The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

Special Thanks to these patrons for their support!

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

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

O R A N G E S T A R

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

Y E L L O W S T A R

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

G O L D S T A R

[Lord_Wolve] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Nevy]

R A I N B O W S T A R

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

T H E S U N

[Amy K.] [Ava C.] [Caroline] [Haruka N.] [Kaylee3150] [kuroneko_chan] [Lily J.]

[Malinkat] [Michelle K.] [onepiece] [Scorpion Princess] [Smurfinbatik] [Sophia W.]

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

Eunuch Qin brought a cup of tea.

Seeing Empress Dowager Zhuangʼs mournful expression, he couldnʼt help but sigh and advise, ”The princess has had a hard life. If only she had listened to your advice back then, she wouldnʼt have ended up like this. But thankfully, she has returned safely, and from now on, no one will make her suffer again.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang closed her eyes and turned her head, a tear sliding down her cheek.

The Emperor walked alongside Princess Ningʼan toward the Bixia Palace.

Lianʼer pushed Huangfu Xian, following not too far away.

Princess Ningʼan glanced back at the indifferent Huangfu Xian and sighed helplessly.

The Emperor noticed her gaze and softly asked, ”What happened to Xianʼerʼs legs? Was it from this recent war?”

Princess Ningʼan shook her head with difficulty and said, ”It happened when he was young, when Xian’er was five years old. We experienced an extremely rare heavy snowstorm at the border.”

The Emperor nodded thoughtfully, ”Zhen recalls that incident. The imperial court allocated relief funds to the border. Imperial Concubine…”

Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing personally made warm clothing for Princess Ningʼan and entrusted the imperial envoy responsible for disaster relief to deliver them to the borderlands.

The Emperor no longer wanted to mention that name now. He detested her extremely, but unfortunately, she was Ningʼanʼs birth mother, making it an awkward situation.

Princess Ningʼan smiled faintly, ”Thatʼs right, imperial concubine mother sent me warm clothing back then.”

”What does this have to do with Xianʼerʼs legs?”

”At that time, both I and... his father went to help the disaster victims. He sneaked out from the princess mansion alone. This child was mischievous from a young age, couldnʼt sit still for a moment, and the guards couldnʼt keep an eye on him. He managed to get lost. When we found him, it was a day and a night later. He fell from a hill, lying in the cold snow. His legs froze and had to be amputated by the physicians to save his life.”

As Princess Ningʼan recounted the tale, she tried to appear calm, but her breath and tightened fingers betrayed her emotions.

The Emperorʼs heart clenched, unable to determine whether he felt more distressed for Huangfu Xian or for Princess Ningʼan, who had undergone such an experience with her son.

He grasped Princess Ningʼanʼs hand like he did in his youth, ”Zhen didnʼt know about this incident with you and Xianʼer... Why didnʼt you mention it in your letters?”

Princess Ningʼan murmured, ”This kind of thing... itʼs not easy to talk about.”

Every mention felt like a stab to the heart. Each consolation followed by another stab. When someone was truly in agony, seeking comfort wasnʼt the solution, it was isolating oneself from the outside world.

The Emperor naturally understood this, hence he felt even more sympathetic towards Princess Ningʼan.

He silently vowed that from now on, he wouldnʼt let Princess Ningʼan leave his side. He wouldnʼt allow her or Xianʼer to suffer any injustices.

”About Xianʼer...” Princess Ningʼan hesitated.

The Emperor was her brother. Even though many years had passed since they saw each other, he could still understand her primary concerns.

He halted, looking at her solemnly, ”Regardless of who Xianʼerʼs father is, heʼs your child, he’s Zhenʼs nephew, and Zhen will do everything to protect him.”

Not many opposed Princess Ningʼanʼs return to the capital, but the same might not apply to Huangfu Xian. After all, his veins carried the blood of the previous dynastyʼs imperial family. Those radical civil and military officials might use Huangfu Xianʼs lineage as an argument.

Princess Ningʼan felt ashamed. ”Iʼm causing trouble for you, imperial brother.”

”Itʼs no trouble.” the Emperor reassured.

