After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 4

Why was the Emperor being so good to her? Not only were Zhaoxia and the others stunned, but even Xie Anyu herself couldn’t figure it out.

But it didn’t matter if she couldn’t figure it out.

If she could practice martial arts and didn’t have to serve the Emperor… entering the palace to be the Emperor’s consort didn’t seem so bad after all.

Moreover, news traveled fast in the palace. If something really happened, maybe she could even pass some messages to her father.

Having figured this out, Anyu quickly bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace.”

After expressing her gratitude, she couldn’t help but look at Emperor Ruiming a few more times…

As the saying goes, offering courtesy without cause is either malicious or thieving.

Why exactly was the Emperor being so good to her?

“Consort Wan, sit.”

Having just received her ‘reward’, Anyu could only obediently sit down.

She was very unaccustomed to wearing that dress, but today, in order to come and ‘plead guilty’, she had deliberately dressed like a ‘young lady from a good family’. Her hair, which she usually simply tied into a ponytail, was now styled into a bun, with two hairpins adorning it.

But her sitting posture—

Her legs were spread apart, even pulling the wrinkles out of her skirt… it was quite unrestrained.

Realizing her sitting posture seemed a bit too bold, little Anyu lightly coughed to hide her embarrassment.

Emperor Ruiming still looked at her with a smile. “Relax. Consort Wan, just be yourself in front of me.”

Xie Wan knew very well that at that time, she was perhaps an ‘anomaly’ among the noble ladies in the capital.

But even knowing that she might not be a qualified ‘noble lady’, could she possibly dislike herself for it?

What’s more, to be honest, what she liked most was herself during this period. She loved and hated clearly, was carefree, and even her smile was the brightest.

What was so good about strategizing?

People who thought too much had more worries.

“…Oh.” Since the Emperor said so, Anyu stopped being coy. She looked around. The Imperial Garden had a beautiful view, but she still said, in a righteous and rather unromantic manner, “Your Majesty, I don’t know how to appreciate flowers or compose poetry.”

“I didn’t ask Consort Wan to appreciate flowers or compose poetry,” Emperor Ruiming said, touching her teacup and smiling.

Anyu asked, “…Then what am I doing sitting here?”

“Keeping me company.”

Xiao Anyu immediately frowned. “Then what are you doing sitting here, Your Majesty?”

Emperor Ruiming smiled. “Keeping you company.”

Anyu: “…”

Is she sick?

Thanks to Emperor Ruiming’s pass, Consort Wan didn’t actually curse out loud.

Just as Anyu was about to take her leave, Emperor Ruiming, who was sitting across from her, suddenly spoke again. “Oh, right. There’s a saying among the common folk about returning home on the third day, isn’t there? The day after tomorrow, if it doesn’t rain, Consort Wan, you and I will go to the General’s Manor together.”

Xie Anyu: ?

“Go to the General’s Manor?”

“Yes.” The female Emperor touched her chin. “I’ll go see General Xie and see how ill he is. This morning at court, General Xie’s sick leave note really caught me off guard.”

…Her father was sick? And took leave from court?

How could she not know her father’s health? A forty-year-old strong man, in the prime of his life! Sick to the point of not being able to attend court?

Anyu was stunned for a moment. But soon, she realized that her father was very likely so angry about her being forced into the palace that he didn’t want to attend court.

“Consort Wan didn’t know General Xie was sick, did you? It’s perfect, we can go back and see him the day after tomorrow.”

“Cough… My father is sick. Returning home at this time might pass the illness to Your Majesty, which wouldn’t be good,” Xie Anyu quickly said.

Seeing this scene, Xie Wan couldn’t help but smile. She gently patted ‘her own’ shoulder. “I won’t blame General Xie, nor will I punish him. I just want to see him, hmm?”

Anyu met her gaze.

There it was again.

Those peach blossom eyes truly had a way of easily captivating people. Just looking into those eyes, it felt as if you could see all the sincerity within, creating the illusion that ‘she is telling the truth’.

…This Emperor is really good at acting.

“If Your Majesty goes, my father’s illness probably won’t get any better,” little Anyu muttered.

“Hmm?” Emperor Ruiming sighed. “Is that so…”

“Zhaoxia, I remember there are quite a few rare copies of military books from the previous dynasty in the Imperial Study, aren’t there?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Anyu: !

Military books… and rare copies!

