Little Pink Starfish

My Xiaoxiao Is the Best

“Who’s Hua Yingzhou?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked Gu Xinglang.

“He’s Consort Hua’s father,” Gu Xinglang replied. “Commander-in-chief of the Southwest armies.”

“Commander-in-chief of the Southwest armies?” Yu Xiaoxiao clicked her tongue. “That sounds pretty badass. So… I brought home the pocket money that Hua Daddy gave his daughter?”

Gu Xinglang: …

Everyone silently agreed—yeah, that was exactly what happened.

“Should I return the money?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked, every inch of her aching at the thought. Forty thousand taels, after all!

Gu Xinglang stared longingly at the silver notes. They were in desperate need of money right now.

But Wang Momo suddenly said, “No need.”

Huh? Yu Xiaoxiao was surprised. She hadn’t expected the chubby matron to support such a money-grabbing scheme.

Wang Momo added, “A court official sending trinkets into the palace is fine. But silver and jewels? That’s questioning whether the imperial family can afford to support his daughter.”

“What do you mean?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

“Sneaking money into the palace,” Wang Momo said solemnly, “is a capital crime.”

“Oh my god,” Yu Xiaoxiao exclaimed. “I saved Consort Hua’s life?!”

“Of course,” Wang Momo said. “If not for you, and His Majesty found out Hua Yingzhou had been secretly sending money into the palace, Consort Hua would’ve been executed. The entire Hua clan would face punishment.”

Yu Xiaoxiao was instantly filled with a sense of justice. Look at her, just casually grabbing a bag of sunflower seeds and boom—saved a whole family. A real savior of the world.

Of course, everyone else knew that Wang Momo was just spinning a tale. If the princess hadn’t been greedy for a snack, would anyone have discovered those silver notes? The Hua family had clearly gone to great lengths to hide them.

Wang Momo looked at the embroidered cloth pouch and chuckled. “The Hua family really was clever. Even the Imperial Guards wouldn’t think to dump out the seeds and inspect the pouch. They’ve probably hidden money this way every year.”

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “But those sunflower seeds were pretty good. Xiao Wei and I already ate a bunch.”

Wang Momo ignored her and continued, “I told the Empress long ago we should inspect all items sent to the palace more carefully. That Consort Hua, humph…”

She didn’t finish, but everyone present (except the princess) knew the word she didn’t say was slut.

Yu Xiaoxiao shrugged. She didn’t really get why a dad couldn’t send his daughter pocket money. But since she didn’t have to return it, she was satisfied.

“Princess, you’re amazing,” Xiao Zhuang said admiringly.

Yu Xiaoxiao turned to Gu Xinglang. “I just saw a big pile of sunflower seeds on that table—must’ve been twenty or thirty bags.”

“You should’ve taken more,” Xiao Zhuang said.

Xiao Wei couldn’t take it anymore. “Hua Yingzhou giving Consort Hua forty thousand taels a year is already a stretch. You think he could give her more than that?”

“Then how’d the princess end up with that bag?” Xiao Zhuang asked.

Yu Xiaoxiao grinned. “Just took it randomly. Figured if I only took one, they wouldn’t notice. Besides, I’m not that into sunflower seeds—I like peanuts more.”

Everyone went silent again.

“Consort Hua’s going to die of anger,” Xiao Wei muttered.

Gu Xinglang looked at his wife. “You like peanuts?”

“Yeah,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Fried ones. My favorite.”

“I’ll have the kitchen make some tomorrow,” Gu Xinglang said immediately.

“Great!” Yu Xiaoxiao beamed. Then she grabbed Gu Xinglang’s hand. “What do you like to eat?”

Gu Xinglang thought about it. He wasn’t picky—he ate everything. So he smiled and said, “Whatever you like, I like too.”

Yu Xiaoxiao smugly looked at Wang Momo. Look how perfect we are for each other!

Xiao Wei broke the sweet moment. “Your Highness, about the money…”

“Let’s deposit it in the bank,” Xiao Zhuang said.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t hesitate. “Give it to Big Brother. Didn’t they say Old Wu and the others have no land or food? Let him use this to buy land for them.”

“You really want to give it to your brother?” Gu Xinglang asked.

Wang Momo coughed violently.

Yu Xiaoxiao poured her some water. “Have some tea, Momo.”

Wang Momo accepted it with utter despair.

“Who’s Old Wu?” Xiao Wei asked. They didn’t even get to warm up the money, and it’s already gone?

Yu Xiaoxiao repeated what Xiao Feng told her. “They’re all retired soldiers. How can we let them starve?”

Xiao Wei twitched. He agreed, of course—but why did his princess have to foot the bill?

Gu Xinglang stared at Yu Xiaoxiao for a long moment, then Wang Momo, realizing what was happening, herded Xiao Zhuang, Xiao Wei, and Xiao Feng out of the room.

With no one else around, Gu Xinglang leaned forward and kissed Yu Xiaoxiao hard.

“Mmph—” Yu Xiaoxiao wasn’t the shy type. If her husband wanted kisses, she was game.

Gu Xinglang held her tightly and kissed her for a long time before pulling her into his arms.

“You’re really happy, huh?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

Gu Xinglang whispered, “Xiaoxiao… thank you.”

“For the forty thousand taels?”

“Yes.”

“I couldn’t watch those soldiers starve either.”

“I know.”

“I’m pretty amazing, aren’t I?” she said, grinning.

Yes, she really was. Where would he find another woman like her? Gu Xinglang took in the scent of her hair and said softly, “My Xiaoxiao is the best.”

Yu Xiaoxiao’s smile slowly faded. He was the second person in her life to say that. The first was now worlds away in another life, never to be seen again.

“Xiaoxiao,” Gu Xinglang said again, still holding her close.

“I’m here,” she whispered, nuzzling into his shoulder.

Outside the door, Wang Momo said to Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei, “One of you, go call the eldest young master over.”

“But he’s injured,” Xiao Wei said.

Wang Momo snapped, “And you think we should discuss stealing money from Consort Hua in his room?”

Xiao Zhuang muttered, “Well, the money was meant for shady stuff. Our princess just reclaimed it.”

WHACK! Wang Momo smacked him on the head. “If you can’t speak properly, then shut it!”