Chapter 53: Xiao Wei’s Loyalty
“As His Majesty sees fit?” Gu Xingnuo stared at his youngest brother. “Xinglang, do you want to die?”
No matter which prince ended up as the replacement hostage, his imperial mother and faction wouldn’t forgive Gu Xinglang once he returned. Even Gu Xingyan knew as much. Although Xianzong would waive the death penalty to avoid making his daughter a widow, Gu Xinglang would still be a thorn in multiple people’s sides.
Gu Xinglang sighed. “Besides taking His Seventh Highness away ahead of time, what else can I do? I owe the princess so much, I don’t want to see her sad.”
At the same time Gu Xinglang was saying seemingly love-filled words in his grandfather’s study, Wang momo was listening to Yu Xiaoxiao prattle on.
“When the time comes, I’ll take Little Seventh out to play. Once the storm passes, we’ll come back. Don’t worry, momo, I won’t let him become a hostage.”
Wang momo only felt that her phonism had gotten worse after esteemed empress passed away. “Go out and play?” she asked Yu Xiaoxiao. “Don’t you mean, ‘flee the capital city?’”
“Yu Xiaoxiao was playing with three kumquats in her hands. “Mm, you can put it that way.”
Take His Seventh Highness and run? Wang momo stared at her master. Has she lost her wits? I’ve never heard of a princess in my lifetime who played fugitive with an imperial prince. Is the city about to be besieged? The country coming to an end?
Yu Xiaoxiao saw Wang momo’s affected state and added, “Don’t worry. Who can catch me? Even if they caught up, who can beat me in a fight?”
Wang momo plopped into a chair facing Yu Xiaoxiao. As she was overweight, the wood creaked loudly as she sat down.
Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Momo, while you still have time, lose some weight and find a partner.” By now she could tell that the people of this world favored a thin aesthetic. Although Wang momo was a good woman, she’d have trouble attracting husbands with her figure. What? You say Wang momo’s too old to get married? Looks like you haven’t read enough books. Some men prefer women older than them. In fact, just look at Yu Ziyi of the previous timeline/
Wang momo trembled, her chubby layers jiggling as she finally burst into tears. “Princess, what’s wrong with you?”
“Ah?” Yu Xiaoxiao had no idea why she was crying and could only shut up.
Wang momo wept for a bit before suddenly drying her eyes. “Xiao Zhuang, Xiao Wei, come over here.”
The two shadow guards entered the rooms and glanced between the tearstained momo and their princess. What now? Why is Wang momo so sad again?
Wang momo asked the duo, “Just what did Eldest Prince Jing say at the banquet regarding His Seventh Highness?”
Neither Xiao Zhuang nor Xiao Wei could answer. They didn’t even hear the princess bring up His Seventh Highness there, just watched her throw Qingyu away and slapped a moth to death. Unfortunately, that ended up coallapsing an entire building too. How were they supposed to convince Wang momo of all that?
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Wang momo grew anxious. She stood up and ran to them, eyes wide. “What did Eldest Prince Jing say?”
“He didn’t say anything,” Yu Xiaoxiao chimed in. “He only ate a meal with me and Little Gu. The dinner really wasn’t anything special ‘cause the portions were too small.”
Xiao Zhuang hastened to add, “That’s right, ah, princess finished off one table full of plates all by herself. The Royal Son-in-Law didn’t get to eat a bite.”
Xiao Wei mused, That’s right, I even saw the princess clear a table in a blink of an eye. Was she starved in the palace all this time?
Wang mom owas in despair. If Jing Mo had kept mum about His Seventh Highness, then there was no helping the baby. She quietly turned around and walked to the same chair as before to plop in its seat. As it creaked loudly again, she muttered, “It’s over.”
“What’s over?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked.
Wang momo held onto the last thread of hope and asked Yu Xiaoxiao. “What did Royal Son-in-Law say?”
Yu Xiaoxiao replied, “Little Gu said we’ll keep eating at the big stone bridge tomorrow night.”
Xiao Wei covered his face. Forget about your royal son-in-law Little Gu. Wang momo looks like she’s ready to die, and you’re still talking about eating out? Is that really okay?
Wang momo grew short of breath as she wheezed. A roaring seemed to fill her mind. I should just go die!
“You should come with me tomorrow,” Yu Xiaoxiao continued without a clue. “The boss at the food stand has the same last name as you, Wang. Her name’s Granny Wang.”
Wang momo leaped out of her chair. Now she didn’t want to die, but throttle Yu Xiaoxiao to death first! “Princess, His Seventh Highness is your brother by the same mother, ah!”
Yu Xiaoxiao had no idea why Wang momo was so angry. “That’s right, ah. He’s my little brother, so what?”
Wang momo’s breaths grew even more rapid.
“Princess, you should stop talking,” Xiao Wei whispered, then glanced at Wang momo. “Momo, His Majesty has already issued a decree for this. Even the officials are helpless, so what do you expect the princess to do?”
Wang momo glared at Xiao Wei, but his conscience was clear. As Yu Xiaoxiao’s bodyguard, of course he considered her welfare first and foremost. Towards Yu Ziyi, Xiao Wei lacked the same loyalty that would put his life on the line. Who said that Yu Xiaoxiao could only live well if Yi Ziyi was living well? It was obvious that everyone was at a loss, so why force the princess?
Xiao Wei asked Wang momo, “Momo, do you want to hound the princess to death for His Seventh Highness’s sake?”
Wang momo fell back in her seat, speechless.
Yu Xiaoxiao asked, “Hound me to death? How’s that possible? When did the momo do that?”
Now even Xiao Zhuang couldn’t stand listening any longer. What to do? They couldn’t communicate with the princess at all.
Wang momo only shook her head. “The princess can only have good days if His Seventh Highness is steady on his feet.”
A big-sis-killer like him? Yu Xiaoxiao cocked her head. Forget it, I’ll keep those depressing words to myself.
“Princess,” the palace retainer Breezy announced, “His Majesty sent someone with a decree.”
“What’s going on now?” Yu Xiaoxiao grew impatient at the mention of Xianzong. “Just say I’m already asleep.”
Xiao Wei’s lips stiffened. “Princess, one must accept His Majesty’s decrees. It’s impossible to refuse.”
“Princess, ah,” Wang momo was on the verge of tears. “Not accept the imperial decree is a capital offense.”
Well, damn! Yu Xiaoxiao mentally swore. Seems like anything to do with the emperor leads to death. When will I get to be emperor? No wait, rather–when’s that fatuous ruler gonna die? Am I supposed to wait a decade like the cruel female emperor? Can I still live like that?!
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