Little Pink Starfish

Xiao Jiang, You’re Actually Quite Gen—tle…

“General,” Ergouzi said after hearing the old Taoist’s words, looking at Jiang Zhuojun with disdain, “Don’t believe a word he says. If he can’t predict something, he just says that ‘Heaven’s secrets must not be revealed.’ We brothers are used to it.”

The old Taoist rolled his eyes—fine, let them laugh now. They’d be crying later.

“General,” Ergouzi added, “our princess is a good person. Now that you’ve met her, everything…” —he wanted to say something like calamities turn into blessings, dangers become fortune, but he didn’t know those fancy phrases, so after thinking for a while, he said—“Anyway, with our princess around, nothing’s really a big deal.”

Just then, Yu Xiaoxiao jumped back up into the cave from the cliff. “What’s not a big deal?”

Ergouzi said, “Princess, the Taoist is trying to pull a fast one on General Xiao Jiang again. I told him, with you here, he won’t run into trouble anymore.”

The old Taoist was already too lazy to argue.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Jiang Zhuojun. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes were warm. “Xiao Jiang, don’t worry. You and the Fourth Prince will both be fine.”
If they couldn’t make it through this, how was Jiang Zhuojun ever going to become the youngest Grand Marshal in the history of the Zhuque Kingdom?

Jiang Zhuojun gave Yu Xiaoxiao a faint, but sincere smile. “Thank you, Princess.”

Yu Xiaoxiao thought Jiang Zhuojun’s smile was very pleasant to look at. “You should smile more,” she said, and tried to imitate his expression. But after a few attempts, she gave up and just lifted the corners of her mouth with her fingers and gave a goofy “hehe” laugh.

Jiang Zhuojun: …

The old Taoist covered his face. How could someone this silly be their princess?

Ergouzi beamed, showing all his teeth. “Princess, look at mine!”

Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at his wide-open mouth. “Gouzi, you should cut down on sweets. I see cavities.”

Ergouzi froze on the spot.

Yu Xiaoxiao grabbed Ergouzi without a word and leapt out of the cave again.

“Ma—!” Ergouzi screamed in terror again.

The old Taoist cleared his throat and said to Jiang Zhuojun, “General, you should trust what I said.”

Jiang Zhuojun looked out at the sky. The thunder and lightning had passed, but snow was still falling steadily from the overcast winter sky.

The old Taoist asked, “General, what do you think of our princess?”

“I believe her,” Jiang Zhuojun said.

“W-what?” the old Taoist blinked.

“As long as the Fourth Prince lives, there’s still hope,” Jiang Zhuojun murmured. “If I survived the shame of being treated like a criminal, then why can’t he rise again?”

The old Taoist felt bitter. So many things he’d said, and this guy only believed Yu Xiaoxiao?

“Yongsheng Temple,” Jiang Zhuojun said, staring at the snowfall. “As long as I live, I’ll be its mortal enemy.”

The old Taoist paused, then said, “You and our princess are bound to be great comrades.”

Yu Xiaoxiao returned from the cliffside, carrying Ergouzi’s coat, and went up again to get the others.

Xiao Wei didn’t pay attention to Ergouzi. His gaze was heavy as he looked at the unconscious Gu Xinglang in his arms. How many times had their Prince Consort collapsed like this?

The third person Yu Xiaoxiao brought down was Tian Xingzi.

After landing, the old Taoist went straight to Gu Xinglang and said to Xiao Wei, “He’s unconscious, so his blood might not be circulating well. Wrap him in more clothes.”

Xiao Wei took off his outer robe and wrapped it around Gu Xinglang.

Ergouzi sneezed. Suddenly remembering he’d left his thick coat under Gu Xinglang back in the cave, he shouted toward the cliff, “Princess, bring down my coat!”

The old Taoist muttered, “Forget it. With how our princess squeezes two copper coins from one, you think she’d forget your coat?”

Xiao Wei asked the old Taoist, “What do you think is wrong with the Prince Consort?”

The old Taoist finally looked up again. “You feel something’s off too?”

Xiao Wei pressed his lips together and stared.

“Don’t worry,” the old Taoist said. “For now, he’ll be fine.”

“For now?” Xiao Wei asked.

“Well… who knows what’ll happen ten years from now?” the old Taoist shrugged.

Ten years? If Gu Xinglang could safely make it through ten years, that was already reassuring. If he was safe, then so was their princess.

The old Taoist moved to the side and sat in silence. Gu Xinglang’s fate as a Po Jun star was too ominous—who knew what disasters might befall them from being around him?

Back in the cave, Yu Xiaoxiao picked up Ergouzi’s coat. Turning around, she saw Jiang Zhuojun taking off his robe. Seeing it was quite dirty, she said, “Even if it’s dirty, Xiao Jiang, you should put it back on. It’s cold out. What if you get sick? You forgot you’re still injured?”

Jiang Zhuojun hesitated, then raised his arms and draped the robe over her instead. Yu Xiaoxiao’s clothes were soaked from the underground river and had frozen stiff after so many trips through the wind and snow. The robe still carried Jiang Zhuojun’s body heat—Yu Xiaoxiao could feel its warmth.

Jiang Zhuojun saw her standing still and reached to fasten the collar’s clasp, so it wouldn’t fall off.

“Xiao Jiang, you’re actually a very gentle person,” Yu Xiaoxiao said, thinking of the Jiang Zhuojun from her memories.

Jiang Zhuojun gave a faint smile again. In this world, there weren’t many people he treated gently. “Princess, I’m not actually a good person,” he said quietly.

“Aren’t we all somewhere between good and bad?” Yu Xiaoxiao shrugged casually. “Who dares claim they’ve never done a single wrong thing? Xiao Jiang, as long as we act with a clear conscience, we’re fine. Overthinking just makes life exhausting.”

Jiang Zhuojun looked into her eyes and saw his own reflection.

“Don’t dwell on it,” Yu Xiaoxiao stood on tiptoe and wiped some frozen bits off his brow. “Once we reach Chiyang City, I’ll help you rescue the Fourth Prince.”

Jiang Zhuojun asked, “Princess, why won’t you help Noble Consort Yu and the Seventh Prince?”

“My dad didn’t tell me to help them,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied, matter-of-factly.

Jiang Zhuojun didn’t even know what expression to make at that answer.

“And besides, who says being emperor means happiness?” Yu Xiaoxiao added. “My aunt ended up being one of your emperor’s little wives. I think it’s better to bring her back to Fengtian. If my dad has food, he won’t let her go hungry. Fengtian’s not short on good men. Right, Xiao Jiang?”

Jiang Zhuojun… The princess couldn’t possibly be talking about finding a new man for Noble Consort Yu and giving the Seventh Prince a stepfather… right?