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.] [Antonny C.] [Christine G.-L.] [K.Rom]

[Leeyue] [Lily J.] [Suong D.] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

[Anasi G.] [Marjoree M.] [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] [Smurfinbatik]

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

[Ava C.] [Kiiayame] [kuroneko_chan] [Manon] [Oushna] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes] [Woon Li Ying]

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

The only person who could make Marquis Xuanping bow and obey like that, besides the Emperor of the State of Zhao, was the regent Empress Dowager herself.

Empress Dowager Zhuang also took the opportunity to introduce Old Chief. “His surname is Huo, Chief of the State of Zhao’s Imperial Academy.”

Duke An had heard bits and pieces about the State of Zhao, mainly that Empress Dowager Zhuang and Chief Huo were mortal enemies. Even if knives rained down from the heavens, these two would never work together.

So he genuinely hadn’t guessed that the other man was the notorious Old Chief.

Empress Dowager Zhuang spoke with composure, “Now, let’s get to the main point. Aijia will keep it brief. The reason we’ve come to the State of Yan is because we were worried about a few of the children——”

Marquis Xuanping looked around in all directions.

“Ah Heng is not on the ship.” Empress Dowager Zhuang said.

“Where did he go?” Marquis Xuanping asked.

"He went to the State of Chen." Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly. "Don’t be in such a rush to ask questions, listen to what Aijia has to say first. You left the military camp without authorization, which constitutes dereliction of duty, and furthermore, you disguised yourself as a pirate and hijacked the Empress Dowager of a sovereign state——such an act is not only insubordination, but a grave offense against the throne."

Marquis Xuanping rubbed his hands together, a sheepish grin on his face as he said, "Well, it’s not like I knew it was you, right? We’re family, how about showing me a little mercy?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang’s voice dropped into a stern and measured tone. "Aijia can overlook your misconduct this time, but what about JiaoJiao’s situation? Are you going to stand by and do nothing?"

Marquis Xuanping gave a half-smile, his expression unreadable. "Oh? What’s happened to that girl now?"

Seeing the look on his face, Empress Dowager Zhuang immediately realized he truly didn’t know what had transpired in the State of Yan.

In truth, she couldn’t really blame him.

But the thought of JiaoJiao struggling in the thick of chaos and danger, while this man still had the nerve to go out playing pirate at sea made her feel an overwhelming urge to slap him right across the face.

Suppressing her rising anger, Empress Dowager Zhuang’s expression turned solemn as she said, "She is under siege by the rebel forces of Great Yan, along with the combined armies of Jin and Liang. She’s barely holding out and could collapse at any moment."

The smile on Marquis Xuanping’s face vanished in an instant, and his eyes began to take on a dangerous gleam.

Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed and continued, "Much has happened in between. Chief Huo will explain it all to you in detail shortly. But to put it simply, this military campaign you’re leading against the State of Yan isn’t targeting just anyone. It’s aimed at Ah Heng and JiaoJiao."

Marquis Xuanping: “???”

Empress Dowager Zhuang cast a sidelong glance at him, her tone steady and composed. "Also, perhaps I should be the one to congratulate you. Your son is still alive. The one born to Princess Xinyang."

Marquis Xuanping again: “???”

Empress Dowager Zhuang paid no mind to how utterly stunned he looked, resembling a dazed monkey struck by lightning. She instead asked, "Who did you come south with this time?"

Before Marquis Xuanping could answer, the deck above suddenly rang out with the wildly smug and unmistakably unhinged laughter of a certain Supreme Commander.

"Hahahahahaha! Old Xiao! We just nabbed another fat fish today! Our military pay is getting a nice boost again! This way of collecting wages is brilliant! Next time, we’ll go help Great Yan suppress bandits in their name, and let them pay us silver for that too! Fame and fortune, all in one shot! Hahahahahahahaha…"

Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun both looked toward the door with identical expressions of sympathy for that unfortunate soul whose cover was blown to bits before he even made his entrance.

Silently, the two of them counted in their hearts: one, two, three——

With his massive frame and commanding presence, Tang Yueshan strode boldly into the cabin, his laughter booming and unrestrained. But just as he let out the fourth “ha,” he suddenly choked on it.

