The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

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S T E L L A R C L O U D

[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]

O R A N G E S T A R

[Fazzienaz] [K.Rom] [Manon] [Reece P.] [Smurfinbatik] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

[Chlaudette P.] [Gwyneth T.] [Passerby] [Xena]

G O L D S T A R

[Ava C.] [Cindy] [Lord_Wolve] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Nevy] [Nicole]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Allie] [Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Peggy F.]

T H E S U N

[Christigale M.] [Haruka N.] [Leticia P.] [Lily J.] [Malinkat]

[Michelle K.] [onepiece] [Scorpion Princess] [Sophia W.] [Sweetlove]

Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)

His tone was as gentle as the worldʼs most tender whisper, and his gaze was full of deep affection. However, the Crown Princess still felt a shiver down her spine.

She stood frozen in place, as if unable to utter a single word.

Ning Wang lightly caressed her cheek and softly said, ”Linlang, ever since the day you conspired with this prince to bring about Xiao Hengʼs death, you can never wash your name clean. Donʼt you understand this truth?”

The Crown Princessʼs eyes sharpened, ”I didnʼt harm him! It was you! It has always been you alone! You followed me to the Imperial Academy... it was you who killed him!”

Ning Wang raised his hand and stroked the back of her head, ”If you hadnʼt arranged to meet him alone, how would this prince have had the chance? Admit it, Linlang, youʼre also an accomplice in his death.”

”Iʼm not! I never harmed Ah Heng!” The Crown Princess reached out to push him, ”I donʼt want to see you, leave!”

Ning Wangʼs hand that was touching the back of her head suddenly tightened—

”Linlang! Linlang!”

”Huh? Chunying, why are you here? Whereʼs the Crown Princess? Werenʼt you going to the imperial study with her?”

The voice of the Crown Prince came from not far away, full of confusion.

Then came Chunyingʼs guilty response, ”The Crown Princess... She...”

The Crown Princess looked coldly at Ning Wang.

Ning Wang spoke fiercely, his voice devoid of sound, ”You know what you should do. Donʼt provoke me; you canʼt bear the consequences, Wen Linlang.”

He let go of her.

The Crown Princess staggered, almost falling to the ground.

”Whatʼs going on?”

Because they were standing too close, the moment Ning Wang released the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince had already walked over. He saw the pale-faced Crown Princess standing next to Ning Wang, who had a calm and gentle expression.

His brows furrowed. He instinctively didnʼt like seeing his woman standing next to another man, even if that man was his own brother.

”Eldest brother?” He walked over, puzzled.

Ning Wang smiled and explained, ”Imperial father ordered me to enter the palace and see him at the imperial study. Coincidentally, second sister-in-law was leaving the study and we bumped into each other.”

So that was what happened. The Crown Prince thought to himself that he had been overly suspicious. Ning Wang was his older brother. Even though they weren’t born of the same mother, they still had the same father. Wen Linlang was his younger sister-in-law. There couldnʼt possibly be anything between them.

The Crown Prince approached the Crown Princess and held her hand, feeling the chill on her fingertips. He furrowed his brows even tighter, ”Why are your hands so cold? Iʼve heard that youʼre injured. If thereʼs something, you can report to imperial father after a few days.”

”Imperial father entrusted the womenʼs academy to me, so I should take care of it diligently.” The Crown Princess replied. Sensing a deathly gaze from Ning Wang, she subtly pulled her hand back from the Crown Princeʼs grip, ”Iʼm fine, just a bit tired. Your Highness, letʼs go back.”

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather seemed to have suddenly cooled down. There was a hint of autumn chill in the morning and evening breeze. The Crown Prince removed his cloak and draped it over the Crown Princess, carefully fastening the ribbon for her.

Ning Wangʼs gaze was intense as he watched the two of them.

The Crown Princess grabbed the Crown Princeʼs hand, gently releasing it and taking the ribbon herself, ”I can handle this on my own.”

”Oh.” The Crown Prince seemed somewhat disappointed. He wanted to do these small things for Linlang. However, with his eldest brother here, getting too affectionate with her did seem inappropriate.

