Chapter 626.1: Secrets
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Celeste S.] [Galetron]
O R A N G E S T A R
[Christine G.-L.] [Fazzienaz] [K.Rom] [Leticia P.] [Onepiece] [Suong D.] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Chlaudette P.] [Gwyneth T.] [Passerby] [Xena]
G O L D S T A R
[Nanashi D. Y.] [Nevy] [Roxanne C.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Allie] [Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Peggy F.]
T H E S U N
[kuroneko_chan] [Malinkat][Michelle K.] [Scorpion Princess] [Smurfinbatik] [Sophia W.]
CELESTIAL CONQUEROR
[Ava C.] [Lily J.] [Manon]
Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)
At this time, Gu Jiao and Mu Qingchen had already boarded a carriage to leave, unaware of any movements from the Duke.
The man known as Lord Shao also left the Duke Estate with them. Before departing, he mocked Mu Qingchen a couple of times but ultimately couldn't find any fault with him and rode away.
"Do you have a grudge against each other?” Gu Jiao asked.
"Family conflict." Mu Qingchen said nonchalantly.
He didn't elaborate on the specifics of the conflict.
Gu Jiao couldn't be bothered to delve deeper into the issue either. She wasn't really interested in his affairs.
"A thousand taels?" Mu Qingchen looked at Gu Jiao coolly.
Gu Jiao waved her hand dismissively, "If you don't want to give it, never mind. We're classmates, just consider it a favor."
"Hah." Mu Qingchen laughed in exasperation, "Where did you learn to lie with such a straight face like that?"
"What about you?" Gu Jiao retorted.
When it comes to lying with a straight face, you're not bad either.
Mu Qingchen quickly looked away, not wanting to continue the topic.
Gu Jiao asked, "Can I go to a medical hall?"
Mu Qingchen glanced at her and said, "It's already over. You don't need to pretend to be a physician anymore."
Gu Jiao: Would you believe me if I said I'm a real physician?
"By the way, you acted quite convincingly earlier." If it weren't for her peculiar way of talking, Mu Qingchen might have really believed her. "Don't do that again. If you're exposed, I can't guarantee your safety."
Gu Jiao: "Oh. Then can I go to a medical hall? I want to buy some medicine. "
Mu Qingchen looked at her, "Are you ill?"
"For my brother." Gu Jiao said.
Gu Yan taking sick leave wasn't a secret, though it wasn't widely publicized. It wouldn't be hard for Mu Qingchen to find out if he wanted to.
Mu Qingchen seemed to think of something, then instructed the coachman to head to a medical hall.
"I'll wait for you in the carriage." Mu Qingchen said.
"Alright." Gu Jiao didn't refuse.
Naturally, the medical hall Mu Qingchen chose wasn't a bad one. It had many patients and physicians, and a variety of rare medicinal herbs. If she were really there to buy herbs, she wouldn't leave empty-handed.
Unfortunately, she was there to inquire about an operating room.
"Do you have these things?" Gu Jiao handed over the blueprint of the operating room.
The medical hall’s physician shook his head repeatedly, "Never seen them."
Gu Jiao put away the blueprint and got back into the carriage.
"Were there no herbs you needed?" Mu Qingchen asked as he saw her return empty-handed.
"Mm." Gu Jiao replied indifferently.
"There are two more medical halls ahead." Mu Qingchen said.
"Thank you." Gu Jiao responded.
This was the most sincere thing Mu Qingchen had heard from her so far, despite being just two words.
Mu Qingchen instructed the coachman to head to the other two medical halls, but disappointingly, they also hadn't seen the operating room blueprint.
So, was the operating room never built, or just not widespread among the common folk?
Mu Qingchen asked, "What exactly are you trying to buy? Tell me the name of the medicinal herb, and I'll help you find it later."
"No need." Gu Jiao said. She preferred to investigate such matters herself and didn't like her secrets being known by a stranger, even if they were classmates.
Seeing that Gu Jiao didn't want to say it, Mu Qingchen didn't press further.
Soon, they left the inner city.
"Where do you live?" Mu Qingchen asked.
"Just take me back to the academy." Gu Jiao responded.
Mu Qingchen gave Gu Jiao a deep look, seemingly sensing her caution and vigilance. He didn't say anything more and left after dropping her off at the academy.
By then, the academy had long finished its day's classes, but Gu Xiaoshun was still waiting at the entrance of Mingxin Hall, holding his book bag, persistently waiting for Gu Jiao.
"Xiaoshun." Gu Jiao called as she walked over.
"Big sis!" Gu Xiaoshun's eyes lit up and ran over with his book bag, "They just said you were taken away by the authorities. What happened?"
"Nothing much, I went into the inner city to treat someone."
Hearing this, Gu Xiaoshun finally relaxed after worrying all afternoon. He whispered, "Oh, you were treating someone. I'm worried you might secretly... doing that sort of thing again and got caught."
Gu Jiao smiled slightly.
"Who did you treat?" Gu Xiaoshun asked.
"Some Duke." Gu Jiao went into the classroom to pack up her book bag.
"I'll carry it!" Gu Xiaoshun quickly took Gu Jiao's book bag, "What was his illness? Did you cure him?"
The siblings chatted as they walked out of Tianqiong Academy and headed home.
When they got home, Lady Nan asked why they were late.
Proudly, Gu Xiaoshun said, "Big sis went into the inner city to treat someone! And it was a Duke!"
His face was full of pride, as if saying, my big sister is amazing.
Lady Nan and Master Lu looked at Gu Jiao in surprise.
They knew enough about the State of Yan to understand that a new student wouldn't typically have the privilege to treat a Duke.
Seeming to sense their confusion, Gu Jiao explained calmly, "My deskmate seems to be from a noble family with close ties to the Duke Estate. I overheard him mention the Duke's illness and offered to help. My deskmate is kind and took me there."
Tianqiong Academy was renowned as an imperial academy, so it wasn't unusual for noble young masters to study there. Lady Nan was more curious about the Duke than the identity of the noble student.
"Which Duke is it?" Lady Nan asked.
"Duke An." Gu Jiao recalled the name on the plaque.
"Him?" Lady Nan was surprised.
"Do you know him?" Gu Jiao asked.
Lady Nan smiled, “I wouldn't say I know him, but I've heard of him. This Lord Duke was quite the figure in his youth, handsome and talented. Who knows how many hearts of Shengdu's young ladies he might have won."
Master Lu's face darkened.
Was it really fine for her wife to be complimenting another man in front of him?
"What happened to him?" Lady Nan had been away from the State of Yan for a long time and wasn't up-to-date on Shengdu's recent events.
"He was poisoned and fell off a horse three years ago, ending up in a vegetative state." Gu Jiao explained.
"Vegetative state?" Lady Nan was puzzled.
"Unconscious and unresponsive." Gu Jiao clarified.
"Oh, you mean like a living dead?" Lady Nan exclaimed.
It turned out that in this place, they called a patient in vegetative state a living dead. Gu Jiao nodded, "Sort of."
Lady Nan sighed regretfully, "How could such a thing happen? Duke An's life has really been full of misfortunes."
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…