Little Pink Starfish

Third Young Master Gu Says: We’re Going Into the Palace!

After listening to Gu Xinglang stubbornly argue, Yu Xiaoxiao muttered, “Is it really that big of a deal?”

Xiao Wei tensed up. “Princess, what are you planning to do?”

Yu Xiaoxiao disappeared with a blur of movement—heading straight for the courtyard where Yu Ziyi was staying.

“Prince Consort, I’m going to check on the Princess!” Xiao Wei called as he sprinted after her.

Xiao Zhuang stood there and asked Gu Xinglang, “Prince Consort… are we really going to set fire to the palace?”

Gu Xinglang didn’t answer right away. Since nothing he said could change his wife’s mind, Third Young Master Gu had officially entered a “screw it” mindset. She’d already poisoned the High Abbot of Yongsheng Temple—setting a fire in the palace wasn’t exactly worse, right?

Gu Xinglang gritted his teeth and told Xiao Zhuang, “We’re going!”

Xiao Zhuang nearly wet himself. They’re seriously going?! He’d never even seen his late mother, but now he felt sure he was on the express lane to join her. Ever since following the Princess, he’d been walking deeper and deeper into a path of rebellion! He wondered—is it still possible for me to turn back?

The former pirate leader stood on the veranda like a block of wood, replaying everything that had just happened. Then he realized: this world is insane. He should’ve never kidnapped the Seventh Prince and Gu Xingyan that night!

Back in Yu Ziyi’s courtyard, Xiao Wei took a deep breath, then crouched down to check the breath of a collapsed young eunuch. He had just entered and seen that everyone who served the prince had been knocked out. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest. Did Her Highness eliminate all the witnesses just to burn the palace?!

At that moment, Yu Xiaoxiao walked out of the bedroom carrying a sleeping Yu Ziyi like a sack of rice. She saw Xiao Wei crouched over the eunuch and asked, “You know him?”

Xiao Wei felt a faint breath under his fingers and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Thank heaven, he’s still alive!

Yu Xiaoxiao came over and said, “I just knocked him out. He won’t wake up until morning.”

Xiao Wei slowly stood—more like staggered upright. Not because he didn’t want to stand up fast, but because his legs had gone soft. “Princess, you knocked out Nanny Wei and the others too?”

“Yep,” Yu Xiaoxiao said cheerfully. “That way, no one will be around to blow our cover.”

Xiao Wei silently accepted his fate and gently took the baby Yu Ziyi from her hands. “Princess, let’s go.”

“Mm,” Yu Xiaoxiao nodded and blurred away into the night.

When she returned to Gu Xinglang’s side, he asked, “What did you do?”

“Nothing much,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “I knocked out Nanny Wei and the rest. Xiao Gu, we can go now, right?”

Gu Xinglang glanced at the baby in Xiao Wei’s arms, gave up all resistance, and said, “Let’s go.”

The bandit leader watched the four of them actually preparing to leave. He looked dazed and mumbled, “We… we’re really going into the palace?”

“Yep,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Got a problem?”

The bandit leader asked, “What am I going in there for?”

“No wonder your woman got stolen by my dad,” Yu Xiaoxiao said scornfully. “You failed at being a pirate too.” She added, “What if your true love doesn’t want to leave with us? Aren’t you going to get her out yourself?”

Xiao Zhuang kindly reminded, “Princess, Xiongxiong is still injured.”

The bandit leader teared up—how painful it was to have a teenager reminding him of his injuries!

“What, he doesn’t have any broken arms or legs. Why’s he acting all delicate?” Yu Xiaoxiao mocked. “My Xiao Gu’s still injured. Do you see him whining?”

Do you really think I can’t tell your husband is just being dragged along against his will?! the bandit leader wanted to yell.

“Don’t want your true love anymore?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. “Want my big brother and Li Yuanle to silence you instead? What about all your men? Don’t they matter to you?”

…The bandit leader said nothing. Fine, screw it. He was already a dead man—what difference did one palace fire make?

“Let’s go,” Yu Xiaoxiao ordered, walking toward the corridor.

It was already late at night, and sneaking over walls wasn’t an option for such a large group. Naturally, Gu Mansion staff quickly reported that Third Young Master and the Princess were going out again.

Gu Xingnuo had PTSD from the words “Princess going out at night.” He rushed out from his room without saying a word and chased them all the way to the front gate.

By the time he arrived, Yu Xiaoxiao, Gu Xinglang, Yu Ziyi, and the bandit leader were already in the carriage.

Gu Xingnuo stood by the window and looked at his brother, who was leaning against it. “Where are you going this time?”

“Big Brother, we—” Yu Xiaoxiao started to explain, but Gu Xinglang quickly clamped a hand over her mouth and yelled, “Big Brother, the Princess just wanted to go for a walk. I’m taking her to the Dashi Bridge to stretch her legs. We’ll be back soon. Please tell Grandfather and Grandmother not to worry.”

If we get caught and executed for treason, at least the family will have plausible deniability, Gu Xinglang thought. He wanted to shout his words so they’d stick.

Gu Xingnuo frowned slightly. “You’re just going for a walk. Why are you shouting?”

Gu Xinglang forced a smile. “Xiao Wei, let’s go.”

Gu Xingnuo raised a hand. “Wait.”

Xiao Wei, who was holding the reins, didn’t dare move.

“You’re taking Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei with you?” he asked. “Princess, why are you so quiet?”

Yu Xiaoxiao pulled Gu Xinglang’s hand off her mouth and said, “Big Brother, we’ll be back soon. With me around, don’t worry—no one will bully Xiao Gu. I’ll protect him.”

This sounds so wrong! Gu Xingnuo took a few steps back and waved. “Go then. Come back early.”

Xiao Wei didn’t dare meet his gaze—afraid the sharp-eyed eldest son would see through them. With a flick of the whip, he got the carriage moving.

In the carriage, Yu Xiaoxiao praised Xiao Wei, “Isn’t our Xiao Wei great? He even knows how to drive!”

The bandit leader rolled his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Some things were too stupid to acknowledge.

Gu Xinglang patiently explained, “Anyone who can ride a horse can usually drive a carriage.”

“Really?” Yu Xiaoxiao blinked. “But I can’t.”

The bandit leader turned to Gu Xinglang. “Prince Consort, maybe just… don’t talk.”

Yu Xiaoxiao suddenly said, “Oh? Wait, I think I can’t ride a horse either.”

Gu Xinglang’s eyelids twitched. “Princess, you can’t ride? Then how did you bring Zhao Qiuming to the palace that day when we got married?”

“I totally forgot!” Yu Xiaoxiao laughed. “I guess I’m just naturally gifted! Pretty awesome, right?”

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Pinky whinges: They were all back to front with several chapters missing idk.