After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 34

The sudden arrival of so many soldiers and officials was quite conspicuous. Before Anyu even reached the commandery office, the Commandery Governor of Fenghe Commandery had received the news and was already waiting eagerly at the city gate.

Seeing a young girl in military uniform dismount from a horse in the distance, the Commandery Governor thought, this must be Consort Wan, whom Her Majesty has recently favored.

Someone behind him was whispering, “Is that Lady Consort Wan? The one from General Xie’s family? She looks like an ordinary young girl.”

“Ordinary, yet not ordinary. To be able to come suppress bandits with the Martial Arts Champion, her strength is probably not bad.”

“But she’s only sixteen. My daughter is older than her.”

“Why didn’t the Martial Arts Champion come with her?”

“She’s followed by over a hundred soldiers. Are they here to suppress bandits?”

“They wouldn’t bring so few soldiers to suppress bandits, would they? This many isn’t enough… those strongholds are not easy to deal with.”

Evidently, the Commandery Governor and his entourage who came to greet her were all very curious about Xie Anyu.

After all, there was only one person who could gain such favor in the imperial harem and also be sent out of the palace by Her Majesty to act as an Imperial Envoy.

As Xie Anyu approached, the Commandery Governor, walking at the front, smiled and cupped his hands, saying, “Fenghe Commandery Governor Ma Hongzhi, along with the county magistrates of Fenghe Commandery, pay respects to Lady Consort Wan.”

“Your subjects pay respects to Lady Consort Wan!” the group of subordinate officials behind the Commandery Governor also shouted in unison.

Xie Anyu wasn’t intimidated by the display, but she was surprised that this Ma Hongzhi had gathered so many Fenghe Commandery officials here to wait for her.

Well, that was good. It saved her the trouble of finding them one by one.

Xie Anyu curved her lips and said, “So, in Fenghe Commandery, one doesn’t need to kneel when seeing this consort?”

Ma Hongzhi’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly plastered a smile on his face and was about to speak when Xie Anyu cut him off—

“However, this consort did not come here in the capacity of an imperial consort. This consort came to suppress bandits.” She unhurriedly took out a bright yellow imperial decree from her bosom. “The imperial decree is here. Commandery Governor and all officials, receive the decree.”

Once she revealed the imperial decree, no one dared not to kneel and receive it. After all, Xie Anyu hadn’t come alone this time; she was followed by a group of soldiers.

Over a hundred men, standing ready.

Immediately, a large group of officials knelt down at the city gate—

“Your subjects receive the decree.”

Xie Anyu lightly coughed and read aloud, “By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Within Fenghe Commandery, banditry is severe and has become a disaster, nearly obstructing the transport of grain from the south to the north and delaying the opportune moment for disaster relief. Now, Xie Anyu and Zhou Ning are ordered by Us to hasten to Fenghe Commandery to clear out the bandit disaster. All officials in Fenghe Commandery shall fully cooperate and not be negligent.”

The dozen or so county magistrates and assistant magistrates listened attentively with lowered heads. Ma Hongzhi also listened, thinking that once she finished reading, he could stand up after receiving the decree.

Unexpectedly, Xie Anyu paused and said to him, “Her Majesty has an imperial order specifically for Commandery Governor Ma.”

Before Ma Hongzhi could speak, Anyu had already begun to read—

“Fenghe Commandery Governor Ma Hongzhi has served as Fenghe Commandery Governor for several years. Regarding the severe banditry in the Lingbei region, he knew but did not report, allowing the bandits to occupy the mountains and rule as kings. He neither reported it nor took action, allowing the bandits to oppress the common people, thus failing the name of ‘local parent official’. Now, Imperial Envoy Xie Anyu is ordered to convey Our decree: Remove the position of Fenghe Commandery Governor and place him under supervision and investigation!”

Upon hearing this, Ma Hongzhi raised his head in disbelief.

The group of county officials was also astonished upon hearing this.

How could the first imperial decree upon arrival be to deal with the Commandery Governor?

“Ma Hongzhi, why are you not receiving the decree?”

Ma Hongzhi was completely flustered. He couldn’t understand why this person would come and immediately strip him of his black gauze cap.

