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]

[Lily J.] [Suong D.] [Tessy Ivy O.] [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

[Nevy] [Roxanne C.]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Smurfinbatik]

T H E S U N

[kuroneko_chan] [Michelle K.] [Tionna M.]

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

[Ava C.] [Leeyue] [Manon] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes]

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

Gu Jiao turned back to Duke An and said, “Grandaunt is very pleased with you!”

The corner of Empress Dowager Zhuang’s mouth twitched. Where did you get the idea that Aijia was pleased? You’re siding with him a little too quickly!

“Humph!” Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted, exuding an air of authority as she strode into the courtyard.

Gu Jiao took the bundle from Old Chief’s hands and led her Grandaunt to the prepared guest room. “Grandaunt, what do you think of Lord Duke?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang remained expressionless. “You didn’t even ask Aijia what I thought of Liulang back then.”

Gu Jiao blinked. “The melon is all cut. I’ll go get it!”

And in the next second, she vanished from the room.

Empress Dowager Zhuang was caught between amusement and exasperation. She muttered absentmindedly, “Well, he does seem better than that Marquis father of yours in the State of Zhao.”

“Grandaunt! Granduncle!”

It was Gu Yan’s excited roar.

Empress Dowager Zhuang had just secretly fished out a candied fruit when the sudden shout startled her so much that her hand trembled, nearly dropping the snack onto the ground.

Gu Yan, you’ve changed.

You weren’t this noisy before!

After more than three months apart, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun were finally reunited with their Grandaunt and Granduncle. Both of them were overjoyed.

However, the moment they caught the faint but unmistakable scent of jinchuang medicine and herbal liquor lingering on the elders, the brightness in their eyes dimmed.

“Were you injured?” Gu Yan asked.

Empress Dowager Zhuang waved a hand dismissively, utterly unconcerned. “I slipped and fell when it rained that day. It’s nothing.”

At her age, just thinking about falling like that sounded painful.

Gu Yan’s eyes turned slightly red.

Gu Xiaoshun lowered his head and wiped at the corners of his eyes.

“Alright, alright, there’s nothing to worry about, see? I’m fine.” Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn’t bear to see the two children upset. She tugged at Gu Yan’s sleeve. “Let Aijia take a look at your wound.”

“I don’t have a wound.” Gu Yan declared, lifting his chin confidently.

Empress Dowager Zhuang indeed didn’t see any wound on his chest, her brows furrowing, “Didn’t you have surgery? Did you just make that up?”

Gu Yan’s eyes flickered. Then, with exaggerated flair, he dramatically collapsed into Empress Dowager Zhuang’s arms. “That’s right! I haven’t had the surgery yet! I’m so weak… ah, my heart hurts! My heart disease is flaring up again—”

With a loud smack, Empress Dowager Zhuang brought her palm down on his forehead.

Confirmed. This brat was definitely alive and kicking.

“It’s here.” Gu Xiaoshun mercilessly exposed him in an instant. He grabbed Gu Yan’s right arm and lifted it. “The incision was made under his armpit. It’s really small.”

He gestured with his fingertips. “He’s been applying scar cream, so you can barely even see it now.”

Now Empress Dowager Zhuang wanted to see it too.

Meanwhile, Gu Jiao and Duke An were sitting under the veranda, enjoying the cool night air. Duke An couldn’t turn his head, but even just listening to the lively noise inside, he could feel the warmth and genuine happiness filling the house.

Ever since he had lost Xuanyuan Zi and Yinyin, the eastern manor had not been this lively for a long time.

Second Master Jing and Second Madame often brought their children over to accompany him, but that kind of warmth never truly belonged to him.

He had spent too many years alone, so many that his heart had grown numb. So many that when he became a living corpse, he no longer wished to wake up.

Countless times, he had wished to slip away into the endless darkness, to let death claim him, but that foolish younger brother of his had countless times summoned renowned physicians to extend his life.

Now, he was deeply grateful to that younger brother who had never given up on him.

Gu Jiao glanced at him and asked, “Are you thinking about something?”

‘Yes.’ Duke An wrote.

“What are you thinking about?” Gu Jiao asked.

