After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 41

Xie Anyu returned to the capital that afternoon. Xie Wan personally led the court officials to the city gate to welcome her.

When the marching troops appeared on the official road, Xie Wan spotted the young Anyu riding at the very front at a glance.

Unlike when she was pampered in the palace, she wore a red headscarf, her ponytail hanging straight down and fluttering behind her. She was dressed in well-fitting armor, and in unnoticed corners, there were some dark red bloodstains on the dark armor that wouldn’t wash off.

The journey, exposed to wind and dew, had tanned her considerably, and because of this, she looked even more energetic.

Having been away for four months, she must have truly endured a lot of hardship.

Before Xie Wan could feel heartache, a sharp-eyed imperial envoy sitting on horseback also spotted the bright yellow figure surrounded by the crowd.

The moment she glimpsed the Emperor’s figure, a smile immediately bloomed on Anyu’s face, her lips curving high, unable to hide her set of pearly white teeth.

The sickly Emperor came to the city gate to welcome her!

She flicked the reins, urging her horse to charge towards the city gate. Her ponytail flew up with the wind, and the light in her eyes was momentarily brighter than the stars at night.

The horse galloped to the city gate and stopped before her. Anyu easily reined in the horse, dismounted, and flashed a wide smile: “Your Majesty, I’m back!”

Xie Wan also showed a gentle smile, “Welcome back.”

When she smiled, Anyu couldn’t help but stare, mesmerized.

It felt like she had been away for so, so long…

She really missed this person.

The two exchanged glances as if no one else was present, leaving the officials feeling quite awkward.

This atmosphere…

Even Xie Chengdong, who had specifically come to meet his daughter, darkened his face upon seeing this scene. His precious daughter only had eyes for Her Majesty…

“Cough—” As the two continued their private exchange, her eldest cousin, Xie Yunyu, standing nearby, couldn’t help but cough loudly.

Anyu immediately understood, her ears slightly red as she handed the horse to a servant. She knelt on one knee, “Your subject greets Your Majesty! Your subject and Official Zhou have not failed in our mission and have completely wiped out several bandit strongholds in Lingbei!”

“Good,” Xie Wan nodded. “Minister Xie and Minister Zhou have rendered great service to Da Yue. I have prepared a banquet in the palace to congratulate you on your triumphant return. The soldiers who went north to suppress the bandits will also be generously rewarded. I have prepared wine and food; let all ministers celebrate together!”

At this moment, Zhou Ning also arrived and knelt down with Anyu, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!” the soldiers shouted in unison.

As the two had just returned to the capital, Xie Wan did not keep Zhou Ning in the palace, allowing her to go home and return for the evening banquet.

Zhou Ning naturally took her leave with pleasure.

The court officials also departed according to custom.

Xie Wan took Anyu back to the palace.

The lacquered red palace walls were as before. It was a place that should have felt restrictive and enclosed, but upon seeing it now, Anyu felt only excitement and joy.

After four months, she was back in the palace.

“Let’s go back to Wanyi Palace,” Xie Wan said, looking at the dusty little Anyu. “I’ve had Qingcui prepare hot water for you and the Imperial Kitchen arrange some food. You should wash up before eating.”

Anyu tilted her head and asked, “Isn’t there an evening banquet?”

“You won’t be able to eat at the banquet.”

Her words were pointed, and Anyu’s expression turned serious. It seemed today’s celebration banquet was another Hongmen Banquet prepared by Her Majesty.

Seeing that she understood, Xie Wan smiled, “But the celebration banquet must still be held. I’ll prepare a separate feast for you, a private celebration.”

Anyu: !

A private celebration just for her.

Anyu pursed her lips, suppressing her smile, and nodded heavily, “Okay!”

Xie Wan smiled, controlling herself from reaching out to touch those bright eyes.

“Go on,” she withdrew her hand and clasped them behind her back.

“Qingcui!”