He turned his head to look at Ning Wang, whose eyes had regained their warmth.

He said, ”Eldest brother, we’ll head back first. Since youʼve been summoned, you should go quickly!”

Ning Wang paused, turned to look at the Crown Prince, who was holding the Crown Princess, and spoke, ”How about Second Brother accompanies me to see imperial father? Something seems to have happened; even the imperial guards are mobilized.”

”Is that so?” The Crown Prince hesitated.

Ning Wang smiled, ”Never mind. If you want to stay with second sister-in-law, Iʼll go see imperial father by myself.”

As he said this, his gaze unintentionally swept over the Crown Princessʼs face.

The Crown Princess sensed an endless threat. She clenched her delicate hand and said to the Crown Prince, ”Your Highness, you should go and take a look.”

The Crown Prince responded, ”Iʼm worried about you.”

The Crown Princess lowered her gaze, ”With Chunying accompanying me, what is there for Your Highness to worry about?”

In the end, under the Crown Princessʼs persuasion, the Crown Prince reluctantly went.

Once he arrived, he learned that Xiao Liulang had been captured by assassins and was missing. His imperial father wanted Ning Wang to lead troops to search for him, and since he was there, his imperial father granted him a detachment of soldiers as well.

Not being able to return to the East Palace to accompany Linlang in the middle of the night and having to search aimlessly for Xiao Liulang on the streets left the Crown Prince feeling frustrated.

”Seriously, he just looks like Xiao Heng, heʼs not the real Xiao Heng. Why does imperial father value him so much? And why must I, the Crown Prince, lower myself to search for him!”

The Xiao Liulang that the Crown Prince was desperately searching for was currently lying quietly on Princess Xinyangʼs bed. Gu Jiao had just finished changing his last intravenous drip.

The night was deep.

Gu Jiao and Long Yi were silently keeping watch in the room. Gu Jiao sat by the bedside, while Long Yi perched on the beams.

After setting up the intravenous drip for Xiao Liulang, Gu Jiao leaned against the edge of the bed. Unable to resist the sleepiness, she eventually fell asleep. Meanwhile, Long Yi remained wide-eyed like a sleepless owl.

After an unknown amount of time passed, the entire Zhuque Street fell into silence. The room was filled only with the calm breathing of a few people.

Suddenly, the door was gently pushed open from the outside.

A pair of pristine embroidered shoes crossed the threshold and landed soundlessly on the polished floor.

Elegant golden skirt flowed like drifting sheets of gold leaf on a tranquil lake, moving gracefully and unhurriedly.

Xiao Liulang was in a drowsy sleep, wanting to open his eyes but lacking the strength to do so.

In a half-asleep, half-awake state, he felt a gentle and soft hand touch his forehead.

He didnʼt know whose hand it was, nor was he sure if he was dreaming.

The hand lingered for a moment before withdrawing.

When Xiao Liulang finally fully opened his eyes, he saw Gu Jiao sleeping by his side.

His hand was held by Gu Jiaoʼs, and Gu Jiaoʼs other hand was placed under her own body.

This position left her unable to free her hand to touch his forehead.

So, was he only dreaming just now?

In a pitch-black darkness and a partially awake state, he failed to realize where he was for a moment. This environment, this atmosphere, neither made him feel repelled nor unfamiliar.

He pulled the blanket over Gu Jiaoʼs shoulder and took the hand that she had placed under herself. Closing his eyes, he drifted back to sleep.

Gu Jiao refrained from announcing Xiao Liulangʼs safety for the time being. In her dream, she knew that someone had hired assassins to target Xiao Liulang, but she didnʼt know who that person was. Unaware of Xiao Liulangʼs safety, that person could be frantically searching for Xiao Liulangʼs whereabouts at this very moment.

As for Princess Xinyang, she seemed to have kept Xiao Liulangʼs situation under wraps.

As dawn broke, Gu Jiao made a trip back to Bishui Alley. She needed to let her family know she was safe and took the opportunity to gather a few sets of clean clothes for Xiao Liulang.