Duke An hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to write the truth: ‘I was thinking… that having you by my side feels like having Yinyin by my side.’

That deep, heartfelt emotion was shared between them.

“Oh.” Gu Jiao lowered her gaze.

Duke An hurriedly wrote: ‘Don’t misunderstand. I’m not treating you as Yinyin’s substitute.’

“It’s fine.” Gu Jiao said softly.

I can’t tell you the truth just yet.

Because right now, I don’t even know where my fate lies.

Once everything settles, I will tell you everything—honestly and completely.

As the night deepened, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, the two young men, showed no signs of sleepiness. Meanwhile, their Grandaunt and Granduncle were getting headaches from all the noise.

Especially from Gu Yan.

Now that his heart disease was fully healed, his energy was nearly on par with Little Jing Kong’s. And because he had been apart from them for so long, he had been holding back too many things to say, so much so that he was even chattier than Little Jing Kong.

Empress Dowager Zhuang slumped lifelessly into her chair, her soul nearly leaving her body.

The once aloof and taciturn little Yan’er… She had truly misjudged him all those years ago.

Duke An needed to rest. After bidding everyone goodnight, Gu Jiao pushed his wheelchair and escorted him back to his own courtyard.

Gu Jiao pushed Lord Duke’s wheelchair along a quiet, secluded path. Behind them, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun’s hearty laughter echoed through the night. The evening breeze was gentle, making everything feel peaceful and pleasant.

When they arrived at the entrance of Duke An’s courtyard, Steward Zheng was speaking with a guard. After listening, Steward Zheng gave the guard a slight nod. “Understood. I will inform Lord Duke. You may withdraw.”

“Yes, sir.” The guard cupped his fist and stepped back.

Steward Zheng lingered at the entrance for a moment, just about to head toward the Maple Courtyard when he happened to look up and see that Duke An had returned.

He immediately stepped forward. “Lord Duke.”

Lord Duke looked at him inquiringly, asking with his eyes what had happened.

Steward Zheng did not hold back just because Gu Jiao was present. He reported truthfully, “The guards who escorted Mu Ruxin have returned. This is a letter personally written by Mu Ruxin. Please take a look, Lord Duke.”

Gu Jiao took the letter, unfolded it, and spread it out on Duke An’s armrest.

Steward Zheng quickly jogged into the courtyard, fetched a lantern, and held it up to provide better lighting.

The letter clearly stated that Mu Ruxin wished to return to her homeland on her own. She wrote that she had already troubled them long enough and did not want to inconvenience the Duke Estate any further.

Her words were courteous, but sending her off just like that could make things bad for Lord Duke.

If something truly happened to Mu Ruxin, rumors would inevitably spread, accusing the Duke An Estate of mistreating a helpless young woman, of driving her out alone, leading to her tragic demise on the streets.

So the guards had decided to follow her discreetly for a while, hoping to confirm her safety before returning to report.

But unexpectedly, they tracked her all the way to the Han Residence.

“She went inside?” Gu Jiao asked.

Steward Zheng looked at Gu Jiao and answered, “Yes, young master. Our guards reported that she stayed inside the Han Residence for nearly half an hour before coming out. Then, she returned to the inn, collected her belongings, and, along with her servant girl, entered the Han Residence again! As of now, she still hasn’t come out!”

Gu Jiao remarked indifferently, “Looks like she’s found herself a new patron.”

Steward Zheng agreed, “That’s what I thought too! I heard that Han shizi’s leg is crippled. She’s probably trying to play physician for him! That young lady really is…”

He stopped himself from finishing the sentence, swallowing back words that might not be appropriate in front of his young master.

“Let her be.” Gu Jiao said.

With her level of medical skill, whether she could actually heal Han Ye was still uncertain.

Duke An did not care about Mu Ruxin’s whereabouts either. He wrote: ‘Keep an eye out. Someone may come snooping around our estate for information soon.’

Steward Zheng was quick-witted and immediately grasped Lord Duke’s meaning. “My Lord thinks Mu Ruxin might inform the Han Family? That she’ll reveal that the young master’s family is staying in our estate? You can rest easy! Not only is it unlikely that she would even suspect it, but even if she did, this servant has his own ways to deal with it!”

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…