Her cheerful shout instantly excited Qingcui, who had been eagerly waiting at the entrance of Wanyi Palace: “Your Ladyship!”

“This servant greets Your Ladyship!”

“Don’t kneel,” Xie Anyu smiled generously, “Did you miss me?”

Qingcui wiped the corner of her eye, “This servant missed Your Ladyship terribly! You’re finally back!”

“Hehe,” Xie Anyu grinned.

The mistress and servant were happy to see each other. Qingcui saw Her Majesty following behind her and immediately became serious, “Your Ladyship, please go bathe first.”

Xie Anyu glanced at the person standing quietly behind her and whispered, “Am I really that dirty right now?”

She had specifically found water to wash her face before entering the capital.

Qingcui chuckled, “Your Ladyship isn’t dirty. You went to suppress bandits and achieved great merit. Her Majesty is overjoyed; how could she possibly find you dirty?”

Xie Anyu curved her lips, “I’m going to bathe!”

Qingcui followed behind her with a smile, “This servant will attend to Your Ladyship’s bath!”

Xie Wan did not follow. Watching the two interact so naturally, she felt a hint of awkwardness in her heart.

She naturally knew that Qingcui had always had a good relationship with ‘herself’.

But at this moment, there was a trace of jealousy.

Xiao Anyu was back, but she hadn’t asked her ‘Did you miss me?’.

“Your Majesty, the new armor you ordered has been completed. Commander Zhou’s set has already been sent over. Her Ladyship’s set is here.” Zhaoxia arrived late, followed by a maid carrying a tray.

On the tray was clearly a set of new armor.

The new armor shimmered with silver light. Even though little Anyu hadn’t put it on yet, she could already envision her spirited appearance in it.

Xie Wan nodded.

“Shall we send it to Her Ladyship now?”

“No need, the evening banquet hasn’t started yet.” Xie Wan reached out and stroked the light armor on the tray. She thought it looked good and presumed little Anyu would like it…

Thinking of this, Xie Wan still said, “Never mind, I’ll take it to her myself.”

Wanyi Palace had a dedicated bathhouse.

Anyu sat in the bath, and Qingcui washed her hair beside her.

“Your Ladyship, you’ve suffered so many injuries…” Qingcui couldn’t help but gasp when she saw the wounds on her body. Especially the knife scar on her arm; the wound was terrible and hideous, and she didn’t know how deep it had been. The scab that had formed hadn’t fallen off yet.

“Just minor injuries,” Anyu closed her eyes comfortably. “The doctor said I could touch water once it scabbed over.”

Although being a general was good, sometimes she still felt that the palace wasn’t bad either.

“Your Ladyship is truly… Her Majesty will surely feel heartache when she sees this,” Qingcui said helplessly. To be able to casually dismiss them as minor injuries…

This was just her mistress. If these wounds were on those young masters in other palaces, they would probably be screaming their lungs out.

Anyu paused, lowered her head to look at the rather hideous scar on her arm, and suddenly became worried…

This scar did look… quite ugly.

The doctor said that even after the scab fell off in the future, there would be a scar.

Anyu pursed her lips, “Qingcui, are there any good scar-healing medicines in the palace?”

Just as Qingcui was about to answer, she saw someone walk out from behind the screen. Her expression immediately became respectful. Seeing the person wave their hand, signaling her to leave, Qingcui dared not disobey. She gently lowered Anyu’s washed hair and quietly withdrew.

“Qingcui?” Anyu heard the movement and turned her head, only to see the person dressed in imperial robes standing behind her.

Anyu subconsciously covered her arm and stammered, “Yo-Your Majesty…?!”

Xie Wan glanced at her, “Your arm.”

Anyu pursed her lips, refusing.

Xie Wan frowned and repeated, “Your arm.”

Anyu pouted and, as if facing death, held out her arm before her.

Xie Wan understood how deep the cut was at a glance. She grasped her wrist, “How did you get injured?”

