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

[Azurixa] [Alma S.] [Antonny C.] [Christine G.-L.] [K.Rom]

[Lily J.] [Nevy] [Ziana K.-P.]

Y E L L O W S T A R

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G O L D S T A R

[Anne C.] [Roxanne C.]

R A I N B O W S T A R

[Debra W] [Smurfinbatik]

T H E S U N

[Kiiayame]

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

[Ava C.] [kuroneko_chan] [Leeyue] [Manon] [Oushna] [Raquel G.] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes] [Woon Li Ying]

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

Marquis Xuanping was just about to give the order for his troops to rest for the night and resume the siege at dawn when an urgent command arrived from the rear.

He frowned slightly. “End it tonight? Why the rush?”

To truly deliver a devastating blow to the Liang army, the best strategy would be to press all the way into their capital, Bianjing.

Of course, that was nothing more than a pipe dream, as their current manpower and supplies simply wouldn't support such an ambitious campaign.

Still, at the very least, they needed to seize a few of Liang’s border cities to significantly weaken their military strength and morale.

His original plan had been to allow the army a night of rest and recovery before storming into Li County the next day to claim more heads of the Liang dogs.

A guard stepped forward and respectfully presented a sealed letter with both hands. “This is a letter from Her Highness the Crown Princess. She asks that you read it immediately.”

Marquis Xuanping took it casually, a touch of disdain in his voice. “If there's something to say, just send word. What’s the point of writing a letter…”

The letter contained no pleasantries, no formalities, just five stark words——Qing’er is trapped in Pucheng.

Marquis Xuanping’s expression turned cold in an instant, like ice forming over a lake in the dead of winter.

To allow him to command the troops more freely and without suspicion, Shangguan Yan had fabricated an identity for him, which was a former subordinate of the Xuanyuan Family who had been operating in the shadows for years, and had temporarily conferred upon him the title of General Dingyuan.

Though unfamiliar with him personally, the troops could not deny the facts that he had slain Chu Feipeng, and together with his three companions, had repelled the overwhelming forces of the Liang army.

Thus, his authority and martial prowess were unquestionable.

Moreover, most assumed that the Crown Princess was simply seizing this opportunity to promote her own trusted allies, so they weren’t especially surprised by his sudden rise in rank.

This current campaign against the Liang army was a joint effort with General Zhao Ping, representing the official forces of the Great Yan’s imperial court.

“Has General Zhao received word as well?” Marquis Xuanping asked without changing his expression.

“Ah… it seems… he hasn’t.” the guard replied hesitantly, bracing himself.

Marquis Xuanping’s demeanor remained outwardly calm as always, but now there was a sharp and chilling aura of killing intent surrounding him. “Understood. Go inform the Crown Princess, there’s no need to wait until morning. At midnight, I will take Li County.”

The guard’s mouth dropped open in astonishment.

Midnight?

That was barely an hour from now!

Could they really capture the city in that short a time?

Inside the command tent, Shangguan Yan paced back and forth, restless and unsettled.

She had a nagging feeling she had overlooked something important, yet no matter how she tried, she couldn’t remember what it was.

Her mind was consumed by the news that her son had been surrounded in Ghost Mountain, which she could hardly bring herself to believe.

Her son had been perfectly fine, so how had he ended up at the border?

And why had he fallen into the territory of the Jin army?

What on earth had happened?

Due to the limited space on the letter, Gu Jiao had only included the most urgent points. The rest would have to wait until they met in person.

Huan’er had wanted to remind her of something, but seeing how frantic and distressed she was, she silently swallowed the words back.

His Highness the Eldest Imperial Grandson is in trouble, and the first person you thought of was Marquis Xuanping? Have you completely forgotten about General Zhao?

It was fine if she forgot. Marquis Xuanping would handle everything thoroughly on his end.

At midnight, Marquis Xuanping swept through the enemy camp at Li County, killing six generals of the State of Liang.

The Liang army suffered defeat after defeat, and just as they tried to flee, they were encircled and cut off by the mighty forces of the State of Yan.

In the end, the Liang army was forced to surrender. Prince Pingyang himself stepped forward and offered a humiliating letter of capitulation.

With the surrender letter in hand, Marquis Xuanping took Prince Pingyang with him as a hostage.

Compared to his, Wang Man’s task on the other front was significantly easier. The new city was not nearly as fortified as Quyang, and since the Nangong Family’s troops had all been left behind to defend Quyang by Chang Wei, there were fewer than ten thousand local soldiers left in the city.

