After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 10

Her Majesty was not in the palace. Someone saw Her Majesty alight from a carriage and enter the General’s Manor, where she stayed for the entire afternoon.

This news spread both inside and outside the palace, naturally reaching the ears of those with ulterior motives, such as the officials who were feeling uneasy due to Commander Sun’s message about their sons’ unexplained absence from their Imperial Guard duties.

At that moment, Xie Wan was still having dinner at the General’s Manor.

She didn’t stand on ceremony, and the Xie family treated her as if she weren’t there. This allowed Xie Wan to feel at ease, eating her favorite dishes and listening to the Xie family chat, experiencing a rare moment of familial warmth.

Only Xie Yunyu occasionally cast glances at her, but his gaze was complex and meaningful.

And just as the large family was eating with varying atmospheres—

A guard announced.

“General, Marquis Muqing, the Capital Prefect, and the Vice Minister of Revenue… three officials request an audience.”

Xie Chengdong was taken aback.

Marquis Muqing, the Capital Prefect, and the Vice Minister of Revenue, he wasn’t familiar with them. Weren’t these people all lackeys of Xu Ping? Why had they come to his house?

Wait… Xie Chengdong glanced at the Emperor who was quietly eating at the table…

“Did they say what it’s about?”

The servant boy: “The officials didn’t say.”

“General Xie, please invite them in. These officials are very well-informed; they received the news as soon as I arrived at the General’s Manor,” Xie Wan said calmly.

Xie Anyu, however, heard the names of the three and her eyes darted around.

Marquis Muqing, the Capital Prefect, and the Vice Minister of Revenue, weren’t the sons of these three the ones Her Majesty had called out by name during the troop review at the Martial Arts Ground that day?

And she remembered that none of the sons of these three officials had been present that day.

Coming today…

Could they be here to plead for mercy?

Soon after, the officials entered the main hall.

“General Xie, we apologize for the intrusion.” The men said in unison, but their eyes were darting around until they saw Xie Wan sitting there, whereupon they quickly came forward and knelt.

“Your humble servants pay respects to Your Majesty, and Lady Consort Wan.”

The three called out hastily and quickly performed the kneeling ritual.

Xie Wan didn’t tell them to rise, but smiled and said, “The three of you are truly well-informed.”

The three men’s hands trembled slightly. Yet, they had no choice but to steel themselves and say, “We heard that Your Majesty had left the palace and immediately came to pay our respects.”

“Oh… and what is the matter?”

“Your Majesty, this servant heard that Your Majesty reviewed the troops at the Martial Arts Ground yesterday. My son was not present at the time and failed to request leave in advance; there was actually a hidden reason,” Marquis Muqing, being the longest-serving official among the three, went straight to the point in a few words.

“Tell me about it.”

Marquis Muqing said earnestly, “That day, this servant’s wife suddenly fell ill and fainted. My son, anxious about his mother, left the palace early. He did not have time to request leave from Commander Sun. I beg Your Majesty to consider the child’s filial piety and pardon him for the crime of leaving his post without permission!”

Xie Wan lightly tapped the table, looked at Marquis Muqing for a moment, then smiled and said, “Marquis Muqing’s heir’s actions are indeed filial and should be commended. But on second thought, he holds a position in my Imperial Guards, responsible for my safety and the safety of the nobles in the palace… My lord, in your opinion, which is more important, loyalty or filial piety?”

Cold sweat instantly dripped down Marquis Muqing’s face, “Your… Your Majesty…”

Xie Wan no longer looked at him, but glanced at the other two, “Are you two also here for this matter?”

The Capital Prefect and the Vice Minister of Revenue immediately froze.

The Vice Minister of Revenue quickly said, “Your Majesty, there is a severe drought in the north. This servant was ordered by Prime Minister Xu to handle the disaster relief funds and grain with the Capital Prefect, but there was a shortage of manpower, which is why my son and the Capital Prefect’s son left the palace to help. This servant and the Capital Prefect felt it was improper and ordered them to return to the palace quickly, and they did return later, but… they missed Your Majesty’s troop review.”

Filial piety didn’t work, so helping with disaster relief should be fine, right? They only missed the Emperor’s troop review, it wasn’t like they left their posts without permission every day. The Vice Minister of Revenue was self-righteous, and he even brought up Prime Minister Xu; surely Her Majesty wouldn’t hold it against them now.

After listening, Xie Wan smiled again: “Helping with disaster relief? That should indeed be rewarded. Since the three of them are both filial and concerned for the common people, each shall be rewarded with a roll of silk fabric.”

The three officials felt a sense of relief in their hearts, “This servant thanks Your Majesty on behalf of my son!”

The Xie family members were all stunned upon hearing this.

The eldest cousin, Xie Yunyu, even frowned directly.

But immediately after, Xie Wan stroked her chin and said, “However, leaving one’s post without permission is leaving one’s post without permission. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t punish them. How about this, I have always been clear about rewards and punishments… General Xie, what is the punishment for leaving one’s post without permission in the army?”

Xie Chengdong said in a deep voice, “Death.”

The three officials were instantly panicked, but before they could even call out “Your Majesty,” Xie Wan raised her hand to stop them, “Do you see? In the army, it is a capital offense. Considering that the three of you have worked tirelessly for Da Yue, I will spare them from death.”

The three officials’ hearts hadn’t settled yet when they saw her lips part slightly, showing no mercy, “Their hereditary titles and official positions shall be stripped, they shall be reduced to commoners, and they shall never again enter officialdom.”

