After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 3

Emperor Ruiming did not stay the night at Wanyi Palace.

This news spread like wildfire throughout the inner palace the next day.

For a time, no one could be sure of the Emperor’s attitude towards Consort Wan.

To say Her Majesty disliked Lady Consort Wan was untrue, as Her Majesty hadn’t even stayed late in the Imperial Study that day, but had taken the time to visit Wanyi Palace.

To say Her Majesty favored Lady Consort Wan was also untrue, as she had not stayed the night at Wanyi Palace.

The news thus reached Ningqing Palace. After reporting the information he had gathered, the attendant cautiously raised his eyes to look at his master.

“Young Master… what do you think Her Majesty means by this?”

The man seated before him was handsome, dressed in white, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.

This was the second son of Prime Minister Xu, Xu Shengwen.

Currently residing in Ningqing Palace, he was considered half a master there.

“Her Majesty doesn’t like women,” Young Master Xu said slowly. “Besides, I’ve met that Lady Consort Wan…”

Met her?

What was she like?

The pause at the end of the Young Master’s sentence seemed to speak volumes.

Yes, the entire capital knew what kind of woman Xie Wan was. She was a woman who could outshine all men on the hunting grounds.

But as a consort, she was perhaps… not gentle and compliant enough.

“It seems this legitimate daughter of the General’s Manor poses no threat to you, Young Master,” the attendant said flatteringly.

Xu Shengwen was indifferent.

Threat? He had never put Xie Wan in his eyes.

The General’s Manor and the Prime Minister’s Manor had always been at odds. Her Majesty favored civil officials over military ones and had always valued his Xu family the most.

He held no official rank, yet he could live in Ningqing Palace as a master. This said it all.

Who in the inner palace dared to disrespect him? Why should he care about a mere Xie Wan?

However…

Since Xie Wan had already become Consort Wan, it was time for him to ask Her Majesty for a position.

“Prepare a bowl of medicinal soup. I’ll go to the Imperial Study,” Xu Shengwen said softly.

Attendant: “Yes!”

However, when Xu Shengwen arrived at the Imperial Study, Emperor Ruiming was nowhere to be seen.

“Young Master, the maids serving here in the Imperial Study say Her Majesty went for a walk in the Imperial Garden after the morning court,” the attendant whispered. “Her Majesty seems to be in a bad mood today.”

Xu Shengwen frowned. “What happened at the morning court?”

The attendant shook his head. “That’s something I couldn’t find out. Young Master, are we still going?”

“Let’s go take a look,” Xu Shengwen thought. Emperor Ruiming had always had a decent temper; no matter how angry she was, she wouldn’t take it out on him.

Moreover, perhaps he could use this opportunity to increase Her Majesty’s favor towards him.

…

In the Imperial Garden.

Xie Wan was still unaccustomed to being served by so many people.

Waving her hand to dismiss most of them, she began to stroll along the stone path.

Following behind Xie Wan was an official of not too high a rank.

“Do you know why I summoned you?” Xie Wan asked the person behind her.

Li Mingxin shook her head. “This official does not know.”

“The matter of the drought in the north today was your memorial. I remember, a few days ago, you also wrote a memorial to me regarding this northern drought.”

Li Mingxin was startled, then nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

But at that time, Her Majesty had not replied to her memorial… Today, at the morning court, she had presented it again. She had originally thought that Her Majesty, like the court officials, didn’t take this matter seriously, but after court, why had she been summoned to the Imperial Garden?

“Regarding the northern drought, what is your solution?”

Li Mingxin seemed a little lost. “Solution?” But quickly, she reacted. “Does Your Majesty believe this official’s words?”

It was the usual northern drought, but she had memorialized that this year’s drought might be very severe. Did Her Majesty believe this?

“I believe it.” Xie Wan lowered her head. The flowers and plants in this Imperial Garden were watered and tended by dedicated staff every day, so they grew very well. But this year’s climate was clearly hotter.

Not even a few drops of spring rain had fallen…

This also indicated that the northern drought was coming, and this year, it would be exceptionally severe.

Li Mingxin took a deep breath. “Your Majesty is wise. If Your Majesty asks this official for a solution, this official can only say that only by allocating more manpower and distributing more disaster relief grain can we prevent the disaster from turning into a famine.”

