shell-shocked.

Xiao Wei said to Gu Xinglang, “The princess suggested we hide them in crates to smuggle out, but she left first. If we try to leave now with crates, the guards will definitely inspect them, right?”

Gu Xinglang nodded. Anything leaving the palace had to be checked, even if it was an imperial gift. And this wasn’t even a gift—it was people.

“This pirate could dress as a eunuch and sneak out,” Xiao Wei added. “But Lady Li has injuries on her face. If she leaves like that, someone might recognize her.”

The gang leader jumped up the moment Li’s face was mentioned. “Kid, say whatever you want about me, but keep your mouth shut about Miss Li. You hear me?”

Xiao Wei sneered. “What? You gonna hit me?”

“If I shout right now, you think you’ll get off easy?” the gang leader retorted.

A murderous glint flashed in Xiao Wei’s eyes. He drew his blade and pressed it to the gang leader’s neck. If it weren’t for this thief, would they even be in this mess?