Chapter 778.2: Reunion
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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]
[Suong D.] [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
[Anne C.] [Nevy] [Roxanne C.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Tionna M.]
T H E S U N
[kuroneko_chan] [Michelle K.] [Smurfinbatik]
C E L E S T I A L C O N Q U E R O R
[Ava C.] [Hong] [Leeyue] [Lily J.] [Manon] [Sophia W.] [Val Nes]
Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)
As for how Old Chief knew what a recruitment letter from Lingbo Academy looked like, it was because Old Feng had received one before. Old Feng’s scholarly talents were underestimated in the State of Zhao, but in Great Yan, various academies fiercely competed to recruit him. At least six academies, including Lingbo Academy in Shengdu, had extended invitations.
Unfortunately, Old Feng had declined them all.
Old Chief had seen those official documents before and forged a copy from memory.
However, the anti-counterfeiting measures of Lingbo Academy were exceptionally well-done. It took him over a month to succeed in creating a convincing forgery.
If it had been anyone else, they wouldn’t have been able to replicate it at all.
Gu Jiao leaned quietly against her Grandaunt, listening to the conversation between the master and his disciple. She rarely allowed herself such closeness with anyone. At this moment, she seemed like a child nestled in her Grandaunt’s embrace.
In this moment, she wasn’t the bloodstained commander of the Black Wind Cavalry or the little miracle physician who saved lives. She was simply her Grandaunt’s JiaoJiao.
Empress Dowager Zhuang wasn’t someone who was naturally affectionate or inclined to close contact, but when Gu Jiao was by her side, she let down all her defenses.
Of course, she didn’t overly indulge by hugging Gu Jiao tightly—that wasn’t her personality, nor was it Gu Jiao’s.
The bond between the two transcended surface-level affection; it was a tacit understanding where they would burn their very lives for each other if needed.
This conversation mainly took place between Xiao Heng and Old Chief.
Gu Jiao and her Grandaunt stayed in the room as quiet listeners, watching the master and disciple debate passionately, sometimes even glaring and huffing at each other. Yet, amidst this, they deeply enjoyed the long-lost sense of closeness and tranquility.
Both of them thought to themselves how wonderful this moment was.
It was wonderful to have her Grandaunt by her side.
It was wonderful to have reunited with JiaoJiao.
……
"Alright, we've finished talking about our matters, now it's time to talk about yours." Old Chief said.
He didn’t mention the hardships of their journey, but considering how challenging it had been for Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao to travel, it must have been even more difficult for the two elders, given their age.
“Alright, alright, enough sentimentality. What’s your situation here?” Old Chief, uncomfortable with emotional moments, hurriedly urged Xiao Heng to share information about Shengdu.
The situation on their end was rather complicated, and Xiao Heng didn’t know where to start. He decided to begin by explaining his and Gu Jiao’s current identities.
“What? You’ve taken Shangguan Qing’s place and become the Eldest Imperial Grandson?” Old Chief was utterly shocked. It turned out that his and Zhuang Jinse’s arrival in Shengdu wasn’t the biggest surprise—Xiao Heng’s identity was!
Xiao Heng added, "I forgot to mention, Shangguan Qing is Xiao Qing, the son of my mother and father."
Old Chief pondered. “Princess Xinyang and Marquis Xuanping’s son? That child is still alive?”
“Yes.” Xiao Heng confirmed. “My mother brought him to Great Yan.”
Old Chief felt overwhelmed. “And your mother is——”
Xiao Heng replied earnestly, “The former Crown Princess of Great Yan, Shangguan Yan.”
So the woman Marquis Xuanping brought back to the capital all those years ago wasn’t a slave from the State of Yan but an imperial princess.
Was Marquis Xuanping really that lucky?
Empress Dowager Zhuang, being someone from the imperial palace, had sharper instincts and a greater capacity to accept such revelations compared to Old Chief. Her reaction remained relatively composed.
However, when Xiao Heng began to recount Gu Jiao’s experiences, her composure vanished.
An adopted son of the Duke Estate, the commander of the Black Wind Cavalry, and a sworn enemy of the ten great noble families——
Empress Dowager Zhuang’s lips twitched.
