The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

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

Every New Year’s Eve, people were supposed to stay up all night to welcome the new year, but in truth, it was nearly impossible to keep awake until dawn. Once midnight passed, the sound of firecrackers across the capital began to fade, and soon the entire Princess Mansion was enveloped in silence.

After washing up, Gu Jiao came out of the bathhouse and saw that Xiao Heng had not yet gone to sleep. He was sitting on the bed reading a book.

When the Princess Mansion had been built, underground heating channels were dug beneath each courtyard, connecting to openings outside. During winter, all one had to do was burn firewood at the entrances, and the hot air would travel through the channels to warm the rooms inside.

This was the so-called “earth dragon” heating method.

The room was comfortably warm. Xiao Heng leaned against the headboard; one leg was lazily stretched out while the other was bent with casual indifference.

He wore only a thin white sleeping robe, its collar left loosely open without much attention, revealing just enough of his perfectly defined collarbones, and above them, that alluring Adam’s apple.

Even his Adam’s apple looked beautiful.

He read with such focus that an air of abstinent self-restraint seemed to surround him.

Gu Jiao’s eyes were glued to him in a daze.

Xiao Heng turned a page in his book as if he had no idea she was standing there, continuing to hold his pose calmly.

Gu Jiao, oblivious to how obvious she looked, was practically drooling. Her husband looked handsome no matter the time or place. She could hardly resist the urge to pounce on him.

Wait a moment.

There was a baby in the room.

Gu Jiao’s gaze darted quickly toward the cradle.

Eh?

Empty.

“Where are the babies?” She asked blankly.

“Oh, you’re done washing.” Xiao Heng said as though only now noticing her. With unhurried grace, he closed his book; his slender jade-like fingers rested lightly on the fine paper, making even that high-quality watermarked paper seem coarse by comparison.

Gu Jiao swallowed hard.

Xiao Heng turned his head slightly at a perfect angle, his eyes warm as he looked at her, his expression calm as he said, “Jing Kong said he wanted to sleep with his little nephew and niece, so I took the babies over. There’s a wet nurse keeping watch tonight, don’t worry.”

Even his voice sounded so good, low and velvety, sending a tingle down her ears that made them feel full just from listening.

Gu Jiao walked to the bedside, bent her knees, and climbed up. Propping herself up with one hand, she leaned toward him, and with a quick motion, snatched the book from his hands.

Xiao Heng looked at her helplessly, a faint smile on his lips as he asked knowingly, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Jiao answered seriously, “I want to eat you.”

The corners of Xiao Heng’s lips twitched; he suppressed a laugh, maintaining his composure as he looked at her and said, “Didn’t you say you were sleepy back in the carriage?”

Gu Jiao shook her head vigorously like a little rattle drum. “I’m not sleepy anymore.”

Xiao Heng’s cool fingertips pressed gently against her moist lips as his voice deepened, husky and low. “You said it yourself.”

“Mm!” Gu Jiao’s eyes widened, nodding eagerly.

Xiao Heng brushed his hand against her soft cheek, then rolled over to pin her beneath him. Lowering his head, he kissed her lips and murmured, “Then you’re not allowed to sleep tonight.”

……

The sounds of passion lasted until dawn.

Gu Jiao, like a satisfied little cat, lay in his arms and drifted off to sleep.

Xiao Heng looked down at the woman in his embrace with tender affection, unable to resist leaning in to kiss her swollen lips once more before finally falling asleep with her in his arms.

The two of them slept straight through until the sun was high in the sky.

Xiao Heng woke first. Half-asleep, he vaguely felt something pressing down on the quilt. He shifted slightly, slowly opening his drowsy eyes, only to see a tiny, adorable head.

In an instant, he was wide awake.

“Yiyi?”

He immediately recognized his little sister.

Little Yi Yi was sitting cross-legged on top of their blanket, hugging her own small pillow in her arms, resting her chin on one hand, and staring at her brother without blinking.

Seeing that first thing in the morning nearly scared Xiao Heng into breaking out in a cold sweat.

He quickly lifted the blanket to check underneath, and thankfully, they had put on clothes before falling asleep, fearing they might catch cold during the night.

