After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 24

Qi Shu’s side moved quickly, and the imperial court also did its best to assist. With the capital as the largest transit hub, several batches of grain carts from many merchant caravans set off first.

Standing on the palace tower, one could see the cargo carriages driving out of the city and heading north along the official road, one after another.

Xie Anyu also didn’t stay in the palace. With Xie Wan’s permission, she took a group of Imperial Guards out of the palace to help her eldest cousin.

“Your Majesty, isn’t this inappropriate? It’s one thing for the Imperial Guards to go, but with the Consort going, I fear those censors will have something to say again…” Zhaoxia asked cautiously.

Xie Wan was unconcerned and countered, “Has Minister Qian been executed?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, not yet. The Censorate Office has loosened many people’s tongues, but Minister Qian is keeping his mouth shut tight. They’ve used quite a bit of torture, but still…”

“If you can’t get anything out of him, don’t bother asking anymore. Execute him. At that time, summon all court officials… including the censors… to watch. Killing the chicken to warn the monkeys, everyone needs to see it.”

Hearing this, Zhaoxia dared not speak further. She understood Her Majesty’s meaning. This was to serve as a warning to all court officials, and also to declare to them that if they committed a crime, no matter how high their rank, they would be treated equally and executed if they deserved it.

“Zhaoxia, do you think I’ve changed?” Xie Wan stood on the palace tower, gazing at the distant view of the capital, speaking about herself as if casually mentioning it.

Zhaoxia immediately lowered her head. “This servant dares not speak presumptuously.”

In fact, it was probably not just her; even all the court officials were wondering why Her Majesty had suddenly changed and was no longer like the previous Her Majesty.

Zhaoxia attended to Her Majesty’s daily life, so she naturally felt it most deeply.

She didn’t understand, but she didn’t dare to ask.

“I permit you to speak.”

Zhaoxia thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty seems to have started changing after Consort Wan entered the palace… Is it related to Consort Wan?”

Xie Wan chuckled softly. “You could say that.”

“That night, when Your Majesty came out of Wanyi Palace, there was a bruise on your stomach…”

“Yes, I got beaten.” Xie Wan touched her nose. “Consort Wan gave me a beating, and it woke me up. If I don’t change, and Da Yue is destroyed in my hands, I will have no face to meet my ancestors.”

Is this why Her Majesty dotes on Consort Wan so much? Indeed, probably no one in the entire harem would dare to hit the Emperor, let alone beat Her Majesty into enlightenment and sudden realization.

Zhaoxia paused, then said, “This servant doesn’t think too deeply, I just feel… Her Majesty is very good now.”

The previous Her Majesty was also diligent, but was easily swayed and ultimately a bit weak in their actions. But Zhaoxia dared not speak such words carelessly.

Just accompanying Her Majesty to relieve boredom and chat, knowing it in her heart was enough.

Xie Wan smiled and said, “Mm, Consort Wan says so too.”

“Achoo—” Xie Anyu, who was helping move goods, suddenly sneezed.

“Consort?” Commander Zhang of the Imperial Guards, carrying several sacks of rice, turned to look at her.

Anyu rubbed her nose. “This consort is fine.”

Was someone talking bad about her behind her back?

Anyu naturally didn’t know that Xie Wan had just placed the big pot of ‘the reason for Her Majesty’s sudden change’ squarely on her head.

At this moment, she was still helping at one of the grain depots in the capital, leading a team of Imperial Guards with Commander Zhang.

The north was in trouble, and everyone available in the capital had to be utilized. Her eldest cousin didn’t hesitate to use her.

Workers from ordinary merchant caravans were naturally different from the Imperial Guards.

Whether it was efficiency or strength, there was a significant difference.

Don’t think that having these Imperial Guards move grain seemed beneath their status; in reality, everyone was overjoyed. What was moving grain? If they weren’t out moving grain, they would have to train at the Martial Arts Ground.

Their training regimen was a plan personally devised by the Consort… it was not something ordinary people could endure.

For the past half month, they had gotten used to running around the Martial Arts Ground carrying weights of over a hundred catties. In comparison, moving grain was incredibly easy!

Moving grain today was equivalent to a day off!

“Don’t slack off! The Xie family’s guards are moving grain at the next depot. If you don’t move more than them later, you’ll get extra training when you go back,” Xie Anyu shouted, hands on her hips.

