After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 11

“Xie Anyu, do you dare to get out of the carriage and meet me!” The drunkard was still shouting outside. “You… hic, I still have the jade pendant you gave me.”

The sound was quite loud, attracting the attention of many people.

“How dare you! How can you slander Lady Consort Wan’s reputation so casually!” The Imperial Guards were enraged and immediately moved to apprehend him.

The drunkard didn’t resist, just kept shouting, “What Lady Consort Wan? She’s my Anyu, she’s my Anyu…”

“I don’t know this person, he’s talking nonsense!” Anyu was annoyed.

She was more capable in a fight than most girls, but she also cared about her reputation. How could she let this person slander her innocence!

Xie Anyu lifted the curtain, about to step out, but was grabbed by Xie Wan.

“Stay in the carriage. I will go.”

Xie Wan unhurriedly lifted the carriage curtain, and by then, some commoners had already gathered on the street.

The commoners could recognize that this was a carriage from the palace.

However, as dusk had fallen, Xie Wan, dressed in ordinary clothes, wasn’t recognized. Seeing her extraordinary demeanor, everyone was guessing Xie Wan’s identity.

Could this person… be a noble from the palace?

When the Imperial Guards saw that it was Xie Wan who appeared, they immediately fell silent, holding the drunkard and waiting for instructions.

Xie Wan opened her mouth and asked, “Where is the jade pendant you speak of?”

The drunkard was stunned when he saw her appear, then asked directly, “It’s on me, of course! I didn’t expect you’d actually dare to come out and see me! You heartless, unrighteous woman! Xie Anyu!”

The drunkard’s last three words made everyone present pause in surprise.

Even Xie Anyu in the carriage widened her eyes. Huh?

This drunkard, he didn’t even know what she looked like, yet he dared to just spout nonsense?

The commoners also frowned. They recognized what Miss Xie from the General’s Manor looked like. Although the noble person before them had an extraordinary demeanor, judging by her age and appearance, she was not Xie Anyu of the Xie family.

Just as the Imperial Guard was about to scold the drunkard, Xie Wan waved her hand, cutting him off. “When did I ever have a private exchange with you, let alone give you a jade pendant?”

Hearing this, the drunkard’s face was full of sorrow. “Xie Anyu, you don’t need to pretend you don’t know me. I just heard you returned today and wanted to see you one last time. Tomorrow… I’ll be leaving the capital to go home.”

“And return the jade pendant to you while I’m at it.”

Having said that, the drunkard pulled out a valuable jade pendant from his bosom.

An Imperial Guard took it, examined it carefully, and presented it.

Xie Wan only lightly rubbed it for a moment, then said, “This jade pendant, I do not recognize.”

Upon hearing this, the drunkard’s eyes widened in fury, and he became completely enraged. “Now that you’ve married into the palace, you don’t dare to admit it? My fellow villagers, last year, I was a scholar who came from a distant village to the capital for the Imperial Examination. I was poor on the road and received kindness from the Xie family, even gaining the affection of Miss Xie. Unfortunately, I didn’t pass the capital exam and didn’t have the chance to meet Her Majesty! At that point, the Xie family looked down on me and even sent people to threaten me and drive me out of the capital.”

“Later I found out that this Xie Anyu married into the palace and is now a consort of Her Majesty! Today, I only came to return the jade pendant, with no intention of entanglement. From now on… let’s just pretend we never met.”

These words couldn’t withstand any scrutiny.

But the commoners were just watching the spectacle. Regardless of whether it was true or false, if the rumors spread, Anyu’s reputation would be affected. Even the Xie family would bear the bad name of bullying others with power.

Xie Wan chuckled softly. “Indeed, General Xie is truly generous, showing great kindness by saving a poor scholar. Who would have thought this scholar would scheme against his daughter, who had just reached adulthood? In the end, his daughter married Her Majesty, and he still ended up with the reputation of ‘bullying others with power’. Taking a jade pendant of unknown origin, you immediately accuse Miss Xie of having a private exchange with you. Truly worthy of a scholar; though you failed the Imperial Exam, your ability to weave stories is enough to earn you a living in the capital.”

“You… you’re twisting words and distorting the truth! It was clearly the Xie family… it was Xie Anyu who abandoned me first!” The drunkard’s face turned red with anger. Clearly, he hadn’t expected the woman before him to be so eloquent.

Just then, the carriage curtain was lifted. Xie Anyu couldn’t hold back; she wanted to come out.

But she was pressed back by a hand.

Xie Anyu couldn’t see what was happening outside and could only puff out her cheeks in frustration.

Fortunately, she could hear the voices—

“You say I’m distorting the truth?” The sickly Emperor’s voice was light yet powerful. “Looking at the carving on this jade pendant… it seems to be the work of a master from the Fu Yu Workshop in the capital. For such a fine jade pendant, finding its origin in the capital shouldn’t be difficult. We’ll know whose jade pendant this is once we ask. Otherwise, letting you, this drunkard, slander Lady Consort Wan’s reputation would be unacceptable.”

