The Grand Secretary's Pampered Wife

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Mu Qingchen came over, and Zhong Ding immediately stopped talking. He took his horse and went off to find Zhou Tong and the others with his polo mallet.

Mu Qingchen watched Zhong Ding’s departing figure and asked, “What were you talking about just now? Why did he leave as soon as he saw me?”

"Nothing." Gu Jiao replied.

She didn’t like gossip and disliked spreading it even more.

She paused for a moment, perhaps feeling that she should still give Mu Qingchen an answer, and added, “We weren’t talking about you.”

Mu Qingchen didn’t press further.

He could pretty much guess that the arrival of Ming Junwang caused a bit of a stir. Although Ming Junwang hadn’t revealed his identity, most of the students here were from Shengdu, including some young masters from distinguished families who might have recognized Ming Junwang.

“Are you choosing a polo mallet?” Mu Qingchen asked, noticing Gu Jiao continuously switching between mallets.

"Yes." Gu Jiao responded indifferently.

None of the mallets felt right.

Without another word, Mu Qingchen walked away, and Gu Jiao didn’t mind, continuing her search for a suitable mallet.

Before long, Mu Qingchen unexpectedly returned, leading a horse and holding an extra polo mallet in his hand. "Here."

Gu Jiao glanced at him, took the mallet he handed over, weighed it, and swung it. It was heavier than the other mallets but felt just right for her, as she was accustomed to using a heavy red-tasseled spear.

"Thank you." Gu Jiao said, then looked at him and asked, "What about you?"

"This one." Mu Qingchen said as he grabbed a random mallet from the basket and mounted his horse, "I'll show you around."

Gu Jiao mounted her horse as well, "Okay."

Mu Qingchen first introduced Gu Jiao to the requirements and rules of the game. The game of polo originally came from the State of Jin's imperial family and quickly became popular among the imperial family and nobility in the State of Yan. Over time, it became a favorite pastime in the aristocratic circles, and many noble academies eventually included polo in their curriculum.

Tianqiong Academy didn't have polo classes, but Teacher Wu often brought students to play.

Polo placed high demands on the horses. All polo horses had to undergo extremely rigorous training, with the difficulty of their training far exceeding that of warhorses.

Polo also placed high demands on the players, requiring excellent riding skills, agility, stamina, willpower, and the ability to adapt quickly during the game.

"The objective is to hit the ball into the goal on the opponent's side to win."

Mu Qingchen continued, "But remember, you can't block or intercept head-on, use the stick to hit or interfere with the opponent or their horse, and you can't touch the ball with your body. These are the main rules. During the match, there can be some accidental collisions, so you also need to protect yourself."

As he spoke, he pointed to the protective gear that the academy's staff had brought over and said, "The gear is here. Put it on, and let's play a formal match."

Gu Jiao put on elbow and knee guards, and gloves, and entered the field with Mu Qingchen.

She tried all four positions, performing well in each, but the most impressive moment was when she hit the ball during play.

Mu Qingchen passed the ball to her, but due to Teacher Wu's interference, the pass was slightly off. Unexpectedly, she accurately hooked the ball over her head and hit it into the goal from an almost impossible distance.

Everyone was amazed by this shot.

Her momentum and accuracy were just like those of a natural polo player!

Mu Qingchen rode over to Gu Jiao and looked at her deeply, "Is this really your first time playing polo?"

Gu Jiao nodded.

Mu Qingchen hesitated but ultimately said, "That shot just now was very skilled."

Gu Jiao thought seriously for a moment and replied, "Hmm, maybe this is what they call natural talent?"

Mu Qingchen: "..."

The afternoon training session quickly ended. Although it was Gu Jiao's first time playing, and her skills were naturally a bit raw compared to Mu Qingchen who had been playing since childhood, her performance met Teacher Wu's expectations. However, there was one issue——Gu Jiao was too aggressive and often committed fouls without realizing it.

This could easily get her disqualified.

Teacher Wu said, "The match is in seven days. Everyone, make sure to train diligently during this time."

Teacher Wu had selected a total of twenty people, but only four would actually play, with a few more as substitutes.

In the following days, Gu Jiao stayed at the academy after school to train with Mu Qingchen and the others, while Gu Xiaoshun waited for her by the field.

Soon, it was the day before the match.

Teacher Wu gathered everyone on the field and announced the players selected based on their performance over the past few days. Unsurprisingly, the first name was Mu Qingchen.

The other three selected players were Gu Jiao, Yuan Xiao from Mingfeng Hall, and Zhao Wei from Mingyue Hall.

Mu Chuan was a substitute.

Gu Xiaoshun, who often waited by the field for Gu Jiao, managed to become the logistics team leader and would also join them for the match.

Teacher Wu smiled and said, "No more training today. Everyone, go back and rest early to conserve your energy. We'll head to Lingbo Academy early tomorrow morning."

……

When Gu Jiao returned home, she told her family about the competition in the inner city the next morning.

Gu Yan suddenly spoke, "I want to watch your match too."

Gu Jiao looked at Gu Yan and nodded. "Okay."

Before going to bed, Gu Jiao checked Gu Yan's condition again. It had become her habit to check him twice daily.

Gu Yan lay on the bed and obediently lifted his shirt, allowing Gu Jiao to place the stethoscope on him.

His condition had not significantly worsened, so there was no problem with him watching the match.

Afterward, Gu Jiao returned to her room and put the stethoscope back in the little medicine chest. Lying down on her bed, she closed her eyes and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Gu Jiao didn't expect to have another dream that night.

The reason she thought "another" was because it wasn't the first time she had dreamed since coming to Shengdu, but each time she woke up, she couldn't remember what she had dreamed about.

In the dream, the sky was gray, and it was hard to tell the time.

She found herself outside a quiet courtyard, facing a vermilion gate. Someone, perhaps a mischievous child, had scratched a few marks on the gate with a knife.

It was strange. Why did she instinctively think it was a mischievous child? It could have been a servant bumping into it while moving something.

She pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped inside.

In the corner to the left, a cluster of green bamboo was planted, and along the courtyard walls on either side grew rows of bellflowers that rustled in the gentle breeze.

It was an unfamiliar yet familiar courtyard.

It was unfamiliar because Gu Jiao had never been here before, yet it was familiar because, despite never having visited, she somehow knew what each room was used for.

Starting from the east end of the corridor, the first room was a side room, the second was the main room, the third was a study, and around the corner was a storage room.

Gu Jiao looked oddly at the row of houses in front of her.

There was a voice coming from behind the slightly open door of the study.

"Yinyin, it's time to practice your writing. Come here quickly."

"No slacking off. Oh, have you hidden again?"

"How many times have I told you, you need to practice a hundred characters every day."

The owner of the voice was——

Just as Gu Jiao was trying to figure it out, the door to the study opened, and a man in a blue long robe stepped out.

Gu Jiao recognized him immediately.

It was the Duke.

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…