The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

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

[Galetron]

O R A N G E S T A R

[Alma S.] [Christine G.-L.] [K.Rom]

[Suong D.] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

[Anasi G.] [Passerby] [Xena]

G O L D S T A R

[Anne C.] [Nevy] [Roxanne C.]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Tionna M.]

T H E S U N

[kuroneko_chan] [Michelle K.] [Smurfinbatik]

C E L E S T I A L C O N Q U E R O R

[Ava C.] [Hong] [Leeyue] [Lily J.] [Manon] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes]

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

Two imperial guards sat on the carriage, while the other two rode horses, escorting it on either side.

Old Chief was peering around the corner of the alley.

The carriage brushed past him.

About half an hour later, the last student left Lingbo Academy, and the guards began closing the gate.

Old Chief was startled.

“Hey! What’s going on? Why are they closing the gate already?” He turned to Empress Dowager Zhuang in the carriage and asked, “Did Jing Kong come out? Did you see him?”

“No.” Empress Dowager Zhuang replied.

She was old but not yet senile. She was certain she hadn’t missed anything.

Old Chief frowned and muttered, “Could it be… Jing Kong didn’t attend class today? Or maybe they didn’t come to Lingbo Academy at all? …Could something have happened to them? They…”

“Shut up!” Empress Dowager Zhuang interrupted coldly.

Old Chief fell silent, embarrassed.

The oppressive heat of the day gave way to rolling dark clouds, signaling an impending rainstorm.

Old Chief suggested, “Why don’t we find an inn to stay at for the night and come back tomorrow?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang stared at the gate and said, “It’s not fully closed yet. There’s still a crack. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

The scent of stir-fried garlic chives and pork wafted from the nearby tavern, making Old Chiefʼs stomach growl. It dawned on him that they had been so focused on waiting that they hadnʼt eaten all day.

He was hungry, and with Zhuang Jinse’s insatiable appetite, she probably wasn’t doing any better.

“I’ll go buy something to eat.” He said, patting his shriveled money pouch. He coughed lightly and said to Empress Dowager Zhuang, “I’ve run out of money.”

All the expenses on the journey had been his.

Empress Dowager Zhuang tightly hugged the bundle in her arms. “For JiaoJiao!”

Not a single coin could be spent!

Old Chief helplessly searched his pockets and finally found two knife coins that had somehow fallen into his sleeve.

He was lucky; normally, two knife coins could only buy one steamed bun, but today, with the rain approaching, the vendor hurried to pack up and gave Old Chief the last two buns.

Old Chief handed the larger one to Empress Dowager Zhuang.

Heavy rain came suddenly in Shengdu.

The sky tore open, and the downpour came rushing down, accompanied by howling winds that blew over the street stalls!

Old Chief bit down on the remaining half of the bun, quickly pulled the carriage window tight, and lowered the curtain.

But the weather was so fierce that the curtain snapped, and the torrential rain and wind poured into the carriage.

Old Chief hurriedly stood up, trying to block the wind and rain with his frail body. He gripped the doorframe tightly, but before he knew it, the carriage roof was blown off.

Old Chief, drenched and unable to open his eyes, reached for the umbrella, trying to open it to shield Empress Dowager Zhuang, but before he could, the wind blew him over.

”We canʼt stay like this! We need to find shelter!” He wiped the rain from his face, struggling to open his eyes, and reached out to Empress Dowager Zhuang. “Come down! I’ll catch you!”

It was extremely dangerous for two elderly people to be exposed to such extreme weather. A slight misstep could cause them to fall and never get up.

Empress Dowager Zhuang’s eyes were already shut tight, and she couldn’t see his outstretched hand. Holding the bundle tightly with one arm, she grasped the side of the carriage with the other, slowly making her way down.

The next moment, she slipped and fell; the once-mighty Empress Dowager of Zhao was now sitting helplessly in a puddle.

Old Chief called out, “Are you alright?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang protected the bundle in her arms. “I’m fine.”

She tried to stand but kept falling back down.

Old Chief exerted a great deal of effort before finally reaching her vicinity, and he extended his hand to grab her arm.

Just as he pulled Empress Dowager Zhuang up, before they could steady themselves, both of them fell to the ground with a thud.

At that moment, a beggar in his twenties suddenly dashed from behind, snatched the bundle from Empress Dowager Zhuang’s arms, and ran off!

“Money!”

Empress Dowager Zhuang’s eyes grew cold!

That was the money for JiaoJiao. She had scrimped and saved all the way, not spending a single silver banknote, and now it was stolen by a little thief?

