Little Pink Starfish

Even Abroad, You Run Into Princess Yongsheng

For a brief moment, Jiang Zhuojun actually suspected that Yu Xiaoxiao and Gu Xinglang had planned everything from the start—deliberately rescuing him, causing a massive scene at the Taichang slave market, forcing the Jiang family to lose all standing in Zhuque. They now had no home to return to, exiled from their own country.

Yu Xiaoxiao gave Big Boss a hearty slap on the shoulder, knocking him flat beside Ergouzi, and said, “What, you want Xiao Jiang to commit treason? That’s not happening. Xiao Gu said before: a loyal subject doesn’t serve two masters—same logic as a virtuous woman doesn’t marry two husbands.”

Jiang Zhuojun stared, dumbfounded again.

Xiao Zhuang coughed and made exaggerated facial expressions at Yu Xiaoxiao, gesturing toward Xiao Wei.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Xiao Wei and immediately remembered Miss Jiang. She added quickly, “Of course, that depends on whether the man’s worth it. If he’s a scumbag or a deadbeat, kick him to the curb and find a better one.”

From the ground, Big Boss asked, “Princess, what are you even after?” If she wasn’t trying to get Jiang Zhuojun to defect, wasn’t after money, and Prince Consort wasn’t any worse than this general, then… why bother?

That was exactly what Jiang Zhuojun wanted to know.

Yu Xiaoxiao thought for a bit and said, “Nothing in particular. Since we’re already in Zhuque, might as well find something to do.”

Find something to do? She was dragging them all into Zhuque’s royal family infighting just to pass time?

Everyone’s expressions turned glum. This job wasn’t going to be easy.

Jiang Zhuojun asked, “Princess, are you taking us to Chiyang City with you?”

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded.

Jiang Zhuojun looked at Gu Xinglang. “Then you won’t even make it to Chiyang. You think the local authorities won’t care?”

“Just pretend to be our followers for now,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “We don’t know what’s going on in Chiyang yet. We’ll still need your help.”

Xiao Wei asked, “But what if someone recognizes him as Jiang Zhuojun?”

“Just say he looks like him,” Yu Xiaoxiao shrugged, not seeing the issue.

“They’re tattooed,” the old Daoist finally chimed in. “One look at those tattoos and people will know they’re criminals. How do you plan to hide that?”

Yu Xiaoxiao examined Jiang Zhuojun. “Where’s the tattoo?”

Jiang Zhuojun said quietly, “Behind my shoulder.”

“Oh?” Yu Xiaoxiao stepped forward. “Let me see.”

“Ahem,” Gu Xinglang cleared his throat.

Yu Xiaoxiao froze.

Jiang Zhuojun blushed bright red. “It just says ‘criminal slave.’”

Gu Xinglang said, “Just wear your clothes properly. Keep your collar high so no one sees it.”

The Daoist asked, “Prince Consort, you’re really taking them with us?”

Gu Xinglang thought about it. What other option did they have?

Xiao Wei asked, “General, do you have any safe place to go? Somewhere to hide?”

Jiang Zhuojun shook his head. With the emperor furious and their downfall so public, who would dare shelter them?

“Then come with us to Chiyang,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “If you’re innocent, hold your head high and show the emperor the truth.”

Jiang Zhuojun said, “That’s easier said than done.”

Just as Yu Xiaoxiao was about to reply, crying echoed from the back of the cave.

“What’s going on?!” Big Boss leapt up and shouted into the cave.

A young Jiang clansman ran over and said to Jiang Zhuojun, “Wenze and the others—something’s wrong!”

Jiang Zhuojun turned pale and struggled to stand. “What did you say?!”

The boy’s voice broke, “Wenze and the others… they might not make it.”

Jiang Zhuojun tried to rush forward but stumbled. Yu Xiaoxiao quickly caught him and passed him off to Second Boss, who helped him toward the back of the cave.

The old Daoist walked over and said, “Jiang Wenze is from the 19th generation of the Jiang main line.”

“Huh?” Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t get it.

“Main line,” the Daoist clarified. “Born to the principal wife.”

“I know what that means,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “But 19th generation? Their family had 18 generations alive at once?”

The Daoist: … That would make them immortal monsters!

Gu Xinglang said, “Even four generations under one roof is rare. Let’s go check.”

The crying in the cave was louder now.

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “It’s probably those kids. I already checked them—they’re not injured. I couldn’t save them.”

Gu Xinglang sighed. “All Jiang family members over ten from the main line were executed.”

Yu Xiaoxiao frowned.

At the back of the cave, four young boys lay unconscious in a row. Blood trickled from their mouths, darker than normal.

Jiang Yueniang sat nearby holding Baobao, who buried his head in her arms, too scared to look at his cousins.

Jiang Zhuojun, not being a doctor, could only stand helplessly before his nephews.

The Jiang clan crowded around them—some silent, some sobbing, some cursing the injustice of it all. Despair hung over everyone.

Tian Xingzi stepped forward, checked a pulse, and said, “Looks like poisoning.”

Yu Xiaoxiao whispered to Gu Xinglang, “Maybe. None of them have visible injuries.”

A hush fell, then panic erupted. The oldest of the four boys was only seven!

Jiang Yueniang said to Jiang Zhuojun, “Could it be the Grand Preceptor?”

Jiang Zhuojun turned to his sister-in-law. “What do you mean?”

The woman, her eyes swollen from crying, covered her face and wept.

The Third Great-Uncle urged, “Now’s not the time to stay silent!”

“The Grand Preceptor gave them medicine… said it would keep them safe,” the woman sobbed and collapsed in despair.

“Foolishness!” the Third Great-Uncle cried. “If the Grand Preceptor hadn’t backed the Crown Prince, how would the Fourth Prince have ended up in prison? Chengming wants to wipe out our main line!”

Yu Xiaoxiao felt like she’d just heard something major.

Crown Prince? Gu Xinglang recalled that the Crown Prince’s mother was the Eldest Princess of Qinglong.

“He’s their uncle!” another weeping woman threw herself before Jiang Zhuojun and cried, “You have to save them! Wenhai is your second brother’s only son!”

Jiang Zhuojun remained on his knees, unmoving, letting her pound on him.

Tian Xingzi said, “If Chengming the Grand Preceptor used poison, it’s probably something made at Yongsheng Temple.”

Yongsheng Temple?

Yu Xiaoxiao let out a dry laugh. No matter where she went, she’d run into Yongsheng Temple! Even abroad?!

Gu Xinglang asked, “Should we go to Yongsheng Temple for the antidote?”

The Daoist shook his head. “I don’t think the four boys will last long. But there’s a temple called Bodhi Temple in Taichang Mountain—they’re aligned with Yongsheng. If you want a chance at saving them, that’s where to go.”