After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 48

Since that day, Anyu had become incredibly proactive, making Xie Wan have no choice but to believe she was serious about liking her.

They met at the Martial Arts Ground every day.

Almost every day, the figures of two people running side-by-side could be seen there.

According to the hidden guards, Anyu would also run to the Imperial Academy of Medicine in her spare time, trying to follow the imperial physicians and learn more.

Anyu seemed genuinely determined to make her live longer, even starting to interfere with the Imperial Kitchen.

She wouldn’t let Xie Wan eat certain medicinal meals, but her daily diet seemed to be carefully selected and balanced with meat and vegetables.

Anyu had said solemnly that to have a good body, one must exercise and eat well.

Perhaps she truly wanted her to live longer, little Anyu was exceptionally diligent.

Xie Wan couldn’t argue with her and could only comply.

Life continued on like this, uneventfully, as if the argument that day had never happened. But Anyu’s actions seemed to constantly remind her that nothing could be treated as if it hadn’t happened.

Anyu also seemed to have truly emerged from her confusion, striding confidently towards her.

She was completely helpless against Xie Anyu. Fortunately, once Anyu’s birthday passed, she would be heading north.

Birthday, huh…

The night outside the window deepened. Xie Wan stopped writing and said to Anyu, who was quietly sitting in her palace reading a rare book, “Xie Anyu, it’s getting dark. Put the book down, it’s bad for your eyes.”

Anyu pouted. She was just getting to the exciting part.

Xie Wan looked at her calmly.

Anyu had no choice but to put it down. Suddenly, she thought of something and tilted her head, “Your Majesty, can I stay here tonight?”

Xie Wan: “…”

Seeing that Xie Wan seemed to have misunderstood, Anyu’s little face flushed red. “I didn’t mean to serve you! It’s just, just to talk through the night! Didn’t Your Majesty say that if I had anything I wanted to ask, I could ask Your Majesty?”

“Then I take that back.”

She didn’t need to guess what Anyu wanted to ask.

Ever since she learned her secret, Anyu had been very curious about her ‘past’.

Xie Wan got up and yawned lightly. “It’s getting dark. Hurry back to Wanyi Palace.”

Anyu lingered in the palace, refusing to leave. “My birthday is coming soon! After my birthday, I’ll be leading the army to the North!”

Xie Wan didn’t mind. “Go if you must. Speaking of your birthday, I’ll allow you to return to the Xie family on that day.”

“Will Your Majesty come back with me?”

Xie Wan was startled. “What would I go for?”

Anyu said as if it were the most natural thing. “Huh? Just to go back and see the manor. See Father? Oh, Your Majesty sees Father every day, so how about seeing Eldest Uncle and Younger Aunt?”

Xie Wan: “I’m not going.”

Anyu looked up. “Why? Is Your Majesty’s relationship with everyone not good?”

Anyu was very surprised. Could it be that in the other timeline, her relationship with the Xie family wasn’t as good as hers?

Xie Wan shook her head. “It’s not bad.”

Anyu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. “Then why won’t you go back with me to see Father? Does Your Majesty want to hide it from them forever? If Father finds out, you might get a beating.”

Xie Wan’s eyes darkened. This girl, ever since she knew her secret, had become even more ‘presumptuous’.

Just as she understood Anyu, Anyu also understood some of her expressions, but she wasn’t afraid. Her Majesty couldn’t beat her now.

Xie Wan said seriously, “I didn’t plan to reveal my identity to the Xie family… You are an exception. Anyu, not everyone will believe in reincarnation.” And they certainly wouldn’t believe that two ‘Xie Anyu’s’ could exist.

If Anyu asked, she would tell her.

But if other members of the Xie family asked, even Father, she wouldn’t say.

She was a lone soul, an ‘accident’ in this world.

Seeing them all alive and well was enough.

“Then I won’t go back either. I’ll stay in the palace and celebrate my birthday with Your Majesty.”

Her birthday was also Her Majesty’s birthday.

Xie Wan refused without thinking. “I am busy with state affairs and have no time to celebrate my birthday.”

Xie Anyu pouted.

Xie Wan couldn’t argue with her. “We’ll talk about the birthday later. You should go back to your palace now.”

Anyu hesitated, not wanting to leave.

