Little Pink Starfish

Cowards Die By Suicide

Zhao Sanxiaojie’s heart sank when she heard Yu Xiaoxiao’s declaration. Of course, as her father’s enemy, the princess would never let her go. Her father’s crime of deceiving the emperor—once exposed—would be a death sentence.

With no hope left, Zhao Sanxiaojie lowered her head and flung herself toward the wall behind her.

“Don’t!” Second-in-Command had been watching her the whole time. Seeing her charge at the wall, he leapt barefoot onto the bed and yanked her back.

But Zhao Sanxiaojie was heavier than she looked. When she fell into his arms, the force sent both of them crashing to the ground.

Yu Xiaoxiao calmly watched the two tangled up on the floor. She turned to Gu Xinglang and said, “I think they really do have feelings for each other.”

Gu Xinglang: “…”

Zhao Sanxiaojie started struggling—she had to end it, she had to die!

But Second-in-Command was already injured, and with her squirming, he couldn’t catch his breath. His throat wheezed like bellows. “Don’t move,” he gasped. If this chubby girl kept squashing him, he really might die first.

“Hey!” Yu Xiaoxiao shouted. “He’s still hurt!”

Zhao Sanxiaojie froze.

Finally, the pressure on his chest lifted, and Second-in-Command felt like he’d come back to life.

Yu Xiaoxiao walked over, picked up Zhao Sanxiaojie like a sack of rice, and tossed her back onto the bed. Then she hoisted Second-in-Command up as well. “You okay?”

He shook his head.

Seeing he could still shake his head, Yu Xiaoxiao turned back and slapped Zhao Sanxiaojie across the back so hard she face-planted into the bed.

“Princess!” Gu Xinglang cried. Was she trying to kill the girl?

Second-in-Command leapt between them and spread his arms to shield Zhao Sanxiaojie.

Yu Xiaoxiao gave him a light push aside and yanked Zhao Sanxiaojie upright. “You tried to kill yourself, didn’t you?”

The girl stayed silent, stunned.

“Speak!” Yu Xiaoxiao barked. “How dare you try to off yourself?”

Zhao Sanxiaojie started sobbing. She even forbids suicide? The princess is so cruel!

Yu Xiaoxiao was fuming. In the apocalypse, people fought tooth and nail just to survive—yet this pampered girl dares to give up her life? Absolutely not acceptable!

She raised her hand to hit again. “Still wanna die?”

“Uuuuh—I don’t! I don’t wanna die anymore!” Zhao Sanxiaojie sobbed louder.

That’s more like it, Yu Xiaoxiao thought.

Second-in-Command ran over to Gu Xinglang. “Your Highness, please say something!”

Gu Xinglang stayed seated.

Is he stunned? Second-in-Command shoved him. “Prince Consort!”

Snapped out of it, Gu Xinglang said, “Princess, stop hitting her. Doesn’t your hand hurt?”

Second-in-Command almost passed out. Seriously? She’s wailing like a slaughtered pig, and all you care about is your wife’s hand?!

Yu Xiaoxiao dropped Zhao Sanxiaojie on the bed with a final grunt. “I hate people who try to kill themselves. Cowards!”

Zhao Sanxiaojie curled up and cried into the sheets. She was sure her butt was bruised beyond recognition.

Second-in-Command whispered, “Princess, she definitely won’t try again.”

Yu Xiaoxiao snapped, “Keep an eye on your wife!”

“Yes, yes!” he nodded like a bobblehead. He’d make sure his wife didn’t go dying on him again.

Turning to Gu Xinglang, Yu Xiaoxiao asked, “So, what do we do with her?”

Gu Xinglang looked conflicted. Which charge would bring down the Zhao family faster—framing Zhao Sanxiaojie for attempted murder of the young master of Fenglin, or exposing Zhao Qiuying for presenting a fake daughter to the emperor?

“You don’t know either?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked when he didn’t answer.

“We’ll wait for Big Brother to return,” Gu Xinglang said.

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. Brother is all-knowing.

Just then, Gu Xinglang’s carriage arrived at the front gates of the Gu estate. At the same time, Li Yuanle rode up on horseback.

From the carriage, Gu Xinglang sniffed the air. “How much did you drink?”

Though Li Yuanle looked sober, the alcohol stench was strong enough to burn nose hairs. “Big Brother Gu,” he saluted. “I heard you were injured. What happened last night?”

Gu Xinglang waved dismissively. “Don’t worry about me. What happened to you?”

Li Yuanle chuckled bitterly. “After leaving the palace last night, I drank too much.”

“Come inside,” Gu Xinglang invited, letting Li Yuanle help him down.

“Is your arm the only injury?” Li Yuanle asked. “You don’t look great.”

“Just a minor wound,” Gu Xinglang replied. “The emperor issued an order—I’ll rest a bit longer in the capital.”

As they passed the garden wall, Gu Xinglang asked, “What did His Majesty say about Concubine Li?”

Li Yuanle’s face darkened. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“He said to bury her with honors. That was it.”

“I see,” Gu Xinglang murmured. If he said more, it would’ve meant real trouble.

Li Yuanle supported Gu Xinglang, his voice low and bitter. “Big Brother Gu, my sister died by fire. And all she got was a sentence: ‘bury her well.’”

Gu Xinglang gave him a small smile. “You can complain to me, but don’t say it again. The affairs of the imperial family are not for us to judge.”