The Imperial Guards immediately jolted, grabbed two sacks of rice, and ran off.

Commander Zhang watched with amusement.

Actually, when he first saw the training plan devised by Consort Wan, he also thought it was absurd, but he obeyed it later.

It had nothing to do with strict orders and prohibitions; it was simply because the Consort Wan, who wasn’t tall or old, could do every single thing written on that paper.

Especially Consort Wan’s archery skills, many people were so envious they wished they could become her disciples on the spot.

Not to mention anything else, she was the champion of the annual royal hunt.

Commander Zhang was reminiscing when suddenly, Anyu beside him called out, “Commander Zhang!”

Commander Zhang touched his head, a hint of embarrassment at being caught slacking flashed in his eyes, and he gave a dry laugh. “Yes!”

He’d go move, he’d go now.

He had finally been promoted from Deputy Commander to Commander, earning a nice salary. What was moving a bit of grain?

“Hey, come here, this consort has something to ask you.” Xie Anyu beckoned.

Commander Zhang: ?

“What is it, Consort?” Commander Zhang, large and burly, stood in front of her, more than a head taller than Anyu.

But only Commander Zhang himself knew that the Consort in front of him, although only sixteen years old, might not necessarily let him gain any advantage if they were to spar.

Anyu squatted down on the ground.

Commander Zhang also squatted down on the ground. The two put their heads together. “Consort?”

“This consort has a question for you. Has Her Majesty studied martial arts?” Anyu asked in a low voice.

Commander Zhang was startled.

“You’ve been in the Imperial Guards for quite a few years, haven’t you? You should know, right?”

Commander Zhang frowned. “Her Majesty naturally doesn’t know martial arts. In the past, Her Majesty didn’t come to the Martial Arts Ground much, only coming to observe during routine inspections. Why do you ask?”

“But Chu…” Anyu paused, then corrected herself. “Aren’t there masters in the palace to teach martial arts?”

Commander Zhang thought for a moment and said, “There are. However, Her Majesty’s health hasn’t been very good since childhood, and the Imperial Physicians also said that Her Majesty’s body is frail and not very suitable for practicing martial arts.”

“But thinking about it, if Her Majesty had practiced martial arts since childhood, perhaps their health wouldn’t be so poor.”

Commander Zhang also spoke with emotion.

Her Majesty’s health was poor, they didn’t practice martial arts, and loved reading. Therefore, they favored civil officials over military ones, to the extent that military generals didn’t dare to speak loudly in front of civil officials. Although this might sound a bit exaggerated, it was the truth.

Hearing this, Anyu understood.

Her Majesty was hiding their abilities. That incense burner definitely couldn’t have been thrown by someone who didn’t know martial arts.

Although her health was indeed poor and her complexion pale, she must have secretly learned some martial arts, some techniques that didn’t require much effort!

Her father had told her that martial arts in the world were classified very broadly and couldn’t be generalized.

Some people weren’t the greatest masters in the world, but solely based on their unique skills with their hands and legs, they could be called the best of their generation.

None of them could be underestimated.

The words “hiding one’s abilities” didn’t surprise Anyu at all when applied to that woman.

But then she couldn’t figure it out again.

But, someone who knew martial arts shouldn’t have such poor health.

Anyu recalled carefully. Her Majesty had no calluses on her hands, her face and lips were pale, and she lacked vitality. She was indeed a sickly person, not to mention she would cough and wheeze after walking just two steps.

These were all things Anyu had seen with her own eyes.

Suddenly, Anyu remembered something.

The last time she took Her Majesty back home, the arrow she saw in her small courtyard.

An arrow not fully drawn, yet it had pinned a falling leaf to the tree.

Not enough strength, so she couldn’t draw the bow fully, but her accuracy was superb, so she could even aim precisely at a falling leaf…

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

That arrow definitely wasn’t shot by Yuntao! It was Her Majesty!

Goodness, she tricked herself again!

“Consort, you wouldn’t be thinking of improving Her Majesty’s health by having her practice martial arts, would you? Her Majesty can’t withstand your efforts!” Commander Zhang had to remind her when he thought of this.

Her Majesty’s health was already poor. If the young Consort Wan suddenly got a whim to put Her Majesty through strenuous training… that would be terrible.

