Little Pink Starfish

His Majesty Says She Looks Like Consort Li

“Father?” Yu Xiaoxiao had already heard the footsteps of Xianzong and the shadow guards, but she hadn’t expected her muddle-headed emperor father to show up himself.

Xianzong approached the Old Madam, and after hearing her scold his daughter, his anger surged. This old woman dares to look down on his daughter? Without her, would this family even be alive right now?

“You again?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled by his sudden appearance.

Xianzong glared at her. “Aren’t you usually so fierce?”

“Huh?” Yu Xiaoxiao really didn’t get what was going on today.

Xianzong pointed at the Old Madam. “You afraid of her?”

“I’m not,” Yu Xiaoxiao said honestly. She was perfectly fine—why should she be afraid of her grandmother?

Gu Xinglang began to kneel. “This subject greets His Majesty—”

“Cut that out!” Xianzong snapped. Scolding the imperial princess? Never in his life had he tolerated that. And so his fury turned to Gu Xinglang. “I gave my daughter to you in marriage, and this is how you treat her? Gu Xinglang, you worthless wretch!”

Yu Xiaoxiao was instantly displeased. She grabbed her father. “Why are you yelling at Xiao Gu?!”

Xianzong turned on her. “Can’t you have a little backbone?!”

He was losing all hope in this son-in-law. Gu Xingnuo was decent, but this Gu Xinglang—what was so good about him? His own mother must have had terrible judgment back then.

The Old Madam, trembling, knelt before the emperor. Though she was a titled noblewoman, it was her first time seeing the emperor in person. Naturally, she was terrified—especially after just reprimanding his daughter.

“What’s going on?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

“Take your Xiao Gu and get out!” Xianzong barked.

“If we go, what about you?” she asked.

“I need to have a talk with Lady Gu here,” he said coldly, glaring at the Old Madam.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t believe even her foolish emperor father would be interested in an old white-haired matron.

The Old Madam kowtowed. “This humble woman dares not.”

Xianzong narrowed his eyes. “What is it about our royal family that displeases you? What’s wrong with my daughter?”

The Old Madam had complaints about Yu Xiaoxiao from head to toe, inside and out—but dare she speak them aloud now?

“Speak!” Xianzong shouted. He might get bullied by Mo Wen, but he refused to be bullied by an old hag.

“Your Majesty—” Gu Xinglang tried to speak up.

“Shut up!” Xianzong thundered. “I’ll deal with you later!”

Yu Xiaoxiao noticed her grandmother trembling. She tugged on her father’s sleeve. “Why are you yelling at Xiao Gu? Let’s go talk about life somewhere else.”

“You spineless girl!” Xianzong looked ready to slap her. How had he ever thought his daughter was brave and indomitable? Now she was being bullied by an old woman in her husband’s home!

“Yes, yes, I’m spineless,” Yu Xiaoxiao said quickly, trying to drag this walking volcano out of the courtyard before he blew something up.

As he struggled, Xianzong accidentally kicked Da Dangjia—who was still kneeling beside Li Yuanle. The pirate didn’t even make a sound.

“You’re Li Yuanle, right?” Xianzong asked, finally noticing.

Li Yuanle bowed immediately. “This subject Li Yuanle greets Your Majesty.”

Xianzong’s glare at the Old Madam grew darker. Scolding my daughter in front of unrelated men? Bold, aren’t you!

Gu Xinglang suddenly remembered something and signaled Yu Xiaoxiao with his eyes—Get His Majesty out of here!

Yu Xiaoxiao followed his gaze to Li Wan, and finally realized—Crap, if my dad sees the Li girl, there’s going to be trouble!

“What’s going on here?” Xianzong had already followed their line of sight and spotted Li Wan. “Who is this girl?”

Li Wan knew she mustn’t raise her head, no matter what.

“She’s Xiong Xiong’s wife,” Yu Xiaoxiao answered quickly.

“Xiong Xiong?” Xianzong looked between Li Yuanle and Da Dangjia. “Which one is Xiong Xiong?”

Yu Xiaoxiao sighed. “Can you let my grandma up first?”

“Kneel!” Xianzong barked at the Old Madam.

“Seriously, what are you here for?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked in frustration.

“You have your father,” Xianzong said. “Why are you afraid? Girl, lift your head. I swear I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Li Wan’s fingernails dug deep into the soil, nearly breaking, but she felt no pain.

Da Dangjia raised his head. “Your Majesty, this woman is my betrothed.”

“You think every woman you don’t recognize looks familiar?” Yu Xiaoxiao said, still dragging her father away. “Let’s go, seriously.”

“Wait—Li Yuanle,” Xianzong called.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

Xianzong stared him down. “Why do I feel like you’re shielding her too? Who is she to you?”

Li Yuanle froze, too tense to speak.

One of the shadow guards suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Li Wan’s chin, and lifted her face.

Li Wan felt all hope drain from her. She really wasn’t meant to be lucky in life.

Xianzong looked closely and raised an eyebrow.

Yu Xiaoxiao asked, “You know her?”

“She looks like Consort Li,” he muttered.

Everyone present, except for Yu Xiaoxiao, suddenly felt like the sky was falling.

“Consort Li?” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “The one who got burned to death?”

Xianzong nodded and looked at Li Yuanle. “Why are you here?”

“He’s Xiao Gu’s brother, came over to hang out,” Yu Xiaoxiao said quickly. “Father, you’ve had enough women—please, leave other people’s wives alone.”

Xianzong: “…”

“Let’s go talk about life,” Yu Xiaoxiao said again and took off running with her father in tow.

Xianzong only had time to say, “I—!” before he vanished with his daughter like a gust of wind.

The garden fell into complete silence.

Who knew how long passed before Gu Xinglang finally spoke to Wang Momo: “Momo, please help my grandmother up.”

Wang Momo walked to the Old Madam’s side and easily lifted her. “Old Madam, Her Highness is a royal princess. Aside from His Majesty and the late Empress, no third person on earth has the right to criticize her.”