The Grand Secretary's Pampered Wife

Chapter 709.2: The Emperors Favor

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The prodigy class at Lingbo Academy had a break every ten days, with only a half-day of class on the day before the break. Today, The Little County Princess happened to catch this schedule.

After the Emperor finished court, he went out incognito and came to Lingbo Academy to wait for the Little County Princess. This was at her request; otherwise, she wouldn’t attend class.

The Emperor rode in a carriage drawn by two horses and was accompanied by only two attendants, one being the Grand Eunuch Zhang Dequan, and the other the coachman.

The carriage was parked discreetly in a crowded alley diagonally across from Lingbo Academy. Many other carriages were parked there as well, but since the weather was stuffy and hot, most of the people in the other carriages had gone to find a cooler spot.

The surroundings were relatively quiet.

The Emperor had arrived early and had already been waiting for an hour.

He had already reviewed and approved quite a few documents.

Zhang Dequan, seeing that there was no one around, carefully hooked the curtain up and picked up a small fan to gently fan the Emperor.

Despite this, the Emperor was still drenched in sweat, his collar completely soaked.

Zhang Dequan was also feeling unbearably hot. Right next door was a teahouse, but the Emperor refused to go there.

Zhang Dequan couldn't help but reminisce about the past.

When was the last time the Emperor had braved the weather like this to pick up a child? It seemed to be when the Crown Princess was still young.

Speaking of which, the Crown Princess had also been a student in the prodigy class, but unlike now, she earned her place through her own abilities.

Although the Crown Princess carried the bloodline of the Xuanyuan Family's God of War, she had also inherited the wisdom of the Emperor, making her the most intelligent among all the princes and princesses.

Setting aside her legitimate birth and powerful maternal family, Zhang Dequan truly believed she had the talent to govern the nation and was the most suitable candidate for heir to the throne.

But what a pity.

"What are you thinking about?" The Emperor asked casually while reviewing the documents.

"Ah." Zhang Dequan suddenly realized he had been lost in thought, and the speed of his fanning had slowed.

Lying in front of the Emperor never ended well. Only a fool would treat him as a fool.

Zhang Dequan answered, "This servant was momentarily distracted and remembered that the Crown Princess once studied at Lingbo Academy too."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhang Dequan secretly pinched himself.

What was he thinking, saying that?

The Crown Princess had long been deposed and could no longer be addressed by that title.

However, the Emperor didn’t seem to notice Zhang Dequan's slip in addressing her. He placed the document he had just reviewed onto a pile of imperial decrees on his right, then picked up a new one from his left, asking, "What are people saying outside?"

Zhang Dequan asked, "What matter is Your Majesty referring to?"

The Emperor replied calmly, "The matter of Shangguan Yan's return."

Since the Crown Princess had been demoted to a commoner, it was indeed appropriate to call her by her name directly, but why did it feel strange hearing it?

Zhang Dequan carefully chose his words, saying, "There’s been a lot of talk."

The Emperor said, "Speak."

At times like this, there was no point in holding anything back. After all, the Emperor despised those who tried to be clever in front of him.

Zhang Dequan said, "Some say Shangguan Yan has returned to face investigation. Until the case of the Imperial Mausoleum is solved, she won’t be allowed to leave Shengdu. Others say that Your Majesty has brought her back to the imperial palace for protection, and that she won’t be sent back to the Imperial Mausoleum until the assassin is caught and punished."

The Emperor continued reviewing documents, "And?"

Zhang Dequan added, "There are also those who say... that the reason Your Majesty hasn’t executed Shangguan Yan all these years is because you still hold affection for her in your heart..."

The Emperor responded with a soft "Hmm" and said, "Go on."

How did he know he wasn’t finished yet?

This was exactly why no one should try to play tricks in front of the Emperor——those who had tried were long dead.

Zhang Dequan, who had survived this long, was definitely the most straightforward of them all.

Zhang Dequan continued, "When the Xuanyuan Family faced such a major scandal, Your Majesty didn’t depose the Empress, only confining her to the cold palace. Even now that the Empress had been dead for years, Your Majesty hasn’t named a new Empress. Some speculate that Your Majesty still harbors lingering feelings for Empress Xuanyuan, and that one day, you might—because of her—pardon the deposed Crown Princess."

If she were pardoned, given that the Emperor had never appointed a new Empress, even though Shangguan Yan was no longer the Crown Princess, she would still be the Emperor’s only legitimate bloodline.

That status was undoubtedly one of great prestige.

The Emperor's expression remained calm, as if what he heard had nothing to do with him. He asked, "Who are the ones saying these things?"

Zhang Dequan replied, "Many——people in various princes’ residences, officials of the six ministries, and imperial concubines in the harem. They are all talking about it."

The Emperor didn’t seem surprised, "No word from the Crown Prince Estate?"

Zhang Dequan responded, "The people around the Crown Prince have always been cautious. I haven’t heard any unfavorable remarks about Shangguan Yan from them."

The Emperor let out a faint snort, "He’s being too cautious. Clearly, the one who most wishes for something to happen to Shangguan Yan is him."

Zhang Dequan’s expression changed, "Your Majesty!"

The Emperor said, "Zhen is not saying the Crown Prince is definitely the culprit, but it’s a fact that his dark guard wounded Shangguan Yan in the imperial palace. What do you think of that?"

Zhang Dequan, trembling with fear, replied, "This servant does not dare to speculate."

The Emperor sneered coldly and continued reviewing the documents at hand.

Zhang Dequan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

It wasn’t the Emperor withholding information that was terrifying; it was when he told you everything. The more one knows, the faster one dies—this much, Zhang Dequan understood well.

Just when he thought the Emperor would follow up with, "Do you think Shangguan Yan’s memory loss is real or fake?" the Emperor suddenly changed the subject, "Still no news of Shangguan Qing?"

Shangguan Qing, Shangguan Yan’s flesh and blood, was only half a month older than Ming Junwang, and successfully snatched away the position of the Emperor’s eldest imperial grandson.

Zhang Dequan answered, “No, not yet. According to the young palace maid from the Imperial Mausoleum, His Highness the Eldest Imperial Grandson is out traveling and probably won’t be back for another six months.”

The Emperor said nothing more.

The Emperor was quite fond of that child. Though Shangguan Qing also carried the Xuanyuan Family's blood, the child was frail, and Lord Imperial Advisor had said he wouldn’t live past twenty.

Such an imperial grandson, destined to die young, couldn’t become a puppet of the Xuanyuan Family. Perhaps because of this, the Emperor treated Shangguan Qing more genuinely than the other children.

When Shangguan Qing, as a child, wanted to follow the Crown Princess to the Imperial Mausoleum, the Emperor flew into a great rage.

The Emperor truly loved that child—more than he loved the Little County Princess.

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.

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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…