Little Pink Starfish

Old Soldiers Like Beggars

Emperor Xianzong personally escorted Gu Xingnuo back to the Gu residence. Old Master Gu and Gu Xingyan came out to welcome him, kneeling on the ground with uneasy expressions. Gu Xingnuo had left early that morning, saying he was going to the palace to bring Gu Xinglang and his wife home, but he never returned. Now the emperor himself was delivering him back. They had heard of subjects escorting the emperor, but never the emperor sending a subject home. Their eldest had now done something truly unprecedented—it was hard to say whether anyone would ever repeat it.

As soon as Gu Xingnuo stepped down from the imperial carriage, a eunuch rushed over to support him, with another following behind to hold up an umbrella.

Xianzong, still sitting inside, said to Old Master Gu, “Get up. No need for formalities.”

The old master and Gu Xingyan rose and exchanged glances—then looked at Gu Xingnuo.

Xianzong said, “Stop staring. Yanruo is injured. Take him inside at once. I’ll send the imperial physicians shortly.” Earlier, he might’ve snapped “do I owe you?” at Yu Xiaoxiao, but that was just his temper talking. In Xianzong’s eyes, Gu Xingnuo was now a precious asset. The more Mo Wen wanted this one dead, the more determined Xianzong was to keep him alive. When it came time to clash with Mo Wen, Gu Xingnuo would be a frontline warrior.

Gu Xingyan rushed forward to steady his brother. “Where are you hurt?”

Gu Xingnuo shook his head. “It’s nothing serious.”

Gu Xingyan didn’t buy it—if it was truly “nothing,” would the emperor personally send for a doctor?

Old Master Gu didn’t even ask about his grandson’s condition. He looked to Xianzong and said, “Your Majesty, there were fires at both the Temple of National Protection and the Ministry of Justice tonight. What happened?”

Xianzong waved a hand. “I’ve already sent people to handle it. Gu Qing, don’t ask further.”

Thus dismissed, the old master bowed deeply. “Your servant obeys.”

“Yanruo is hurt, so let him recover in the capital for now,” Xianzong added. “Take…” He paused, forgetting Gu Xingyan’s courtesy name. Pointing at him instead, he said, “Take the two of you and head to Wangxiang Pass first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” all three Gu men replied in unison.

Xianzong dropped the curtain and the imperial procession rolled away, headed back toward the palace.

Once the emperor had departed, Gu Xingyan immediately asked, “Big brother, how did you get injured?”

“Inside,” Old Master Gu cut in.

They helped Gu Xingnuo into the study.

Moments later, a house steward ran out the side gate of the residence and bolted toward the nearest medical clinic. Though the emperor had said he’d send the imperial physicians, he had to get back to the palace first. Judging by Gu Xingnuo’s ghostly pale face, the Gu family couldn’t afford to wait.

Half-reclined on a divan in the study, Gu Xingnuo told the others it wasn’t serious—his left arm was broken, but Yu Xiaoxiao had reset it. The internal injuries were the real trouble; recovery would take time.

Old Master Gu waved a hand. “We’ll let the doctor confirm that.”

Gu Xingyan paced anxiously, opening his mouth several times to speak before being silenced by the old master’s glare.

After a few sips of hot water, Gu Xingnuo looked to his younger brother. “You and Grandfather went to the Ministry of War today. Did something go wrong?”

Gu Xingyan finally spoke. “Ten thousand troops—no rations or supplies. Are we supposed to feed all of them ourselves?”

“What?!” Gu Xingnuo jolted upright, staring at his grandfather. “Is this true?”

The old master, seated in his carved chair, nodded. “The Ministry of War has no provisions. The troops sent to Wangxiang Pass are unlikely to receive anything from their former stations either.”

Gu Xingyan added, “Weapons and armor aren’t a concern—those stay with the garrisons unless the army is mobilized. But what about food?”

Gu Xingnuo thought for a moment. “There should be supplies in the military stockpiles. Once they reach Wangxiang Pass, the Ministry of Revenue will have to allocate provisions.”

“But how long will that take?” Gu Xingyan pressed.

“I’ll be recuperating in the capital anyway,” Gu Xingnuo said with a bitter smile. “I’ll keep a close eye on the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue.”

“We should just take this straight to His Majesty,” Gu Xingyan snapped.

“Watch your tongue!” Old Master Gu slammed his hand on the table. “Just because the princess married into our family, doesn’t mean we run to the emperor with every problem. If we always relied on him, what would the court think of the Gu family? Who would dare associate with us? You think every issue can be solved through imperial favor?”

“Enough,” Gu Xingnuo said, understanding his grandfather’s concerns. “I’ll handle things in the capital. You focus on supporting Grandfather and leading the troops.”

Gu Xingyan nodded, then said, “But what about Old Wu and the others?”

The old master’s face darkened.

“Old Wu?” Gu Xingnuo asked.

“Bring them in,” Gu Xingyan called toward the door. “Old Wu and the others.”

A few moments later, several men dressed in rags, looking like beggars, were led in by a steward.

Gu Xingnuo saw them and immediately struggled to his feet. “What happened to you?!”

When Gu Xingyan had mentioned “Old Wu,” Gu Xingnuo hadn’t remembered the name. But seeing them now, he recognized them at once—veterans from the Gu family’s private army. These were old soldiers who had retired due to injury and had nowhere else to go. The Gu family had bought land and set them up to farm. No matter how dire the Gu family’s situation, Gu Xingnuo never imagined their old soldiers would end up like this.

“Old Wu,” Gu Xingyan pulled a one-legged, grizzled man in his fifties in front of Gu Xingnuo. “Tell him.”

Old Wu tried to kneel.

Gu Xingnuo rushed forward to stop him. “What happened? Something happened at the estate?”

The veterans were supposed to be farming land set aside as ancestral fields—land that wasn’t even supposed to be touched during asset seizures. Even if the Gu family was in trouble, those estates should’ve been safe.

Old Wu, voice hoarse, said, “Young master, the estate’s gone.”

“What?!” Even calm and composed Gu Xingnuo nearly lost it. “How is that possible?!”

“After the Marshal and your brothers were imprisoned,” Old Wu said, “a unit of soldiers came in, galloping across our fields. When the brothers tried to stop them, many were beaten. We could only watch as they destroyed the land. Then they set fire to the houses…” His voice broke. After so many years as a soldier, the man was nearly in tears.