He steadied himself, sat up from under the quilt, tucked the blanket carefully around the still-sleeping Gu Jiao, and asked Little Yiyi, “Why are you here? And why are you holding that?”

He was referring to the small pillow in her arms.

Little Yiyi spoke in her soft, childish voice, “Because starting today, I’m moving in to live with elder brother and sister-in-law!”

His brow furrowed strangely. “What do you mean?”

Little Yiyi stood up straight on the bed, then gave Xiao Heng a deep and formal bow. “Mother went to look for Father, so from now on, I’ll be in your care, elder brother and sister-in-law!”

Xiao Heng was utterly stunned.

On the very first day of the new year, his mother, who had lived her entire life strictly abiding by propriety, had actually left the entire family behind to travel thousands of miles in search of her husband?!

What had the world come to?!

……

In the eastern region of the State of Zhao, snow was a rare sight, but this year was an exception. Coupled with the recent outbreak of war and disasters both natural and man-made, the lives of the common people had become unbearably difficult.

Princess Xinyang was traveling incognito. She sat inside a modest-looking carriage, occasionally pushing open the window shutters to observe the scenes along the road.

The closer they drew to the border, the more desolate the towns became. The doors of shops were tightly shut, and everywhere she looked, there were beggars in the streets and alleyways. Some had even frozen to death.

“Your Highness, please don’t look anymore.” Yu Jin urged softly.

Princess Xinyang sighed faintly. “So this is what war is really like?”

Born into imperial luxury, she had grown up in the peaceful capital, her fief one of the wealthiest and most stable regions in all of the State of Zhao. Never in her life had she experienced firsthand the brutality of war.

Yu Jin closed the carriage window for her. Although the princess might appear indifferent at times, Yu Jin knew she had a kind and compassionate heart. At first, whenever they encountered refugees, Princess Xinyang would always give generously to help.

But as the number of refugees increased and their own travel funds dwindled, they could no longer afford to assist anyone else.

Not wanting the princess’s spirits to sink, Yu Jin quickly changed the subject. “Your Highness, we’ve reached Li County. It’s the last county before the border. From here, another thirty li east will bring us to the Marquis’s camp.”

Princess Xinyang merely gave a quiet, indifferent “Oh.”

Yu Jin smiled secretly.

The carriage continued onward, and by midday, both of them were hungry. Yu Jin told the driver to stop at a small inn that looked relatively clean.

The conditions there could not compare to the capital. The water they drank was sandy, the rice coarse, and even the salt used for cooking was unrefined, leaving a faintly bitter taste in the food.

Yu Jin placed some greens into Princess Xinyang’s bowl and said, “If I had known it would be this bitter, I never would have persuaded you to come.”

Princess Xinyang said nothing. She frowned slightly and continued eating.

Halfway through their meal, a commotion suddenly erupted on the street outside, followed by the cries of a woman and a child.

“Go and see what’s happening.” Princess Xinyang said.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Yu Jin left the inn and soon returned, her expression somber. “A beggar tried to snatch a steamed bun that had fallen on the ground and startled a horse. The horse’s owner lashed him several times with a whip. The woman and child were just passing by and got struck accidentally.”

“Are they hurt?” Princess Xinyang asked.

“The beggar was badly beaten.” Yu Jin replied. “The woman and child suffered only minor injuries.”

Just as she finished speaking, a woman’s tearful, indignant voice rang out from the street. “How can you beat someone in public like this? Is there no law left in this land?”

“Let’s go see.” Princess Xinyang said, setting down her chopsticks and quickly putting on her veil.

As she stood up, a man at a nearby table, looking to be in his thirties, leisurely advised, “Judging by your accents, you must be from elsewhere. These days, it’s rare enough for anyone to come to Lu County willingly. A word of advice, don’t meddle in other people’s business, or you might find yourselves in trouble.”

An elderly man at another table spoke in a tone of earnest warning. “He’s right. You can’t afford to offend the ones outside. It’s best not to get involved.”

Yu Jin politely asked, “Sir, do you happen to know who those people are?”

The old man sighed. “They’re not from the State of Zhao. They’re from the Dongyi Tribe.”

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…