Little Pink Starfish

The Princess Is a Divine Healer

Yu Xiaoxiao had finished cleaning Chengguan’s wound, suturing it, and injecting penicillin. By the time the surgery ended, dusk had fallen over the day.

Xianzong, having finished his conversation with the elder, wanted to check on Gu Xinglang again. But seeing his son-in-law still fast asleep, he couldn’t bring himself to wake him. The elder urged His Majesty to return to the palace—after all, the Gu residence’s security couldn’t compare with the imperial palace—but Xianzong wasn’t at ease without knowing the outcome of Chengguan’s surgery. In the end, he chose to remain waiting outside Chengguan’s room.

The moment the door opened from within, both Xianzong and the elder, who had been sitting on the veranda, leapt to their feet. Xianzong stepped forward, but was instantly hit by the overwhelming stench of vinegar wafting from the room, which nearly suffocated him.

The elder was also choked by the acrid vinegar smell but kept his composure and supported the staggering emperor. “Are you alright, Your Majesty?” he asked with concern.

Xianzong shook his head. Ever since I made the dumb decision to go after Mo Wen, I’ve probably doomed myself to a life of constant disasters. He called toward the doorway while covering his nose, “Linglong, how’s the State Preceptor?”

Yu Xiaoxiao stepped out, her hands still covered in blood. “The operation was a success.”

Xianzong blinked. “Wh-what does that mean?”

“It means he won’t die,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied, already annoyed by the constant language barrier.

Xianzong blinked again. “So… vinegar is a medicine too?”

Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at her clueless father. “Acetic acid is antiseptic. And why are you still here?”

Xianzong: … Am I being disliked again?

The elder looked at the father-daughter duo glaring at each other and tried to mediate. “Princess, it’s a great relief that the State Preceptor is safe.”

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Mo Wen tried to kill him. The wound in his abdomen was deep.”

“Blade wound?” Xianzong asked.

Yu Xiaoxiao raised her bloodstained fist. “Nope. Punched.”

Looking at her bloodied knuckles, Xianzong turned pale and looked away. “Go wash your hands.”

Yu Xiaoxiao snorted. “Afraid of blood? You should worry about war instead. Have you ever even set foot on a battlefield, Father?”

Xianzong turned back and said, “Don’t worry—if something happens to your father, you won’t be spared either.” Why should he be the only one tormented by his daughter? He had to get a jab in too.

The elder said gravely to Yu Xiaoxiao, “His Majesty is right. When the nest falls, no egg can remain whole.”

“What does that mean?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked, confused.

The elder choked. Was that really so hard to understand?

Xianzong, annoyed, snapped, “It means if I die, you’ll die too!” Is it too late to send this girl back to the study hall?!

On the side, Daoist Tianxingzi whispered to Granny Wang, “The princess never studied?”

Granny Wang gave him a sideways look.

Tianxingzi hated that look—like she was staring at garbage. What’s her problem anyway?

“You seem well-read,” Granny Wang said coolly. “And yet, aren’t you living off the princess now?”

Tianxingzi’s face twitched. “It’s not like I wanted to stay here!”

“Try leaving, then,” Granny Wang challenged with a sneer.

Tianxingzi glanced toward Yu Xiaoxiao—still standing there with blood on her hands talking to the emperor. By his estimate, the emperor was one vinegar whiff away from vomiting blood.

“Leaving?” Granny Wang asked.

The old Daoist crouched down in silence. I want to—but I’m too scared to.

“You should go see the State Preceptor,” Yu Xiaoxiao said to Xianzong then. “I’m too lazy to scold you. Not that you’d change anyway.”

Xianzong nodded. Fair. This whole mess was my fault.

The elder, watching this royal exchange, was speechless. Who exactly is the emperor here?

Xianzong peeked inside the dimly lit room. “He’s really going to be fine?”

“He’ll live,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “Once the wound heals, he can live just like before.”

“Afterwards?” Xianzong muttered. “Who knows what’ll happen after this…”

He stepped inside, leaving Yu Xiaoxiao to speak to the elder at the door. “Grandpa, I’m going to check on Little Gu.”

The elder nodded and praised her. “I heard the State Preceptor’s wound exposed his entrails. For the princess to save him without harming his manhood—that’s truly divine medical skill.”

Yu Xiaoxiao chuckled. “That’s my only redeeming quality, Grandpa.”

The elder: …

Just then, Wangyue ran up from the courtyard and stood before Yu Xiaoxiao, bowing deeply in respect.

“Huh?” Yu Xiaoxiao lifted the little monk by the collar. “What are you doing here?”

Dangling from her grip, Wangyue didn’t seem to mind. Still sniffly from earlier tears, he replied, “I came to see my master.”

Yu Xiaoxiao started to pat his head, but remembered her bloody hands and pulled back. “He’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“But Master said he might die,” Wangyue mumbled.

Yeah, Yu Xiaoxiao thought, going toe-to-toe with Mo Wen could get you killed. She sighed and said, “Your master won’t die. He’ll be fine from now on too. No more tears. Go keep him company.” With that, she gently placed him back down and nudged him inside.

The elder watched the little monk scurry in, then told Yu Xiaoxiao quietly, “The imperial physicians have examined Xinglang. They say it was just exhaustion—nothing serious.”

Yu Xiaoxiao gave a soft “Oh” and ran off toward the outer courtyard.

Inside, Xianzong stood beside Chengguan’s bed, holding his breath against the pungent mix of vinegar and blood.

Xiao Wei said, “Your Majesty, the princess said the State Preceptor might not wake up for several more hours.”

Xianzong couldn’t hold his breath anymore and finally inhaled through his hand-covered nose. Chengguan didn’t look as bad as he’d imagined.

The elder stepped in and, upon seeing Chengguan’s condition, whispered, “Thank heavens.”

Xianzong turned to the physicians who were still standing solemnly by the bed. “You’re still here guarding him?”

The doctors all knelt.

“What, now you remember to show courtesy?” Xianzong huffed. “Fine. I’ll pardon your neglect—it’s been a stressful day.”

One elderly physician looked up, tears brimming in his eyes. “Your Majesty, the princess is a divine healer.”

Xianzong said, “Yes, I know.” She kept him alive with his guts hanging out. If that’s not divine healing, what is?

The physician bowed deeply, forehead to the ground. “If the princess’s medical skills can be passed down… countless lives could be saved.”