The Grand Secretary's Pampered Wife

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Just earlier, Lianqiao had been playing with the rouge, which was why she was distracted and accidentally knocked over the water basin meant for the Lord Duke to wash his hands.

She was terrified and didn't even have time to close the lid of the rouge.

The rouge was only about two inches away from Lord Duke's right hand, and a slight movement could easily bring them into contact.

However, for Lord Duke, who couldn't even blink freely, accurately moving his fingers was extremely difficult.

Lord Duke stared fixedly at the box of rouge. It took a great effort, but he finally touched the rouge amidst the trembling.

His fingers dipped into a blob of rouge, and again with immense effort, he shakily wrote a crooked word.

……

The next day, Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun went to Tianqiong Academy for their classes.

As soon as they entered the academy, Gu Jiao felt several inexplicable gazes directed at her.

"Liulang!"

A student greeted her with a smile.

She didn't recognize him.

"Liulang!"

Another student, also beaming, greeted her.

She still didn't recognize him.

What was going on?

After just one night, why was everyone being so enthusiastic?

"Liulang!"

After countless greetings from unfamiliar students, she finally encountered someone she knew.

Zhou Tong.

"Xiaoshun." Zhou Tong stopped in front of Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun, greeting Gu Xiaoshun with a smile as well.

Gu Jiao asked, "Is something happening today? Why is everyone acting like that?"

Zhou Tong replied innocently, "How are they acting?"

"Liulang!" Approximately the seventeenth unfamiliar student greeted Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao gestured with her eyes, “Like that.”

Zhou Tong looked at the departing student's back, suddenly understanding and smiled, "You mean everyone recognizing you? What's strange about that? Don't you remember you guys won the match yesterday?"

Gu Jiao responded, "That shouldn't mean everyone knows me."

Not everyone went to watch the match.

Zhou Tong chuckled and grabbed her wrist through the sleeve, "Come with me, and you'll understand!"

Gu Xiaoshun bared his teeth, exclaiming inwardly, hey, let go of my big sis!

Leading Gu Jiao, Zhou Tong brought her to the notice board at the academy, where a crowd of students had already gathered.

"Liulang is here!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and suddenly, the people originally gathered in front of the notice board dispersed, making way for Gu Jiao.

This reception... caught Gu Jiao off guard.

Zhou Tong didn't stand on ceremony with them. He cheerfully pulled Gu Jiao to the front and pointed at the notice board, "Look!"

Gu Jiao focused her eyes and looked.

On the left side of the notice board was posted the results of yesterday's competition, along with high praise for several of them. On the right side hung individual portraits of the group, but only Gu Jiao was depicted on horseback.

She was holding the reins in one hand and a polo mallet in the other.

It showed mostly her back, with her head turned, revealing half of her face.

The exposed face was her right side, which was free of birthmarks. Her clothes fluttered, and a hair ribbon flew past her face, giving her an indescribable heroic look. Even beside the exceptionally handsome Mu Qingchen, she did not pale in comparison.

Looking at the gallant youth in fresh attire atop a spirited horse, Gu Jiao almost didn't recognize herself.

Was this how others saw her?

Zhou Tong said, "We all worked together to paint it. It took us the whole night."

Gu Jiao then noticed the dark circles under Zhou Tong's eyes. Looking at Zhong Ding and the others who were putting up the portraits, she saw they all had heavy dark circles too.

This was an experience Gu Jiao had never had in her previous life.

In her previous life, she always ranked first in exams and won prizes in many competitions that she became numb to it, but there still was never anyone who could get close to her.

Or perhaps she didn't want anyone to.

Her background destined her to have no friends.

"How did we do with the painting?" Zhou Tong asked expectantly.

Gu Jiao's gaze swept over Zhou Tong, Zhong Ding, and everyone who had gone to the competition yesterday. They all looked at her, their eyes filled with a mix of hope and anxiety.

"It's passable." Gu Jiao said.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

They were students in the literary department, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. However, for some reason, they felt their work was only complete once Gu Jiao personally acknowledged their painting.

"Aren't you all going to class?" Gu Jiao asked indifferently.

Zhou Tong smiled, "We... We're going to class now!"

Gu Jiao turned and walked away coolly.

After a few steps, she casually remarked, "Make a few more paintings. The walls at home are a bit empty."

......

Tianqiong Academy hadn't enjoyed such glory in a long time. Despite its reputation as an imperial academy, those days of splendor were many years ago.

The last time the academy produced a top scholar was seventeen years ago. Since then, they hadn't even produced a second or third place scholar.

Their lack of success in both literature and martial arts had made them the butt of many jokes.

Now, winning two consecutive polo matches and defeating two powerful academies had given them a sense of pride.

Dean Cen was also quite pleased. He called Gu Jiao, Mu Qingchen, and the others to his office and praised them, "…These two matches were indeed well played. You showcased the level of our Tianqiong Academy, but don't get arrogant. Train hard and strive to bring more honor to the academy in the next matches!"

Mu Qingchen and the others nodded in acknowledgment.

Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is that all?"

Dean Cen was taken aback.

Gu Jiao continued, "How about something more tangible? For example… prize money?"

Dean Cen: "..."

"Ahem!" Dean Cen cleared his throat calmly and said seriously, "The academy's budget is tight right now. Next time you win, I'll give you all a reward together!"

Gu Jiao caught onto the key point, "So if we lose, we don't get anything?"

Dean Cen: "Ahem! You, boy, can't you talk about anything other than money? People who study the classics shouldn't be obsessed with money!"

Gu Jiao asked straightforwardly, "So, will there be a reward or not?"

Dean Cen: "..."

Could he still say no?

On their way back to Mingxin Hall, Mu Qingchen asked Gu Jiao, "Are you short on money?"

Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow, "Sort of. Do you have a way to earn some?"

Mu Qingchen replied, "I could lend you some. How much do you need?"

"No need for a loan." Gu Jiao waved her hand. She wasn't in dire straits right now; she was just preparing for the future.

Next month, Gu Yan would undergo surgery, which could cost a lot of money.

Gu Jiao said seriously, "If you have a way to make money, let me know. I won't shortchange you. I'll let you earn some as a middleman!"

Mu Qingchen: “...”

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…

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