Anyu waved her hand. “How old is Her Majesty? Her body has long been formed; she can’t learn martial arts.”

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Anyu waved her hand. “Commander Zhang, you go ahead. Hurry and move the grain.”

Commander Zhang: “Ah, okay.”

“Don’t slack off!”

“…Yes.”

Anyu also stood up.

She couldn’t figure it out.

Then she would just ask her directly… Would Her Majesty tell her the truth?

Anyu hesitated a little.

But on second thought, it was better to move the grain first.

She couldn’t slack off either!

The palace quickly posted a notice at the city gate, and the news that Minister Qian would be executed tomorrow quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys.

The execution was at the Meridian Gate, and the one being executed was a corrupt official who had embezzled disaster relief funds. The common people naturally wanted to go and watch.

At the same time, palace attendants were ordered to personally deliver the news to the homes of all court officials, requiring all officials, regardless of rank, to be present to witness the execution tomorrow, as per Her Majesty’s instructions.

The Xu Manor naturally also received this news.

Xu Ping suppressed the anger in his heart and said, “Your Majesty, this act of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys is also making it known throughout the land.”

Xu Shengming, the eldest son of the Xu family, saw this and frowned tightly. “Father, Minister Qian won’t drag you down before he dies, will he? A dying man’s words are said to be good. If Her Majesty believes him and targets us, what will we do?”

Xu Ping glanced at his eldest son.

Two sons, clearly born of the same mother, yet why did this eldest son seem so slow-witted… dumber than a pig!

“What is Eldest Brother saying? Hasn’t Her Majesty already targeted the Xu family?” Xu Shengwen said indifferently, sitting to the side.

Xu Shengming was startled for a moment. “Is that so?”

“Minister Qian has only been an official for a few years. Could the treasures in that estate be something he, as a Minister of Revenue, could obtain after just a few years in office?” Xu Shengwen said lightly. “There is clearly someone else behind this. And Minister Qian was promoted by Father personally. Eldest Brother, do you think Her Majesty has become suspicious of the Xu family?”

Xu Shengming fell silent upon hearing this, but after a while, he spoke as if unconvinced. “But Her Majesty has always valued Father the most.”

Xu Shengwen didn’t answer this time.

He merely sneered inwardly. Valued? It was just the art of being an emperor.

Now, in Her Majesty’s heart, the Xu family might not even be as important as the Xie family.

In this disaster relief case, the Xu family suffered too great a loss.

Minister Qian was going to die, the estate was gone, and even Her Majesty’s trust would be halved.

Thinking of this, Xu Shengwen felt quite annoyed.

Was he driven out of the palace because Her Majesty had secretly investigated the corruption case and found it related to Minister Qian, thus becoming suspicious of the Xu family and also showing him no favor?

If that were truly the case…

Xu Shengwen lowered his eyes, not saying a word more about what he was thinking.

“Enough! Your father has his own judgment regarding court matters,” Xu Ping snapped. “Xu Shengming, if you have time to worry about this and that, why not read more books? It’s just a scholarly honor, is it that hard to pass the exam!”

The eldest son of the Xu family’s face turned pale. “Father… I was just worried…”

“In any case, once Minister Qian is dead, this matter will be over. Next is Her Majesty’s birthday. You should all prepare some poems and paintings. Her Majesty loves those the most. In previous years, there would be a banquet in the palace, and this year should be no exception.”

Xu Shengming nodded. “Understood, Father.”

Xu Ping looked at his second son. “What about Shengwen?”

Xu Shengwen stood up and said, “Understood.”

After speaking, Xu Shengwen turned and left.

Seeing his father say nothing despite his brother’s behavior, Xu Shengming frowned in dissatisfaction. “I don’t know what kind of temper he’s throwing now! Her Majesty doesn’t favor you, so why come back to the manor and take it out on the family!”

Xu Ping’s hand holding the teacup paused, but in his heart, he felt a bit of despair towards this son.

“Don’t worry about Shengwen, go read your own books!”

Xu Shengming was startled, then felt a bit wronged. “Understood, Father.”

Xu Ping lowered his eyes and blew on the tea in the lidded bowl.

No matter what…

For this birthday, he still had to rely on Shengwen to gain face before Her Majesty.