“I’ll count to three. If you don’t leave, I’ll confiscate the rare book.” Xie Wan closed her eyes. “One…”

Before she finished speaking, little Anyu, who had been refusing to leave, immediately hugged her rare book. “I’m going, I’m going!”

Seeing Anyu walk away, Xie Wan shook her head and walked back into the room.

They were the same person. She believed there was nothing she couldn’t tell Anyu, even though Anyu liked her and even declared she wanted to be her Empress.

But that couldn’t change Xie Wan’s thoughts.

Anyu was an absolutely special existence.

She could share anything with her, including everything from her previous life.

However, when she heard her ask, she actually hesitated.

Those few years in Da Yue, for her and for the Xie family, couldn’t be considered a good experience.

Looking at the pure and lively Anyu now, the words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.

Perhaps Anyu was right, she wouldn’t become ‘Xie Wan’, wouldn’t become the person she knew herself to be.

Although she still found it hard to believe that Anyu had fallen for her.

But… she actually had a bit of anticipation for Anyu’s future appearance.

Not exactly like her, perhaps an even more brilliant, Little General Xie.

Seeing the door close again, Anyu stopped.

Looking up at the bright moon, a hint of worry filled her heart.

Although Her Majesty didn’t say it, she could guess a little. Her Majesty’s past was probably not that smooth.

Over there, if Her Majesty was her, then Emperor Ruiming was Chu Long. Thinking of the rumored Emperor Ruiming, Anyu frowned.

Emperor Ruiming didn’t like the Xie family.

The Xie family was probably not doing well either, otherwise… how could Her Majesty have gone from a living person to a lone soul residing in someone else’s body?

Da Yue was probably not doing well either… Her Majesty had said that the world was not peaceful, and there were undercurrents between the various states…

Thinking about it now, Her Majesty’s words at that time were not groundless.

But soon, Anyu’s brows relaxed again.

What did she have to worry about?

The current Emperor was that person!

Xie Wan was born in autumn. The weather was neither cold nor dry. In the capital, autumn cicadas chirped, and a gentle breeze mixed with the scent of osmanthus blew. The countryside was filled with the laughter of harvest.

So her mother gave her a nickname—

Anyu.

Just like this autumn day, peaceful and worry-free, and also hoping that Da Yue’s people would be safe and healthy, and the era would be prosperous and peaceful.

However, this autumn, it might not be very peaceful.

For her birthday, little Anyu probably wouldn’t be able to stay in the capital. Xie Wan stared at the urgent report from the Ministry of War, thinking this.

There had been many skirmishes in the northern border.

As she had guessed, although a large part of the northern tribes were nomadic, farming was also an important means of production and source of livelihood for them.

Natural disasters treated everyone equally. The northern region of Da Yue was affected, and the northern neighboring tribes, also in the northern region, wouldn’t be having an easy time either.

It was already autumn, and the northern tribes probably didn’t have enough winter provisions.

Ask for help?

The northern tribes were naturally bold, but also very savage.

They wouldn’t choose to ask Da Yue for help. Even if they were to surrender, they would have to be defeated first before they would yield!

Didn’t the North attack in her previous life?

Of course they did. At that time, it seemed her father had led the troops to the northern border.

But Xie Wan had already entered the palace by then and knew very little about the front lines.

However, she also knew that the surrounding states hadn’t reached the point of a full-blown war yet. These few years were a good time for training troops.

So she didn’t let her father go personally, but sent her second older cousin instead.

Of course, she also took this opportunity to let Anyu see a real battlefield.

“Minister Zhou, immediately dispatch troops to the North to reinforce the Zhenbei Army. There is no time to lose,” Xie Wan narrowed her eyes.

“Your Majesty, the general to lead the reinforcement…”

“Consort Wan.”

Minister Zhou was not surprised. “Yes.”

The war report from the North came suddenly, but the capital responded as quickly as possible. As soon as Her Majesty’s imperial decree arrived, Anyu shed her palace dress and put on her armor.

The scar on her arm had almost healed, and the scab was peeling off, revealing pink, tender new flesh.

Perhaps she would get more scars on her body in the future.

But this path was one she had chosen long ago. She didn’t regret it, and she was full of excitement.

After inspecting the troops, Anyu tucked the imperial decree into her bosom, took one last look at the Imperial City, and prepared to lead the army to depart.

