The Grand Secretary's Pampered Wife Chapter 728.3: Mother and Son Reunited

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The State of Zhao’s late Emperor’s thought process was just as twisted and ruthless as that of the current Emperor of Great Yan.

Back then, Princess Xinyang married Marquis Xuanping to prevent him from rebelling.

If he ever harbored rebellious intentions, Princess Xinyang would immediately have the Dragon Shadow Guards kill him.

The late Emperor knew that Princess Xinyang couldn’t bear to be near men and wasn’t worried she would develop romantic feelings for Marquis Xuanping. However, since they were still husband and wife, there was always the chance that Marquis Xuanping might force her, and that she could bear his child.

Who could guarantee then that Princess Xinyang wouldn’t soften her heart because of the child?

So the late Emperor gave the Dragon Shadow Guards an order that even Princess Xinyang didn’t know about—— the child of Princess Xinyang and Marquis Xuanping must not be allowed to live.

From Xiao Heng’s years of observation, Princess Xinyang showed no trace of softness toward Marquis Xuanping.

If she were to be asked to stab him right now, she wouldn't hesitate for a second.

The late Emperor had really overthought it.

Throughout history, Emperors have often been paranoid, harming both others and themselves.

There was another thing the late Emperor miscalculated——someone did indeed use force between the two of them, but the one who was forced was Marquis Xuanping.

The past was too painful to revisit.

Xiao Heng quickly decided not to dwell on the entanglements between Princess Xinyang and Marquis Xuanping any longer. Instead, he voiced another doubt that had been bothering him, "But if Xiao Qing and I aren't twins, why do we look exactly alike?"

As he spoke, he pointed to the fake tear mole painted under his right eye, "Even this mole is the same."

Shangguan Yan awkwardly explained, "That’s because… I altered his appearance."

Xiao Heng and Xiao Qing were half-brothers, sharing the same father but different mothers.

They did share some physical similarities, such as their face shape and nose, both of which closely resembled Marquis Xuanping.

But their eyes were different.

Xiao Qing inherited Princess Xinyang's traits—almond-shaped eyes and flat brows, giving him a gentle and delicate appearance.

Xiao Heng, on the other hand, took after Shangguan Yan, with phoenix eyes and slightly arched sword-like brows, giving him a sharp, heroic look, while his smile carried an extra warmth that was especially comforting.

That was why everyone who had met the Little Marquis of the State of Zhao described him as a gentle and elegant youth, someone who felt like a refres.h.i.+ng spring breeze.

However, after Xiao Heng had his accident and ended up wandering among the common folk, his smile faded, and the warmth in his eyes disappeared.

He had donned an invisible suit of sharp, protective armor.

“In the early years, I didn’t pay much attention to the issue of appearance, until one day I overheard a servant whispering that this child didn’t look like me at all. It wasn’t obvious when he was young, but the older he got, the less he resembled me. I panicked. The Imperial Advisor's Hall was willing to treat Xiao Qing because he was the Eldest Imperial Grandson. If people realized he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be able to continue receiving treatment. So, I had someone go to the State of Zhao and bring back your portrait. Then, I made all the places where he didn’t resemble you look exactly the same.”

At this point, Shangguan Yan paused, “It was that incident that exposed your ident.i.ty, making the Crown Prince aware of your existence.”

Xiao Heng suddenly understood, "So that’s how it happened."

Everything made sense now.

Xiao Heng touched the tear mole on his face.

Shangguan Qing had drawn it to match his own. Now that the tear mole was gone, was he imitating Shangguan Qing, or was he imitating himself?

It was truly something that made one both want to laugh and cry.

"What’s wrong?" Shangguan Yan asked, watching him.

Xiao Heng said, “This mole of mine is actually gone now.”

Back then, after the fire, in order to prevent those people from easily finding him, Princess Xinyang had burned off the tear mole on his face.

He completely changed his appearance, even his voice and body shape differed from before. With the tear mole gone as well, even his biological father, Marquis Xuanping, had to go through great efforts and rounds of negotiations to finally confirm it was him.

Shangguan Yan softly said, "She really was good to you."

Her tone carried both comfort and a hint of sadness and regret.

In the end, she had missed it all.

In his entire nineteen years of life, there had never been a trace of her.

"Can I… call you Ah Heng?"

This once exalted Crown Princess, even when publicly sentenced in the imperial audience hall, never bowed her n.o.ble head, never uttered a single plea.

At this moment, simply asking if she could call him by that name had used up all the humility she had left in her bones.

Xiao Heng replied, "You can call me whatever you want."

Then, could you call me——

That sentence, Shangguan Yan didn’t utter.

She lowered her gaze, suppressing the sadness and bitterness welling up inside her.

She mustn’t cry.

The descendants of the Xuanyuan Family shed blood, but not tears. She didn’t cry when she gave birth, nor did she cry when her bones were broken.

She wouldn’t cry.

Xiao Heng actually had many things he wanted to ask her, like what exactly had happened last night, what had happened over ten years ago, and how she had ended up as a slave——

Xiao Heng looked at her frail body and said, "You should rest for now. I'll go get some food."

"Mm."

There was a hint of choking in her voice.

She was trying hard to suppress it.

Xiao Heng stood up, his steps halting for a moment.

Shangguan Yan's heart suddenly tightened.

Was he going to call her?

Was he? Was he?

Xiao Heng said, “I forgot to ask what you'd like to eat. Since you just had surgery, millet porridge and barley porridge are both good options.”

“Oh.” Shangguan Yan replied, her voice low and filled with disappointment. “Either is fine.”

Xiao Heng: "How about millet porridge then?"

Shangguan Yan: "Sure."

She had no appet.i.te.

Indeed. She was a bad woman.

She didn’t deserve to be his mother.

Xiao Heng walked to the doorway. Just as he was about to step over the threshold, he paused once again.

"It's probably a bit late to say this now, but..."

He turned around and looked at her sincerely, "Thank you for giving birth to me."

"Thank you for bringing me into this world, and for everything you've done for me."

"Mother."

That one word, "Mother," which had been awaited for nineteen years, softened the pa.s.sage of time and soothed the pain of more than seven thousand days and nights of separation.

Shangguan Yan choked with emotion, unable to say a word.

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 s.h.i.+ 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 succ.u.mb to darkness amidst hards.h.i.+p and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.

When s.h.i.+ Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the s.h.i.+ 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 s.h.i.+ 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?"

s.h.i.+ 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?"

s.h.i.+ 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—”

s.h.i.+ Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."

Jiang Baiyan: ...?

He hasn't finished his lines yet though…