After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 21

Before Xie Wan even entered Grand Consort Qin’s palace, she heard sounds of playful banter—

“Sister Anyu, you lost!”

“That’s because I was letting you win. With a slingshot like this, when I was your age, I could shoot down birds from trees!”

“A bet’s a bet!”

“Alright, alright, I know. I’ll bring you something more fun next time.”

Xie Wan paused.

Those voices…

Were they Anyu and Chu Tang?

The attendant was about to announce her presence loudly but was stopped by Xie Wan’s raised hand.

Then, she strode in.

Jiahua Palace, where Grand Consort Qin resided, wasn’t her first visit.

Within the vast palace grounds, this was the palace most artfully designed with landscapes. It was bestowed by the late Emperor when Grand Consort Qin was pregnant.

Chu Tang was the late Emperor’s only son with Grand Consort Qin, and a child born late in life.

When Emperor Ruiming ascended the throne, Chu Tang was only five years old.

So Chu Tang became His Highness the Prince of Da Yue at the age of five, but because he was still young, he was raised within the palace.

Later, when Emperor Ruiming fell gravely ill, the Xu family held Chu Tang hostage, planning to force a coup.

After Emperor Ruiming’s death, Xie Wan was the one who helped Chu Tang ascend the throne, making him the new Emperor of Da Yue. It had to be said, Chu Tang was more suited to be a wise and benevolent ruler than his imperial sister.

However, she had no chance to witness the prosperous era of Da Yue.

Seeing the Chu Tang who had already become Emperor now transformed into a miniature version of a ten-year-old standing not far away, Xie Wan felt a bit disoriented.

But as she approached, Xie Anyu was the first to spot her.

“Your Majesty…” Xie Anyu called out, then suddenly realized something. She quickly hid behind the twelve-year-old Chu Tang.

Hiding half her body…

Chu Tang: ?

Xie Wan: ?

Was she a ghost?

Chu Tang, however, put away his playful demeanor and formally greeted, “Chu Tang pays respects to Your Majesty.”

He didn’t even call her Imperial Sister, which showed that the relationship between Emperor Ruiming and His Highness the Prince was not close. Even towards the newly met Xie Anyu, he would call her Sister Anyu.

But Xie Wan was not Emperor Ruiming herself, and she didn’t care much for this pitiful imperial family affection.

Rather, compared to how Chu Tang was doing, she was more concerned about Xie Anyu’s situation.

What was she hiding from when she saw her?

Xie Wan’s gaze fell upon the evasive Xie Anyu, but she asked Chu Tang, “Xiao Wu, where is your mother consort?”

Xiao Wu… Chu Tang was indeed the fifth in seniority.

The young Chu Tang, addressed so intimately, slightly lowered his head, maintaining a dignified posture and speaking clearly, “Mother Consort went to the Imperial Garment Workshop. Your Majesty’s birthday is approaching, and Mother Consort is preparing a birthday gift for Your Majesty…”

“I see…” Grand Consort Qin’s embroidery was renowned in the capital, Xie Wan nodded, “I shall look forward to it.”

Xie Anyu also chimed in, “Grand Consort left His Highness the Prince with me for a while. There’s nothing fun in the palace, so I made him a slingshot to play with.”

After she finished speaking, Chu Tang looked over in surprise. Sister Anyu… why did she refer to herself as ‘I’ in front of Her Majesty?

Strangely, the Emperor Ruiming before him didn’t get angry, and even smiled, saying, “Did you hit any birds?”

Young Chu Tang nodded, “This subject hit one, Consort Wan did not.”

Xie Anyu: “I lost, so I promised to bring His Highness the Prince another toy next time I come back.”

Xie Wan asked her with a smile, “Bring it from where?”

Meeting those smiling eyes, Anyu immediately felt something was off. She instinctively turned her head away and whispered, “There are lots of fun things among the common folk.”

Xie Wan: “But Consort Wan, without my permission, even you cannot leave the palace freely.”

Xie Anyu: “…”

She had forgotten about that.

“Then I’ll trade for a rare book. The rare book that should be given to me this time… how about I exchange it for a palace exit token?”

Xie Wan glanced at her, “I’ll consider it.”

Xie Anyu: “…”

“Consort Wan, I am tired. Come back with me,” Xie Wan said directly, her smile gone.

Xie Anyu could feel that the person in front of her seemed unhappy.

But… unhappy about what?

Anyu was puzzled.

“Alright, let’s go back.” Xie Anyu turned to Chu Tang and said, “A bet’s a bet. Although I don’t know when I’ll leave the palace again, I’ll definitely bring you some little trinkets when I return.”

Chu Tang nodded, then suddenly thought of something and quickly handed over the slingshot in his hand, “Consort Wan’s…”

“The slingshot is yours,” Xie Anyu grinned.

Seeing her smile, the displeasure in Xie Wan’s heart seemed to dissipate a little.

The two left together.

Chu Tang looked at the slingshot in his hand, then at the backs of the two figures.

Then he frowned slightly.

Mother Consort was right, Consort Wan was truly favored.

Which ordinary consort would dare to refer to herself as ‘I’ in front of Her Majesty, or even directly ask her for a palace exit token?

Yet, despite being so bold and informal, his imperial sister didn’t get angry at all. Was it because Xie Anyu had General Xie’s Manor behind her? No…

It didn’t seem like it.

It looked more like she genuinely had some affection for her.

Chu Tang withdrew his gaze and couldn’t help but look at the new slingshot in his hand again.