Wang Man’s tens of thousands of troops charged in, and from the beginning, the defeat of the Nangong Family was already sealed.

By the time dawn was approaching, the fourth son of the Nangong Family had died in battle, and the rest had been taken alive.

……

In Quyang City, inside the command tent of the Black Wind Cavalry.

Advisor Hu walked over clutching a thick booklet of translated documents. “My Lord! Please take a look!”

Gu Jiao lifted her gaze from the sand table and reached out to take the booklet.

Liao Chen was also present in her tent.

The two of them carefully examined the intelligence on the Jin army.

Gu Jiao said, “It’s not just two hundred thousand troops. If you subtract the supply units, their actual fighting force reaches one hundred and sixty thousand.”

Given the logistics of warfare in this era, supply and baggage units typically made up a third of the total forces. The Jin army was no exception.

Gu Jiao continued, “The number of troops we can mobilize is roughly the same, but we also have to factor in the additional thirty thousand soldiers from the Han Family who are fighting on the Jin side.”

The primary reason this situation had unfolded as it had was that the State of Yan had been forced to divide its military strength across several fronts due to simultaneous attacks from five other nations.

The only confirmed front where the enemy had begun to retreat was at Chishui Pass, held by the State of Zhao.

However, the forces stationed at Chishui Pass were primarily naval units, ill-suited for ground combat, and thus would be of little help even if they arrived.

As for reinforcements from the State of Chen and the State of Qing, both were located much farther away, and for now, no definitive information had been received from either front.

After reading through all the intelligence compiled in the booklet, Liao Chen said, “Gongsun Yu has stationed a significant number of troops at both the north and east gates of the city, precisely the gates closest to our current position. The southern gate is guarded by thirty thousand Han Family cavalry, along with another twenty thousand Han Family infantry. It’s unclear which gate those foot soldiers might be reassigned to. The west gate has the weakest defenses, but unfortunately, it’s located too far from us to be of strategic use.”

Gu Jiao replied, “It’s about time. Let’s move out to the mountain pass to rendezvous with the Crown Princess.”

Due to the urgency of the situation, Shangguan Yan and the imperial forces would not be stopping in Quyang City to rest or resupply.

After their battle with the Liang army, they had taken only a few hours to recover before immediately setting out again on the march toward Pucheng.

Gu Jiao changed into her crimson battle robes and donned black iron armor. Then she stepped outside to help the Black Wind Cavalry fasten their helmets and secure their armor.

When she turned around, she saw that Liao Chen had also suited up in full military gear, ready for war.

Gu Jiao paused for a moment, taken aback.

This armored general before her, was he really the same cheerful, wine-loving monk who used to feast on meat and drink heartily?

Gone was his usual laziness and roguish charm, replaced by a cold, formidable air of iron and blood, a killing aura honed by the battlefield.

“What are you staring at?” Liao Chen asked with a faint, indifferent tone.

Gu Jiao pouted. “You suddenly acting all serious… it’s throwing me off.”

Liao Chen: “…”

Liao Chen mounted his horse in one smooth motion and led the troops out of the city.

Gu Jiao also took ten thousand of the Black Wind Cavalry with her.

Most of these soldiers were from the garrison unit, and they had been yearning for a real battle like this for a long time.

Wen Renchong, Li Shen, and Zhao Dengfeng had long awaited the chance to fight side by side again ever since the fall of the Xuanyuan Family.

The three of them rode side by side, no longer the high-spirited young men in their early twenties.

Now, their faces bore the marks and wear of time.

Yet the conviction that burned within their bones had never diminished, never wavered.

Zhao Dengfeng gave a cold laugh and said, “Old Shi’s not here anymore, so this time, we fight for him too!”

Wen Renchong, Li Shen, Zhao Dengfeng, and Shi Zhongkui had once been the four fiercest generals of the Black Wind Army. Shi Zhongkui had died in battle over a decade ago.

At the mention of Old Shi, a chilling glint surfaced in Wen Renchong and Li Shen’s eyes.

Old Shi’s death had everything to do with the State of Jin. This time, it was time to settle both old and new scores in one stroke.

“For Old Shi.”

“For the Grand General.”

“For the Seventh Young Master.”

The three men’s eyes were filled with resolve as they rode forward without hesitation!

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…