And then, he couldn’t laugh anymore.

“I went to the wrong place.”

Tang Yueshan immediately turned around to leave.

His reaction was exactly the same as when Marquis Xuanping had been caught red-handed, not a hair of difference, proving just how much Marquis Xuanping had managed to corrupt him during their time together.

Once upon a time, the two of them had been political enemies; one loyal to the Empress Dowager, the other devoted to the Emperor.

No one really knew when exactly the tide had turned and they had decided to shake hands and make peace. Perhaps it had something to do with the Empress Dowager and the Emperor reconciling their own differences.

But even if the two of them have made peace, must they really go so far as to collude shamelessly together now?

Was such a dramatic shift even possible?

It was hardly surprising for Marquis Xuanping to be up to such antics as he was never one to follow the rules, possibly the most shameless person in all the land, though admittedly, also the one with the most handsome face.

But the issue was, Tang Yueshan wasn’t that type of person at all.

He was a true-blue, straight-laced Supreme Commander of all military forces under heaven. If he had behaved like a scoundrel from the start, Empress Dowager Zhuang would have kicked him to the farthest reaches of the world without a second thought.

Yet now, Tang Yueshan was dressed in exactly the same style as Marquis Xuanping, even imitating the essence of the one-eyed pirate look. The only difference was that Marquis Xuanping covered his right eye, whereas Tang Yueshan covered his left.

Furthermore, while Marquis Xuanping looked like a roguishly handsome and flirtatious pirate, Tang Yueshan only looked roguish.

Seeing Tang Yueshan walk in, Marquis Xuanping finally remembered that he was still wearing his eyepatch.

He hurried to remove it.

And the moment he did, his full, strikingly handsome face was revealed to all in the room.

At last, Duke An understood who Shangguan Qing resembled.

It wasn’t just the facial features, even the personality seemed to be an exact replica… ten out of ten, through and through.

Marquis Xuanping turned his head and flashed a calm, nonchalant smile. “Old Tang, come on over.”

Come on over, your uncle!

Why didn’t you say earlier that the Empress Dowager is here?!

This is all your fault, all your fault, all your fault!

I told you we should just rob a merchant ship and be done with it, but no—you insisted on raiding a government warship!

A fierce and chilling glance from Empress Dowager Zhuang swept across the room and landed directly on him, making Tang Yueshan’s heart skip a beat!

Empress Dowager Zhuang spoke in a cold, composed tone, “Tang Yueshan, you’re quite bold. Why don’t you tell Aijia who exactly is the fat fish?”

“Ah…” Tang Yueshan wasn’t nearly as silver-tongued or glib as Marquis Xuanping, and his voice got stuck right in his throat.

He was utterly confused. How on earth had robbing a Great Yan warship with Marquis Xuanping somehow led them to robbing Empress Dowager Zhuang herself? And Old Chief was here too, along with two vaguely familiar but unconfirmed faces… and a man in a wheelchair whom he didn’t recognize at all.

Oh!

Could it be that the Empress Dowager had been kidnapped by Great Yan forces, and now he had accidentally become a hero?

“You’re overthinking it. That’s not what happened.” Empress Dowager Zhuang struck the thought down with a single, precise sentence.

Tang Yueshan drooped his large head. Looking pitiful and aggrieved, he clasped his hands in a respectful salute. “Your humble servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager.”

“Humph!” Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted coldly in response.

Tang Yueshan wilted and looked over at Duke An. “This is?”

This man seemed like the physically weakest person in the room, yet his presence radiated a commanding aura, second only to Empress Dowager Zhuang and Marquis Xuanping.

Empress Dowager Zhuang had no desire to go through introductions again, but Marquis Xuanping was more than happy to ease her burden.

Wearing a radiant smile, Marquis Xuanping introduced, “This is Duke An of Great Yan, my in-law.”

Tang Yueshan looked completely bewildered. “I just turn my back for one moment and you’ve already robbed yourself a new in-law?”

Marquis Xuanping: “…”

Raz P.'s 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, "Don't abandon me, alri—”

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

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

He hasn't finished his lines yet though…