“Your Ladyship, your subject… your subject doesn’t understand. I reported the banditry! I reported it every year. It was the imperial court that didn’t take it seriously. How did it become me allowing the bandits to occupy the mountains and rule as kings? Moreover, moreover, although there are many mountain bandits in Lingbei, they have never dared to enter the city to oppress the common people!”

Xie Anyu looked down at him from above, “You still want to argue? How about this official takes people to search your manor and see if we can find anything?!”

Ma Hongzhi’s heart immediately filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Searching his home?

How could the imperial court possibly know that he had accepted tribute money from those mountain strongholds…

“As a parent official, as the Fenghe Commandery Governor, you do not seek welfare for the people, but instead collude with mountain bandits to oppress the people traveling north and south, Ma Hongzhi! Do you really think the sky is high and the Emperor is far away, and no one can control you!”

“Your Ladyship, you cannot make baseless accusations without evidence. Slandering an imperial official is not a minor offense!”

He slowly stood up, his gaze like poisoned daggers wanting to slice Xie Anyu before him into a thousand pieces. Stripping him of his black gauze cap! On what grounds was she stripping him of his black gauze cap!

“Your Ladyship dares to come to Fenghe Commandery to convict me, and only brings a hundred or so people… You truly have guts.”

After speaking, Ma Hongzhi put his fingers behind his back and made a gesture.

Anyu’s eyebrows furrowed.

Soon, many people surged out from the direction of the city gate.

A dense crowd of ‘common people’ instantly surrounded Xie Anyu.

What was astonishing was that these ‘common people’ were all carrying weapons, curved blades with sharpened edges, reflecting the sunlight.

These were not common people; they were clearly bandits.

Xie Anyu narrowed her eyes and smiled, “Are you confessing without being prompted? This consort is an Imperial Envoy personally bestowed by Her Majesty. Are you attempting rebellion?”

Her Majesty was right. The severe banditry in Fenghe Commandery must be inseparable from these officials. But Anyu never expected that the other party would dare to so brazenly hide bandits within the city.

Furthermore, she had come with an imperial decree, and the other party had specifically prepared this move for her.

Ma Hongzhi snorted coldly, “Your Ladyship unfortunately perished under the siege of bandits. This subject feels deeply regretful.”

To be honest, Ma Hongzhi didn’t want to offend Xie Anyu. Firstly, she was a favored consort, and secondly, the Xie family was not to be trifled with. But Xie Anyu came and immediately demanded his black gauze cap and threatened to search his home. If he were truly imprisoned by her, he would have no chance of rising again.

It was still the same saying: the mountains are high, and the Emperor is far away.

He would first control Xie Anyu, and when the other Imperial Envoy arrived, he would blame Xie Anyu’s death on other mountain strongholds…

Then he would cooperate with the other Imperial Envoy to suppress a few mountain strongholds to avenge Xie Anyu, which would also count as completing his task for the imperial court… By compensating for his mistakes with meritorious deeds, he might even be able to keep this black gauze cap.

It was truly killing several birds with one stone.

This plan was also born out of desperation, as he truly had no other options besides this.

He couldn’t be captured.

If he surrendered, then everything would truly be over!

Protecting himself first was the priority!

But Ma Hongzhi miscalculated one thing—

He didn’t know how skilled Xie Anyu was in combat.

He saw Xie Anyu send a ‘common person’ who was swinging a blade at her flying with a single kick.

With a bang, a bandit flew out, and when he landed, he clutched his stomach in pain and curled up.

Ma Hongzhi’s eyes widened.

That was a skilled fighter from the bandit lair!

Just one kick…? And he was dealt with?

Before he could recover from his shock, the soldiers behind Xie Anyu also arrived, and the two sides quickly engaged in a chaotic battle.

Xie Anyu curved her lips, picked up a curved blade that had fallen on the ground, and charged straight towards Ma Hongzhi.

Ma Hongzhi: “…”

This is bad, this is really bad! Ma Hongzhi turned and fled!

Xie Anyu covered the distance in strides, quickly arriving in front of Ma Hongzhi.

Ma Hongzhi, who was running hard, braked abruptly. The next second, Anyu’s blade was already held against his neck—

“Her Majesty said, life or death is irrelevant.”