Empress Dowager Zhuang was furious!

She didn’t know where the strength came from, but disregarding her injuries and bruises, she grabbed a stick from the ground and threw it at the beggar!

“Ahh——”

The beggar was struck by the stick and fell into the rain with a splash.

Empress Dowager Zhuang stomped toward the beggar, her movements resembling an old woman chasing after an unruly grandchild, furious as she picked up the stick again and began beating the beggar!

“Who let you snatch Aijia’s thing!”

“Stealing JiaoJiao’s money!”

”Stealing like a lowlife!”

”Doing dishonorable deeds!”

The rain was pouring heavily, and in her fury, Empress Dowager Zhuang spoke in the language of the State of Zhao. The beggar didn’t understand a word, but he certainly felt the full force of the beating.

“Ow! Stop! Stop! I’ll give it back! I’ll give it back! Isn’t that enough?! You old hag, how do you have so much strength!”

The beggar was almost beaten into a pulp.

He never expected that a frail old woman who could barely get up after falling would hit so hard!

The blow was too heavy!

Empress Dowager Zhuang swung the stick again, nearly wiping out the beggar’s future generations. The beggar shuddered, staring at the stick that had fallen between his legs.

If it had moved just half an inch forward, he... he would’ve...

He looked at the old woman before him, her gaze radiating the cold, powerful aura of someone in power. Fear gripped him to his core.

He didnʼt even dare try to be sly. He threw the bundle at the old woman, and seizing the opportunity while she reached for it, he scrambled away on all fours.

The bundle flew open, spilling silver ingots everywhere while silver banknotes were blown away by the wind, scattering all over the alley.

Empress Dowager Zhuang crouched down to pick up the silver banknotes.

Old Chief, having just twisted his ankle, hobbled over with great difficulty. Seeing Empress Dowager Zhuang collecting silver banknotes from the ground, a mix of emotions welled up inside him.

She was the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang Family, born into nobility. She entered the imperial palace as Empress, and after the death of the Emperor, she became the Regent Empress Dowager.

Her life had always been at the top, never once bending down to pick things up from the ground. Not even a pile of silver banknotes, let alone priceless antiques, would have caught her attention if they had fallen.

But now, she was...

He opened his mouth. “Zhuang Jinse…”

Empress Dowager Zhuang picked up a silver banknote that had fallen into a puddle and wiped it on her sleeve. “When we were in the countryside, our family wasn’t wealthy. JiaoJiao would wake up before dawn to forage for wild vegetables and gather mountain goods to sell at the market. To save a few copper coins for transportation, she carried heavy loads of mountain goods for miles.”

“She was only fourteen then. She wouldn’t even spend money on a bowl of hot noodles. In the middle of winter, she would only eat a hard, cold bun at the market. But she never skimped on Liulang’s school fees or the meat and vegetables for the family. If she didn’t eat, she’d save it for Liulang, Xiaoshun, and Aijia. Later, when the little monk came, she spared no effort in buying everything he needed. The only thing she bought for herself was a pair of cloth shoes, and they were the same as Liulang’s.”

Old Chief was shaken.

Empress Dowager Zhuang lowered her gaze and said, ”If the silver runs out, she will always only suffer on her own... Aijia doesnʼt want JiaoJiao to endure hardship anymore, not even a little.”

Old Chief’s eyes reddened slightly, unsure whether it was for Gu Jiao or Zhuang Jinse.

He crouched down. “I’ll help you pick them up.”

The two of them silently gathered the rain-soaked silver banknotes.

As Empress Dowager Zhuang continued, she suddenly felt someone approaching.

She shifted forward slightly, blocking a few silver banknotes in the puddle with her body.

A youth wearing a raincoat and conical hat, holding a red-tassel spear, entered the alley from behind her.

Empress Dowager Zhuang didn’t pay him much attention and kept picking up the silver banknotes.

The youth walked past her.

Reaching the alley’s end, the youth suddenly stopped.

There were only a few silver banknotes left, and more people seemed to be approaching the alley. Empress Dowager Zhuang quickened her pace.

Her legs were nearly numb from crouching, when suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind.

“…Grandaunt?”

Raz P.ʼs Thoughts

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Description:

In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.

When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.

The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.

From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.

***

Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.

After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, ”Scared?”

Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!”

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, ”The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?”

Shi Dai replied, ”Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!”

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

—

Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, ”Donʼt abandon me, alri—”

Shi Dai responded, ”Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah.”

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

He hasnʼt finished his lines yet though…