After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 43

After the incident with the Xu family father and sons, the atmosphere of the celebration banquet lost its ‘celebratory’ feel.

On the surface, everyone ate and drank, seemingly at ease. In reality, their thoughts were varied, each heavier than the last.

Was the Xu family truly finished? Not necessarily.

The Minister of Rites was still in place, and Xu Ping’s roots were still deeply embedded in the court. Ultimately, Her Majesty had not sentenced Xu Ping to death, and the investigation… wasn’t without a chance of turning around.

It remained to be seen how the Xu family’s old subordinates would operate.

However, Xu Shengming and Xu Shengwen would likely not escape death. Without descendants, even if Xu Ping was powerful, there would be no one to inherit his mantle.

Great General Xie, in particular, wore a look of worry.

Even Xie Yunyu couldn’t help but ask when he saw him, “Second Uncle, what’s wrong?”

Great General Xie sighed, “The Xu family’s prominence was too great, and now they’ve fallen to this state. Our Xie family should also reflect. Especially Anyu, accompanying the ruler is like accompanying a tiger. Her temperament…”

Xie Yunyu: “…”

He wanted to say that Second Uncle was truly worrying too much.

On the surface, Prime Minister Xu himself didn’t seem to have committed any major crimes, so it was inevitable that those who didn’t know the full picture would say he was merely a victim of his own success.

But the Xu family, they raised assassins and engaged in corruption. The things in the manor of Minister Qian’s wife’s cousin all belonged to Xu Ping.

Xu Ping’s case would take a long time to investigate, but what was uncovered would absolutely shock everyone.

This was a parasite of Da Yue, deeply rooted and clinging tightly to the tree’s roots like rotten decay.

The Xie family couldn’t be compared to it.

As for Anyu…

Xie Yunyu also had his own thoughts.

The Xie family was indeed too prominent now. A military family, yet involved in the power of the inner palace. If someone with ill intentions were to manipulate and spread rumors, it would inevitably lead to talk of ‘foreign relatives monopolizing power’.

But when Anyu would leave the palace was truly not something he could decide.

Xie Yunyu looked towards his sister, only to see her staring intently in one direction.

Following her gaze, where else could it be but the direction where Her Majesty was seated?

A sense of unease rose in Xie Yunyu’s heart.

Could his words from back then have truly become a prophecy?

After the celebration banquet, Xie Wan returned to her sleeping quarters.

There was no relaxed smile on her face, which made Zhaoxia quite worried. “Your Majesty…”

“I’m fine, just a bit of a headache.” Xie Wan walked to the bed and sat down.

“Your Majesty, have some tea.” Zhaoxia quickly poured warm tea and came to her side.

Xie Wan drank it in one gulp.

The bitterness of the tea brought a moment of clarity to her mind.

At the banquet, she must have been mistaken; how could Anyu look at her with that kind of gaze?

“Your Majesty, should we summon an Imperial Physician?”

“No need. I’m just vexed.” Xie Wan waved her hand.

She said she was vexed, but Zhaoxia didn’t understand. The Xu family father and sons were already imprisoned, and Lady Consort Wan had returned safely from Lingbei. What could Her Majesty be vexed about?

Zhaoxia gently massaged her head, and casually asked, “Your Majesty, did Lady Consort Wan not return with you?”

“She’s seeing the Xie family father and brother out of the palace,” Xie Wan paused. “Why do you ask about her?”

Zhaoxia lightly coughed, “Your Majesty and Lady Consort Wan have a very good relationship. Now that you haven’t seen each other for four months, this servant thought you would definitely spend the night at Wanyi Palace today… At the very least, Lady Consort Wan would come to your sleeping quarters.”

Xie Wan: “…”

“Moreover, when Lady Consort Wan is here, Your Majesty is always happy,” Zhaoxia said softly.

In the eyes of the servants, Lady Consort Wan was Her Majesty’s source of joy. Wherever the Lady Consort was, Her Majesty was always smiling. In the four months the Lady Consort was away, Her Majesty barely smiled.

“Zhaoxia, in your eyes, do I like Consort Wan that much?” Xie Wan asked.

“Does Your Majesty feel that you don’t like Lady Consort Wan?” Zhaoxia countered.

She had spoiled Lady Consort Wan to such an extent, did Her Majesty not realize it herself? When the Lady Consort returned to the palace, Her Majesty even personally went to the city gate to greet her. The new armor that had been made was also eagerly delivered in person.

Xie Wan was speechless.

Unable to refute.

She naturally liked Anyu. But Anyu to her was…

So, was it she herself who had given Anyu the wrong impression?

Anyu liking her, was it actually her fault?

Xie Wan didn’t know how to continue the conversation, but she couldn’t help feeling a little indignant.

What was wrong with her doting on herself? Since she had become the Emperor, wasn’t it only natural to be good to herself? She just liked Xiao Anyu’s unrestrained appearance, wasn’t that allowed?

She was the Emperor, so Xiao Anyu’s treatment would only be better than that of an Empress!

