Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Eldest Princess’s Ruthless, Vicious Ways

Zuo You’s heart beat rapidly as Yu Xiaoxiao studied him. This princess could throw him into the river with her bare hands. Could any other girl in the world do that? She was truly one of a kind, so how did a cripple like Gu Xinglang nab her? He glared at the man before asking Yu Xiaoxiao, “Then princess means to say that I should kill Gu Xinglang?”

Yu Xiaoxiao replied, “You can stay like this for the rest of your life.” How’s anyone gonna kill Gu Xinglang with me around? Unless I’m the one who does it.

Zuo You’s heart ached as he told Gu Xinglang, “Let’s meet on the battlefield again. I don’t know how you’re gonna manage that when you can’t even walk, though.”

Gu Xinglang ignored this lunatic.

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “His ankles will heal very soon.”

Zuo You was surprised. “Didn’t they say his tendons were shot?”

Jing Mo couldn’t help but remark, “Did you just come here to parade your walking skills in front of the Royal Son-in-Law so he could see your uninjured legs?” He’d know Zuo You for a few years now and understood he was an eccentric, perhaps even two steps short of insanity.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t wait for Zuo You’s reply before she declared, “It’s not like he’s some shabi,1 so why would he do that?”

Zuo You didn’t know what a shabi was, but anything with “sha,” or “foolish” in the name couldn’t be a compliment. He quickly shook his head in agreement. “Of course I’m not.”

“It was Her Royal Highness who cured the Royal Son-in-Law’s legs,” Jing Mo stated.

So she’s not only good with martial arts, but medical skills too? Zuo You’s glare on Gu Xinglang intensified. This cripple! How’d he get so lucky?!

Xianzong now coughed lightly from his seat. Had all of them forgotten about him? Couldn’t they spare some dignity for the sovereign of an entire nation?

Yu Xiaoxiao turned towards him and asked, “Imperial Father, what’s wrong?”

“Linlong.” Xianzong replied, “We’re here today on account of your sixth brother’s matters.”

Jing Mo looked back at the Zhao Clan. By now, the tears had dried on Consort Zhao’s face. Under the influence of illness, this devastating beauty seemed pale and wan. Her expression was a little chilly.

Jing Mo told Xianzong, “Your Majesty, I’ve already said my piece. This one shall take my leave now.”

Consort Zhao’s sobbing started up again. Jing Mo paid his respects to Xianzong before easily turning his back and striding out, giving the emperor no time to refute. Yu Xiaoxiao saw this and felt that there was no point in hanging around with Gu Xinglang either. She too, said, “Imperial Father, then we’ll be off too.”

Zuo You had the impression that Xianzong still doted on his daughter. Princess Linglong hadn’t even used any honorifics to refer to herself in their conversation like “this subject,” but stuck directly with “I” and “we.”

Xianzong’s eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Yu Xiaoxiao with a sigh.

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Even if I said Little Seventh should go, I can’t do anything if Jing Mo doesn’t agree.”

Consort Zhao said, “I expect Your Royal Highness must be thrilled inside?”

“I’m very sad,” Yu Xiaoxiao said while looking at her father. “Really. If our country was more powerful, then none of my seven brothers will have to be hostages.”

Xianzong’s face flushed. That’s right. As the emperor and a father, I can’t even protect my own sons and made a fool of myself. But is that my fault? This is the kingdom that was handed over to me. The Yu Clan’s been weak for generations, so what can I do?

Gu Xinglang was also mortally ashamed. As a warrior who couldn’t protect his nation, how could he be fit to be a general?

“Go on,” Xianzong gave a long sigh before dismissing Yu Xiaoxiao.

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei lifted up Gu Xinglang before escaping as if their lives depended on it. They were almost at their limits playing pretend. The fact that Grand Marshal Zuo was that Big Beardy had almost made them wet their pants in fear.

Zuo You watched Yu Xiaoxiao walk away with reluctance in his heart. What a wonderful girl! Why did she have to marry? If he knew she was so much to his tastes, he would have rushed here before her wedding to ask for her hand himself! So annoyed he felt that he pounded his head in vexation.

Xianzong had a fright. Would a normal person suddenly start hitting themselves out of the blue? There were enough cases tangling up his court. Please don’t cause any more trouble.

“It’s great that His Seventh Highness will be alright,” Gu Xinglang murmured to Yu Xiaoxiao in the hallway outside the study. “I don’t know why Jing Mo suddenly changed his mind, but this is good news for us.”

“Mm,” Yu Xiaoxiao murmured back. “Looks like he listened to the advice I gave him last night.”

The three men with her fell silent. What exactly did the princess tell Jing Mo last night?

“Let’s go home,” Yu Xiaoxiao felt light all over. “We’ll go eat lunch.”

Gu Xinglang could only agree. He couldn’t very well starve his own wife.

Xiao Zhuang couldn’t help but mutter, “Did he get scared because the princess wrecked one of his buildings?”

Gu Xinglang didn’t catch the words and asked, “What did you say?”

“N-nothing,” Xiao Zhuang put on an ugly smile. Even if they beat him to death, he’d never tell about the fallen building.

Yu Xiaoxiao walked in the very front, thinking of what to eat for lunch. She didn’t hear any of the conversation between the three men.

“Princess,” Jing Mo was standing at the doorway to the courtyard, waiting for Yu Xiaoxiao to arrive. He stepped forward at their approach and blocked her way.

Yu Xiaoxiao stopped. “This time it’s all thanks to you.” The cruel female emperor had been on good terms with this lover. Now that Yu Ziyi was spared, Wang momo wouldn’t shed so many tears. Moreover, she was grateful to him for the free meals as well.

Jing Mo smiled. “Princess is being overly formal when I should be the one giving thanks. Your words yesterday broadened my horizons.”2

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t know what “broadened my horizons” meant, but she nodded with satisfaction. “My words are never wrong. You have to listen to them.”

Jing Mo cupped his fist at her. “Many thanks to the princess.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“You’re welcome,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied.

The three men behind her fell silent. Did the princess tell Jing Mo anything significant last night?

Jing Mo stepped out of the way and said, “Princess Linglong, if you please.”

“Later,” Yu Xiaoxiao bid him farewell. She had just decided on noodles for lunch today.

—

Last night, Jing Qian’s aide had been crushed by a wooden platform. It was impossible for wood to rain down from the skies, so it must have been a manmade disaster. Who would keep their eyes on a side door of the Zhao Estate for no reason? Everyone in Complacent Winery had been questioned, but none of them had gone to the southeast wall before the incident happened. All of them were active indoors except for Princess Linglong and her two shadow guards.

Jing Mo watched Yu Xiaoxiao’s figure fade into the distance as his gaze grew thoughtful. The eldest princess is fighting against the Zhao Clan, so she kept her eyes on their estate. She could alert me to their secret dealings with Jing Qian’s men, which proves she’s been watching them for a while. But judging from the Zhao Clan’s reactions today, they had no idea that was the princess’s doing.

She’s only a 13 year-old girl, yet she can run circles around Zhao Qiuming and his daughter. Without a doubt, her methods are vicious and ruthless.

shabi (傻逼) – modern slang for fool.

The literal Chinese idiom used here is 茅舍顿开 mao she dun kai, which means removing a patch of grass blocking one’s thoughts and/or ideas.