The female Emperor looked at her with a smile. “The pass I had Zhaoxia give you can only go to the Martial Arts Ground, not my Imperial Study.”

Xiao Anyu struggled. “Stop trying to trick me. The inner palace is not allowed to interfere with politics. How can I go to the Imperial Study?”

Xie Wan: “Then I’ll move all the rare copies to Wanyi Palace?”

Xiao Anyu: “…”

“…What does Your Majesty want to do by going to the General’s Manor?”

Xie Wan said softly, “I need to borrow a few people from Great General Xie.”

Otherwise, Li Mingxin’s trip north might not end with her returning alive.

She couldn’t help it; she had too few capable people she could use around her. Even if she could use them, she didn’t feel at ease doing so.

And the Xie family was the most prominent piece she had in her hand right now.

Borrow people? Xiao Anyu still wanted to ask something, but just then, a palace attendant came to report—

“Your Majesty, Young Master Xu is requesting an audience outside.”

Young Master Xu? Xu Shengwen? Anyu straightened her back and pricked up her ears when she heard that name.

The Xu family and the Xie family were sworn enemies at court.

While Xu Shengwen and Xie Wan didn’t have any personal grudges, their relationship wasn’t good either.

Xu Shengwen was the Prime Minister’s son, from a scholarly family, skilled in composing poetry and couplets, and also knowledgeable in some medicinal principles.

Xie Anyu, on the other hand, was the daughter of a military general, from a military family, capable of hitting a bullseye a hundred paces away with a bow and arrow, and proficient in all eighteen martial arts.

They seemed unrelated.

But now, one lived in Ningqing Palace, a young master highly favored by the Emperor despite having no official rank, while the other was the newly entered Consort Wan…

When the three of them met today, would sparks fly?

However, Consort Wan didn’t give everyone a chance to watch the show and said directly, “Your Majesty, I should return to my palace.”

She didn’t want to see Xu Shengwen at all.

She hated everyone from the Xu family.

Emperor Ruiming’s thin lips parted, uttering two words: “Rare copies.”

Anyu: ?!

“I don’t like people from the Xu family,” Xie Anyu protested. How could this person use ‘rare copies’ to manipulate her!

Emperor Ruiming’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “What a coincidence, I don’t like them either.” She reached out, wanting to touch little Anyu’s hair. “But isn’t it good that you don’t like them? Consort Wan is a second-rank consort. In this inner palace, they all have to kneel to Consort Wan when they see you.”

Xiao Anyu quickly turned her head to avoid her hand, but her eyes lit up.

“Then… I’ll stay a little longer…” Anyu blinked. Would Xu Shengwen be furious if he had to kneel to her?

Emperor Ruiming wasn’t annoyed by being avoided, instead, a hint of a smile appeared.

Zhaoxia: …

There were few palace attendants around, but almost all of them heard it.

Didn’t Her Majesty like Young Master Xu the most?

But now, it seemed Consort Wan was more favored.

Someone sighed inwardly—

No wonder emperors throughout history had three palaces and six courtyards. This ability to fall for someone new every time was truly beyond reach.

…

Meanwhile, Xu Shengwen, carrying the medicinal soup, finally arrived at the Imperial Garden.

The guards saw him, stopped him first, and then said, “Young Master Xu, please wait a moment.”

Someone immediately went in to announce him.

Xu Shengwen nodded, waiting quietly. He had a handsome appearance and an air of scholarly elegance, making it easy for people to like him.

The announcing guard quickly returned. “Young Master Xu, Her Majesty invites you in.”

Xu Shengwen walked towards the round pavilion with the medicinal soup, seeing Emperor Ruiming from a distance, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

Everyone said she was a sickly person.

But seeing her in person, the aura around her was captivating.

She was indeed the Emperor. Even as a woman, the depth and strategy in her eyes were something he couldn’t look at directly.

When he came back to his senses, he noticed someone else sitting beside Emperor Ruiming.

It was none other than Xie Wan from the Xie family.

Xu Shengwen’s eyes flickered slightly, concealing his emotions well.

Taking a few steps forward, Xu Shengwen said, “Xu Shengwen pays respects to Your Majesty… Consort Wan.”

He did not kneel.

Xie Wan looked at him and said in a normal tone, “How long has Young Master Xu been in the palace?”

