Chapter 839: Identity Exposed
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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 (*≧∀≦*)
After everyone had been properly introduced, Tang Yueshan asked about the two little kids. Upon learning that they were the younger siblings of the little girl, he generously pulled out two jaded golden balls, which, of course, were stolen goods, offering them to the children to play with.
Gu Yan refused to take them.
Tang Yueshan, slow to realize the situation, only remembered the outrageous things Tang Ming had done to Gu Yan after Gu Yan had already taken Gu Xiaoshun and walked out.
Some bricks, it seemed, one would never understand the pain of until they smash right down on your own foot.
And now that it had landed hard, his emotions were a tangled mess of regret and guilt.
Of course, the pressing matter at hand was still how to send reinforcements to Gu Jiao, as her situation was far too perilous. Even though they were currently hurrying eastward, war reports from the west continued to arrive in rapid succession, whether by 800 li urgent letter or carrier pigeon. They had already learned that Gu Jiao had led the Black Wind Cavalry on a solo mission to seize Quyang City.
Quyang City was the strategic stronghold at the Yanmen Pass and housed eighty thousand rebel troops from the Nangong Family.
When one considered the overwhelming disparity in military strength and then imagined Gu Jiao making a daring thousand-mile assault to meet them head-on, Empress Dowager Zhuang could not help but feel her heart seized with anxious dread.
This was far more dangerous than the time she went to the State of Zhao borders to launch an attack on the State of Chen and the remnants of the previous dynasty.
At least back then, Gu Jiao had operated in secret, and the main combat force had been sizable, including Tang Yueshan, Old Marquis Ding’an Gu Chao, Gu Changqing, and numerous high-ranking generals stationed at the borders. Even the common people had lined the roads to welcome them.
It had been a campaign where both the army and civilians stood united.
But what her JiaoJiao was facing now was a situation where she was utterly surrounded with no allies in sight.
Old Chief gave a succinct summary of the key events that had occurred in the State of Yan to both men, including the reason why the children had gone to the State of Yan in the first place, which was to seek treatment for Gu Yan, as well as Xiao Heng’s true identity and the revelation that Xiao Qing was still alive. He then spoke of all the various things Gu Jiao had experienced in Shengdu.
……Or more precisely, the string of storms she stirred up.
With her own strength alone, she had managed to shake the entire polo industry, kill Nangong Li, and churn the waters of Shengdu into utter chaos.
As they listened, both Marquis Xuanping and Tang Yueshan nodded with visible pride.
——With this kind of troublemaking ability, she truly deserved to be my daughter-in-law /big bro.
Old Chief was speechless.
There was simply too much information, and the two men were unable to digest it all at once.
But that was fine.
If a woman’s heart was like a cabinet, where everything gets piled together, a man’s heart, on the other hand, was like a set of drawers, each holding a separate matter or emotion, neatly compartmentalized and unaffected by the others.
They could wait until they were on the road and take out one drawer at a time to process.
Tang Yueshan cleared his throat and decisively betrayed his friend for favor, “Ahem, Your Majesty, actually, we’re not the only two who came this time.”
Empress Dowager Zhuang’s brows furrowed slightly. “Who else is there?”
Marquis Xuanping and Tang Yueshan were already shocking enough. She honestly couldn’t imagine what other significant figure in the State of Zhao had the capability or, more importantly, the mental fortitude to mix themselves up with these two.
One li away, anchored on the ocean’s surface, was a massive pirate ship.
Beneath the furled sails stood a stern and imposing figure. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his piercing gaze swept across the churning waves. The sea breeze blew fiercely, lifting his graying hair into the air.
Suddenly, a small boat came into his line of sight.
The boat was moving fast, and in no time, it had reached the base of the warship.
The man made no move to lower a rope ladder, but the person on the small boat wasn’t the least bit anxious. With a display of effortless maneuver, they used their qinggong to leap gracefully onto the towering vessel.
“Old Gu!” Tang Yueshan strode up to him with bold steps and gave his shoulder a hearty slap. “You really missed out on a great show by not coming along.”
