The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

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Because Xiao Heng had assumed Shangguan Qing’s identity to negotiate peace with the State of Chen, Shangguan Qing could no longer use that identity himself. The last time he assumed the identity of Eldest Imperial Grandson in the underground tunnel, it was to mislead Gongsun Yu.

Now that the danger on that front had passed, Shangguan Qing simply resumed his original appearance and moved into the City Lord’s residence under the identity of the Little Ghost King of Ghost Mountain.

Gu Jiao visited him once a day, though she hadn’t gone over yet today.

Inside the tent, the air was dry and cold. In order to save on charcoal and ice, Gu Jiao rarely lit a fire when she was alone.

It was only because Xiao Heng had come that she lit a small basin of charcoal.

As Xiao Heng watched the fire gradually begin to burn, he couldn’t help but recall their days back in the village.

Back then, the household was poor, and they only had one brazier. She was unwilling to use it for herself and would always bring it into his room instead.

She only came in occasionally to sit for a while; while he bent over copying texts, she would quietly toast the winter-dampened clothes over the fire.

Xiao Heng gazed at her slender, graceful waist and couldn’t help but wonder how he had ever managed to focus on copying books back then.

When Gu Jiao turned her head and caught Xiao Heng staring at her with that deep, thoughtful look, she said, “Almost done.”

Xiao Heng helped her up and had her sit on the chair. “You sit, I’ll tend the fire.”

Gu Jiao replied, “Oh.”

If anyone saw the dignified Eldest Imperial Grandson crouching on the ground to build a fire for her, their jaw would probably hit the floor.

Gu Jiao watched him with keen interest.

His looks were so outstanding that even the rough task of starting a fire looked elegant and pleasing when he did it.

Having endured hardships in the countryside, his hands were anything but clumsy. In no time, the fire was burning steadily.

He came over and sat down beside Gu Jiao.

Whether it was the fire or simply because he was by her side now, Gu Jiao couldn’t quite tell.

But somehow, the bitter winter of the northwest didn’t feel quite so cold anymore.

The two of them had been stationed in opposite corners of the country, and the only reports they received were official military briefings from post stations, which rarely mentioned any private matters.

For instance, Xiao Heng had already heard about Xuanyuan Qi and Seventh Master Xuanyuan on his way here, but even so, hearing Gu Jiao recount it again still left him shaken.

“By the way, where are they now?” He asked.

Gu Jiao said, “Grand General Xuanyuan is recovering at the City Lord’s residence. Liao Chen went to the front lines to attack the State of Jin. The Crown Princess is in Pucheng, she’ll arrive tonight, or by tomorrow night at the latest.”

Xiao Heng nodded. “Then I’ll wait for her here. In a bit, I’ll go pay a visit to the Grand General at the manor.”

Gu Jiao said, “Alright, I’ll go with you. We can stop by to see Shangguan Qing too.”

Xiao Heng was suddenly startled. “Shangguan Qing is here too?”

That brother of his?

Speak of the devil, and he appeared.

Outside the tent, a little ghost soldier playing the role of a eunuch raised his voice and cried, “His Highness the Ghost King arrives——”

Xiao Heng was completely baffled. “Ghost King?”

Gu Jiao explained, “Your brother.”

Just as the words left her lips, the curtain to the tent was lifted.

In that instant, countless images of his brother flashed through Xiao Heng’s mind. Since he was born of the same mother, he ought to resemble Princess Xinyang.

Elegant, noble, refined, scholarly, and brimming with the aura of a cultured gentleman.

But what he saw instead was a man swaggering in with a firelance slung over his shoulder, striding boldly with the mannerisms of a bandit, exuding roughness from head to toe.

Xiao Heng: “???”

Although Xiao Heng hadn’t made any public announcement before coming, he had entered the city early in the morning in his capacity as the Eldest Imperial Grandson. With General Xuanyuan Qi stationed at the City Lord’s residence, word of the Eldest Imperial Grandson’s arrival was immediately relayed to them without delay.

Shangguan Qing had originally been recuperating at the City Lord’s residence as well. He had been listless and sickly for days, but upon hearing that his bookish little brother had arrived, he was instantly invigorated, practically bursting with energy as he brought his subordinates along, full of swagger and bravado!

By then, the sky was already bright, and inside the tent, there was a soft glow reflected from the snowy ground, a faint light filtering in from the distant horizon, and flickers of firelight from the brazier.

Though not particularly bright, the mingling of these different sources of light was just enough to outline everyone’s features with clarity.

It was under such a setting that the two brothers met for the first time.

The scene in Xiao Heng’s mind instantly shattered into pieces with a jarring crack; even the motion of peeling an orange for Gu Jiao came to a halt as he froze in place, so stunned he couldn’t form words.

Shangguan Qing was very pleased with Xiao Heng’s dumbstruck reaction. Clearly, his entrance had the desired dramatic effect, and in one stroke, he had successfully intimidated this little brother!

He waved a hand, signaling the ghost soldiers outside to withdraw.

The show of force had concluded. It was time for a proper meeting.

Ever since Marquis Xuanping had exposed Gu Jiao’s hidden identity, he and Gu Jiao had long since dispensed with pretenses. He greeted her casually, then turned his gaze toward his scholarly younger brother’s face.

“Ah, so it really is true after all…”

He muttered quietly to himself.

Having worn this disguised face for years, how could he not recognize it? Yet no matter how many times he had seen it in bronze mirrors or portraits, nothing compared to seeing it face to face. It was far more striking.

“So this is what I’ve looked like all these years? Not bad at all.”

It was unclear whether he was complimenting himself or his younger brother.

While he openly and unabashedly examined Xiao Heng, the latter also began to carefully study him in return.

Xiao Hengʼs features were about forty percent inherited from Marquis Xuanping, another forty from Shangguan Yan, and the remaining twenty percent traced back to the generational traits of the Xuanyuan Family.

As for Shangguan Qing, his looks were evenly split, half from his father and half from his mother. Most notably, his brows, eyes, and the beauty mark at the center of his forehead were a perfect inheritance from Princess Xinyang.

Xiao Heng had been raised entirely by Princess Xinyang. The two shared the same habits and mannerisms, and even their expressions were so similar that they often gave off the air of a mother and son.

But that was only because they hadn’t seen Shangguan Qing before.

As the two brothers gazed at one another, Gu Jiao was also observing them. After all, they shared the same father; regardless of how different their temperaments might be, there were still traces of resemblance in their features.

In recent days, a few veteran generals from imperial court had remarked that the Ghost King who came from Ghost Mountain bore some resemblance to the Eldest Imperial Grandson.

Of course, there were many people in the world who looked alike. Even if they did resemble each other, no one thought much of it.

“You’re Xiao Heng?”

As the older brother, Shangguan Qing was the first to speak. With his firelance slung over his shoulder, his tone was arrogant to the extreme. “Do you know who I am?”

Gu Jiao shot him a sidelong glance.

You dare act tough toward my husband? Are you asking to be beaten with a sack?

She looked at Xiao Heng and asked, “Can I hit him?”

Xiao Heng: “……”

Xiao Heng gently pulled Gu Jiao’s hand over and placed the peeled orange in her palm, speaking softly, “I’ll step outside and have a word with His Highness the Ghost King.”

That meant no, she couldn’t hit him.

Gu Jiao looked disappointed. “Oh.”

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…