Little Pink Starfish

Jing Mo, I Wouldn’t Hurt You

Surgery and pharmacology were two entirely different fields—how could people confuse them? Yu Xiaoxiao pressed her fingers to Wuhuan’s neck to check his pulse. His heartbeat was irregular, suggesting he might’ve ingested something that either damaged the heart or caused rapid vascular constriction.

Just then, one of Jing Mo’s advisors hurried over. Seeing both Yu Xiaoxiao and Gu Xinglang present, he swallowed the rest of what he’d been about to say.

“Speak,” Jing Mo said. At this point, he had no reason to hide anything from them.

The advisor said, “A monk from Yongsheng Temple, a personal attendant of Abbot Mo Wen, is at the gate requesting an audience with you.”

Other than Yu Xiaoxiao, everyone—Gu Xinglang, Xiao Wei, and even Tian Xingzi—turned to stare at Jing Mo. It was decision time: Mo Wen or Wuhuan.

Jing Mo clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Wuhuan, expression cold.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked up at him. “You should probably still call a doctor to take a look. I’m not good with poisons.”

Hearing her words, Jing Mo gave a dry smile. “Princess, you don’t suspect me at all?”

Yu Xiaoxiao blinked. “Why would I suspect you?”

Her face was blank except for a hint of puzzlement in her eyes. Jing Mo looked down into those eyes—clear, unaffected—and felt something stir behind his icy mask.

The advisor leaned in and whispered, “Master, it’s not good to keep a monk from Yongsheng Temple waiting.”

Tian Xingzi, digging in his nose, muttered, “Can’t you give your master a little more time to think? This is a big decision.”

The advisor looked like he had more to say but held back. Jing Mo knew exactly what he was thinking. This was a chance to curry favor with Mo Wen—a rare opportunity many would die for. Now it was right in front of him, ripe for the taking. Should he reach for it?

The courtyard fell into silence.

Xiao Wei rested his hand on his sword. It was a new one from the palace, and he wasn’t sure if it was well-balanced. But he knew one thing: if Jing Mo sided with Mo Wen, the princess would definitely fight him. Xiao Wei didn’t have to join the brawl, but no matter what, he’d protect the prince consort.

Yu Xiaoxiao finally sensed the atmosphere had shifted. She glanced at Jing Mo, then at her Little Gu. “What’s going on?”

Tian Xingzi sighed—this princess’s brain really didn’t work sometimes. “Didn’t you hear? Mo Wen’s people are here to see the prince.”

Yu Xiaoxiao turned to Jing Mo and said, “Don’t be dumb. If you betray a teammate, how is Wuhuan ever going to trust you again?”

For a moment, Tian Xingzi suspected maybe she wasn’t dumb after all—perhaps she was profoundly wise. People consumed by power rarely understood something so simple.

Sunlight warmed the courtyard, tinting Yu Xiaoxiao’s black hair with a golden sheen. Her slightly loosened bun gave her a soft, fluffy look. Jing Mo suddenly had the urge to reach out and ruffle that hair.

“Jing Mo,” Yu Xiaoxiao said gently. “I would never hurt you.”

Jing Mo looked at her and smiled faintly. “Got it. But I still need to meet with Mo Wen’s people.”

Yu Xiaoxiao blinked. “Huh?”

“They’re guests, after all,” Jing Mo replied. “It won’t take long.”

“Fair enough,” Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Go ahead then.”

“Escort the princess and her party to the South Pavilion,” Jing Mo instructed his men.

His subordinates quickly moved to obey.

Jing Mo nodded to Gu Xinglang and walked toward the main entrance with his advisor.

“Can we still get a doctor?” Yu Xiaoxiao called after him.

Without turning around, Jing Mo raised a hand. “Yes.”

The advisor trailed behind, murmuring, “Master, what should we do with the seven monks from Yongsheng Temple?”

“Lock them up,” Jing Mo said coldly.

“One of them is quite senior—possibly a high-ranking monk.”

“So what?” Jing Mo scoffed. “You think saving his life will make Mo Wen grateful to me?”

The advisor bowed his head. Looks like the prince had taken the princess’s words to heart.

Jing Mo personally received Mo Wen’s attendant monk at the front gate and led him to the East Wing. With an expression of pleasant surprise, he said, “Master, what brings you here on behalf of Abbot Mo Wen? Whatever it is, I will do my utmost.”

Jing Mo’s humble posture pleased the monk, who nodded serenely and replied, “His Holiness invites the Prince to visit Huguo Temple this evening.”

Jing Mo’s eyes widened in joy. “The Abbot wishes to see me personally?”

“Yes,” the monk confirmed with a nod.

“Wonderful!” Jing Mo exclaimed. “I’ll be there tonight.”

The monk said, “I shall report this to the Abbot.”

Jing Mo stepped forward and discreetly slipped a brocade pouch into the monk’s hand. “Master, it has long been my wish to meet the Abbot. I’m thrilled, but also nervous. May I ask why he wishes to see me?”

The monk felt the pouch’s contents—small, round beads.

“Finest cat’s eye stones,” Jing Mo whispered. “You could string them into prayer beads. Just a token of my respect—please don’t disdain it.”

The monk nodded, then said flatly, “Probably regarding the matter of National Preceptor Wuhuan.”

Jing Mo’s face filled with feigned confusion. “Wuhuan? But isn’t the Preceptor in Zhuri?”

The monk, still expressionless, said, “Some of our brothers saw Princess Linglong enter your estate.”

“Princess Linglong?” Jing Mo gasped. “She came here? But I was just about to leave Fengtian. Why would she seek me out?”

The monk clasped his hands. “Amitabha. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Let me walk you out,” Jing Mo said, escorting the monk out exactly as he’d brought him in.

Standing at the gate after the monk had left, Jing Mo asked his advisor, “Is that guy a martial monk?”

The advisor stroked his short beard. “Doesn’t look like he knows martial arts.”

Jing Mo dropped his smile and turned to walk back inside.

The advisor followed. “Master, will you really go to meet Mo Wen tonight?”

Jing Mo replied, “Don’t know yet. I’ll decide when the time comes.”

The advisor was stunned. Who waits until the last minute to decide something like this?

In a guest room in the South Pavilion, the doctor Jing Mo had brought with him from Zhuri was checking Wuhuan’s pulse.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wei nudged Yu Xiaoxiao toward the window.

Looking out at a stack of firewood, Yu Xiaoxiao suddenly recalled that time she’d slapped an entire building down.

She leaned toward Xiao Wei and whispered, “Let’s pretend that never happened.”

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Pinky says: No 242