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

[Lily J.] [Suong D.] [Tessy Ivy O.] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

[Anasi G.] [Passerby] [Xena]

G O L D S T A R

[Nevy] [Roxanne C.]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Smurfinbatik]

T H E S U N

[kuroneko_chan] [Michelle K.]

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

[Ava C.] [Leeyue] [Manon] [Sophia W.] [Tionna M.] [Val Nes]

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

At the Imperial Advisor's Hall, Shangguan Yan gradually "woke up," going from waking once a day for a quarter-hour to staying awake for over an hour daily.

The Emperor visited her twice, while Imperial Consort Wang and the others were so terrified that they couldn't sleep at night, fearing Shangguan Yan might really take them down with her.

After discussing with her family, Imperial Consort Dong was the first to come up with a solution, and the news quickly reached Imperial Consort Wang through her spies.

Imperial Consort Wang followed suit.

Almost on the same day, Imperial Consort Yang, who had been keeping an eye on Imperial Consort Wang, also caught wind of her plans and found the idea feasible.

At first, Imperial Consort Chen and Imperial Lady Fang had no clue what the other three were up to, but after observing the movements of the three major noble families, they could roughly guess.

Initially, none of the five admitted anything. But as investigations stirred up more noise, it became impossible to hide, so they might as well go all in together.

Thus, at the end of the seventh month, the five imperial consorts gathered once again at the Imperial Advisor's Hall.

All palace attendants had been dismissed.

Shangguan Yan sat in her chair, resisting the urge to dig into a half-cut watermelon with a spoon. She looked at the five people seated before her, cold and indifferent. "What do you want this time?"

As the most senior among them, Imperial Consort Wang was the spokesperson.

She said, "Shangguan Yan, I know you don’t actually want to die. Your threats last time were just meant to intimidate us."

Such smooth words, if Shangguan Yan hadn't been prepared, she might have faltered.

She replied lazily, "Since you think I’m just pretending, why come to me? No need to worry about whether I have leverage on you or not."

Imperial Consort Dong snorted. "Shangguan Yan, we’re only helping you out of sympathy because we watched you grow up."

Shangguan Yan chuckled. "Oh? One playing the good cop, the other the bad? Setting up a whole stage in front of me? Take a right turn on your way out, no need to see you off."

The five turned red with frustration.

Wasn't Shangguan Yan just a brute who only knew how to fight? When did she become so sharp-tongued?

Imperial Consort Wang said, "Enough. Since we’re here, we sincerely want to make a deal with you."

Since persuasion didn’t work, they might as well be blunt.

She continued, "Shangguan Yan, you may not care about your own life, but can you disregard the Xuanyuan Family's reputation? We all know the truth about what happened to them. The charges against them were fabricated by the noble families. Whether they are remembered with honor or disgrace is up to you."

Shangguan Yan showed no reaction. "Imperial Consort Wang, you're the ones asking me for help, not the other way around. You'd better adjust your attitude."

Imperial Consort Wang clenched her handkerchief so tightly it nearly tore.

She asked coolly, "So you don’t want the evidence?"

Shangguan Yan replied carelessly, "Just evidence from a few noble families? Meaningless."

The five exchanged glances.

How did Shangguan Yan already know they only intended to hand over evidence against the other noble families?

They had hoped to at least protect their own families while praying that Shangguan Yan would be easy to deceive and trade away her leverage.

Shangguan Yan placed her teacup on the table and declared, "If you truly want to exonerate the Xuanyuan Family, bring all the evidence! Every single one of the thirty-plus charges! Don't test my patience, and don't think you can negotiate with me. By tomorrow, I might demand even more.”

"You—!" Imperial Consort Chen stomped her foot in frustration.

This outcome wasn’t entirely unexpected. Their worst-case scenario had always been Shangguan Yan demanding the complete set of evidence.

Imperial Consort Wang suppressed her anger and said seriously, "We’ll give you the evidence, but you must return the written confessions we signed."

Those documents were useless now. She could hand them over anytime.

Three hours later, in the adjacent room, Xiao Heng and Old Chief verified all the account books, letters, and evidence—everything was real.

The deal was complete.

Imperial Consort Wang and the others left in a fury.

These pieces of evidence implicated many. If she hadn’t seen them herself, Shangguan Yan would have found it hard to believe.

"Even the Mighty General is involved?" Enemies could never truly hurt her; what cut the deepest was betrayal by those once trusted.

Shangguan Yan murmured, "The Mighty General was my uncle’s subordinate. He even taught Xuanyuan Sheng martial arts. Who would have thought he’d burn down the Xuanyuan Family’s granary for his own gain?"

