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“Understood.”

The guard glanced at the delicate young master beside him, understanding at once, and soon brought in two large basins of ice, placing them on either side of Gu Yan.

Gu Yan instantly felt the coolness seeping toward him.

“You may leave.” Gu Changqing instructed.

“Yes.” The guard withdrew.

Gu Changqing picked up the fan on the table and gently fanned Gu Yan.

Gu Yan tilted his little neck back in comfort, turning it this way and that.

Here needed fanning.

There too.

Gu Changqing’s lips curved in a fond smile, and he fanned a little harder. “No lessons today?”

“It’s a holiday.” Gu Yan replied.

Gu Changqing asked, “So what made you come to the camp to find me?”

“I…” Gu Yan hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a mask from his bosom and handed it to Gu Changqing.

“What’s this?” Gu Changqing accepted it with the hand not holding the fan. As he examined it closely, he still did not stop fanning Gu Yan.

Gu Yan said, “Didn’t you get engaged? This is my engagement gift for you.”

It was a silver half-face mask, light and delicate, with a novel design that Gu Changqing had never seen on the market before.

Gu Changqing looked at Gu Yan. “You had this specially made?”

“Mm.” Gu Yan scratched at his little ear, admitting with some embarrassment.

It was clear he had put much thought into it, and Gu Changqing’s heart softened. “What made you think of giving me a mask?”

Gu Yan pouted. “Aren’t you a top fighter in the underground arena? I heard everyone there wears masks. If, if you don’t like it…”

“I like it very much.” Gu Changqing smiled at him. “From now on, whenever I go to the underground arena, I’ll wear this.”

“And I’ll take you with me.”

“That way, you’ll recognize me at a glance.”

Gu Yan’s eyes shifted slightly. He forced down the joy in his heart and nodded coolly. “If you insist on bringing me along, then fine, I suppose.”

Gu Changqing’s smile turned gentle, his eyes filled with indulgence.

……

Marquis Xuanping Estate.

Today Xiao Heng attended court and received his appointment as a Junior Secretary.

From this day forward, he would be the first Junior Secretary under the Emperor’s rule.

When the court session ended, he was immediately surrounded by civil and military officials, all of them offering congratulations.

It all seemed sudden, yet the more one thought about it, the more it felt perfectly natural.

At thirteen he had already become the young Chief of the Imperial Academy.

If not for certain incidents, he would long since have been a Junior Secretary of the State of Zhao.

He had shed the gilded brilliance of youth and now bore a steadier, calmer composure.

If his early appointment as Imperial Academy Chief was thanks to his family background, then his later triple-first titles in the imperial examinations, his triumphal parade as Zhuangyuan, and his new post as Junior Secretary were achievements entirely won through his own effort.

“Congratulations, Grand Secretary Yuan. You have a worthy successor.” Some officials also offered congratulations to Grand Secretary Yuan.

Grand Secretary Yuan smiled and stroked his beard.

Another official said, “It seems Grand Secretary Yuan has double blessings. Not only a brilliant student, but also a fine son-in-law to come, your own grandson-in-law!”

Grand Secretary Yuan’s smile deepened.

Indeed, two long-troubling matters had now found their resolution. Next would be the grand wedding between Baolin and Gu Changqing.

He would have to ask the Astronomical Bureau whether an auspicious date had been chosen.

……

After much effort, Xiao Heng finally slipped free from the crowd of court officials, drenched in sweat.

When he returned to the Princess Mansion and stepped inside, he saw that Shangguan Qing was also there.

He spread more than a dozen masks on the table and asked Gu Jiao, who sat nearby, “Take a look. Which one is the mask you dreamed of?”

“Did you have all these made?” Gu Jiao asked.

Shangguan Qing replied, “Yes. I gave your sketch to the masters at the forge. Each one turned out a little different, with subtle variations. See which looks the most like it.”

“Mm, this one.” Gu Jiao picked up the third bronze mask with tusks from the right.

The matter had originally been set aside, but hearing that Sword Lodge members had slipped into the capital again, Shangguan Qing decided it must be taken seriously.

“Aren’t you going back to the State of Yan?” Gu Jiao asked him.

Shangguan Qing said lightly, “I can return a few days later.”

He intended to kill every last Sword Lodge bastard first.

He took the mask Gu Jiao had chosen, then glanced aside at his annoying little brother. “Perfect timing, you’re here. Draw this mask again, make it look more lifelike, so we can make prints and distribute them for the guards to search.”

“All right.” Xiao Heng agreed.

Gu Jiao had already noticed him, dressed in scarlet robes of a Junior Secretary. His presence was dazzling, as elegant as jade.

The young couple gazed at each other, even the air between them sweetened.

Shangguan Qing almost rolled his eyes.

Was I summoned here just to eat dog food? Enough already!

Xiao Heng sat down, picked up brush and paper, and began sketching the mask.

But he didn’t draw just the mask. He also added the attire of the Sword Lodge disciples and included the Black Moon sword.

This annoying little brother really had some skill.

Shangguan Qing gave him an impressed look. “Now this is much easier to recognize! By the way, how did you two get the medicine chest back?”

The two of them exchanged a glance. Xiao Heng said calmly, “That’s a secret.”

“Tch.” Shangguan Qing snorted. “Fine, don’t say it then! But if they failed this time, they’ll surely come again. What do you think, will they come tonight?”

Before the two could answer, Yu Ya’er hurried in with a flustered face: “Young miss! Guye! Steward Zheng is here!”

Steward Zheng was Duke An’s trusted man, if he’ had come, it certainly had something to do with Duke An.

They hurriedly motioned for Yu Ya’er to bring Steward Zheng in.

Steward Zheng stumbled into the room, and when he reached Gu Jiao his legs went weak.

Gu Jiao caught his arm in time and said, “Steward Zheng, what happened? Speak calmly.”

Steward Zheng broke down crying, “The Duke… the Duke went into town today to buy a shop for young miss… and then, I don’t know where they came from… those people seized the Duke and took him away!”

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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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