At the morning court today, Li Mingxin had memorialized about the spring drought in many areas of the Da Yue’s north.

Spring droughts in the north were common.

But this year’s climate was hot, and the drought was likely to be even more severe.

Wheat was widely planted in the north, and a severe spring drought would directly affect the winter wheat harvest. If there wasn’t enough grain, famine would follow.

And in Xie Wan’s memory, this drought eventually affected almost the entire north, even causing the deaths of many common people.

It wasn’t that the disaster itself was so terrible, but that the court’s negligence led to all the misfortunes.

In the early stages of the spring drought, local officials, in collusion with their superiors, concealed the reports, fearing it would affect their performance. Thus, when the disaster reports reached Emperor Ruiming, they were presented as ordinary spring droughts, not severe.

There were also those who predicted that this year’s spring drought would be exceptionally severe, such as Li Mingxin and others.

But the court officials didn’t care, and Emperor Ruiming didn’t pay too much attention either.

So, the court allocated funds for disaster relief as usual.

But the relief funds meant for ordinary disasters were simply insufficient to cope with this one.

The disaster grew more severe day by day, rapidly sweeping across the entire north. It wasn’t until the local towns could no longer handle it, and even refugees began appearing near the capital—

Everything was too late.

Court officials knelt before Emperor Ruiming one after another, confessing their guilt.

Emperor Ruiming was furious, almost fainting from anger. She quickly issued an imperial decree to allocate manpower and grain for disaster relief.

But too many people had already died.

After ordering a thorough investigation into the matter, Emperor Ruiming discovered that the disaster relief funds allocated each year were actually being embezzled and pocketed into private coffers.

After layers upon layers of corruption, the disaster relief funds that finally reached the local level were pitifully small, and the remaining meager amount was used by local officials to curry favor with their superiors.

Afterwards, the investigation lasted for a full six months. Those who deserved punishment were punished, and those who deserved execution were executed.

But those innocent people who had died could never be brought back to life.

At the morning court today, Li Mingxin memorialized about the northern drought. As expected, most court officials were still indifferent. She, as the Emperor, had only perfunctorily ordered someone to arrange for disaster relief.

Therefore, when she found Li Mingxin after court to discuss the matter again, Li Mingxin was so surprised.

“I can allocate more relief funds and grain,” Xie Wan stared at her. “But I cannot see them delivered into the hands of every affected common person.”

Li Mingxin’s breathing hitched. “Your Majesty…”

Does Her Majesty mean…

“I want to entrust this matter to you,” Xie Wan’s eyes were sharp. “Minister Li… I do not want to see a single common person die from this northern drought.”

Li Mingxin’s face was solemn. She knelt on one knee. “Your Majesty has entrusted me with a heavy responsibility. Li Mingxin will not fail you!”

Xie Wan’s gaze softened.

She hadn’t chosen the wrong person.

Li Mingxin had not been an official for long. The heavy responsibility she spoke of was something that even veteran officials who had navigated the court for years might not dare to accept, let alone a new official.

But precisely because she hadn’t been an official for long, her character was upright, and she never sided with any faction among the court officials, Xie Wan had chosen her.

The Da Yue needed capable talents, and Li Mingxin was one of them.

Emperor Ruiming favoring sycophants and alienating virtuous officials was not something that could be simply explained by poor judgment.

Xie Wan beckoned Zhaoxia, handing her the imperial decree. “Take my decree and the relief funds and grain. You may depart for the north.”

“I will send people to protect you.”

Li Mingxin hadn’t expected Her Majesty to be so thoroughly prepared. She immediately responded, “This official accepts the decree!”

Until she left the Imperial Garden, Li Mingxin’s mind was still somewhat muddled.

The imperial decree in her hand felt ‘hot’.

Her Majesty summoning her today likely meant she had long known that this year’s northern drought would be severe… And specifically giving her the decree probably meant she had a clear understanding of the court situation as well.

This Majesty…

Li Mingxin sighed softly. She had misjudged before. How could she have thought Her Majesty was a mediocre and incompetent emperor?

As soon as Li Mingxin left, Xie Wan’s expression darkened.

This northern drought was more than just this.

The drought killed many common people. Emperor Ruiming was enraged and sent people to thoroughly investigate the disaster relief corruption case. The investigation lasted for a full six months, eventually uncovering a terrifying chain of corruption, leading to the downfall of many high-ranking officials.