Xie Wan had always thought this way.

But now, she felt somewhat like she had lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

“Is what Your Majesty is troubled about related to Lady Consort Wan?” Zhaoxia asked softly.

Xie Wan gently nodded, a bitter smile on her face. “The affairs of the world cannot trouble me, only that sixteen-year-old girl…”

Xie Anyu, how dare she like her?

Just then, a soft call came from outside the sleeping quarters: “Greetings to Lady Consort Wan.”

“Has Her Majesty returned?”

Xie Wan’s expression changed.

Zhaoxia was now certain that there was likely some misunderstanding between the two that hadn’t been cleared up. She immediately chuckled softly, “Your Majesty, the one who tied the knot must untie it. This servant will withdraw first.”

Xie Wan: “…”

Zhaoxia retreated from the room and happened to meet Xie Anyu, who was pushing the door open. Zhaoxia bowed in greeting, then quietly withdrew, also dismissing the maids outside the door.

Xie Wan straightened her robes, raised her head, and saw Xiao Anyu cautiously peeking her little head out from behind the screen. “Your Majesty.”

Xie Wan sighed softly in her heart. How adorable.

“Consort Wan, what brings you to see me?”

“To get my pillow.” Anyu emerged from behind the screen, indicating that her late-night visit had a proper reason.

Only then did Xie Wan notice that she had changed back into a dress. She couldn’t help but ask, “The armor, you’re not wearing it?”

Anyu awkwardly smoothed her skirt. “After all, I’m in the palace, and I’m Consort Wan. It’s better to wear this. Does Your Majesty think the armor looks better?”

Xie Wan: “…”

She hadn’t noticed it before, but seeing Anyu like this now, Xie Wan felt a sense of awkwardness in her heart.

This kind of awkwardness could actually appear on her.

Xiao Anyu truly cared about her opinion.

“No, this outfit is also good.”

Hearing this, Anyu smiled, revealing a row of white teeth. She ‘boldly’ came to Xie Wan’s side and sat down next to her. Catching sight of the pillow neatly placed on the dragon bed, Anyu’s smile widened.

Noticing the Emperor’s not-so-rosy complexion, Anyu’s upturned lips fell back down. “Your Majesty, I heard that after I left the palace, Your Majesty fell ill?”

Xie Wan: “…Yes, I caught a cold, but I recovered in a few days.”

Anyu instinctively took hold of her wrist.

Seeing her look as if she was seriously feeling her pulse, Xie Wan said helplessly, “My illness has already recovered.”

Anyu ignored whatever she said.

She carefully took her pulse.

This pulse didn’t seem like that of someone in their early twenties. Her pulse was very weak. She had also heard about Her Majesty’s weak constitution, seemingly poisoned while still in the womb, and born prematurely, her body was much weaker than ordinary people. She had been sickly since childhood, and thus the accumulated toxins in her body had only increased.

But Anyu didn’t understand. The Emperor she knew had excellent living habits, didn’t drink alcohol or indulge in pleasures, and liked to stroll in the Imperial Garden in her leisure time. How could she have such a depleted body?

They said she was sickly, but she hadn’t seen her take medicine since entering the palace.

Thinking carefully, that sense of incongruity emerged in Anyu’s heart again. The Emperor’s actions contradicted her understanding.

“Your Majesty,” Anyu said seriously, “Shall I write you a prescription? If you stick to my prescription, in five years at most, I can’t say you’ll be completely healthy, but you definitely won’t be bedridden just from catching a cold!”

Xie Wan chuckled, “What kind of prescription?”

Anyu curved her lips, “Naturally, it’s a prescription for exercise. How about exercising at the Martial Arts Ground for half an hour every day?”

Xie Wan knew what she meant, but she deliberately showed a look of regret and said, “I am busy with myriad affairs.”

“But Your Majesty keeps so many court officials precisely so you can be idle, no?” Anyu counted on her fingers. “My eldest brother, my second brother, my father, Official Li, Sister Zhou Ning, so many people, can’t they spare half an hour for Your Majesty?”

Her appearance was so adorable that Xie Wan couldn’t help but want to reach out, but suddenly remembering something, her hand stopped before it was raised and she pulled it back.

“Your Majesty? Really, try my prescription. Little Doctor Xie won’t deceive you.” Anyu blinked, her gaze pleading.

Xie Wan sighed softly, unable to resist pinching ‘her own’ face. “Since it’s a prescription written by Little Doctor Xie, it’s not impossible for me to take a look.”

Anyu smiled brightly at her. “Your Majesty must live a long, long time.”

Xie Wan was startled. “Anyu hopes I live long?”

The two looked at each other.

But it was Anyu who looked away first. She said softly, “Your Majesty is a good Emperor, everyone hopes Your Majesty lives long… I naturally hope so too.”

“Is that so…” Xie Wan’s tone carried a hint of nostalgia.

Hoping she would live long, she had never heard anyone say that before.