In truth, she wouldnʼt be too worried if they managed to expose the mastermind behind this scheme. But currently, they were in the light while the enemy remained in the shadows, making them difficult to defend against.

Gu Jiao had considered that Princess Xinyangʼs residence was relatively secure. As long as Princess Xinyang didnʼt open her mouth to kick them out, Gu Jiao would treat her disapproving gaze as if she hadnʼt seen it.

What Gu Jiao didnʼt know was that shortly after she left, the Crown Princess arrived.

She came to visit Princess Xinyang and had another matter to discuss with her.

Princess Xinyang had stayed up late the previous night, and it was almost dawn before she managed to get some rest. However, the servants in the courtyard recognized the Crown Princess and knew she was someone Princess Xinyang cared about, so they let her into the courtyard.

”Shall this servant fetch Lady Yu Jin?” A young servant girl asked.

The Crown Princess replied, ”No need. You can go about your duties. This crown princess will find Lady Yu Jin myself.”

Yu Jin was in the backyard, airing out clothes. She held a sixth-rank position within the Imperial Household Department, serving in the Princess Xinyang Residence.

Being a sixth-rank court lady wasnʼt considered particularly prestigious within the capital, but if she was one of Princess Xinyangʼs trusted confidants, it was a different story.

Yu Jin had been serving by Princess Xinyangʼs side for as long as the Crown Princess could remember. She was one of Princess Xinyangʼs closest companions.

”Lady Yu Jin.” The Crown Princess walked over and politely greeted her.

Given Yu Jinʼs position, she didnʼt need to personally handle these types of chores. The Crown Princess couldnʼt help but look at her for a moment, then she froze.

It was a manʼs garment.

Princess Xinyang had dark guards around her, but the Crown Princess couldnʼt believe that Yu Jin would be washing clothes for one of those guards.

”Has the Marquis returned?”

The Crown Princessʼs initial thought was that Marquis Xuanping had returned to the capital and was reuniting with Princess Xinyang. Despite their strained relationship, they were still married, so it wouldnʼt be too unusual if Marquis Xuanping visited.

”Oh, itʼs not that.” Yu Jin shook her head.

She didnʼt know how to explain the situation for a moment.

These were Xiao Liulangʼs clothes.

After a night of contemplation and observation, Yu Jin had a general idea of Xiao Liulangʼs identity. But... since the princess hadnʼt said anything yet, Yu Jin couldnʼt divulge this information prematurely.

Seeing Yu Jin struggling to respond, certain rumors she had heard crossed the Crown Princessʼs mind—— about the reason for the strained relationship between Princess Xinyang and Marquis Xuanping. Apart from Marquis Xuanpingʼs promiscuity outside, it was said… even Princess Xinyang had her own extramarital affairs.

Of course, the Crown Princess never believed such rumors. But now, with the male garments before her...

”Please donʼt misunderstand. Itʼs not the princess, itʼs... me.” Yu Jin decided to shoulder this blame herself.

A strong sense of bewilderment flickered through the Crown Princessʼs eyes.

Yu Jin cleared her throat and said, ”I kindly ask that the Crown Princess keep this a secret.”

The Crown Princess snapped back to reality. Speaking of which, this Lady Yu Jin was indeed a remarkable woman. She had never married throughout her life. If she were outside, people might have speculated wildly about her. However, within the princess mansion and under Princess Xinyangʼs protection, no one dared to embarrass her openly.

This presented a great opportunity to win Yu Jin over.

The Crown Princess smiled and said, ”Rest assured, Lady Yu Jin. I havenʼt seen anything today.”

”With the Crown Princess saying that, Iʼm relieved.” Yu Jinʼs laughter was a mixture of relief and self-deprecation.

Princess Xinyang was still asleep, and the Crown Princess couldnʼt disturb her. She didnʼt think she had that much face. She decided she would just come back another day.

She bid farewell to Yu Jin.

As she was passing Princess Xinyangʼs room, she heard some movement from inside.

She thought Princess Xinyang had awakened and was considering entering to greet her. However, Long Yi suddenly jumped down from the beams and firmly blocked the door.

Raz P.ʼs Thoughts

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