After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 49

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed since Anyu left the capital.

Life in the palace remained as tedious and busy as ever. Regarding the development of the north, Xie Wan had already gradually arranged things, and everything was proceeding smoothly.

Thus, she wasn’t as busy as before.

On this day, Li Mingxin and Commander Zhou actually requested leave at the same time. This somewhat surprised Xie Wan, the Emperor.

Xie Yunyu indicated he knew about this, “Your Majesty, Official Li has an appointment with Commander Zhou. I heard Official Li is arranging matchmaking for Commander Zhou.”

Xie Wan paused, “Minister Li… arranging matchmaking for Minister Zhou?”

“Yes.” Seeing her strange expression, Xie Yunyu asked, “Does Your Majesty find it inappropriate?”

“Not really, just find it interesting. Since when did Minister Li become friendly with Zhou Ning?”

“This… your servant is also unclear.”

Even the matter of Li Mingxin arranging matchmaking for Zhou Ning, he had learned from Zhou Ning herself.

“Never mind.” Xie Wan, about to lower her head, suddenly raised it again, looked at Xie Yunyu standing before the desk, and asked: “What about Minister Xie? Do you still not plan to marry?”

Xie Yunyu didn’t understand why the topic of marriage had suddenly turned to him.

But since Her Majesty asked, he had to answer: “This servant does not yet have such intentions.”

“They say one should start a family before establishing a career. Minister Xie is no longer young; you should marry when it’s time.”

Xie Yunyu: “…Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern.”

Seeing his perfunctory response, Xie Wan couldn’t help but tease: “Minister Xie is talented and handsome, and now even Our trusted aide. Has no one visited your home wanting to propose marriage to Minister Xie?”

Xie Yunyu’s expression changed several times: “There are some…”

Although he was the eldest son of the Xie family’s main branch, the family inheritance wouldn’t fall to him, so matchmakers rarely came to his door before.

But now it was different.

Just as Her Majesty said, the threshold of the Xie family was almost worn down by visitors.

“It seems none of these marriage proposers meet Minister Xie’s favor,” Xie Wan said with a smile.

Xie Yunyu: “A lifetime with just one person, one cannot be rash.”

Xie Wan was taken aback.

That’s right, Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt were also a loving couple. Big Brother and Second Brother had been influenced by this since childhood.

Rather, in this generation of the Xie family, no one ever had the thought of having three wives and four concubines.

But as far as she knew…

Even until her death, she had never seen Eldest Male Cousin’s ‘destined one’ arrive.

Although she hoped Eldest Male Cousin could find someone to share his life with respectfully, after careful thought, Xie Wan still didn’t act as a ‘matchmaker’.

Destiny is determined by fate.

Hopefully, things will be different in this life.

“Your Majesty, these past few days, many memorials regarding the selection of consorts have been submitted again,” Xie Yunyu gently reminded. Compared to him, a minister, Her Majesty, as the Emperor, had yet to establish an Empress.

Xie Wan returned to her senses, “Mm, We have already rejected them.”

“Your Majesty… do you not plan to establish an Empress?” From a minister’s standpoint, Xie Yunyu should naturally advise her to establish an Empress and continue the imperial line, but thinking of his own younger sister, Xie Yunyu felt disheartened again.

“If We were to establish an Empress while Consort Wan is away from the palace… Minister Xie, how do you think Consort Wan would react upon receiving the news?”

Xie Yunyu: “…”

“She said she wants to be Our Empress.”

“Your Majesty… what are your thoughts?”

Xie Wan propped up her chin and smiled lightly: “We don’t know.”

Xie Yunyu: ?

“We are always helpless against Anyu.” Xie Wan touched the tip of her nose and smiled, “Sometimes We feel, if Anyu is happy, it doesn’t matter if We give her the title of Empress.”

Sometimes reason returned, feeling that liking herself was absurd, and she shouldn’t indulge her willful actions and affections so freely.

Clearly knowing she liked herself, yet still doting on her without reservation.

The one beyond saving was clearly her.

Yet she still called Anyu a lunatic.

Xie Yunyu: !

“Your Majesty, my younger sister… where exactly did she gain Your Majesty’s favor like this…” Xie Yunyu couldn’t help but ask aloud.

He knew his sister, but did Anyu really have the qualifications to be that kind of ‘nation-toppling favored consort’?

Why was Her Majesty even more ‘doting’ on Anyu than he had imagined?

Hearing this, Xie Wan smiled, “Minister Xie doesn’t understand, nor needs to understand.”

Xie Yunyu: “…”

Returning to the bedchamber, Qingcui was already waiting at the entrance.

“Your servant Qingcui pays respects to Your Majesty.” Qingcui moved to kneel.

Seeing Qingcui, she couldn’t help but think of Anyu.

“Your Majesty, you must go to the Martial Arts Ground every day. I’ll have Sister Zhou Ning help me keep track. If you miss a day without reason, I’ll be angry when I return.”