Old Marquis gave Tang Yueshan a sideways glance and said coolly, “Take your hand off me.”
In terms of official rank, Tang Yueshan was above him, but for this southern campaign, it was he who had been appointed by His Majesty as the commanding general.
When it came to actual warfare, Tang Yueshan would have to follow his orders.
As for the business of Tang Yueshan and Marquis Xuanping going off to rob ships, he disdained to participate, though he hadn’t issued a strict order to stop them either.
Firstly, with someone like Marquis Xuanping, even if he tried to forbid it, it wouldn’t work.
Secondly, water that was too clean held no fish. Having navigated the political tides for so many years, the only thing he could ensure was to keep his own nature unchanged. But if he insisted on purging anyone who rubbed him the wrong way, then it would either end with him wiping everyone else out, or getting killed himself.
He wasn’t so rigid and unbending as to reach that extreme.
He had only come along to keep an eye on the two of them, to make sure things didn’t go too far.
And so far, it seemed to be working fairly well. The two had restrained themselves and hadn’t caused any catastrophes.
Marquis Xuanping grinned. “Old Monkey~”
Old Marquis had an inexplicable chill run through his heart. “What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?!”
“What trouble could this Marquis possibly cause?” Marquis Xuanping spread his hands innocently. “Just accidentally robbed the Empress Dowager, is all!”
Old Marquis stumbled and nearly fell straight into the sea!
He stared at Marquis Xuanping in utter disbelief. “What did you just say? The Empress Dowager… she’s here…”
Tang Yueshan, ever ready to throw fuel on the fire, added with a wicked grin, “Not only is the Empress Dowager here, your precious grandson is too. Though, chances are, you won’t get to see him. We’ve got a new mission. We’re heading out immediately to reinforce the Great Yan’s cavalry. Oh, almost forgot to mention, your granddaughter, yeah, she’s leading them.”
Old Marquis’s brow furrowed deeply.
Tang Yueshan, having now been thoroughly corrupted by Marquis Xuanping, didn’t hesitate to make things worse just for the entertainment, “What’s wrong? Still planning to pretend you don’t know anything?”
Gu Jiao had been away from the State of Zhao for quite some time, and in the meantime, all kinds of legendary tales about her had begun to spread like wildfire.
Of course, Old Marquis had paid them no mind.
Even when Gu Jiao was conferred the title of County Princess Protector, the Emperor had gone to great lengths to keep her secret identity hidden from Old Marquis.
But alas, Marquis Gu had once lectured Gu Xiaobao while holding him in his arms, going on and on about things like: “When you grow up, don’t turn out like your sister,” “Just because she knows a little martial arts and can fight, she thinks she’s some big deal,” “She bullies your father every single day,” and so on.
These remarks happened to be overheard by Old Marquis, who had come to visit Gu Xiaobao.
One question led to another, and the truth about Gu Jiao’s identity came spilling out.
——The fact that she knew martial arts alone made it impossible to deny.
And when you added in all the various masks Old Marquis recognized from her room, masks that Yao shi didn’t have time to hide, it became ironclad proof.
Old Marquis said coldly, “I don’t have such a rebellious granddaughter.”
A young lady should carry herself as a young lady should. Wielding swords and swinging spears all day, what kind of disgraceful behavior was that? Not to mention, she had deceived her own grandfather, then ran off to Great Yan to serve as a cavalry soldier there. It was simply beyond reason!
Tang Yueshan looked toward Marquis Xuanping, saying, “Old Xiao, he’s not going.”
Marquis Xuanping casually brushed off his sleeves, entirely unbothered, “Alright then, we’ll be on our way.”
Tang Yueshan nodded.
The next second, the two of them raised their arms in perfect unison, one on each side, and with a swish, they grabbed hold of Old Marquis’s arms from either direction.
Old Marquis was suddenly dragged backward. He glared furiously, “What do you think you’re doing?!”
Marquis Xuanping gave him a slow, mischievous smile, “We’re going to the border, of course.”
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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…