Just then, Zhou Ning appeared at the city gate on horseback.

“Sister Zhou Ning, are you here to see me off?” Anyu smiled.

Her Majesty’s decree was issued so quickly that even the Xie family didn’t have time to see her off, but Sister Zhou Ning actually came.

Zhou Ning pulled on the reins and threw a bundle into her arms. “Her Majesty asked me to bring this. She said it’s your birthday gift.”

The bundle was bulging but light, as if it was stuffed full of soft cotton, probably clothing.

No matter what was inside, Anyu was very happy. She quickly pursed her lips, hiding her joy, and tried her best to keep a straight face as she said, “Sister Zhou Ning, please thank Her Majesty for me.”

Zhou Ning nodded. “Anyu, have a safe journey.”

Anyu raised her eyebrows. “I will return victorious!”

With that, she spurred her horse and led the troops away.

Zhou Ning didn’t linger either. She also spurred her horse and returned to the Imperial City.

The two rode in opposite directions, everything unspoken.

No need for many words, they both knew this scene wouldn’t be the last, and Anyu would definitely return victorious!

Zhou Ning returned to the palace to report. As she came out, she happened to see an ‘acquaintance’ heading towards the Imperial Study.

Li Mingxin’s complexion seemed much better, not as haggard as before. This time, when she saw her, she didn’t vaguely ‘not see’ her.

“Commander Zhou!” Li Mingxin immediately came over when she saw Zhou Ning and greeted her.

Speaking of which, she felt a bit embarrassed. Since Zhou Ning had sent her back to her manor that time, she had wanted to thank her, but hadn’t found the opportunity.

Zhou Ning nodded lightly. “Official Li.”

Li Mingxin smiled. “I’m here to see Her Majesty.”

Zhou Ning nodded. “Mm.”

Meaning, you may go ahead.

Seeing that she was about to leave, Li Mingxin hesitated. After thinking for a moment, she still called out to Zhou Ning, “Commander Zhou!”

Zhou Ning turned around: ?

“I heard that Minister Zhou has been worried about Commander Zhou’s marriage…”

Zhou Ning frowned.

“Commander Zhou, please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t intentionally inquire. It’s just…” Li Mingxin cleared her throat. “Commander Zhou helped me before, not only sending me back to my manor but also writing me exercise methods. Li Mingxin is very grateful. If Commander Zhou doesn’t mind the trouble, I do have some connections and can introduce a few people to Commander Zhou.”

“At least… much better than that son of Marquis Pingyang.” Li Mingxin carefully glanced at Zhou Ning.

She thought that the Zhou family now held significant power in court, and probably didn’t want to marry Commander Zhou into a powerful official’s family, which would cause Her Majesty to be wary. Moreover, now that Zhou Ning was the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, finding someone who could marry into the family was actually the best option.

Zhou Ning couldn’t tell if Li Mingxin was being enthusiastic or foolish. She found it a bit amusing.

“I appreciate your kind intentions, but Official Li, interfering in others’ family matters is not appropriate,” Zhou Ning said.

Li Mingxin’s heart tightened upon hearing this. “I had no other intentions! It’s just…”

It’s just that the rumors about this person in the capital were mostly related to breaking off the engagement with the son of Marquis Pingyang. Li Mingxin felt uncomfortable hearing them.

Even though she was a woman, there was more than one person who wanted to marry into the Zhou manor. She felt that someone as capable and gentle as Commander Zhou shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as that son of Marquis Pingyang.

“I was presumptuous,” Li Mingxin sighed.

Zhou Ning: “Meeting them is fine too.”

Li Mingxin: ?

“Com- Commander Zhou?”

Zhou Ning: “Don’t you still have something to see Her Majesty about?”

Li Mingxin immediately snapped back to attention. “Yes, I’ll go over now. As for the introductions… I’ll invite Commander Zhou privately after I return to my manor.”

“Alright.”

Li Mingxin left in a hurry, but her heart was happy. If she could help Commander Zhou resolve her worries, she would naturally be pleased.

Zhou Ning, however, was indifferent.

Invite her privately later? Someone as busy as Official Li probably wouldn’t know when that would be.

Li Mingxin was truly capable, being able to find out about the matter that troubled her the most, but the method she offered… was neither here nor there.