Little Pink Starfish

If You’ve Decided, Then Don’t Regret It

After finishing her words, Yu Xiaoxiao turned and walked away without looking back. She knew her own impulsiveness too well—if she stayed any longer, what if she let something slip?

Inside the room, Wuhuan shut his eyes in despair. Only when he heard the door open and close again did he reopen them, staring dazedly at the shut door.

Outside, Jing Mo approached Yu Xiaoxiao and asked, “How is Wuhuan?”

“He’ll live,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “You don’t need to worry.”

Jing Mo nodded.

“My clothes are gone,” Yu Xiaoxiao added.

Jing Mo blinked. That topic changed a little too fast for him to keep up.

Yu Xiaoxiao was currently wrapped in Gu Xinglang’s oversized outer robe. On her petite frame, it looked more like a blanket. No one around her quite understood what she meant by “clothes are gone.”

Xiao Wei suddenly remembered—she had taken off her night clothes to cover Nu. His hand slapped his face. Surely she doesn’t mean she’s going to ask the crown prince for a new set of nightwear again?

Yu Xiaoxiao looked expectantly at Jing Mo. One more set of nightwear, please.

Xiao Wei leaned over and whispered, “Princess, we’re not exactly short on money…”

Yu Xiaoxiao responded matter-of-factly, “But making clothes is such a hassle.” She’d seen Granny Wang and the maids sewing. In a world without sewing machines, everything was handmade. Just watching made her tired.

Xiao Wei’s mouth twitched. You’re not even the one doing the sewing. What’s so troublesome for you?!

Jing Mo overheard the exchange and looked at the robe wrapping Yu Xiaoxiao. He wanted to laugh but managed to hold it back. Glancing at Gu Xinglang, he thought, You let your wife pinch pennies like this—what use are you?

Gu Xinglang had also figured out what she was doing and immediately felt a headache coming on.

“I’ll have someone send a set to the princess tomorrow,” Jing Mo offered with a smile.

Yu Xiaoxiao beamed. “Jing Mo, you’re the best.”

Jing Mo chuckled. “I’ve been thinking I’m a good person too.”

Yu Xiaoxiao said sincerely, “If you killed fewer people, you’d really be a good man.”

Jing Mo turned to glance at Gu Xinglang, suddenly curious what his face looked like now.

Gu Xinglang’s expression had turned frigid, another layer of frost added to his already cold face.

Xiao Wei took a step back—Yikes, the chill from Prince Consort right now could freeze a whole courtyard.

“Let’s go,” Xiao Wei hurried Yu Xiaoxiao away. Prince Consort wasn’t in great shape—what if he got sick from anger?

Yu Xiaoxiao had secured her clothes, so she happily waved goodbye to Jing Mo. “I’m off!”

Jing Mo walked her to the gate of the Delighted Immortal Wine Manor. Just as Yu Xiaoxiao was about to board the carriage, she heard a child’s voice behind her: “Big Royal Sister!”

She turned and saw Yu Ziming being carried out of the gate by a guard.

Seeing her look back, Yu Ziming shouted even louder, “Big Sister!”

“Little Six!” Yu Xiaoxiao rushed forward and scooped him up in her arms.

With his oversized head and tiny body, Little Six looked like he might cry. He snuggled in her arms and called out again in his sweet little voice, “Sister.”

“Mm!” Yu Xiaoxiao smothered him with kisses. “Did you eat well, Little Six?”

“Yes.” He nodded solemnly.

“And sleep well?”

“Yes.”

“Good boy!” Yu Xiaoxiao gave him a big thumbs up.

Everyone nearby was stunned. So in the princess’s book, eating and sleeping well makes you a “good child”? And this way of holding a kid like she’s lifting a puppy… is this what they call love?

“Brother-in-law,” Yu Ziming waved at Gu Xinglang from Yu Xiaoxiao’s arms.

Yu Xiaoxiao carried him over to Gu Xinglang.

Gu Xinglang opened his arms.

The little bean leaped into his embrace without hesitation. After sharing a bed once, Yu Ziming had already decided this man was close—Emperor Xianzong had never even tucked him in, let alone slept beside him.

“How are you, Sixth Highness?” Gu Xinglang asked.

“Good.” Yu Ziming leaned in and gave him a smooch on the cheek.

Gu Xinglang stiffened, but then smiled.

Yu Ziming, delighted by his smile, gave him a few more kisses and then asked, “Did you miss me, Brother-in-law?”

Gu Xinglang was awkward. With everything going on lately, he hadn’t exactly had time to think about this little guy. But under Yu Ziming’s hopeful puppy-dog eyes, Gu San Shao could only nod. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” Yu Ziming said. “And Big Sister.”

Yu Xiaoxiao sniffled and turned to Jing Mo. “What should I do? I don’t want Little Six to go to Zhuri.”

“Then I’ll leave him here?” Jing Mo offered.

Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Jing Mo lowered his voice. “If it’s your wish, I’ll always make it happen.”

Yu Xiaoxiao blinked. Why does this sound… suspiciously like flirtation?

“You want Little Six to stay?” Jing Mo asked.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at the little one clinging to Gu Xinglang, then shook her head. “If he stays in Fengtian, Zhao Fei will ruin him. In Zhuri, he can learn more. I’ll miss him, but he’s not staying.” After over ten years under a military man like the old dog general, Yu Xiaoxiao had plenty of backbone—when it came time to make tough calls, she didn’t hesitate.

Jing Mo sighed. “Alright. I’ll take good care of him.”

“Of course you will,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Didn’t we already agree on this ages ago?”

“Yes.” Jing Mo nodded with a smile. “We already decided. I won’t go back on my word.”

He walked up to Gu Xinglang and gently took Yu Ziming into his arms. As soon as he did, Little Six’s eyes filled with tears. Fat drops began rolling down his cheeks. Gu Xinglang’s heart ached at the sight.

“Be good,” Yu Xiaoxiao stepped up and wiped his tears away. “You’ll be fine.”

“Mhm,” Yu Ziming sobbed, but nodded.

Yu Xiaoxiao climbed into the carriage and told Xiao Wei and Xiao Zhuang, “Let’s go.”

Even after the carriage had gone far, they could still hear Little Six crying behind them.

Yu Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together. Her heart ached too.

Gu Xinglang pulled her into his arms and said softly, “Once we’ve made a decision, we shouldn’t regret it. This is what’s best for Little Six.” With the storm that was bound to hit Zhao Fei and the Zhao clan, staying in the capital would only drag Yu Ziming into the mess. Better he go with Jing Mo, far from the turmoil.