Consort Wan, her nature is truly simple.

But…

How many days could someone like this survive in this palace?

“Someone—” Chu Tang extended his hand, offering the slingshot.

“Your Highness, this slingshot…” The palace maid carefully took the slingshot, unsure what to do with it.

Chu Tang glanced at it, the words about discarding it caught in his throat, and he changed his mind, “Put it away carefully in a box.”

…

On the way back, neither of them took the imperial carriage. Instead, they walked back slowly, as if taking a stroll.

Xie Anyu followed closely behind her, her small head lowered, her eyes darting around, deliberately avoiding looking at the person in front.

Suddenly, the view ahead darkened.

Her body bumped into the ‘human wall’ in front, making a soft ‘thud’.

Xie Wan in front also stumbled slightly from the collision.

Seeing this, Anyu quickly asked, “Your Majesty… are you alright?”

Xie Wan was helpless, “You look as if I’d fall over with a gust of wind.”

Anyu: !

Her figure was tall and slender, and her complexion wasn’t rosy. Not to mention, she really did look a bit like she might fall over with a gust of wind.

“What is Consort Wan thinking about? You’ve been distracted the whole way,” Xie Wan glanced at her, clearly curious about Anyu’s absent-minded state.

Hearing her question, Anyu simply stopped agonizing and asked directly, “I was thinking about what Your Majesty is unhappy about.”

“I will not give you the palace exit token,” Xie Wan said frankly, “If you go outside the palace to bring him little trinkets, it will only be a waste of your good intentions.”

Anyu: ?

“It’s normal for a twelve-year-old boy to be playful. But Chu Tang is not a child from an ordinary family.”

After thinking for a moment, Xie Wan added, “I mean, compared to playing with slingshots, he prefers reviewing memorials.”

Anyu was greatly alarmed, “He wants to rebel?!”

What did ‘prefers reviewing memorials’ mean?!

Xie Wan: “…”

“My words are meant literally.”

Besides, there was no need to rebel. In a few years, when Emperor Ruiming died, Da Yue would still belong to Chu Tang.

Vaguely understanding the meaning behind her words, Anyu frowned, “Your Majesty is still here, how could it be his turn to review memorials?”

Xie Wan smiled without speaking.

“You’re just unhappy about that?” Anyu tilted her head.

“No,” Xie Wan put her hands behind her back, “What I dislike is him deceiving you by acting like an innocent boy.”

“I wasn’t deceived,” Anyu scratched her head, “When Grand Consort left Jiahua Palace, she told me that Chu Tang always stays in the study and doesn’t like talking to people. At first, I pitied him, although going to Jiahua Palace was also out of necessity…”

“But later I realized something was off,” Anyu recalled, “Chu Tang’s palms have thin calluses. He must have learned some martial arts and practiced diligently. The pads of his index fingers have small calluses, so he should also be somewhat skilled in archery. It’s not like what Grand Consort said, that he only stays in the study. And I noticed that the servants in Jiahua Palace all seem quite afraid of him.”

Whether a master in a palace had accumulated authority was easy to discern.

These… were things she had learned in the palace, she supposed.

“Yes, and he even won against you playing slingshot,” Xie Wan smiled.

“That’s because I deliberately let him!” Anyu retorted angrily, “I’m a sharpshooter!”

Xie Wan: “Since you knew he was deceiving you, why were you still playing with him? And you even wanted to trade a rare book for a palace exit token to bring him little trinkets.”

Anyu sighed with an air of worldly weariness, “He’s acting, so I’ll act too. It’s better to let him think I’m the most foolish and easiest to deceive. But I hadn’t even figured out what he was trying to do when you arrived.”

“I favor you, so Chu Tang and Grand Consort Qin only dare to probe you, not do anything. Speaking of which… I was worried something would happen to you, why are you complaining that I came too early?” Xie Wan sounded quite wronged.

Anyu smiled, “I’m not stupid. Everyone in this palace is shrewd. I won’t easily trust them.”

“What about me?”

Xie Anyu looked up, meeting her slightly lowered gaze. Between their faces, there seemed to be only a distance of two fists.

She was asking very seriously, she wouldn’t easily trust the people in the palace, so what about her?

Xie Anyu immediately stammered, “You, you…”

As she spoke, she took two steps back, “Your Majesty… Your Majesty is even more shrewd. I definitely won’t trust you.”

Just talk, don’t get so close to her!

Xie Wan was very curious, “Consort Wan is very unusual today. Did I do something?”

Xie Anyu shook her head vigorously, “No!”

“Oh?”

“Really! Your Majesty is overthinking!”

Xie Anyu turned and ran.

Xie Wan… couldn’t catch up.

Watching Xiao Anyu’s figure quickly disappear around the corner, Xie Wan was completely bewildered.

What on earth happened? Why was she avoiding her like a snake or scorpion?

Zhaoxia stood behind Xie Wan and said softly, “Your Majesty, Consort Wan’s appearance… looks like shyness.”

Xie Wan: Huh?

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Xie Wan dismissed it. Shyness? Those two words were completely unsuitable for her and Xiao Anyu.

Zhaoxia was helpless, “This servant spoke out of turn.”

Not shyness?

Why did it look exactly like it to her?

“Send someone to keep an eye on Jiahua Palace,” Xie Wan’s expression darkened slightly. Although Chu Tang and Grand Consort Qin wouldn’t dare to do anything major, it would be troublesome if they resorted to petty tricks behind the scenes.

“Yes.”