Little Pink Starfish

The Secret of the Wooden Token

After Yuxiaoxiao bathed and changed into clean clothes, Nanny Wang took her to the side room next to the couple’s bedroom. Today, Nanny Wang had made up her mind: she had to get to the bottom of what exactly her princess had been up to these past few days. At the very least, she needed to know—who were friends, and who were enemies?

As soon as Yuxiaoxiao entered, she immediately began worrying about her pork bones, pine nut candy, and ruined rice cakes.

Nanny Wang scowled. “The bones are in the kitchen. The pine nut candy is in your room. And you dare call that soggy lump cloud cake?”

“It got rained on,” Yuxiaoxiao explained. “That’s why it turned out like that. Nanny, is there any way you can save it?”

Nanny Wang had only exchanged a few words with her princess and already felt utterly drained. “Your Highness, can we please talk about something other than food?”

“Ah!” Yuxiaoxiao suddenly remembered. “I bought a whole pig head! Where’s Xiao Zhuang?”

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei had been sent back earlier to change clothes. Now, per Nanny Wang’s orders, they were both standing in the hallway reflecting on their “errors.” When he heard the Princess calling, Xiao Zhuang immediately responded, “Princess, what do you need?”

From inside the room, Yuxiaoxiao called, “Where’s my pig head meat?”

Nanny Wang felt both her ears and her heart ache. A pig head?! Her princess had only been married for a few days, and she was already eating pig head meat?! A girl raised in silks and satins now craved pig head?! “Get in here!” Nanny Wang bellowed toward the hallway.

Xiao Zhuang winced. He turned to Xiao Wei and whispered, “Can I not go in?”

Xiao Wei rolled his eyes. Ever since entering this courtyard, they’d basically had zero say in anything.

“Xiao Zhuang!” Nanny Wang barked again.

“Yes, ma’am!” Xiao Zhuang sighed and ran in.

Xiao Wei traced circles with his toes, staring out at the rainy courtyard.

“Xiao Wei!” came the inevitable shout.

Now he winced. Why did Nanny Wang always scold both of them?

Nanny Wang fixed the two with a glare. “Who went with the Princess to buy the pig head?”

They shook their heads in perfect unison.

“Still denying it? If it wasn’t you two, how would she know about pig head?”

“I know!” Yuxiaoxiao cheerfully raised her hand. “Nanny, Big Brother Niu’s pig head is delicious! Xiao Zhuang, where is it?”

“In my room,” Xiao Zhuang answered. “Do you want it now, Princess?”

“No, send it to Little Gu,” Yuxiaoxiao said. “He can share it with his little buddies.”

Nanny Wang glared at Xiao Zhuang, making it very clear—If you dare go, I’ll break your legs.

Xiao Wei quickly offered, “Princess, it’s not time for dinner yet. I’ll take it to the kitchen. The chef can warm it up for dinner.”

Yuxiaoxiao nodded. That actually made sense. If they ate it now, she wouldn’t get any! But at dinner, she could definitely score more pieces.

Nanny Wang turned to Xiao Wei and said, “No need. Xiao Sha!”

“Ma’am!” came the voice from outside.

“Take the pig head from Xiao Zhuang’s room to the kitchen. Tell the chefs the Prince Consort will eat it for dinner.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Xiao Sha ran off with the order.

Yuxiaoxiao looked at Nanny Wang’s slightly greenish expression and asked, “Nanny, you’re in a bad mood again today?”

Nanny Wang’s cheek twitched. She’s in a bad mood every day these days!

“You know, being angry all the time ages you fast,” Yuxiaoxiao said earnestly. “You should try thinking happy thoughts. You’re still young, Nanny!”

Xiao Wei sighed. This was only going to make it worse…

Nanny Wang narrowed her eyes. “Princess, just tell me—who is this Big Brother Niu?” With the Prince Consort out with her, how did another man enter the picture? Was the Prince Consort completely useless? He was a general, for heaven’s sake! Handsome too! Why couldn’t he be more… effective?!

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei kept their heads down. If the Prince Consort wasn’t panicking, why should we?

Meanwhile, Gu Xinglang was seated at a wine table with his military brothers. Because of his injuries, he couldn’t drink, but the others started knocking back drinks immediately.

“How did you all end up coming back to the capital together?” Gu Xinglang asked.

“We set a date and left from our respective units,” one brother said. “Didn’t expect to arrive just in time for the reinstatement celebration for your grandfather, Big Brother, and Second Brother.”

Li Yuanle asked, “Any word on how His Majesty plans to deal with Zhao Beicheng?”

Gu Xinglang shook his head. “Still in the imperial prison. No official verdict yet.”

“What?” someone growled. “It’s been a whole day! Isn’t that enough time for a decision?”

Gu Xinglang winced a little. Clearly, they didn’t understand the Emperor’s current predicament.

Bai Zhao spun his chopsticks. “With Zhao Qiuming around, Zhao Beicheng isn’t dying anytime soon. Having a powerful father is a cheat code.”

Gu Xinglang poured him more wine. “Let’s not talk about the Zhao clan anymore. How long can you all stay in the capital?”

“Three or four days max,” Li Yuanle replied. “Any longer and His Majesty might start feeling uncomfortable with all of us hanging around.”

“If you’re free tomorrow, come to Yunyun Mountain with me,” Gu Xinglang said.

They were all stunned. Yunyun Mountain was perfect for a bit of casual hunting, sure—but Gu Xinglang was still injured. What would he do there?

“It’s the Princess who wants to go autumn hunting,” Gu Xinglang clarified.

“Ah! Then no problem,” one of them grinned. “You sit under a tree with the Princess and enjoy the breeze. We’ll go catch some wild game, roast it on the spot, and make a day of it.”

Gu Xinglang pulled out the wooden token Second Chief had given Yuxiaoxiao and placed it on the table. “Ever seen this before?”

Li Yuanle picked it up. The moment he saw the intricate pattern and the characters burned into it, his face turned serious. “I’ve seen these before when I was stationed in the East Sea. This is the crest used by the pirate clans that once roamed that region. Where did you get this?”

“Someone gave it to the Princess,” Gu Xinglang said. “You’re sure it’s from the East Sea pirates?”

Li Yuanle passed the token to the next man and nodded. “Those pirates were crushed years ago by my father, but some of their leaders escaped with their crews. We searched for them for years but never found them. And now they’re in the capital?!”

“They’ve got a death wish?” Bai Zhao said incredulously. “Who would bring a pirate gang into the capital? Their leader’s gotta be crazy.”