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

[Anne C.]

R A I N B O W S T A R

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T H E S U N

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

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

“Brother, here you go.” Xiao Heng handed the money pouch back to Shangguan Qing.

Shangguan Qing had half a mind to suspect that this little brat had done it on purpose, but the moment he saw Xiao Heng’s innocent, doe-eyed gaze, he couldn’t help but feel he might’ve been overthinking it.

He pulled out a banknote and paid the bill.

The shopkeeper beamed as he cheerfully sent the two of them off.

Shangguan Qing felt like there was a ball of fire trapped in his chest, and the more he thought about it on the way back, the angrier he became.

He had set out to watch this boy make a fool of himself, so how had it ended with him being the one made into a joke?

He had lived a full twenty years and never suffered this kind of humiliation before!

He had to get back at him!

“Stop the carriage.” He ordered.

The coachman brought the carriage to a halt.

Shangguan Qing led Xiao Heng down from the carriage.

Xiao Heng looked at him with wide, confused eyes and asked, “Elder brother, where are we going?”

That “elder brother” was just too sweet-sounding.

Shangguan Qing nearly melted on the spot, but thankfully his heart was forged from steel and he quickly reined himself in.

He said, “Since this is our first meeting, and I’m your older brother, I should prepare a meeting gift for you. I didn’t have anything ready in advance, so let me buy one for you now!”

Xiao Heng gently shook his head. “No need, elder brother. I didn’t prepare anything for you either.”

Shangguan Qing, full of heroic bravado, waved his hand and said, “That’s completely different! I’m your older brother, I must give you a meeting gift! If you keep being polite, I’ll get angry!”

Xiao Heng hesitated for a moment, but moved by the enthusiasm, replied, “Since elder brother insists, Ah Heng will respectfully accept.”

Shangguan Qing slung an arm over his shoulder and patted it with a grin. “That’s more like it!”

Shangguan Qing took Xiao Heng to an antique shop. In these troubled times, most antique shops nearby had shuttered, and this was the only one still open.

Xiao Heng tugged gently at his sleeve and whispered, “Elder brother, the items here are too valuable. Maybe we should go somewhere else?”

The Little Marquis of Zhao, born of a princess mother and a marquis father, actually thought a few antiques were too expensive?

Ah, that’s right. This younger brother had lived among commoners for a few years and must’ve endured some hard times.

Shangguan Qing nearly softened again, but thankfully his cultivation was deep enough to resist. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve stashed away plenty of private funds over the years! Pick anything you like! No need to stand on ceremony with your older brother!”

This time, Shangguan Qing had learned his lesson. He checked again and again to make sure his money pouch hadn’t fallen.

Not that it would have mattered much. Even if it had, the silver notes inside weren’t nearly enough to buy even one antique in this shop!

“You look around first, I need to make a quick trip to the latrine!”

“Alright.”

Xiao Heng stayed upstairs browsing antiques while Shangguan Qing went downstairs to pick out a few antiques in the main hall for a while. Then, before he left, he said, “My younger brother upstairs will settle the bill.”

Such a trick might not have worked for anyone else, but the two of them clearly looked like well-bred sons of nobility. No one suspected Shangguan Qing of being a con artist.

Shangguan Qing made off with the antiques and ran!

You brat, let’s see how you wriggle out of this one!

Shangguan Qing threw his head back and burst into laughter. Bwahahaha!

Carrying a sack of antiques, he returned to the carriage. However, the moment he lifted the curtain, he nearly slipped and fell flat on his backside in fright!

“You. How come you’re here?!”

Xiao Heng smiled faintly. “I finished shopping, so I came back first to wait for elder brother.”

Shangguan Qing’s jaw dropped even further. “You… you finished… shopping?”

He stared in disbelief at the several large boxes of antiques loaded in the carriage. “These… all of these… you bought all of them?”

Xiao Heng looked entirely innocent as he said, “These are all the things elder brother picked out for me earlier, and insisted I accept.”

I… I did say that… but what did you use to pay?

Shangguan Qing patted his money pouch. It was still there.

Xiao Heng beamed. “I told the shopkeeper that my elder brother is the Eldest Imperial Grandson. He said that’s fine. He’ll just head to the City Lord’s residence later to collect payment from elder brother.”

