Little Pink Starfish

Xiao Zhuang Meets Mingzhu

Huixin Bank had over four hundred guards. On any regular day, if they donned armor and took up spears on horseback, they would resemble a small army. Boss Qian had always considered the capital branch the safest of all his bank branches. While his branches elsewhere had faced all sorts of troubles, this one—right under the emperor’s nose—had remained peaceful since its opening.

But tonight, Boss Qian finally understood the truth: it wasn’t that his guards were especially capable, or that the imperial capital was inherently secure. It was simply that no one had tried to stir trouble before now.

As for Bear Bear’s gang, robbery was perhaps the only skill they truly excelled at. The former pirates split up quickly—one group followed Er Gouzi toward the treasury, another kept fighting the bank guards, and a third secured the escape route.

Second-in-command and Xiao Wei set fires around the bank. The wind that night was strong, and once the fire caught, it quickly spread across the compound.

Xiao Zhuang charged straight up to Boss Qian and held a blade to his neck. “Come with me!” he barked.

“You steal my money, burn my house, and now you want to kidnap me?!” Boss Qian shouted, outraged. “Do you thieves have no sense of the law?!”

Xiao Zhuang didn’t bother to reply. He was a guard to the princess—protected by none other than the emperor. Someone wanted to talk law to him? Please. He shoved Boss Qian toward the vault. “If you don’t open the door, you die.”

In the carriage, Gu Xinglang was getting anxious. “Won’t the fire destroy everything?”

Gu Xingnuo was perfectly calm. “Gold and silver can’t burn. Let it burn. Qian Taituo has deep roots in both the business and political worlds. This won’t shake him.”

Gu Xinglang relaxed a little and held Yu Xiaoxiao tighter. “She’s exhausted today,” he said softly.

“She really cares about you,” Gu Xingnuo said. “You should cherish her.”

Gu Xinglang nodded solemnly.

—

Meanwhile, Boss Qian was panicking. He’d sent runners to notify the authorities as soon as the fighting started. Why hadn’t anyone come yet?

Over at the local magistrate’s office, a constable slapped a Huixin clerk aside. The Dali Temple is literally burning across the street. You think I’ve got time to deal with your little bank robbery? The whole city’s government was either on fire duty—or starting fires, in some cases.

Xiao Zhuang shoved Boss Qian up against the heavy copper doors of the vault, where pirates were already hacking at the locks.

“Open the door,” Xiao Zhuang growled.

“You thieves!” Boss Qian spat. “Go ahead, kill me. This is the emperor’s capital—I’d like to see how you think you’re getting out alive!”

Xiao Zhuang, unimpressed, slashed Boss Qian across the belly.

Blood soaked through his robes, and Boss Qian screamed.

Xiao Zhuang dragged him back up. “I’ll ask one last time. Where’s the key?”

But Boss Qian, in a surge of courage, bared his teeth. “Kill me. This is the capital. The authorities will get you all!”

Another slash from Xiao Zhuang. Blood pooled at Boss Qian’s feet.

Still, the man refused to budge. He was sure the guards were on their way.

What he didn’t know was that half the imperial forces were guarding the palace under His Majesty’s orders, and the rest were either locking down city gates or attending to “other emergencies.” The courts were empty, and every constable available was occupied with the fire—or setting it.

The only thing officials could do about Huixin Bank right now… was laugh helplessly.

—

Xiao Zhuang stepped on Boss Qian’s fingers.

The man howled.

So he’s not afraid of dying… but pain might work, Xiao Zhuang thought.

Suddenly, a crisp female voice rang out from a cluster of flowering trees.

“You scoundrels! You’ve got some nerve!”

Xiao Zhuang turned just in time to dodge a whip slicing past his cheek.

Boss Qian, lying on the ground, saw the girl and almost passed out. Oh no. Why did you come here, you little ancestor?!

The girl wore a bright red dress, cheeks flushed, big round eyes, a small nose and rosebud lips. Her face was soft and round—just a bit chubbier than the princess. Xiao Zhuang thought she was almost as pretty as his mistress. Almost.

“Is… is her dress embroidered with gold?” Er Gouzi gasped.

“That’s gold thread, you idiot,” someone smacked him.

“Who are you?” Xiao Zhuang asked the girl.

Boss Qian desperately shook his head at her—Don’t reveal yourself!

The girl huffed proudly. “I am the heir to Huixin Bank!”

Everyone knew Qian Taituo had many women but only one child—his precious daughter.

“Qian Mingzhu?” Xiao Zhuang asked.