The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

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

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O R A N G E S T A R

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G O L D S T A R

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T H E S U N

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

Steward Zheng turned to Gu Jiao and asked, “Young master, what should we do with him?”

Gu Jiao checked his pulse before answering, “He’s not in any real danger, just fainted from exhaustion. Carry him inside the estate first. I will make a trip to the Imperial Advisorʼs Hall.”

“Ah.” Duke An suddenly made a sound.

Gu Jiao turned to look at him.

Duke An slowly traced characters onto the armrest of his wheelchair, writing: ‘It’s better if I go. You should go to the military camp as usual and act as if you never saw Eunuch Zhang. If anything happens, I will have someone contact you.’

Gu Jiao considered for a moment before nodding. “All right.”

Steward Zheng immediately ordered the unconscious Zhang Dequan to be carried inside, repeatedly instructing the guards, “No one is allowed to breathe a word about what happened today!”

“Yes, sir!” The guards responded in unison.

Duke An then made a trip to the Imperial Advisorʼs Hall and discreetly brought Xiao Heng back with him in his carriage.

By the time Xiao Heng arrived at the Maple Courtyard within Duke An Estate, Zhang Dequan had already been awakened by Lady Nan using acupuncture needles. Xiao Heng entered the side hall to meet him.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring room belonging to Gu Chengfeng, Grandaunt and Old Chief sat together. Also present, though technically outside, were Gu Chengfeng and Gu Yan, who were shamelessly eavesdropping against the wall.

Out in the courtyard, Lady Nan was drying herbs. As she worked, she subtly inched closer and closer to the window of the side hall.

Nearby, Master Lu was crafting a crossbow. Strangely enough, as he worked, he too found himself drifting toward that same window.

The husband and wife exchanged a glance.

“……”

Inside the room, Zhang Dequan recounted everything that had transpired the previous night, detailing every event meticulously. At the end, he added his own thoughts:

“…At that moment, this servant already felt that something was terribly wrong. However, His Majesty’s temperament—Your Highness the Eldest Imperial Grandson must be well aware. When it comes to matters concerning Empress Xuanyuan, His Majesty would never back down from going.”

It was easy to analyze everything in hindsight.

But at the time, who could have imagined that Han shi would dare to be so audacious as to attempt regicide within the very walls of the imperial palace?

“Did you overhear anything they said?” Xiao Heng asked.

“This servant did not dare to eavesdrop… but…” Zhang Dequan carefully recalled, “There were a few words spoken rather loudly, so I happened to hear them. Han shi said, ‘I never wanted to take this step. Your Majesty, you forced me.’”

Xiao Heng paused for a moment before asking, “Was there anything else?”

Zhang Dequan scratched his head in frustration. ”There’s more… His Majesty also said, ‘It was you?’ and ‘Zhen will kill you!’ After that, I didn’t hear anything else.”

It sounded like the Emperor had gotten into a heated argument with Han shi.

”What does Grandaunt think?” Xiao Heng asked as he stepped into the neighboring room.

Empress Dowager Zhuang hugged a jar of candied fruit and snorted. ”Love unfulfilled breeds jealousy and hatred.”

Another Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing, only far more ruthless.

Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing had also suffered from unrequited love for the late Emperor, but she never dared to lay a hand on him. Instead, she took out her frustrations on the women and children in his harem.

It was the classic case of picking on the weak; only she hadn’t realized that Empress Dowager Zhuang was no weakling, but a cactus covered in thorns.

Empress Dowager Zhuang popped a piece of candied fruit into her mouth with a satisfied munch. ”Humph, dealing with scumbag men should be done just like this.”

Xiao Heng: ”…”

Grandaunt, whose side are you on?

Gu Chengfeng asked, ”Since Han shi had such a powerful expert by her side, why didn’t she act sooner? Why wait until she and her son were both deposed before going all out?”

As a straightforward and rigid man, Gu Chengfeng found Han shi’s actions completely illogical.

But Empress Dowager Zhuang, a woman who had weathered the storms of the imperial harem for years, could somewhat understand Han shi’s mindset.

Han shi had long possessed the means to deal with the Emperor. The reason she hadn’t acted earlier, aside from weighing the risks, was because, deep down she still had lingering feelings for him.

She hated the Emperor, yet at the same time, she yearned for him to make her his Empress, to let her rule the harem as his proper consort, to grow old together as a true husband and wife.

Unfortunately, the Emperor’s repeated betrayals had completely shattered her heart.

Calling the Emperor to the cold palace had likely been her final attempt to give him one last chance. If he had shown even the slightest affection for her, she might have been willing to wait a little longer.

But in the end, she was met with nothing but disappointment.

The Emperor had never cared for her, not even once.

A woman serious about her ambitions was the most terrifying of all. The Emperor of Great Yan was in for a rough time.

Meanwhile, Steward Zheng, who had gone to the imperial palace to gather information, had returned.

He reported the news he had uncovered to Duke An and the others. ”…His Majesty attended court as usual this morning. There was no mention of anything unusual. However, Eunuch Zhang It’s been said that he was caught in an illicit relationship with a palace maid named Yue. Fearing punishment, he supposedly fled the palace overnight.”

Zhang Dequan, who had just arrived at the door, froze on the spot. ”…!!”

Zhang Dequan exploded, ”His Majesty already knew about me and Qiu Yue! I had his approval! There’s no way he would punish me! And I would never flee over something like this!”

Everyone else, who felt a twitch at the corners of their mouths. ”…”

So you really did have that kind of relationship.

It was an extremely well-kept secret. Aside from the Emperor, Zhang Dequan had never let a second outsider know.

Zhang Dequan was so shocked that he completely overlooked the fact that there were quite a few people in the room, including two old patients he had previously seen at the Imperial Advisorʼs Hall.

Instead, he grew tense and asked anxiously, ”This is bad! If Qiu Yue has fallen into their hands, she’s in danger!”

The crowd gave him looks filled with sympathy.

Zhang Dequan looked around. ”Why… why are you all looking at me like that?”

Old Chief slid a cup of green tea toward him. ”Have some tea.”

Xiao Heng pushed a plate of pastries in his direction. ”Have a piece of mung bean cake.”

Gu Yan opened his palm. ”Here, take a jade bottle as a gift.”

Zhang Dequan: ”…”

The Emperor had been knocked unconscious by Imperial Noble Consort Han just last night, yet by morning, she had released him to attend court as usual. No matter how one looked at it, something was off.

Considering what had happened with Qiu Yue and Zhang Dequan, it was clear that the imperial harem had already fallen under Han shi’s control.

However, according to Steward Zheng’s investigation, Han shi had not been released from the cold palace.

In other words, everything that had transpired had been orchestrated by Han shi, but through the Emperor’s hands.

But why would the Emperor obey Han shi’s orders?

Had she seized some leverage over him? Or worse… had she gained control over him entirely?

Xiao Heng said, ”My mother has entered the imperial palace to meet His Majesty. We’ll wait for her to return and see what she has to say.”

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…