Xiao Heng reassured her, "It’s all in the past. It won’t happen again."

"Mm." Shangguan Yan pushed aside the melancholy welling up inside her and told her son, "These should be enough to clear the Xuanyuan Family’s name."

Xiao Heng hesitated. "Not yet. There’s still no evidence to refute the treason charge."

Because… the treason charge was real.

Unless the Emperor admitted to orchestrating everything, forcing the Xuanyuan Family into rebellion, there was no way to overturn it.

But that was impossible.

Xiao Heng suggested, "Mother, why not present these as proof of your loyalty and filial piety? Exchange them for the restoration of your Crown Princess title. We can deal with the rest later. Once you're reinstated, you can work on stripping the Emperor of his power. That way, you can still clear the Xuanyuan Family’s name."

Shangguan Yan nodded in agreement. "That works. I’ll take these to the imperial palace at dawn."

……

The imperial palace.

The Emperor was about to retire for the night when Zhang Dequan hurried over in small, quick steps. Glancing at the Little County Princess sleeping soundly on her small bed, he whispered, "Your Majesty, Han shi is making a fuss in the cold palace, demanding to see you."

The Emperor’s voice turned cold. "How many times has it been now?"

Zhang Dequan dared not answer and instead reported meekly, "Han shi claims she knows a secret about the Empress."

He repeated the young palace maid’s exact words, without embellishment.

The moment it concerned Empress Xuanyuan, the Emperor’s patience held, and he made his way to the Cold Palace.

Imperial Consort Wan had been demoted to Noble Lady Wan and now resided in the western wing of the cold palace, while Han shi was confined to the eastern wing.

The Emperor went straight to Han shi’s quarters.

Despite her fall from grace, Han shi had dressed impeccably for this meeting. But no matter how presentable she looked, the Emperor didn’t spare her a single proper glance.

She sat on a worn stone stool, smiling as she said, "Your Majesty, I brewed some tea. It’s just the cold palace’s coarse tea. I wonder if you’ll find it to your liking?"**

The Emperor frowned. "What do you want?"

Han shi replied gently, "Your Majesty, did you come only for the Empress’s secret? Won’t you ask how I’ve been these days, locked away in this place? You’re so heartless."

A man only cherishes a woman’s fragility when he loves her.

When love fades, her sorrow was nothing but tiresome theatrics.

The Emperor’s gaze grew colder.

Han shi, as if oblivious, continued, "Of course, Your Majesty’s heart has only ever held Xuanyuan Hanyan. When have you ever cared about the rest of us? Even towards the one you love, you show no mercy. The truth is, Your Majesty’s heart belongs only to yourself."

The Emperor’s patience snapped. "If you have nothing worthwhile to say, Zhen is leaving!"

Han shi poured herself a cup of tea and continued, "Before she died, the Empress confided in me. She said she regretted marrying you. If she could, she would do anything to avoid being buried alongside you in the imperial mausoleum. Even in the afterlife, she never wants to see you again."

The Emperor’s chest tightened violently.

He knew Xuanyuan Hanyan resented him. But this much?

Han shi sneered, "Does that pain you, Your Majesty? Or do you refuse to believe me? Of course, why would you? You’ve never believed me. Even now, when I’ve been framed so obviously, you still choose to turn a blind eye."

"Until tonight, I waited, hoping you would come to see me. I never wanted to take this step. Your Majesty, you forced me."

"When I first entered the imperial palace, I admired you. I spent years longing to be your wife in the truest sense. What did Xuanyuan Hanyan ever do? I was the one who managed your harem! I thought I mattered to you, but in the end, I was just sparing Xuanyuan Hanyan from the burden."

"Yet that woman never even looked back at you."

"I hated her! That’s why I had Shangguan Yan kidnapped! I sold her to the brokers and let her become a slave!"

The Emperor was shaken to his core. "It was you?!"

Han shi smirked. "Yes, it was me."

Fury exploded within the Emperor. He strode forward and seized her by the throat.

"Zhen will kill you!"

Han shi gasped for air, her face turning purple, yet she grinned viciously. "Too late... Your Majesty... far too late... You... can't kill me now!"

The moment she finished speaking, a shadow descended from above, striking the Emperor’s nape with a precise hand chop.

The Emperor's body went numb instantly. His grip on Han shi loosened, and he collapsed sideways in a daze.

He caught a glimpse of a black cloak’s hem and a pair of black boots inlaid with gold. Then, his vision darkened, and he lost consciousness completely.

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…