Little Pink Starfish

The Chieftain Who Offered His Son as a Gift

After kowtowing three times, the tattooed barbarian finally stood up and brought his son back to stand before Yu Xiaoxiao.

“Uncle, you’re being way too polite,” Yu Xiaoxiao said as she stayed behind Xiaowei, wary the man might kneel again.

“This is my son. His name is Dongdan,” the tattooed man introduced.

“Oh, hello Dongdan,” Yu Xiaoxiao greeted the young man.

Dongdan glanced at Yu Xiaoxiao with an expression that, to her, looked like someone bravely walking to their execution.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked his father.

The tattooed man replied, “Miss doesn’t want a reward, but in our Miao culture, we always repay kindness.”

“So… what kind of reward are you thinking of?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. If it was food, she felt she could accept.

The man pushed Dongdan forward and said, “Dongdan is sixteen. He can serve Miss.”

Yu Xiaoxiao asked uncertainly, “What exactly do you mean by serve?” He couldn’t possibly be offering up his own son as a slave, right?

The man answered, “He understands the ways between men and women. He can serve Miss well.”

Yu Xiaoxiao: …

Gu Xinglang, who had just finished speaking with Jiang Zhuojun and walked over…

Everyone fell silent.

Dongdan looked up at Yu Xiaoxiao again, his expression full of grievance. He had a girl he loved back in the village, but this lady had saved all the able-bodied men of their tribe—he had to repay that debt.

Yu Xiaoxiao, completely unbothered by propriety, quickly regained her voice. Looking at Dongdan, she asked his father, “So, women in your tribe can have multiple husbands?”

Is this heaven for women or what?!

The tattooed man nodded.

So it was a matriarchal society! Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyes sparkled.

At this moment, Gu Xinglang stepped up and gave her a strange look.

Yu Xiaoxiao excitedly told him, “Xiao Gu! In their place, women can have multiple husbands!”

Everyone: …

Your Highness, are you seriously that excited? Are you actually considering polyandry?! Give your husband a break—this is cruel!

Gu Xinglang pulled Yu Xiaoxiao behind him, looked at the tattooed father and son, and said, “I’m her husband. If you have anything to say, say it to me.”

The tattooed man looked in disbelief at the young face peeking out from behind Gu Xinglang. She looks so young, and she’s already married?

“You’re married?” Dongdan couldn’t believe it either. This girl looked way younger than Niyah—how could she be married already?

“Sorry,” Yu Xiaoxiao apologized reflexively upon seeing their expressions. “Xiao Gu and I married young.”

“Great kindness needs no thanks,” Gu Xinglang said coldly. “So please, return to your homes.”

“But…” the man was clearly conflicted. They had no gold or silver to offer. If they just left like this, how could their tribe face others back in the Miao lands?

“In our land, it’s one husband, one wife,” Yu Xiaoxiao explained. “Dongdan can be my little brother.” She gave up on the second-husband idea—even she had to consider Gu Xinglang’s feelings.

At that, the tattooed man gave a dismissive snort. Foreigners and their silly customs. Doesn’t having more men mean more kids?

Dongdan, however, said to Yu Xiaoxiao, “I’m older than you.”

“I’m thirty. How old are you?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked the teen.

Everyone—including the barbarians: …

Come on, we’ve seen thirty-year-old women before. Do you think we don’t know what they look like?

Dongdan was furious, but he didn’t dare get angry. This lady was their tribe’s savior.

“I’m called Nuxiong,” the tattooed man introduced himself to Gu Xinglang.

Gu Xinglang nodded and said, “We’re outsiders and won’t stay in Zhuque long. Nuxiong…” He paused, unsure how to address the man.

Big Boss ran up and whispered, “Chieftain. His people call him Chieftain.”

“Nuxiong Chieftain,” Gu Xinglang said, “To avoid pursuit by Zhuque’s soldiers, you should leave quickly.”

Even though he had introduced himself, Gu Xinglang didn’t share his own name, but Nuxiong understood—these people had their reasons. “Take care,” he said heartily, clasping fists toward Gu Xinglang. “If you ever visit the Miao lands, come to Yun Village. You and your lady will be honored guests.”

“You take care too,” Gu Xinglang returned the gesture. “If we visit, we’ll be sure to come see you.”

Nuxiong led his people into the mountains.

Before leaving, Dongdan gave Yu Xiaoxiao one last look. She’s married and doesn’t even have a better figure than Niyah!

Yu Xiaoxiao turned to Gu Xinglang and said, “Did you get the feeling that kid looks down on me?”

Gu Xinglang looked down at his wife and said, “I’m still trying to wrap my head around how that Nuxiong tried to give you his son.”

Yu Xiaoxiao shrugged, “He was joking. That’s his actual son. What kind of dad would give his son away as a concubine? He was just messing with you. And you fell for it.”

Give his own son away as a concubine.

That line kept repeating in Gu Xinglang’s head.

Xiaowei walked off—he couldn’t hold in his laughter without embarrassing the prince.

Big Boss was not as discreet. Holding his belly, he laughed loudly and asked, “Princess, does that make the prince your main wife?”

Gu Xinglang wasn’t going to hurt his beloved wife, but Big Boss? He kicked him straight into a bush. Then he told Yu Xiaoxiao, “What if Momo hears you say things like that?”

Xiaozhuang shook his head and walked away. The prince has now sunk to the level of using the nanny as a threat.

“I don’t want anyone else. Just you,” Yu Xiaoxiao said, grabbing Gu Xinglang’s hand. “We should respect Nuxiong’s culture and social structure. It’s matriarchal, after all.”

“Matri-what?” Gu Xinglang asked.

Yu Xiaoxiao sighed—if she had to explain, she’d be talking all the way back to the dawn of human evolution. Standing on tiptoe to kiss her little Gu, she smiled and said, “I don’t want anyone but you.”

That made Gu Xinglang happy—if a bit awkward. Wasn’t he the one who should be saying that?

Just then, Momo Wang finally showed up. Seeing the couple standing hand in hand, she gave up on lecturing them in public. It was useless. Her princess had the perfect attitude for admitting fault—but would never change.

“Princess, Prince Consort,” Momo Wang said, “What now? We’ve got over a hundred people here—some old, some young, some injured. We can’t just let them freeze on this mountain.”