Little Pink Starfish

Second-in-Command’s Tears

The guards of the Gu estate were brimming with sympathy for Second-in-Command. Sure, finding a wife in this era wasn’t easy—but who wanted a foolish wife? What’s that? The princess herself seems a little slow sometimes too? Go ahead, say that to her face—we dare you.

Yu Xiaoxiao returned home, carrying the chubby girl directly toward the quarters where Second-in-Command stayed.

“Princess, I share a room with the brothers!” he protested in panic. “You can’t just toss her in there!” For the first time, he felt how blessed it was to bunk with other men.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Gu Xinglang.

Gu Xinglang calmly instructed the steward who had come out to greet them, “Prepare a private room for Xu Wei.”

Spoiling your wife this much is criminal! Second-in-Command glared at Gu Xinglang. Is there no man in this house who’ll stand up to this madness?

“Boss!” he called out desperately.

“Xiong Neng isn’t here,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied matter-of-factly.

“Princess, I was wrong, please let me go!” Second-in-Command begged. Next time he saw a woman on the street—even if she looked like a celestial maiden—he swore he’d keep his mouth shut.

“Give it a chance,” Yu Xiaoxiao said as she carried the girl. “You’ll have to marry someone eventually. I get why you say you don’t know her, but you ran the whole way with her, didn’t you?”

“Because I must’ve been temporarily stupid!”

“No,” Yu Xiaoxiao said firmly. “You’re mentally sound. You just subconsciously like her.”

“W-why should I believe you?” he stammered.

“Because I’m an expert in love,” Yu Xiaoxiao declared. “Love is all about that first glance. I picked Little Gu the moment I saw him.”

Second-in-Command burst into tears. Why did I ever go after that pig’s head with Er Gouzi? Why did I mess with this insane woman?! And Prince Consort, stop smirking like that—I see you!

Despite all his protesting, a doctor was brought to treat his wounds, and the girl was placed in his bed by order of their “beloved” princess.

“You made such a scene with the princess and third young master at the gate,” the steward said sympathetically. “Now the whole estate knows you’ve got a wife.”

“She’s not my wife!” Second-in-Command tried to defend himself.

“You two are sleeping in the same bed,” the steward replied calmly.

Second-in-Command gave up. This house has no good people!

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoxiao and Gu Xinglang visited Xiao Wei, whose wounds had already been treated. Then they returned to their room and sat down to eat peanut-stuffed sweet dumplings. Yu Xiaoxiao ate without even raising her head.

“Slow down,” Gu Xinglang said gently as he split a dumpling open and blew on the hot filling.

“It’s delicious,” Yu Xiaoxiao said between bites.

“The kitchen made plenty,” Gu Xinglang said, wiping a smear of filling from her mouth.

“Leave a bowl for Big Brother, and one for Xiao Wei,” Yu Xiaoxiao instructed, already assigning the leftovers.

“Of course,” Gu Xinglang said easily. As long as she wasn’t overeating, she could have as many dumplings as she liked.

“Send Little Zhuang’s bear cubs back to him,” Yu Xiaoxiao added, not forgetting her favorite henchman.

Gu Xinglang nodded. He knew “bear cubs” referred to Xiao Zhuang’s sons.

Yu Xiaoxiao, finding nothing more to say, held up a dumpling to Gu Xinglang’s lips. “Here. You eat too.”

The aroma of the peanut filling, rich with sesame oil, was mouthwatering. Gu Xinglang hadn’t been hungry, but being hand-fed like this—and with such a scent—how could he resist? He swallowed the dumpling whole.

“You need to nourish your wounds,” Yu Xiaoxiao said, feeding him another one. When it came to feeding her man, she was very generous.

Gu Xinglang opened his mouth obediently and quietly pinched his waist. At this rate, am I going to get fat?

While the royal couple enjoyed their sweets, Zhao Qiuming was being stabbed awake by the doctor.

“Father,” Zhao Second Young Master called, seeing his father open his eyes.

Zhao Qiuming looked at the doctor.

“Prime Minister,” the doctor said quickly, “you’re seriously injured this time. You must rest and avoid stress.”

“Thank you. You may go,” Zhao Qiuming said. He’d heard these lines so many times he could recite them himself. But how could he stay calm and carefree when his household was falling into ruin?

The doctor left to prepare the prescriptions.

“Father, you’ve broken a rib again,” Zhao Second Son said. “The doctor says you must stay in bed.”

“Where’s the princess?” Zhao Qiuming asked.

“She left.”

“Did anyone die?”

“No, just a lot of injuries.”

Zhao Qiuming’s breathing grew labored. His ribs throbbed with pain.

“Are you in pain again?” his son asked nervously.

Zhao Qiuming shook his head and waited before asking, “Has your third brother returned?”

“No… and where could a girl like Third Sister even run to in the middle of the night?”

“Have your fourth brother bring Second Miss here.”

“But what about the princess? Are we just letting this go?” Second Son was indignant.

“The emperor doesn’t trust me right now,” Zhao Qiuming said with a bitter sigh. “Going to the palace now would only worsen things.”

“So we just swallow this?!”

“We endure it—for now,” Zhao Qiuming said. “Master Mo Wen is still in the capital. As long as he’s willing to speak for us, the Zhao family won’t collapse just yet.”

“Father!”

“Go get your second sister!” Zhao Qiuming barked.

Not long after, Fourth Young Master returned with Second Miss Zhao, practically dragging her into the bedroom.

The servants were dismissed. Second Son personally stood guard outside the door.

“Where’s your third sister?” Zhao Qiuming asked.

The girl shook her head.

Fourth Son yanked off her veiled hat. “Father’s asking you directly. Why won’t you speak? If something happens to her—what then?”

She lowered her head and said nothing.

Zhao Qiuming sighed. “You hate me for it, don’t you? I already told you both—those two girls were just temporary stand-ins. I will arrange proper futures for you. You don’t trust me?”