Little Pink Starfish

A Wife’s Stomach Is a Bottomless Pit

Gu Xinglang found Yu Xiaoxiao near the city gate’s marketplace, where his wife was currently standing with Xiao Wei in front of a bun stall, staring eagerly at the steamer waiting for buns to finish cooking.

It was Xiao Wei who spotted Gu Xinglang first. “Princess, Prince Consort is here.”

Yu Xiaoxiao turned and, seeing it really was her little Gu, asked, “What kind of bun do you want?”

“I’m not hungry,” Gu Xinglang replied, shaking his head.

Yu Xiaoxiao counted the number of arriving guards and told the stall owner, “Two more steamers, please.”

The boss, thrilled by the massive order, beamed. “Coming right up!”

One sharp-eyed guard quickly dismounted and jogged over to take their place in line, standing to wait for the buns.

Only then did Yu Xiaoxiao and Xiao Wei head toward the carriage. Gu Xinglang noticed that several passersby veered off the road the moment they saw his wife and Xiao Wei. He scanned Yu Xiaoxiao from head to toe and asked, “Did you get into another fight outside the city?”

“Huh?” Yu Xiaoxiao blinked in surprise. “How did you know?”

Gu Xinglang rubbed his forehead. He’d seen the looks on those pedestrians—his wife had clearly been out there killing it, figuratively (hopefully) and literally. “What happened this time?” he asked Xiao Wei.

Xiao Wei leaned in and whispered, “Princess discovered monks from Yongsheng Temple following Prince Jing Mo’s party.”

Gu Xinglang’s brows immediately furrowed. He looked at Yu Xiaoxiao. “Are you sure they were after Jing Mo?”

Yu Xiaoxiao shook her head. “Not sure.”

Gu Xinglang choked. Not sure and you still fought them?!

“They were headed north too,” Yu Xiaoxiao said matter-of-factly. “And they’re from Yongsheng Temple, so definitely no good. Might as well beat them up first.”

Gu Xinglang thought about it and reluctantly agreed. That logic… weirdly checks out.

“Where are they now?” he asked.

Yu Xiaoxiao glanced longingly at her buns. “Lying outside the city. They won’t be able to walk upright for at least half a month. I told them to chase Jing Mo and Wu Huan if they can.”

Xiao Wei added, “They were disguised. I think they really were chasing the prince.”

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Yongsheng Temple types never mean anything good.”

Gu Xinglang thought for a moment and said, “How many of them were there?”

“Twelve,” Xiao Wei replied.

“Bring them into the city and hand them over to the Ministry of Justice. Say they’re impersonating monks from Yongsheng Temple to scam people.”

Xiao Wei nodded, but then winced. “But… didn’t the Ministry get burned down last night? Can they still handle it?”

Gu Xinglang paused. “Then take them to the palace. Let His Majesty decide.”

Xiao Wei opened his mouth, hesitated, and didn’t say what he was thinking—Has the Prince Consort been around the Princess too long? Even he doesn’t seem to fear the emperor anymore…

Yu Xiaoxiao was pleased. “Yes, take them to my dad. He can slice or roast them however he likes.”

Xiao Wei now feared for his own life more than the monks’. What if the emperor got angry and took it out on him?

The buns were finally ready, and the stall owner hollered cheerfully, “Madam, your buns are done!”

Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyes sparkled. She turned to Gu Xinglang. “Wait here, I’ll get the buns!”

The guards each took four large meat buns and began munching while heading out with Xiao Wei toward the north.

Yu Xiaoxiao carried two large bundles of buns onto the carriage and sat beside Gu Xinglang. Without even asking if he was hungry, she stuffed a bun into his hand.

Gu Xinglang told the driver to head back to the mansion, then turned to see his wife already devouring a bun. By the time he blinked, she was reaching for her second.

“Still hungry?” he asked.

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. “Just had a fight. Of course I’m hungry.”

Gu Xinglang poured a cup of water and began feeding her small sips between bites. “Eat slower.”

After four buns, Yu Xiaoxiao looked up and said, “Little Gu, let’s go to Big Bowl Restaurant for lunch.”

Gu Xinglang glanced at the half-eaten bun in her hand.

“Lunch,” Yu Xiaoxiao clarified seriously.

He couldn’t help himself. Gu Xinglang reached out and gently patted her stomach. Is this a bottomless pit? How does she never get full?

Yu Xiaoxiao looked down at his hand. “What are you doing?”

“If we’re going to Big Bowl, then don’t eat this bun,” Gu Xinglang said, genuinely worried she’d make herself sick.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked regretfully at the half bun in her hand. It had thin skin, a juicy filling—it was a good bun.

Gu Xinglang suddenly leaned over and took a big bite, swallowing two-thirds of it in one go.

Normally, anyone who dared steal food from Yu Xiaoxiao would be courting death. But this was her Gu. Even though she felt a bit awkward, she still stuffed the last third of the bun into his mouth. They were a couple after all—how could a good woman not spoil her man?

(…Something feels off here. ==)

Gu Xinglang took her to Big Bowl Restaurant. With no Jing Mo or Zuo You around to ruin his day, he was finally in a good mood.

Back at the Gu residence, the old madam was instructing the steward, “Go find Third Young Master and ask where exactly he’s gone to fetch the princess!”

The steward responded quickly and left her quarters.

“One bunch of unfilial sons!” the old lady raged.

A maid tried to soothe her. “Don’t be angry, madam. Third Young Master might be back soon.”

“His elder brothers are busy with military matters—what’s he doing?” she fumed. “His mother is moving out, and he only has eyes for that princess!”

The maid wisely said nothing. When it came to the princess, who dared to comment? Everyone remembered what happened to Qingyu.

On the northern road out of the capital, a guard galloped to Jing Mo’s side and reported, “Master, that Qiu girl has woken up. She says she’s in pain.”

Jing Mo didn’t even glance over. “Find a place and dump her.”

The guard acknowledged and rode back to the end of the group.

After being thrown by Yu Xiaoxiao, Qiuqiu had landed poorly, breaking her hip on a decorative rock. With no value left, Jing Mo—cold to the core—had never once checked on her since.

As the guard approached a thicket by the road, he turned to two attendants and ordered, “Toss her in the woods.”