Xu Shengwen looked up, not understanding why Emperor Ruiming would say this. He could only reply, “Your Majesty, it has been half a month…”

Xu Shengwen even felt a bit depressed.

It had been half a month, and he had only seen Emperor Ruiming twice. Although Emperor Ruiming liked him and would occasionally send things to Ningqing Palace, they hadn’t actually met much.

“Then why aren’t you kneeling when you see me?”

Hearing this suddenly, Xu Shengwen was momentarily stunned, and then he belatedly realized—

Her Majesty was… telling him to kneel?

“My mind is a bit muddled, Zhaoxia, did I ever say that Young Master Xu was exempt from kneeling?” Xie Wan asked Zhaoxia with a look of confusion.

Zhaoxia lowered her head and said solemnly, “Your Majesty, you did not.”

Xu Shengwen quickly knelt down, pursing his lips. “Xu Shengwen pays respects to Your Majesty… Consort Wan.”

He knelt firmly and completely.

Seeing this, Anyu felt more confusion than satisfaction.

She couldn’t help but look at Emperor Ruiming beside her.

When she had just arrived, she hadn’t knelt either.

But, she hadn’t been questioned about it.

“Rise,” Xie Wan’s face returned to a smile. “What brings Young Master Xu here?”

Xu Shengwen said softly, “Your Majesty, Xu Shengwen did not intend to disturb Your Majesty and Consort Wan enjoying flowers and tea in the Imperial Garden. It’s just that the weather has been hot recently, and Xu Shengwen is concerned about Your Majesty’s health, so I had a bowl of medicinal soup prepared and brought it for Your Majesty…”

That handsome face with a scholarly air, coupled with his gentle words, it was no wonder Emperor Ruiming had almost favored him to become the master of the six palaces.

Xu Shengwen was knowledgeable and had studied medicine because his mother was seriously ill.

Both aspects perfectly suited Emperor Ruiming’s preferences.

It was a pity that the Xu family was ambitious and attempted to control the entire court when Emperor Ruiming was seriously ill.

It was even more a pity that the current Emperor Ruiming… had a different core.

“Young Master Xu is thoughtful. I will accept this medicinal soup. However, I haven’t liked drinking medicine lately, so there’s no need to send it again next time.”

Zhaoxia stepped forward upon hearing this and took the bowl.

Xu Shengwen pursed his lips. “Yes.”

She actually saw a look of ‘grievance’ on a man’s face. Xie Anyu, who was used to seeing the rough soldiers under her father, couldn’t help but get goosebumps on her arms. The movement was small, and no one noticed.

Except for… Xie Wan.

She smiled inwardly, then turned to Xu Shengwen and said, “Does Young Master Xu have anything else?”

Xu Shengwen: “…Nothing else.”

Xu Shengwen knew that no matter how much he feigned grievance today, he wouldn’t receive any pity from Emperor Ruiming.

He felt surprised and uncertain.

After all, Her Majesty’s attitude had changed too strangely.

Why?

Xu Shengwen glanced at Xie Wan sitting beside Emperor Ruiming. But this thought only lasted for a moment before he dismissed it.

It couldn’t be because of Xie Wan.

Suddenly, he remembered the news his attendants had gathered—

Her Majesty had been unhappy since the morning court.

Could it be that something went wrong with his father, and that’s why Her Majesty was even looking at him unfavorably?

But everyone knew that Her Majesty valued his father, Prime Minister Xu, the most.

What could have happened?

Carrying a belly full of questions, Xu Shengwen took his leave.

After he left, Xie Wan coldly questioned, “Send a governess to teach Young Master Xu the palace rules. If he can’t learn them, then he should just stay in Ningqing Palace.”

“…Yes.”

Anyu looked at her upon hearing this.

“Consort Wan doesn’t have to learn these palace rules,” Emperor Ruiming said to her with a smile.

Anyu: “…”

She could tell that the Emperor genuinely disliked Xu Shengwen.

Zhaoxia was already numb to this differential treatment. She just listened quietly, thinking that this mistress of Wanyi Palace must never be offended in the future.

Anyu said hesitantly, “Then my rare copies…”

Emperor Ruiming waved her hand. “Tomorrow, I’ll have Zhaoxia send them to Wanyi Palace along with the pass. But… only one book will be sent first.”

One book? How stingy.

Anyu tugged at her fingers and could only nod. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

There was nothing she could do… Even if it was just one book, she still wanted to read it!