Why is it that when I say I’m the Eldest Imperial Grandson, no one believes me, but when you say it, they just go along with it?

This many antiques…

How much silver will that cost?

Your big brother here spent over a decade secretly saving up his personal fortune——

Right now, in Shangguan Qing’s mind, a tiny version of himself collapsed to his knees with a thud, bursting into loud, wailing sobs——

Xiao Heng looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, “Brother, why aren’t you saying anything? Did Ah Heng do something wrong? If so… then I don’t want these things anymore.”

Was this a joke?

Gifts given were like water splashed out; once gone, they couldn’t be taken back.

If he took them back now, where was he supposed to put his dignity as His Highness the Ghost King?

Shangguan Qing had no choice but to swallow his frustration along with his pride, feeling utterly wronged and stifled.

On the way back, he didn’t want to say a single word to Xiao Heng.

When the carriage passed by a shop selling dried meat jerky, it suddenly came to a stop.

With a sullen tone, Shangguan Qing asked, “What now?”

Xiao Heng replied, “I bought some jerky from this shop this morning when I entered the city. It wasn’t ready at the time, and they told me to come back in an hour. It should be done by now.”

Shangguan Qing raised an eyebrow. “How did you know I like meat jerky?”

Xiao Heng was momentarily stunned. “Ah, I didn’t. I bought it for JiaoJiao.”

Caught completely off guard, Shangguan Qing was force-fed another mouthful of dog food.

His face turning black, he decided then and there that he would never speak to this younger brother again for the rest of his life!

Xiao Heng went into the shop to collect the jerky, but it would still take a little while longer.

The air inside the carriage felt stuffy, so Shangguan Qing decided to step out and get some fresh air.

He stood for a while at the entrance of the shop.

The savory aroma of jerky stirred his appetite, but he hadn’t had much of one lately. Guests passed by from time to time, and he stepped aside to make room.

Eventually, when there was nowhere left to stand, he was forced to enter the shop.

This shop sold not only jerky but also various pastries, with options for both takeout and dining in.

At the moment, the place was crowded and noisy. Not fond of such scenes, Xiao Heng went alone to wait in the back courtyard.

Shangguan Qing casually watched Xiao Heng’s every move, elegant, dignified, and always composed. The wicked impulses he had managed to suppress began bubbling up again.

Unnoticed, he silently approached Xiao Heng from behind. Just as Xiao Heng turned around to grab the jerky, Shangguan Qing sneakily stuck out a foot to trip him.

The courtyard was covered in thick snow, so even if he fell, it wouldn’t hurt. At most, it would make Xiao Heng look silly.

And indeed, Xiao Heng had no idea Shangguan Qing had come to cause mischief.

By all logic, this little trick should have worked perfectly, but unfortunately, Shangguan Qing overreached, took too big a step, and lost his balance, slipping forward himself.

“Aiya——”

He yelped in surprise.

Xiao Heng spun around at lightning speed, and almost by instinct, he reached out to grab Shangguan Qing.

But the momentum was too strong. He didn’t manage to catch him in time, and the two brothers ended up tumbling into the snow together.

At that very moment, the proprietress of the brothel across the street, swaying her hips with flair, came in through the back door to buy some jerky. And the instant she stepped into the courtyard, two young men came crashing down at the hem of her floral silk skirt.

The proprietress: “???”

Shangguan Qing: “???”

Xiao Heng: “???”

For a second, the proprietress was stunned. Then she began trembling all over with rage, the powder on her face flaking off in a cascade. One hand on her plump waist, the other clutching her handkerchief, she pointed at the pair and shouted through gritted teeth, “Where did these little rascals come from?! How dare you take advantage of this auntie in broad daylight?! No shame at all! Just wait till I teach you a lesson!”

As she spoke, she bent down and prepared to grab the brothers by their ears.

The two exchanged a glance.

Shangguan Qing shouted, “Run!”

In a flash, the brothers scrambled up from the snow. Shangguan Qing grabbed Xiao Heng by the wrist and dashed out the back door without a second’s pause!

“You take advantage of me and try to run? Stop right there!”

“I said stop! Didn’t you hear me?!”

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…