“If you are so certain, then come with me, and these commoners from the city, to the Fu Yu Workshop to confront them?”

Fu Yu Workshop? How could he possibly know the origin of the jade? The drunkard panicked and immediately jumped up and down. “You say it’s from the Fu Yu Workshop, so it’s from the Fu Yu Workshop?! Why should everyone believe you! I only came today to return the jade pendant, take it or leave it!”

“You open your mouth and it’s slander; this dirty water naturally needs to be washed clean.” Xie Wan’s eyes darkened. “If not the Fu Yu Workshop, then let’s go see an official. General Xie defends the country, and his daughter is now Lady Consort Wan. We cannot tolerate slander from a good-for-nothing like you, who didn’t even make the list in the Imperial Exam.”

“…See, see an official?” The drunkard was stunned.

“Exactly, let’s go see an official!” Suddenly, someone in the crowd watching the spectacle also shouted.

“Go see an official! I stand with this noble person!”

“He keeps claiming to be deeply affectionate and even kept the jade pendant, yet he can’t even recognize the person he supposedly admired! Just drag him to see an official!”

“Slandering the Great General, what crime should that be considered?”

The drunkard never expected that the commoners wouldn’t side with him. Also, what did they mean he couldn’t recognize the person he admired?

The drunkard raised his eyes to look at Xie Wan in the carriage, who was composed and smiling, and the unease in his heart grew heavier.

“You… you’re not Xie Anyu…”

Xie Wan smiled. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

The drunkard: ?

Is she or isn’t she?!

“Arrest him and send him directly to the authorities. Thoroughly investigate this person’s identity. Intentionally slandering a worthy general of Da Yue, he might be a spy from another country. This matter must be thoroughly investigated.” Xie Wan ordered.

Commoners: “Arrest him! See an official!”

The Imperial Guards were sharp-eyed. Seeing the drunkard break free and try to run, they immediately grabbed him back and held him down!

“You, who exactly are you!” The drunkard was in disbelief. He had only done this to earn some easy money; he never thought he’d be sent to the authorities!

Xie Wan didn’t speak, turning back into the carriage.

The Imperial Guard sneered. “Who? The one you failed the Imperial Exam and didn’t get to see! Knock him out and take him away!”

The drunkard: ?

The one he failed the exam and didn’t get to see…

After the Metropolitan Exam is… the Palace Exam.

The drunkard’s pupils contracted, and his face turned pale.

That woman just now, was she the Emperor?!

Before he could beg for mercy, an Imperial Guard struck him unconscious with a hand chop.

“Send him to the authorities for strict interrogation!”

“Return to the palace!”

Xie Wan lifted the carriage curtain and saw Xie Anyu squatting inside the carriage.

Xie Anyu was puffing out her cheeks, looking displeased.

Xie Wan smiled and dangled the jade pendant in front of her eyes.

“This isn’t my jade pendant.” Xiao Anyu grabbed the pendant dangling before her eyes. “Is this jade really from the Fu Yu Workshop?”

“No.” Xie Wan said seriously. “I don’t know which workshop it’s from either.”

Anyu stared wide-eyed. “…You tricked people again!”

Xie Wan sat back down with a smile. “Wasn’t it all for Consort Wan’s reputation? If my mind hadn’t worked quickly, tomorrow the entire capital would be spreading rumors about Consort Wan having a private exchange with someone and General Xie bullying others with power.”

Hearing this, Xie Anyu cursed under her breath, “Xu Ping is really not a good person!”

Xie Wan chuckled softly.

Regardless of whether this matter was true or false, Prime Minister Xu likely didn’t care if the rumors spread or not. What Prime Minister Xu wanted was simply to plant a seed in her heart, the Emperor’s heart—

That the Consort Wan by her side was not a good person, just as the Xie family were not loyal officials.

Unfortunately…

“His scheme cannot succeed. The person I trust the most is Consort Wan. It’s truly difficult for me to believe that Consort Wan would have a private exchange with someone.” Xie Wan cast her gaze towards the squatting Xie Anyu, looking down with a smile as she extended her hand towards her. “Lady Consort Wan, how long are you going to squat there? Can you please deflate those little buns on your cheeks?”

Xie Anyu was startled, quietly deflated her puffed-out cheeks, and looked elsewhere.

The sickly Emperor was talking nonsense again…

She wasn’t thinking nonsense.

This Emperor is the best at tricking people.

Thinking this, she still extended her hand, placing it in Xie Wan’s palm, letting her pull her up. She also mumbled softly, “I never had a private exchange with anyone!”

Marrying the sickly Emperor was her first time getting married, you know.