She knew this girl couldn’t possibly keep herself out of trouble!
Just look at her, she was practically turning Shengdu upside down.
And she was doing it all on her own.
Xiao Heng and Old Chief spent a full hour exchanging all the details of their respective situations.
The two elders fell silent afterward.
These young ones were stirring up trouble everywhere with their chaotic maneuvers. There had been so many shocking twists that the elders needed time to process everything.
Although Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao had achieved significant victories for now, in the eyes of the seasoned Empress Dowager Zhuang and Old Chief, their methods were far from perfect. They acted on impulse without thorough planning or organization.
Back in the day, Empress Dowager Zhuang and Old Chief had fought fiercely—battles that spanned from the court to the harem, from the harem to the political arena, even indirectly influencing wars.
Compared to their past tactics, these young ones’ efforts were mere child’s play.
Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted. “If you had only Ah Heng’s level of skill back then, I would have exiled you three thousand miles away, never to return to the capital!”
Old Chief sneered. “And if you had been as reckless as JiaoJiao, I’d have ensured you rotted away in the cold palace!”
Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao: “…”
Could you two argue without dragging us into it?
Don’t we deserve a little dignity?
Besides, back in your day, you didn’t have to hide your identities. Of course, you could fight however you wanted!
Why don’t you try living incognito in Great Yan and see how it feels?
So frustrating.
The young couple turned their faces away in exasperation.
“Ahem.” Old Chief finally conceded under Empress Dowager Zhuang’s deathly glare. “By the way, Ah Heng, where are you two staying now?”
……
Half an hour later, a carriage entered the Imperial Advisor's Hall.
The heavy rain had just stopped. Yu He, carrying a freshly brewed bowl of medicinal soup, was walking down the western corridor when he caught sight of Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao leading a pair of unfamiliar elderly figures into the Qilin Hall.
Puzzled, he asked, “Your Highness, Young Master Xiao, who might these be?”
Xiao Heng replied calmly, “They are patients of Young Master Xiao. They came from the outer city seeking treatment. With the rain pouring and nowhere else to go, I decided to bring them here for now. I’ll inform the Imperial Advisor later.”
Yu He quickly responded, “There’s no need. It’s a trivial matter. Master instructed that Your Highness should treat the Imperial Advisor's Hall as your own home. There’s no need for formality.”
After all, Your Highness, you’ve never been formal with the Imperial Advisor's Hall.
It isn’t the first or second time you’ve brought your own rowdy friends from the martial world to stay overnight. Bringing two normal patients this time is practically a pleasant surprise.
Xiao Heng, unaware of Shangguan Qing’s casual ways, had assumed the Imperial Advisor's hospitality was genuine.
With the inner city under strict surveillance recently, Xiao Heng and Gu Jiao didn’t feel comfortable leaving the elderly couple in an inn. That was why they brought them temporarily to the Imperial Advisor's Hall.
However, the Imperial Advisor's Hall wasn’t a place for a prolonged stay either. At dawn the next day, Xiao Heng planned to search for a suitable residence for them.
The Qilin Hall had plenty of guest rooms. The eastern corridor alone had over a dozen, but only Xiao Heng, Gu Jiao, Shangguan Yan, Little Jing Kong, and a few servants were living there. Many rooms remained vacant.
Since they were an “old married couple,” assigning them two separate rooms seemed odd. Hence, Gu Jiao instructed the servants to prepare just one.
Old Chief looked at the spacious room nervously and stammered, “Uh, um, I’ll just sleep on the floor tonight.”
“Heh.” Empress Dowager Zhuang rolled her eyes and headed to Gu Jiao’s room.
“Your Highness the Eldest Imperial Grandson!”
Four palace servants, who were sweeping the corridor, paused to bow respectfully to Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng gave them a slight nod. “Carry on.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The four servants responded and resumed their tasks.
At this moment, Empress Dowager Zhuang had reached the door to Gu Jiao’s room.
She glanced at the two palace maids and two eunuchs sweeping nearby.
Her gaze lingered on one of them, and her brows furrowed slightly.
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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…