“Master, can I look at this?”
“Yeah.”
Leonard nodded indifferently. Cordelia slowly read the report.
Surprisingly, it detailed the corrupt dealings of nobles, including Helena, who were enemies of the Abrams family.
“Is all this true?”
“If Baron isn’t senile, then it should be true.”
“I thought you made this up to bring down the lady.”
Because on the day Leonard claimed to have put Helena’s lovers in the dungeon, they weren’t in the castle.
Later, when Helena learned this fact, she furiously claimed that Leonard concocted everything to slander her, but it was too late.
“She confessed to having lovers, so it’s a done deal.”
“So, everything written here about selling tax collection rights to merchants without permission is also true?”
“That’s just the major stuff compiled. It was quite a spectacle.”
The report detailed how Helena sold tax collection rights to merchants and pocketed backdoor money.
“If I show this, I could get a lot in alimony.”
Cordelia joked, placing the report on the desk. Leonard glanced at her and nonchalantly said,
“Take it if you want it.”
“This? Really? Can I really have it?”
Her eyes sparkled as she asked. Leonard waved his hand in annoyance,
“Blackmail them for alimony with it if you want, but don’t drink wine with your head anymore.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Your head is bad enough already. If wine gets in there and completely breaks it, then what?”
Leonard mockingly said. Just as Cordelia was about to retort, Baron appeared out of nowhere, clicking his tongue.
“Ah, Master. You could just say you’re worried.”
“Worried about what? I’d be too embarrassed to call her my disciple.”
Leonard, tapping his chair armrest, continued,
“Others have been studying at the Magic Association since they were five. To catch up, you need to work at least twice as hard as this.”
“What? How can I catch up to them? I just wanted to learn some minor…”
Her modest dream was to learn a few auxiliary spells and become a magic appraiser.
But Leonard frowned at the mention of auxiliary magic.
“What? Auxiliary magic? You’re really planning to become some appraiser?”
“Yes. What’s wrong with being a magic appraiser?”
“That’s ridiculous. Absolutely not.”
“Why not…?”
Her carefully laid life plans were abruptly dismissed. Cordelia meekly protested, but as usual, Leonard ignored her.
“You’re my first disciple. You should be able to manage at least one star by twenty-five.”
“Master, managing a star by twenty-five is a feat only achieved by five magicians in history. And Miss Cordelia is twenty this year.”
“Five years is plenty.”
Cordelia wasn’t surprised by Baron’s sudden appearances anymore. She blinked at him and asked,
“I think I asked before, but what does managing a star mean?”
“It means establishing a school of magic with your name based on deep magical achievements.”
“….What? Establishing a school? At twenty-five? But I just wanted to learn auxiliary…”
“Baron. Why are you so negative when we haven’t even started?”
“The biggest problem is that we haven’t started. Others spend a lifetime maybe achieving it. Is it possible in five years?”
“Master, may I look at this?”
“Yeah.”
Leonard nodded indifferently. Cordelia carefully read the report.
Amazingly, it detailed the corrupt activities of nobles including Helena, who were enemies of the Abrams family.
“Is all this true?”
“If Baron isn’t senile, then it probably is.”
“I thought you fabricated this to bring down the lady.”
Because the lovers of Helena, whom Leonard claimed to have put in the dungeon that day, were not found in the castle.
Later, when Helena learned this, she furiously claimed Leonard concocted everything to slander her, but it was too late.
“She confessed to having lovers, so it’s a settled matter.”
“So, everything written here about illicitly selling tax collection rights to merchants is true?”
“That’s just the major stuff compiled. Quite a spectacle.”
The report detailed how Helena sold tax collection rights to merchants and pocketed kickbacks.
“If I show this, I could get a lot in alimony.”
Cordelia joked, placing the report on the desk. Leonard glanced at her and nonchalantly said,
“If you want it, take it.”
“This? Really? Can I really have it?”
Her eyes sparkled as she asked. Leonard waved his hand dismissively,
“Blackmail them for alimony with it if you want, but from now on, don’t drink wine with your head.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“You’re already not too bright. If wine gets to your brain and it completely breaks, then what?”
Leonard spoke mockingly. Just as Cordelia was about to retort, Baron suddenly appeared, clicking his tongue.
“Ah, Master. You could just say you’re worried.”
“Worried about what. I’d be too embarrassed to call her my disciple.”
Leonard, tapping his chair armrest, continued,
“Others have been studying at the Magic Association since they were five. To catch up, you need to work at least twice as hard as this.”
“What? How can I catch up to them? I just wanted to learn some minor…”
Her modest dream was to learn a few auxiliary spells and become a magic appraiser.
But Leonard frowned at the mention of auxiliary magic.
“What? Auxiliary magic? Are you really planning to become some appraiser?”
“Yes. What’s wrong with being a magic appraiser?”
“That’s ridiculous. Absolutely not.”
“Why not…
Already having ample evidence of Arnold’s embezzlement, Leonard didn’t bother to bring out the ledger.
“Hey, you said you were a Viscount Dillon, right?”
“What’s with the rude tone, Craig? I’m your uncle…!”
“Don’t pretend to be family when not a drop of blood is shared between us. It’s revolting.”
The air suddenly froze.
Well, perhaps only Cordelia felt that way. She stiffened, alternating her gaze between Leonard and Arnold.
Arnold’s face turned beet red, as if he wanted to scream but held back. His clenched fists trembled.
Of course, Leonard was unfazed.
“If you’re done talking, leave. I don’t need your help.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Yeah, I know. Now leave.”
Leonard waved his hand as if shooing away an annoying fly.
Arnold gritted his teeth and stormed out. Cordelia, watching his retreating back, stuttered involuntarily.
“Is, is it okay? What if Viscount Dillon joins the opposition?”
“Let him. Do I look like I can’t hold onto a mere earldom in this backwater?”
“Guess so, but…”
Cordelia couldn’t shake off a nagging sense of unease, as if planting a seed of worry.
“That good-for-nothing bastard!”
Arnold stormed into his room, flinging whatever he could grab. A vase flew, shattering with a sharp crash.
Only after turning the room into a complete mess did he catch his breath.
“Arnold! What in the world happened?”
“What happened? Do you know what Craig just said to me?”
Helena, who had walked in, was shocked at the chaos. Arnold bitterly recounted every word Craig had said.
Listening silently, Helena interjected.
“Craig made you greet Cordelia?”
“Yes! Can you believe it? Now I even have to bow to a woman bought with money.”
“Something’s off. Very off.”
Helena rubbed her chin, murmuring to herself. Arnold, still fuming, kicked an innocent sofa.
“It’s not just off. His mind’s clearly twisted.”
“No. I think it’s not just Craig’s doing.”
“If not his alone, then what?”
“It must be that woman’s manipulation.”
“Who? The Vasquez girl?”
“Yes. Don’t you find it odd? Craig’s sudden change?”
Come to think of it, Craig’s personality had altered drastically.
He distanced himself from his favorite mistresses and kept only Cordelia close.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