If Huangfu Xian had been physically fit, it might have posed some problems. However, what reason was there to be wary of a disabled person?

Those officials simply had nowhere to vent their frustration, thus targeting a child. Once they knew the truth, the controversy would likely diminish.

The Emperor said, ”Ningʼan, Zhen needs to talk to you about Imperial Concubine Dowager Jingʼs matter.”

Princess Ningʼan smiled faintly, ”Imperial brother doesnʼt need to say more. Ning’an understands it all. Imperial concubine mother... she was a spy from the previous dynasty. From the moment she worked for the imperial family of the former dynasty, her final outcome was predetermined.”

”Do you not blame her?” the Emperor asked.

”Thereʼs no point discussing that now.” Princess Ningʼan replied.

”She sent the Dragon Shadow Guards to the border to find you. Did they intend to abduct you?” The Emperor inquired.

Princess Ningʼan shook her head, ”They wanted to take me away. They came with a dark guard. He said there was trouble in the capital, and the border might not be safe, advising me to leave with them. However, they couldnʼt defeat Huangfu Zhengʼs death warrior. In the end, they were all injured, and the dark guard died.”

The Emperor hadnʼt expected Du Zheng... no, Du was an alias. His real name was Huangfu Zheng.

He hadnʼt expected him to possess such formidable experts.

Thankfully, Princess Ningʼan was unharmed. Otherwise, the Emperor would have deeply regretted it.

Princess Ningʼan, expressing guilt for the umpteenth time today, said, ”Iʼm sorry. Imperial brotherʼs Dragon Shadow Guards got severely injured because of me.”

”They will recover.” The Emperor said. The Dragon Shadow Guards had returned to the capital with the army and was recuperating in a specialized facility.

It was untrue to say that it wasn’t a pain in the flesh, but this incident wasnʼt related to Ningʼan. Everything stemmed from Imperial Concubine Dowager Jingʼs schemes.

Princess Ningʼan continued walking. ”I think imperial concubine mother might have realized she couldnʼt hide it for long. Yi Wang and Huangfu Zhengʼs methods were atrocious. She feared that if the truth were revealed, I might be in danger. Thatʼs why she sent people to rescue me. She used me all her life and only realized at the end that she should do something for me.”

Speaking up to this point, Princess Ningʼan smiled self-mockingly, ”But whatʼs the point?”

The Emperorʼs expression was complicated, and he remained silent.

The group soon arrived at Bixia Palace.

The people of the Inner Palace were accustomed to flattering the superior and belittling the lowly.

Despite Princess Ningʼan being a widow, she had received the Emperor and Empress Dowager Zhuangʼs full favor. All the items arranged for her were the most luxurious and exquisite.

Leaving aside everything else, just the bed curtains alone were made of gossamer fabric, a treatment not even given to Empress Xiao and Princess Xinyang.

The attendants serving her were also carefully selected by the Imperial Household Department. There was one chief eunuch in charge, one chief palace maid, along with four senior palace maids, ten junior palace maids, and ten young eunuchs.

This was no longer the level of service afforded to an ordinary princess.

”Imperial brother.” A hint of complexity flashed in Princess Ningʼanʼs eyes. She sighed, ”I donʼt need such expensive things, nor do I need this many people.”

The Emperorʼs expression darkened. ”You are Zhenʼs most beloved sister. If Zhen says you need them, you do!”

”I...” Princess Ningʼan wanted to say something but stopped.

The Emperor held her shoulder, gazing at her weathered face with both affection and self-reproach, ”Zhen didnʼt protect you well before, causing you to suffer for so many years. From now on, Zhen will compensate you properly. Donʼt worry about anything and just leave everything to Zhen. No one dares to criticize you. If anyone does, Zhen will chop off their heads!”

Princess Ningʼan intended to say something more, but before the words of refusal could be uttered, the sound of childrenʼs chatter came from outside the Bixia Palace.

Raz P.ʼs Thoughts

To read advance GSPW chapters! Updates 7x a week (daily).

You can read up to 30 advance chapters in our patreon so you should go check it out. ^^

No patreon but want to support us? Then,

OR if you canʼt support us in money, you can always support us emotionally -just hope into . Hehehe~