Little Pink Starfish

Princess, Please Spare His Majesty

Yu Xiaoxiao wrapped the bandage quickly. Xiao Wei watched her hands move in dizzying circles as she wrapped Zero’s head with several layers of cloth.

“Big brother, where do we go next?” Yu Xiaoxiao tied a final knot and asked Gu Xingnuo.

Gu Xingnuo glanced at the still-unconscious secret guard and said, “We’re taking him to see His Majesty.”

“What are we going to say?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. This guy hadn’t done anything. Claiming he was a spy who eavesdropped? They had no proof.

Gu Xingnuo said, “He tried to attack you, Princess.”

“Ah?” Xiao Wei exclaimed. That was the lamest excuse ever—what if His Majesty didn’t buy it?

Gu Xingnuo pulled a dagger from his sleeve and handed it to Yu Xiaoxiao. “This dagger is poisoned. If His Majesty asks, say this is the weapon he tried to use on you.”

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at the blade—it had a faint green tint along the edge.

Xiao Wei gave Gu Xingnuo a strange look. Not only did the eldest young master bring a dagger into the palace—a capital offense—but it was poisoned too! Was he also the type to dance on the edge of death?

“Be careful, Princess,” Gu Xingnuo warned. “Don’t cut yourself.”

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded, tucked the dagger into her own pocket, and asked, “Is it really okay for us to frame someone like this?”

Gu Xingnuo smiled. “His Majesty won’t kill him, so don’t worry.”

Yu Xiaoxiao turned to Xiao Wei, looking for a second opinion. “If he really tried to kill me, wouldn’t my father avenge me?”

“So the Princess wants him dead?” Gu Xingnuo asked.

“No,” Yu Xiaoxiao shook her head, “I don’t kill people casually.”

“Then if His Majesty spares him, that’s just what you want, right?” Gu Xingnuo reasoned.

“That’s not the point,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied. “I’m not talking about murder—I’m talking about fatherly love.”

Gu Xingnuo: …

“Enough,” Xiao Wei slapped a hand over his face and whispered to Gu Xingnuo, “We’re still in the palace!” Were they even safe yet? And here they were discussing parental love?

“Let’s go,” Gu Xingnuo muttered, staggering a little. He couldn’t figure out how the conversation had veered into such strange territory.

Yu Xiaoxiao dragged Zero out of the cave and slung him over her shoulder, ready to move.

Xiao Wei couldn’t even look—he stepped in and took the man. “Princess, let me carry him.”

The First Boss, still crouching on the rockery, saw the three of them about to leave and quickly shouted, “Where are you going?” Seriously?! Were he and his beloved Wan’er being abandoned again?!

Yu Xiaoxiao looked up and said, “Oh, right! I almost forgot about Bear-bear.”

The First Boss nearly cried.

Gu Xingnuo covered his face too—how could he have made such a rookie mistake?

“Hehe,” Yu Xiaoxiao turned to Xiao Wei. “Big brother’s memory’s pretty bad too.”

Xiao Wei had nothing to say. Following this princess, one careless step and you could end up in the heavens or straight into the earth. Gu Xingnuo probably felt the same way. With all the chaos, who could keep their head straight? Xiao Wei still firmly believed it wasn’t his fault he forgot about Xiao Zhuang the night before.

Gu Xingnuo waved at the First Boss, motioning for him to come down.

Afraid of being left behind again, the First Boss shouted, “Wait for me!”

Gu Xingnuo slung Zero’s arm over his shoulders and told Xiao Wei, “Have them change clothes, then take them to the imperial study. Oh, right—the Imperial Preceptor should be there now. Tell him they’re former people of Fenghua Hall, following the Princess to the Gu residence.”

“Yes,” Xiao Wei acknowledged.

“Have Xiao Gu get two boxes ready,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “We’ll take Bear-bear and his true love out that way.”

“Got it.” Xiao Wei visibly relaxed while talking to Yu Xiaoxiao, clearly more at ease. “Princess, be careful.”

“Mm.” Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “You too, Xiao Wei.”

Gu Xingnuo watched the exchange, frowning. Why were they suddenly so cozy?

The First Boss stumbled down from the rockery carrying Li Wan. He shouted, “That squad of soldiers is coming over!”

Gu Xingnuo said, “Princess, I’m not sure who they really are. Maybe you should just knock them all out.”

“No problem,” Yu Xiaoxiao leapt forward without hesitation.

The First Boss looked at Gu Xingnuo with increasing awe. He had the imperial princess acting as his personal enforcer? What kind of boss was that?

“Go to the imperial study with Xiao Wei,” Gu Xingnuo said to the First Boss. “Don’t speak on the way. Even if you’re captured again, trust that we’ll come save you. Don’t say anything reckless.”

Captured again?! The First Boss wanted to curse, but didn’t dare.

“The gate is crowded,” Gu Xingnuo told Xiao Wei. “Take a detour. Tell the Prince Consort not to leave the palace until we return.”

“Yes,” Xiao Wei answered, then glanced at the First Boss. “What are you standing there for? Go change.”

The First Boss looked at Li Wan. “Let’s wait for the Princess to come back.” He was a man—he couldn’t help Li Wan change! Pirate or not, he wasn’t about to violate a lady’s modesty.

“You really think the Princess is your best bet?” Xiao Wei scoffed.

“I…”

The First Boss wanted to defend himself, but before he could get the words out, Yu Xiaoxiao returned. “They’re all down. Won’t wake up until dark. Big brother, let’s go find my dad.”

That fast?! Ten soldiers handled in the blink of an eye? Remembering the flying tree, the giant rock… The First Boss swallowed hard. If this savage girl helped Li Wan change, she might actually kill her by accident.

Gu Xingnuo asked him, “You still want the Princess’s help?”

“No need,” the First Boss quickly shook his head. Between his life and his beloved’s modesty, he chose life.

The unconscious secret guard groaned—despite his serious head injury and blood loss, his strong inner energy was already helping him regain consciousness.

Gu Xingnuo was wondering what to do when SMACK!—Yu Xiaoxiao karate-chopped Zero on the neck, knocking him back out. “Big brother, I heard my dad’s voice at the gate. Let’s go there.”

Gu Xingnuo nodded, barely able to keep up emotionally anymore. He heard voices too, but couldn’t tell one from another.

As Yu Xiaoxiao walked ahead, the First Boss overheard her saying to Gu Xingnuo, “I think I’ll ask my dad for some money. He’s got no real skills, women don’t like him, so all he has left is cash.”

“Oh,” Gu Xingnuo replied, in a tone that sounded a bit resigned. “How much do you want, Princess?”

“Not much,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “If I ask for too much, he won’t give it to me. Just ten thousand taels of gold. What do you think, big brother?”

“…Princess, please spare His Majesty,” Gu Xingnuo said.

The First Boss was in tears. Could she spare them too? If he’d known this day would come, he’d never have ambushed Second Young Master Gu and the Seventh Prince on that dark, windy night!