Originally, little Anyu had been recuperating in the palace and had even gained a little weight during that time. But after being away for four months and returning, she had lost a circle of weight again.

She had never expected that just coming to deliver the armor, intending to leave right after, she would see such a deep scar.

Gently stroking the hideous scar, Xie Wan felt a bit angry. She had clearly given her so many brocade pouch strategies, thinking it was foolproof, yet the person still returned with injuries.

Xie Wan’s fingertips had no calluses, and touching the wound caused a slight itch.

Anyu looked at her, certain she saw heartache in her eyes.

So… getting injured wasn’t entirely without benefit.

However, she still didn’t like Her Majesty looking like this.

“It was when I was saving someone, I accidentally got cut. It was a chaotic fight then, impossible to guard against… It’s not a serious injury, the doctor said it’s fine. If Your Majesty feels heartache, how about rewarding Anyu with a bottle of good scar-removing medicine?” Anyu pulled back her hand and said playfully.

Xie Wan was silent for a moment, “I will have the Imperial Academy of Medicine send it to Wanyi Palace shortly.”

“Okay.” She seemed unhappy, and the atmosphere became heavy.

Only in this hot bath was there swirling steam. As Anyu looked, she suddenly came back to her senses. She wasn’t wearing anything in the water right now!

“Yo-Your Majesty…”

Xie Wan: ?

“What’s wrong?”

“I haven’t finished washing yet.” Anyu shrank further into the water, her eyes looking at her innocently, her face above the water slightly pink.

Why isn’t this person leaving yet?

Xie Wan seemed to understand something. She chuckled, “Then shall I wash you?”

Anyu: ?!

“Yo-Your subject will wash herself!”

Xie Wan squatted beside the bath and smiled, “I can help you wash. And also check if you have any other injuries on your body.”

Anyu almost bristled at this sentence. She quickly swam from this side of the pool to the other, “I, I don’t have any other injuries!”

Xie Wan raised an eyebrow leisurely, “Do I eat people? You are a woman, and I am also a woman. I have everything you have, what is there to be shy about?”

Anyu’s face turned bright red, and she buried her head, not speaking.

“It seems you really do have other injuries on your body. I must see today.” Xie Wan didn’t listen and still walked towards that side.

Anyu: ?!

Anyu wished she could shrink completely into the water. “I, I, I really don’t have any other injuries! You’re not allowed to come over!”

Anyu was almost crying from embarrassment. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the clothes placed behind Xie Wan and began calculating how long it would take her to rush over and grab them with her martial arts skills.

Xie Wan knew what ‘she’ was thinking with just a glance.

So she smiled and stopped walking, “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Finish washing and come out quickly. Be careful not to soak for too long and get dizzy.”

The smile on her face was almost impossible to hide; she was doing it on purpose!

Anyu glared angrily, “Your Majesty!”

“Hmm?”

“So annoying!”

Being called annoying by Anyu didn’t bother Xie Wan, and she walked out with a smile.

Only after her back disappeared behind the screen did Anyu gently let out a sigh of relief and reach up to pat her hot face.

It must have been the water that was too hot, making her face feel warm.

But as soon as she walked past the screen, the smile was gone from Xie Wan’s face.

Xiao Anyu’s injuries still had to be blamed on the Xu family. Otherwise, the fire in her heart wouldn’t be extinguished.

After a brief thought, she began to look forward to today’s evening banquet.

She wondered what Prime Minister Xu’s reaction would be when he learned that the masterminds behind the assassination of the imperial envoy were his two sons.

“Your Majesty?” Xiao Anyu’s tentative voice came from behind the screen.

“Hmm?” Xie Wan responded.

“There are a few things I want to ask Your Majesty.”

Xie Wan didn’t know what she wanted to ask, but she replied with a smile, “Then ask. I told you that you can ask me anything you don’t understand.”

“I…” Anyu had many questions in her heart, but after thinking about it, she hesitated again, “Let’s wait until after the celebration banquet.”

She didn’t know how to ask.