The three men’s pupils contracted, “Your Majesty…”

“Eat the ruler’s salary, serve the ruler’s affairs, share the ruler’s worries. Remember these twelve characters, my lords.” Xie Wan swept a cold glance over them. Her Da Yue would not support idlers or treacherous officials.

The three officials lowered their heads, trembling.

“…Yes.”

Everyone present was stunned by the Xie Wan before them. Even the Xie family members were no exception.

A thought couldn’t help but surface in everyone’s minds—

Has Your Majesty changed?

General Xie also hadn’t expected this turn of events, but regardless, he was happy with the outcome. The civil officials had been lawless for too long, relying on Her Majesty’s indulgence.

This move today was truly unexpected.

This also brought a strange feeling to General Xie’s heart. He suddenly remembered what the Emperor had said to him in the study—

I want to rectify the court, I want Da Yue to prosper.

Could it be true?

Another person with lingering emotions was Xie Yunyu, the eldest son of the Xie family’s main branch.

First, his sister brought him an excerpt of the battle records from the palace, claiming that the matter had passed before Her Majesty’s eyes.

Then came this scene.

“Eldest Cousin, Her Majesty doesn’t seem as incompetent as Father said.”

Remembering what his sister had just said, Xie Yunyu’s eyes couldn’t help but darken.

The atmosphere at dinner became somewhat unusual because of this.

Marquis Muqing and the other two officials had already taken their leave, their faces ashen.

“Leaving in such a hurry? Not even staying for dinner,” someone in the Xie family group chuckled softly.

“Serves them right! It’s a capital offense, they got off easy!” Xie Anyu chimed in.

Xie Wan’s ears were sharp, and hearing this, she smiled.

Got off easy?

Not likely.

Once the disaster relief matter was over, she would remove the official hats… and heads… of these corrupt officials.

…

As evening approached, it was time for the two of them to return to the palace.

Sitting in the carriage, Xie Anyu kept staring at her.

Those round, black eyes gazed at her without blinking, making Xie Wan feel a little uncomfortable.

“Consort Wan, say what you want to say, don’t look at me like that.”

Xie Anyu blinked, “Why did Marquis Muqing, the Capital Prefect, and the Vice Minister of Revenue come?”

“They must have received the news that I left the palace and went to the General’s Manor.”

Xie Anyu: “Who spread the news, and delivered it so precisely to these three? We only brought hidden guards on this trip and were in disguise… I didn’t spread it, so it must have been Your Majesty.”

Xie Wan smiled upon hearing this, neither confirming nor denying.

Xiao Anyu hugged her arms and hummed softly, “It was Your Majesty who spread it, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. I’m surprised you could guess.” Xie Wan was also surprised.

“I just don’t like to overthink, it doesn’t mean I’m not smart,” Anyu shook her head.

Wait, this whole situation, could it have been planned since the troop review?

And the purpose wasn’t just to punish those civil officials.

She deliberately did it for the Xie family to see.

“It wasn’t enough that I spoke well of you, you even schemed against my family,” Anyu wrinkled her nose and said in a huff.

Xie Wan: “Not entirely. I was also killing a chicken to warn the monkeys.” To show the Xie family, and also to show the officials of Da Yue.

“Still killing two birds with one stone,” Anyu was even more indignant.

“What is Consort Wan angry about?” Xie Wan asked, puzzled.

Xie Anyu imitated her and stroked her chin: “I originally thought Your Majesty was foolish, but I didn’t expect Your Majesty to be smarter than me.”

Xie Wan: “…”

“Thinking about it closely, this isn’t called smart, it’s clearly terrifying,” Xie Anyu commented.

Xie Wan tapped her head, “I wouldn’t harm you.”

Xie Anyu responded softly: “…Oh.”

Now, she felt a little dazed again.

If Her Majesty wanted to win over the Xie family, did she need to be this good to her?

She was clearly very smart.

There must be other ways to win over the Xie family…

“Actually, I didn’t just have people send messages to those three,” Xie Wan lifted the small curtain inside the carriage and said this casually.

This immediately pulled Anyu’s thoughts back, “Who else did you send messages to?”

“Prime Minister Xu,” Xie Wan smiled, “However, everyone is already on their way back to the palace, and Prime Minister Xu is still able to keep his composure. He truly lives up to his name.”

She came to the Xie family, accompanied Anyu on her return visit, and stayed at the General’s Manor for an afternoon.

Prime Minister Xu must be panicking now.

Anyu tilted her head, “Will he do anything?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the carriage suddenly braked—

Xie Wan’s body lurched forward violently, then was pulled back by Anyu’s outstretched hand.

“What is the meaning of this sudden stop? What crime is it to startle the imperial carriage!” Xie Anyu snapped, her face stern.

Her sickly Emperor had almost been thrown out just now! That slender, pale wrist, if it were to bump against something, it would surely bruise.

The hidden guard driving outside said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, Lady, there is a drunkard blocking the way. We will handle it immediately.”

Just then, the drunkard outside the carriage shouted—

“Anyu, Xie Anyu, are you in the carriage?! Come down and see me!”

The drunkard’s voice was loud, his tone filled with grief and indignation, “You said you would marry me, how can you go back on your word!”

Xie Anyu looked bewildered, huh?

Xie Wan, however, smiled, but this smile carried a hint of coldness.

It seemed Prime Minister Xu was indeed very afraid of her valuing the Xie family.