Little Pink Starfish

Face It or Flee

Xianzong laughed when he heard the old physician’s heartfelt words. Not just any laugh, either—it was a long, gloating chuckle. Yes, his daughter’s medical skills were extraordinary, but did she look like someone cut out for passing down knowledge or enlightening others? This was the same girl whose everyday speech often left people completely baffled. “If the princess is willing to teach, go ask her yourselves,” Xianzong said with a smirk. As he spoke, he couldn’t help but gloat—finally, others would get a taste of the suffering he endured. Why should he be the only one tormented by her?

After watching over the State Preceptor for a bit, Xianzong allowed the elder to escort him back to the palace. Once there, the emperor summoned all the capital’s stationed generals to the imperial study.

Given Xianzong’s longstanding preference for civil officials over military ones, the generals arrived at the study in a state of anxiety. None of them could figure out why the emperor had suddenly summoned them all.

While they murmured among themselves, Xianzong entered the study with his hands behind his back. Seeing the generals kneeling, he declared, “Generals, we must prepare for war.”

The imperial study was brightly lit. A large map had been spread across the floor, and the generals stood solemnly around it—it was clearly a war council in session.

Back at the Gu residence, the State Preceptor Chengguan finally awoke from his coma in the middle of the night. The first thing he saw was Gu Xingnuo sitting at his bedside.

Gu Xingnuo looked worn and pale. When he saw Chengguan stir, he breathed a visible sigh of relief and asked quietly, “You’re awake?”

Chengguan glanced around, taking in the room.

“Wangyue stayed with you for hours,” Gu Xingnuo explained. “I told him to rest.”

“I…” Chengguan could hardly believe he had survived such a grave injury. “My wounds?”

“Her Highness treated them,” Gu Xingnuo said, picking up a cup of warm water and helping Chengguan drink. “She said you should eat porridge or broth while you recover.”

Chengguan fixed his gaze on Gu Xingnuo. “Where is the princess?”

Gu Xingnuo’s smile froze slightly. “She’s with Xinglang.”

Chengguan frowned. A small movement sent pain shooting from his abdomen through his whole body.

“Don’t move,” Gu Xingnuo said quickly, holding him down. “You need rest.”

Chengguan endured the pain, and once it subsided, he asked, “What will you do now?”

Gu Xingnuo clutched the water cup tightly, unable to respond for a long time.

“You’ll have to decide,” Chengguan said. “I thought sealing his five senses would keep him safe from Mo Wen. I underestimated him.”

Gu Xingnuo murmured, “I feel like Xinglang is different from those… things.”

Chengguan watched the deep furrow in Gu Xingnuo’s brow. His voice soon turned hoarse. “Yes, he is different. He’s worse.” Despite his weakened state, his tone was heavy. “Do you want him to become an accomplice to evil?”

Gu Xingnuo’s eyes reddened. “So you want me to kill him?”

Chengguan fell silent. He had tried to kill Gu Xinglang in a moment of desperation at the temple, but now… He couldn’t do it. How could Xingnuo, his own brother, go through with it?

“I asked him,” Gu Xingnuo said quietly. “He remembers nothing. Just said he was tired. The princess examined him too—she found nothing wrong. He seems… completely normal now.”

“That’s what makes it dangerous,” Chengguan said grimly. “If not for him, we could’ve killed Mo Wen.”

Gu Xingnuo’s hand trembled, and water spilled over his fingers.

“His martial arts were monstrous—inhuman,” Chengguan continued.

Hearing his brother described as a monster made Gu Xingnuo’s hands shake even more violently.

“What are you going to do?” Chengguan pressed.

Just then, the candle in the room flared and popped. Gu Xingnuo flinched at the sound, staring at the flickering flame for a long time before setting the cup down gently on the table.

“Can I ask you for a favor?” he said to Chengguan.

“You want me to keep this secret?” the Preceptor asked.

Gu Xingnuo’s face twisted in guilt, but he nodded.

“You…” Chengguan wanted to rebuke him, but held back. How could he scold someone whose pain he couldn’t truly understand?

“Please,” Gu Xingnuo rasped, voice full of plea. “Just give me a little time.”

Chengguan asked, “Time to find someone who can save Xinglang?”

Gu Xingnuo shook his head. “I don’t know. I just want time to figure out what to do. He’s my brother. His fate can’t be decided so easily.”

Chengguan stared at Gu Xingnuo. To him, it wasn’t a plan. It was avoidance.

Just then, Yu Xiaoxiao pushed the door open. Before the two men could react, she had walked over to the bed and said, “You’re awake?”

Chengguan lowered his eyes. Seeing her now felt like a blade slicing through his chest.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t notice anything odd. Post-surgery patients acting strangely was normal. She touched his forehead. No fever—no antibiotic resistance. All good.

“How is the State Preceptor doing?” Gu Xingnuo asked, forcing a smile.

“Very well,” she replied. “Don’t worry, big brother.”

“Thank you, Princess,” Chengguan said.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked.

It did, but he still shook his head.

“Was it Mo Wen who injured you?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

Gu Xingnuo’s heart leapt into his throat.

Chengguan looked at him, hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”

Gu Xingnuo relaxed slightly, not even realizing his clenched palm was soaked in sweat.

Yu Xiaoxiao smacked her lips. “That bastard really went for your life. I could tell from the wound.”

Chengguan didn’t know what to say. He just nodded again.

“You should stop being a monk,” Yu Xiaoxiao suddenly said. “You’ve already fallen out with Mo Wen.”

Chengguan let out a quiet laugh. “I can’t be a monk just because I’ve offended Mo Wen?”

Yu Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together. A question was burning in her heart: If this man was so devoted to Buddhism in this life, how did he end up as the empress’s lover in the last one?