Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Royal Son-in-Law is Bathing

Xiao Wei hastily shook his head. They were already home, so who could take it if another fight broke out?

“Then what’s wrong?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.

Gu Xingnuo sped up and walked ahead. Xiao Wei told Yu Xiaoxiao in a small voice, “Princess, Royal Son-in-Law means to say, don’t talk about Esteemed Consort Zhao and Junior Master Fenglin’s matters at home.”

Yu Xiaoxiao wouldn’t have remembered those two wretches if Xiao Wei hadn’t brought them up. She glanced at Gu Xinglang before asking, “Why not?”

Gu Xinglang coughed dryly before muttering, “Princess, family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly.”

Humans all had a propensity for gossip, so the two sling chair bearers perked up their ears at Gu Xinglang’s words. What kind of family scandal are we talking about here?

Yu Xiaoxiao only half understood. Consort Zhao’s not part of my family, so what’s this about “family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xiao Wei examined the princess’s clearly clueless gaze and drew close to mutter, “Princess, you have to consider His Sixth Highness, ah. Esteemed Consort Zhao is his biological mother.”

Now Yu Xiaoxiao understood. If Little Sixth’s own mother was known to be a red plum tree jutting out of a courtyard, then it would negatively affect Little Sixth. When she recalled his tiny beansprout frame, Yu Xiaoxiao made a zipping motion across her lips. “Understood, I won’t say a thing.”

Now both Gu Xinglang and Xiao Wei felt at ease. They didn’t care whether Consort Zhao lived or died, but they felt she was only seeking death by forcing a green hat on her imperial father’s head.

The old patriarch was in the study and hadn’t stopped smiling from the moment Yu Xiaoxiao walked into the room. Once he had ascertained he could resume his post at Wangxiang Pass, his smile widened to a point that both Gu brothers found it hard to accept. Was this old man smiling like a fool really their grandfather?

Yu Xiaoxiao told him, “Grandpa, I convinced Zhao Beicheng to admit his crimes.”

The old patriarch gave her a thumbs up. “Good! Your Royal Highness has done splendidly. Now this is an imperial princess and our Gu Clan’s daughter-in-law.”

“Haha, isn’t that right?” Yu Xiaoxiao was very happy. The expression on her face didn’t chance much, but her laughter was clear and bright. “I think I’m pretty powerful too.”

The old patriarch said, “Princess can ask me for any reward you like.”

Now Gu Xingnuo knew that things were over. The old patriarch’s treating Her Royal Highness as one of his subordinates now. What could you award a princess of the royal court? Our household is completely penniless right now. We still need to rely on Her Royal Highness’s dowry to feed ourselves!

Yu Xiaoxiao gave a start. She never expected a reward, but seeing her grandpa’s expectant gaze made her think. After a while, she said, “How about 100 jin of husked rice?” In the apocalypse, killing 50 zombies earned a single piece of bread. Since she hadn’t done much this time in comparison, she was even a little uncertain about her request.

Gu Xingnuo and Gu Xinglang both rested their foreheads in their hands. They’d never heard of anyone asking for rice as a reward. This isn’t a time of famine.

The old patriarch grew serious. “100 jin of husked rice?”

Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. She almost wanted to tell him that 50 jin was okay too if this was too extravagant.

The old patriarch slapped the table and said, “Sure. Grandpa will give you 200 jin of rice!”

Yu Xiaoxiao clapped and almost wanted to scatter flower petals. She knew it, her family’s grandpa was absolutely adorable! Seeing her so happy made the old patriarch cheerful as well. Chuckling, he said, “Alright now, go to bed. We’ll wait for the imperial decree to arrive tomorrow.”

Yu Xiaoxiao said loudly, “Don’t worry grandpa, if the decree doesn’t come tomorrow, I’ll go find my father in the palace.”

Gu Xinglang felt a chill down his back at the words, though it was for Xianzong’s sake. Looks like Her Royal Highness isn’t planning on letting His Majesty off.

One he and his wife departed, Gu Xingnuo remained sitting in his chair. The old patriarch asked, “You aren’t going back to rest yet?”

Gu Xingnuo said in a small voice, “Grandfather, you won’t even ask how the princess managed such a feat?” In the past, the entire Gu Clan had been sent to the prisons. So many important officials like Ying Nianyun and even the empress herself had tried their best to reverse the verdict in vain, yet it only took Princess Linglong a single meal to turn the tables. Gu Xingnuo refused to believe that his grandfather wasn’t curious about it all.

The old patriarch’s smile faded as he resumed his familiar, stern expression. “His Majesty was brought out of the palace by the princess. Whatever happened at the imperial prisons couldn’t be as simple as Zhao Beicheng admitting his guilt.”

“Then why didn’t you ask, grandfather?” Gu Xingnuo said.

“Much of the Zhao Clan’s matters involve the imperial family as well,” the old man replied. “As subjects, it’s better for us to not know too much.”

“Grandfather?”

The old patriarch waved his hand at Gu Xingnuo. “We should get to Wangxiang Pass as fast as we can. With military power in our hands, the princess and Xinglang’s days in the capital will be easier.”

Gu Xingnuo fell silent, then said, “Grandfather means to say that Zhao Qiuming and the rest will still try to meddle with our Gu Clan and the princess?”

“Things like power and might involve fighting to one’s last breath,” the old patriarch sighed. “The princess has been thinking about Xinglang this entire time. We shouldn’t ask her about things she doesn’t want to tell.”

Gu Xingnuo finally nodded. “Then what will happen to Zhao Beicheng? Will His Majesty put him to death?”

“I don’t know,” the old patriarch replied, “We’ll see. His Majesty will decide Zhao Beicheng’s fate within a few days.”

Gu Xingnuo held no hope for that. Xianzong had never done anything decisive in his life!

While the duo were chatting in the study, Yu Xiaoxiao and Gu Xinglang had already reached their quarters. He was helped by the pageboys to bathe while she ran to her darkroom to check on the status of her penicillin cultures. Wang momo followed right behind while asking, “Princess, what’s your impression of that Grand Marshal Zuo?”

“Left-Right?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked. “Isn’t he in a love-hate relationship with Little Gu?”

“Ah peh!” Wang momo spat. “I’ve seen it, that doesn’t exist.”

“Hm?” Yu Xiaoxiao’s interest in Grand Marshal Zuo spiked slightly. “Then why does he lurk around Little Gu so much?”

“You can’t tell a thing?” Wang momo asked fretfully.

Yu Xiaoxiao thought back to Zuo You’s clean-shaved face and didn’t find anything particularly outstanding. Shrugging, she began to carefully store away the penicillin cultures and said, “I’m going to try some medicine on Little Gu.”

Seeing the princess vanish in front of her eyes in a burst of wind forced Wang momo to chase after her retreating form. “Royal Son-in-Law is bathing!”

Gu Xinglang was washing up while sitting on a stool. Because his feet couldn’t get wet, two pageboys were wiping him down with wet towels. At this moment, he heard his wife’s voice from outside the door.

“Little Gu, I’m coming inside.”