The blade was sharp. Pressed against his neck, a slight pressure on the blade caused a trickle of crimson bl00d to seep out.

Ma Hongzhi went limp all over.

He knew, it was over.

He had thought that the Imperial Envoy sent by Her Majesty to suppress bandits might find some clues about him… Killing the Imperial Envoy was the boldest and most risky last resort he had considered.

But he hadn’t expected that the other party wouldn’t suppress bandits first, but would immediately target him.

Now, it was all over.

With over a dozen county magistrates and one Fenghe Commandery Governor all imprisoned, half of the imperial mission was accomplished.

Next would be interrogation and investigation of the bandit situation.

Once Sister Zhou Ning arrived with the main force, the bandit suppression would officially begin.

Xie Anyu sat in the yamen, holding a brush and drawing circles on a map.

Her Majesty and her eldest cousin had suggested only suppressing the largest strongholds in Fenghe Commandery, and trying to recruit the smaller surrounding mountain strongholds to surrender.

Defeating them one by one wouldn’t be difficult, and a frontal assault wasn’t impossible either.

The fear was that several strongholds might unite…

That’s why Xie Anyu had rushed to the commandery office ahead of Zhou Ning, to firmly control the government office and prevent any information from leaking out.

Which stronghold to attack first, and how to attack, these were all secrets.

“Once you’ve captured Ma Hongzhi and dealt with those county magistrates and assistant magistrates, open the second brocade pouch.”

Recalling Her Majesty’s words, Anyu took out the second brocade pouch from her bag.

But she wasn’t in a hurry to open it.

After all, Sister Zhou Ning hadn’t arrived yet.

But that didn’t stop her from admiring the brocade pouch. It wasn’t large, but it was very beautiful, clearly from the palace embroidery workshop.

It wasn’t anything special, but she couldn’t help but look at it a few more times.

“Her Majesty seems to know everything.”

Anyu sighed softly.

“How does she know, though?”

Anyu thought idly.

But the more she thought about it, the more incredible it seemed.

Whether it was the drought in the north, the case of corruption in disaster relief, or even suppressing mountain bandits and corrupt officials, these seemingly perilous matters were all within her calculated plans long ago.

“Can a person really be this smart?” Anyu pouted.

But, it must be very tiring too.

Anyu recalled that pale face and lightly pursed her lips.

If she were a little more capable, perhaps she wouldn’t have worried so much as to write her brocade pouches.

Anyu looked out the window, resting her chin on her hand, and whispered, “When will I also grow up to be an ‘adult’?”

And what Anyu didn’t know was that shortly after she left for Fenghe Commandery, Xie Wan fell ill.

The Imperial Physician said she had caught a chill, and the cold had entered her body.

Since Xie Wan’s rebirth, this was the first time she had been sick.

She realized that she had never had a clear understanding of Emperor Ruiming’s weak constitution before.

A minor cold could actually make her dizzy, weak all over, and unable to get out of bed. It was truly remarkable…

“Cough, cough, cough.”

After another bowl of medicine, Xie Wan leaned against the bed and slightly closed her eyes.

She had been lying down for several days.

One good thing was that even though she was sick, she was in a relatively good mood.

There were no major issues in court for the time being.

Things in Fenghe Commandery should also be proceeding smoothly, and she just had to wait for good news.

Moreover…

Even when she was sick, she still slept very well.

Xie Wan tilted her head to look at the small wooden pillow placed on the bed. Thinking of its current owner, she smiled with considerable pleasure.

“Anyway, I’m going out of the palace to suppress bandits, and it’s not convenient for me to bring this pillow… I’ll just lend it to Her Majesty for now.” Before leaving, little Anyu had personally brought the pillow to her sleeping quarters.

“Your Majesty is busy with myriad affairs, and sleeping well is very important. I… I am doing this for the future of Da Yue.” After saying that, she put down the pillow and quickly ran away.

Xie Wan naturally accepted it without demur, and even thought little Anyu was the cutest in the world.

Only…

Thinking about letting little Anyu leave the palace completely in the future, she still felt reluctant.

Xie Wan sighed softly. After all, it had only been less than half a month since she was sent out, and she was already starting to miss the little one.