But what was interesting was that Xu Ping, Prime Minister Xu, who was the head of the Six Ministries and had turned a blind eye to the corruption among the officials below him, managed to completely extricate himself cleanly.

Those who were convicted and executed were merely scapegoats pushed forward.

Emperor Ruiming had originally trusted Prime Minister Xu greatly, but after this incident, she was not as close to the Xu family as before.

However, this did not shake the Xu family’s position.

After all, the Xu family still had Xu Shengwen, who had been sent into the inner palace by the Xu family. What he was best at was whispering gentle words into Emperor Ruiming’s ear.

The interference of the consort’s family in politics was also a major difficulty for the Da Yue later on.

The Xu family… was the deeply rooted bad seed that was corrupting the Da Yue.

Xie Wan narrowed her eyes, the killing intent in them unconcealed. Without removing the Xu family, the Da Yue would not be at peace.

Just then, Zhaoxia approached from behind and reported, “Your Majesty, Lady Consort Wan requests an audience.”

Xie Wan’s expression returned to normal. “Invite her in.”

Xiao Anyu came to see her?

Xie Wan smiled faintly in her heart. It seemed she had calmed down.

…

“This consort greets Your Majesty.”

The Lady Consort Wan who came before her no longer had the arrogance and willfulness from before. Instead, she pursed her lips and performed a ceremony that was somewhat acceptable.

This demeanor surprised Xie Wan but also brought a sense of relief. She smiled and said, “It seems a night’s time has allowed Consort Wan to think many things through.”

“Your Majesty is the ruler, and this consort is a subject. The ruler is the guide for the subject; this consort understands this,” Anyu said, her small mouth opening and closing, with a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

Constantly defying the Emperor would only push the Xie family into the eye of the storm, serving no purpose.

After calming down, she also knew that hitting the Emperor last night was indeed impulsive.

Last night, she had truly been furious.

“Consort Wan is very smart.”

“Last night’s matter… was Xie Wan’s rashness, offending Your Majesty,” Xie Anyu said, lowering her head.

“I heard… before Consort Wan entered the palace, she was known by her childhood name?”

“Yes… My mother said it could ward off misfortune.”

“Then from now on, you shall still be called Anyu,” Xie Wan said. Hearing the person in front of her refer to herself as ‘Xie Wan’ still felt a little awkward to her.

“Oh…”

“This palace must be very boring for Consort Wan, isn’t it?”

“…It’s alright.” Anyu didn’t understand why she suddenly changed the subject and started talking about her name like they were chatting casually.

This Emperor, she couldn’t see through her. Even after calming down, she still couldn’t understand.

She had hit her last night, and she could clearly punish her, but she seemed not to blame her at all, not mentioning the matter at all, making it impossible to guess what she intended to do.

There was a sense of powerlessness, like punching cotton.

Smiling so cheerfully, truly annoying. Anyu cursed inwardly.

“It feels new for a day or two, but after a while, it becomes boring,” the Empress said. “There is a Martial Arts Ground in the palace, used by the Imperial Guards and the Imperial City Army for training. I heard Consort Wan is proficient in all eighteen weapons. If you are bored, you can go to the Martial Arts Ground to practice.”

Anyu looked up in surprise.

“You are to become a general in the future. If you stay in this palace and become rusty in your martial skills, I will be very troubled,” Xie Wan instructed Zhaoxia. “Fetch a palace pass token later and send it to Wanyi Palace.”

This time, not only Anyu but even Zhaoxia was stunned.

The Martial Arts Ground… that was not a place ordinary people could enter casually.

The inner palace was not allowed to interfere in politics. While the Martial Arts Ground wasn’t exactly ‘political affairs’, allowing Lady Consort Wan to hold a pass token… wasn’t Her Majesty being too generous?

No, this was favoritism.

In the inner palace, even Young Master Xu, who lived in Ningqing Palace, couldn’t walk freely, let alone go to a place like the Martial Arts Ground!

And this token was given out simply because Her Majesty thought the martial Consort Wan might be bored?!

Xie Wan was indifferent to their surprise.

It was the most normal thing in the world for a person to be biased towards herself.

Her previous life had been difficult for half her life. What was wrong with being a little better to ‘herself’ this time?