Xie Wan was the God of War of Da Yue, but also the Regent King who made the royal family tremble with fear. She held immense power in the court, yet there wasn’t even a single person by her side with whom she could chat idly.

Her father died, her eldest uncle’s family, her aunt’s family, the entire Xie family, in the end, only she, her eldest cousin, and her youngest cousin Yuntao remained.

The most mischievous Yuntao took on the great responsibility of the Xie family, becoming the general guarding the border, heading far north.

Eldest Brother was still in the capital, but he and she were so alike.

When they met, all that was reflected in their eyes was the deep-seated loneliness and the past that could no longer be mentioned.

She lived for Da Yue, but after Da Yue was safe and sound, she was like driftwood in the sea, unable to find a shore, only slowly sinking to the bottom after decaying on her own.

Now, however, a hand had grabbed her, trying to prevent her from sinking.

The terrifying thing was, this hand…

Was ‘her own’.

Xie Wan curved her lips. “Speaking of which, I still owe you a reward. For the great achievement of suppressing the bandits, what should I reward you with?”

Anyu suddenly became energetic. “Your Majesty didn’t announce it at the celebration banquet, is it because you have other considerations?”

“Hmm… I was thinking, Consort Wan cannot be promoted further, how about becoming the Empress?”

Anyu: !?

Anyu’s heart skipped a beat.

Seeing Anyu freeze, Xie Wan confirmed something in her heart and instead smiled. “Of course, I’m joking.”

Anyu’s eyes widened. “…Your Majesty, that’s not funny!”

Xie Wan curved her lips and smiled, reaching out to stroke ‘her’ head before saying, “Taking this opportunity, I want you to leave the palace. It just so happens that I also want to dismiss those people in the inner palace.”

Anyu: “Leave the palace…”

“Yes, not to be my consort anymore, but to be a general on the battlefield, how about that?” Xie Wan asked her.

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire sleeping quarters seemed to fall silent.

After a long while, Anyu finally looked up at her. “Is this considered a reward?”

Xie Wan: “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“But,” Anyu tilted her head and said, “When I’m Consort Wan in the palace, I’m Rank 1. If I leave the palace, what rank of general does Your Majesty plan to make me?”

Her father was only a Rank 1 general.

This question stumped Xie Wan.

“Your Majesty, this is a promotion in name but a demotion in reality. Sister Zhou Ning was promoted to Rank 3 for suppressing bandits, but I’m going to be demoted by several ranks.” Anyu pouted, her hands quietly clenched into fists. “What kind of reward is this?”

Seeing her like that, Xie Wan’s heart sank instead. She sighed, “Then what does Lady Consort Wan want? You don’t want to be a general anymore?”

“I do,” Anyu argued forcefully. “Your Majesty said the inner palace doesn’t keep useless people, but I’m not useless. Every bit of allowance Your Majesty gives me, I can earn back on the battlefield. Why should my consort title be revoked?” Anyu’s face was filled with seriousness, confronting her without any yielding.

Xie Wan almost blurted out that the inner palace should not interfere in politics, but then thought that saying it would be pointless. After Anyu entered the palace, she first went to the Martial Arts Ground to be a training officer, and later received an imperial decree to suppress bandits. Every single one of these counted as ‘interfering in politics’.

She had set the precedent herself, so how could she convince her?

Seeing her not speak, Anyu became anxious and boldly said, “Can I not be Your Majesty’s consort and also be a general of Da Yue?”

Xie Wan was completely stunned by this sentence.

These words were no different from declaring her feelings.

At this moment, she should have sternly said no, but seeing Anyu’s face turn red after speaking so forcefully, yet still looking at her stubbornly and defiantly…

The words reached her lips, then turned into: “…About the reward, I’ll think about it again.”

Anyu’s tense lips immediately curved upwards. “Okay!”

Seeing her smile, Xie Wan’s heart was complex.

Who wouldn’t be happy to be liked so much by ‘themselves’?

But if this was love, then it was another matter entirely.

Today, she was indeed a little flustered, and her actions were hasty as a result.

Holding the pillow, Anyu walked out of the sleeping quarters and stood in the courtyard, staring blankly at the bright moonlight.

Her Majesty planned to send her out of the palace.

Although Her Majesty had told her when she first entered the palace that she would be sent out in the future. When she first entered the palace, she truly didn’t want to be the Empress, only a little general.

Now, she had become greedy.

Recalling the bold words she had just spoken, even at the fearless age of sixteen, Anyu was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

But only the moon was watching her now.

The shame in her heart faded, and Anyu looked up at the moon. She wanted to be a general of Da Yue, and she also wanted to be that person’s consort.

Although she knew clearly that you couldn’t have your cake and eat it too.

“This year’s birthday wish is for peace under heaven,” Anyu said, clenching her fist.

If not this year, then next year. If not next year, then the year after. If heaven didn’t grant it to her, she would fight for peace herself!

When the world was peaceful, she wouldn’t be a general anymore!

She would come back… Hehehe.