Little Pink Starfish

A Princess’s Life Needs No Explanation

“There’s no problem with the travel documents,” Ergouzi, who’d been squatting nearby enjoying the show, suddenly remembered something important. Jumping to his feet, he ran over to Yu Xiaoxiao and said, “Princess, the papers are fine!”

Hearing this, Yu Xiaoxiao turned to Jiang Zhuojun and asked, “Is your emperor illiterate?” If Li Xiaoyuan couldn’t read, then she was confident they could bluff their way through with the documents.

Jiang Zhuojun: …

Tian Xingzi added, “Princess, an illiterate man can’t become emperor.”

Yu Xiaoxiao turned to Ergouzi again.

Ergouzi pulled the travel documents from his pocket and said, “Princess, it doesn’t matter whether the Zhuque Emperor can read or not—I didn’t get the Taichang Governor’s seal on it!”

Yu Xiaoxiao snatched the papers from his hands—great! They could go have fun again!

Ergouzi, waiting for praise, looked at Yu Xiaoxiao expectantly.

“I’ll find you a wife later,” Yu Xiaoxiao generously declared. “A pretty one!”

Crash! Ergouzi’s young heart shattered on the spot.

Gu Xinglang examined the documents and said, “There’s no official seal from the Taichang Governor.”

Tian Xingzi sighed, “That actually makes things more troublesome.”

Yu Xiaoxiao frowned. “Why is that more troublesome?”

The old Daoist explained, “Without Taichang’s seal, how do we explain this at the next city? All the seals have to be in order.”

Big Boss offered, “What’s the big deal? Prince Consort, just carve a Taichang seal and stamp it.”

Gu Xinglang replied, “I don’t know how to carve seals.”

“Then Daoist Priest,” Big Boss turned to the old man, “You deal with ghosts all day. Isn’t carving a seal easier than exorcisms?”

The Daoist snapped, “I divine the mysteries of heaven! I don’t exorcise ghosts!”

“Come on,” Big Boss said. “Aren’t all Daoists ghost-catchers?”

“Exactly,” Yu Xiaoxiao agreed. “We’re not that educated, Daoist, don’t try to fool us.”

The Daoist: …

“Then it’s settled,” Yu Xiaoxiao waved her hand and shoved the documents into the old Daoist’s hands. “You carve a seal. We’ve got turnips with us.”

Jiang Zhuojun couldn’t hold it in anymore. “What do turnips have to do with seal carving?”

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t even need to explain—Big Boss stepped up, saying, “Turnips are round, easy to carve, and once you’ve stamped with them, just wash off the ink and you can eat ‘em.”

Ergouzi said, “Big Bro, you’re a genius.”

“Haha!” Big Boss laughed. “Princess and I think alike.”

Ergouzi added, “But Princess is even smarter than you.”

“Get lost!” Big Boss tackled Ergouzi, pounding him.

The former pirates roared with laughter as they watched the chaos.

Jiang Zhuojun… These people can still laugh right now?

The Daoist turned to Yu Xiaoxiao and asked, “Princess, is this really the time to be laughing?”

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Well, I’m not about to cry. Go get the turnip.”

“I don’t know how to carve seals,” the Daoist admitted.

“You don’t?” Yu Xiaoxiao frowned. What exactly is this guy good for, then?

Being stared at like he was useless made the Daoist bristle. “Who says everyone from the Heavenly Secrets Sect knows how to carve seals?!”

Heavenly Secrets Sect? Jiang Zhuojun blinked in surprise at the mention of this elite sect.

“Heavenly what sect?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. “No matter how fancy your sect is, you’re still just a fortune-telling con artist who tricks gullible women.”

“Princess,” Second Boss chimed in, “Don’t count on the Daoist. He’s only good at eating.”

The old Daoist crouched on the ground, stewing. They’ll regret not trusting me one day…

Jiang Zhuojun looked at the sulking Daoist and suddenly felt disillusioned about the legendary Heavenly Secrets Sect.

Big Boss, done beating Ergouzi, finally returned to the issue at hand. “Princess, since no one can carve the seal, what now?”

Yu Xiaoxiao walked around the fire, then stopped and said, “Then we’ll just say we never passed through Taichang.”

“Never passed Taichang?” Big Boss asked. “Did we fly over it?”

Gu Xinglang said, “If we took the mountain path, it’s possible to avoid Taichang.”

“Then let’s say that,” Yu Xiaoxiao agreed.

Big Boss asked, “What if someone asks why we didn’t go through the city?”

Yu Xiaoxiao’s expression didn’t change. Word by word, she declared: “Because. I. Like. Climbing. Mountains.”

Big Boss wiped his face. Fair enough. That’s… a reason.

“Any more questions?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked her crew.

The former pirates all shook their heads.

Yu Xiaoxiao snorted, “Honestly, my life needs no explanation.”

“Princess is mighty!” Ergouzi cheered from the floor.

Second Boss added, “But with this many wagons, climbing mountains doesn’t make much sense…” The carts had nearly driven them crazy on the way here.

Yu Xiaoxiao replied, “I like it. Who’s gonna stop me?”

Second Boss shut his mouth. If Her Highness didn’t even feel the need to explain her life, why would she justify her travel route?

Big Boss turned to Gu Xinglang and asked, “Prince Consort, do you agree with this?”

Gu Xinglang looked at Yu Xiaoxiao and asked, “So we’re still heading to Chiyang City?”

“Of course,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “If we don’t go to Chiyang, how are we supposed to rescue the Fourth Prince?”

Oh my god!

Everyone was stunned.

Gu Xinglang just barely held on, though his eyes started drifting. “You mean…” he asked, “we’re going to rescue the Zhuque Fourth Prince?” No way. That’s not what she meant, right? Please tell me that’s not what she meant.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Jiang Zhuojun and said, “Xiao Gu, if we don’t rescue the Fourth Prince, what—are we going to bring Xiao Jiang back to Fengtian?”

Gu Xinglang covered his face. Give me a moment to process this…

As for Jiang Zhuojun—Her Highness’s declaration had stunned him into complete silence.

The Daoist shuffled over to Momo Wang and whispered, “The son Consort Yu gave birth to is the Seventh Prince, right?”

“Yes,” Momo Wang said. “So what?”

The Daoist blinked. “Then why is the princess helping outsiders instead of her own kin?”

Momo Wang gave him a chilly stare. “Because the princess wants to. What’s it to you?”

The Daoist shuffled away again. That scary woman’s glare always left him rattled.

Big Boss wiped sweat from his brow and said to Yu Xiaoxiao, “Princess, this task is too difficult. If we want to break into Zhuque’s heavenly prison, we don’t have enough manpower. I think it’s better to take this General Jiang back to Fengtian.” He turned to Jiang Zhuojun and added with a smile, “You’re a general. Does it really matter where you serve?”