Little Pink Starfish

Big Brother Gu’s Unshakable Authority

Gu Xingyan had no filter. As soon as Madam Xu mentioned that Buddha might punish them, he blurted out, “Mother, then was it that bodhisattva you worship who healed Xinglang’s injury?”

“It was me,” Yu Xiaoxiao raised her hand. “I healed Little Gu’s wound.”

Gu Xinglang let out a dry cough and shook his head at Yu Xiaoxiao. Wife, maybe now isn’t the time to speak up?

Madam Xu let out a soft sigh. “You’ve all been corrupted by your eldest brother.”

“What’s this got to do with Big Brother again?” Gu Xingyan muttered.

Gu Xingnuo stood and said, “Mother, let Xinglang and the princess have some time to talk. I’ll escort you back to your room.”

Madam Xu called toward the door, “Come in.”

A maid entered, carrying a food box.

“This is ginseng soup I had prepared,” Madam Xu said gently to Gu Xinglang. “Drink it while it’s hot.”

Gu Xinglang nodded, gave a seated bow, and said, “Thank you, Mother.”

Yu Xiaoxiao clicked her tongue internally. So formal between a mother and son—how awkward is that?

Madam Xu then looked toward Yu Xiaoxiao.

Yu Xiaoxiao quickly assured her, “Let Little Gu have it all. I won’t drink any.”

Madam Xu blinked. Did she say the princess couldn’t drink it?

“Let’s go,” Gu Xingnuo said, walking out first.

Seeing that Madam Xu didn’t say anything more and just left, Yu Xiaoxiao gave herself a mental thumbs-up. Her gal pals used to say that in the old world, before the apocalypse, mother-in-law relationships were globally tough. Look at me now, handling it perfectly. My mother-in-law hasn’t found a single fault to pick.
(Narrator: That’s because your mother-in-law literally has no idea how to talk to you…)

“Don’t you think Big Brother and Mother seem kind of… off?” Gu Xingyan asked, standing at the door, watching their backs as they left the courtyard.

Gu Xinglang turned to Yu Xiaoxiao and said, “Let’s not go looking for Mo Wen just yet, okay?”

Yu Xiaoxiao pouted. Clearly unhappy.

Gu Xinglang took her hand. “Just this once—listen to me.”

Yu Xiaoxiao begrudgingly nodded.

Gu Xingyan turned back to stare out the door, pretending he hadn’t said anything.

Xiao Wei chimed in, “Princess, you’ve promised the Prince Consort. You can’t sneak out later.”

Yu Xiaoxiao looked a little embarrassed—hit right in the heart by that one. Smart kids are troublesome too.

“Princess?” Gu Xinglang lightly shook her hand.

Wait… is he… being cute with me? Yu Xiaoxiao stared at their joined hands and teased, “Little Gu, you’ve gone bad.”

Both Gu Xinglang and Xiao Wei were speechless. Where did that come from again?

Meanwhile, Gu Xingnuo and Madam Xu exited the courtyard. Gu Xingnuo stepped aside, letting his mother walk ahead.

Madam Xu, walking quietly, asked, “You don’t want me to speak with Xinglang?”

“You misunderstand, Mother,” Gu Xingnuo replied calmly.

She stopped in her tracks, turned, and looked at him. “You’re trying to send me away.”

Glancing around, Gu Xingnuo gestured. The maids and attendants accompanying Madam Xu quickly stepped aside to a distance.

“Xingnuo,” Madam Xu’s voice shook, “are you trying to drive me out of the Gu family?”

“You’re overthinking, Mother,” Gu Xingnuo replied in a low voice. “How would I dare?”

“Then what did you mean just now?” she pressed.

Gu Xingnuo smiled. “How much do you truly care for Xinglang?”

“Xinglang is my son!” Madam Xu said angrily. “Why would I ever harm him?”

“You already have,” Gu Xingnuo’s voice suddenly turned cold. “From now on, you can continue your Buddhist devotion, but as for Xinglang and Xingyan—don’t interfere. This household was handed to me by Grandfather long ago. So, Mother, do as I say.”

Madam Xu took several steps back in shock. These words sounded very much like he intended to confine her to the family’s prayer hall. “Xingnuo!” she said, stunned. “You want to imprison me?”

“You once gave baby Xinglang to Mo Wen at Yongsheng Temple,” Gu Xingnuo said icily. “If Mo Wen asks something of you again, what will you do?”

“You—!”

“Don’t tell me you wouldn’t,” Gu Xingnuo cut her off. “That man is your living Buddha, isn’t he?” His chest suddenly ached. “From now on, seek your eternity, but don’t meddle in our lives anymore.”

“I didn’t do it for myself!” Madam Xu’s eyes welled up with tears.

“I’ll speak to Grandfather,” Gu Xingnuo said. “You’ve dedicated yourself to worship—I’ll arrange for a new residence where you can do just that in peace.”

“You want to throw me out of the house?!” she cried.

Her voice was so loud that Gu Xingyan and Gu Xinglang rushed over.

“What’s going on?” Gu Xingyan asked, seeing her red eyes.

Gu Xinglang turned to his eldest brother. “Big Brother, what happened with Mother?”

“Nothing,” Gu Xingnuo said, stepping in front of Gu Xinglang with a smile. “Mother has been devoted to her spiritual practices for years. I’ve just purchased a quiet, peaceful estate. It’ll be perfect for her.”

“But isn’t the Buddha hall in the manor good enough?” Gu Xingyan asked.

Gu Xingnuo looked at Madam Xu. “There are more children in the house now. It’s noisy—Mother can’t find peace. It’s better for her to move.”

“You—” Madam Xu began.

“And once Xinglang and the princess have children,” Gu Xingnuo added before she could finish, “there will be even more noise. I’m afraid Mother will find it unbearable.”

Mentioning Xinglang pierced straight through Madam Xu’s fragile composure—tears streamed down her face as she turned and fled.

“Hah, something definitely happened,” Yu Xiaoxiao whispered to Xiao Wei from behind a flower bed.

Xiao Wei said, “Madam Xu worships at Yongsheng Temple. It’s uncomfortable for her here.”

“She’s ignorant,” Yu Xiaoxiao remarked bluntly.

Xiao Wei pretended he didn’t hear that.

“Big Brother is so commanding—does his wife even know he’s like this?” Yu Xiaoxiao sighed.

Xiao Wei didn’t get it. What’s this got to do with the eldest young madam?

“Wei,” Yu Xiaoxiao asked, “why was Big Brother so harsh with Little Gu’s mom?”

“For Yongsheng Temple, obviously,” Xiao Wei replied.

“Religious beliefs are tough to deal with,” Yu Xiaoxiao agreed.

“Religious what?” Xiao Wei asked.

“I feel like this has nothing to do with me,” Yu Xiaoxiao added.

“Of course it doesn’t,” Xiao Wei replied. The Prince Consort’s mother and their princess were clearly not on the same wavelength. Best to live their own lives separately. If the princess tried to get involved and something happened to Madam Xu, would life still be livable?

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Pinky says: No 315.