“I’ve also asked the Imperial Kitchen to pay attention, ensuring Her Majesty’s diet is light.”

Those earnest instructions, as if truly afraid that during her absence from the capital, she wouldn’t take care of herself. Recalling them didn’t feel noisy, only brought warmth to her heart.

So, why was Qingcui sent over today?

Xie Wan was in a good mood and asked: “Rise.”

Qingcui, now considered the head palace maid of Wanyi Palace, gracefully stood up, beckoned to the young maidservant following behind her, took the tray from her hands, and smiled lightly: “Your Majesty, following Her Ladyship’s instructions, this is what Her Ladyship ordered your servant to deliver to you today, before she left the palace.”

Xie Wan raised an eyebrow and lifted the red cloth covering the tray.

The wooden pillow standing in the middle looked very familiar.

“Consort Wan is lending Us the pillow again?”

Qingcui smiled, “Your Majesty, this time Her Ladyship said it’s a gift for you.”

“A gift for Us?” Xie Wan was surprised.

“Yes.”

“Your Majesty, this is the letter Her Ladyship left, asking your servant to deliver it to you today as well.”

“Mm.”

She took the letter from Qingcui’s hand.

A thin sheet of paper, gently unfolded, Anyu’s beautiful handwriting leaped into view.

‘Your Majesty, Happy Birthday.’

Only six short words.

Yet they made Xie Wan’s heart tremble slightly.

Today, no one mentioned the word ‘birthday’.

After all, Emperor Ruiming’s birthday had already passed. Today was ‘Xie Wan’s’ birthday, and with Anyu not in the palace, naturally, no one would remember.

But the girl who left the capital had still left something for her.

She said, Your Majesty, Happy Birthday.

She told Anyu they were the same person. So Anyu took it to heart, even though she had already left the capital, she didn’t forget to instruct her personal maid to wish her a happy birthday on her birthday.

So lovely, how could she not dote on her?

Being favored, wasn’t that what Xiao Anyu deserved?

Eldest Male Cousin didn’t understand, truly didn’t understand.

Xie Wan’s lips curled up slightly. Gazing into the distance, she replied softly in her heart.

Anyu, Happy Birthday to you too.

On the marching route, Xie Anyu also secretly opened her small bundle.

Birthday gifts naturally could only be looked at on the birthday.

She hadn’t opened the small bundle Sister Zhou Ning delivered on behalf of Her Majesty before leaving.

Waiting eagerly, she finally reached her birthday.

Anyu carefully took out the small bundle and carefully untied the knot on it.

Spread it open.

This time, it wasn’t some brocade pouch.

It was a thick fox fur cloak.

Clearly palace craftsmanship, the fox fur soft, a fine item for protection against the cold. Not too bright in color, a mud-grey robe, even when draped over her body, it wouldn’t affect her aura as a young general.

And on top of the neatly folded cloak lay a silver heart-protecting mirror.

It wasn’t the most common style used on armor; rather than being worn on the armor, it seemed more suitable to be worn inside the armor, hidden over the heart.

A small, palm-sized round piece, slightly convex, engraved with intricate and complex patterns.

Anyu gently stroked it.

The tiny engravings on it felt like the lines on that person’s palm.

The fox fur cloak was because the northern lands were cold in winter.

The heart-protecting mirror was for her to protect herself well.

She received her birthday gift. Anyu revealed a wide smile: “Happy Birthday,” Your Majesty.

The days without Her Majesty by her side seemed to pass exceptionally quickly for Anyu.

November was early winter in the capital, but for Anyu in the northern lands, it was an extremely cold winter she had never experienced before.

The fierce wind scraped against her face, and the exhaled warm breath quickly turned into white mist.

Around the autumn equinox, the northern nations had repeatedly probed the borders of Da Yue, but they were merely probes, seemingly trying to gauge if the post-disaster northern lands were as vulnerable as they imagined.

However, endless ‘skirmishes’ occurred, yet each time, they were fiercely repelled by Da Yue’s border soldiers.

Anyu had been in the northern border for two months and had already led troops to repel countless such ‘Northern Invasion Forces’.

The ‘Northern Invasion Forces’ suffered repeated defeats; the probing should finally be nearing its end.

Not only did Anyu think so, but Second Brother Xie, the commander-in-chief, also shared this view.

After all…

The weather was getting colder and colder.

Now the northern barbarians had two choices: either choose to start a war, or choose to deny all previous probes, turn to Da Yue for help, and obtain Da Yue’s ‘assistance’ by signing unequal treaties.

“All city guards, stay alert, no slacking allowed!” Anyu shouted sternly.

“Yes!”

No one knew how the barbarians would choose.

Anyu pulled the wineskin tied to her waist, squeezed it, and took a small sip.

Spicy heat instantly surged into her lungs, trying to dispel the cold in her limbs.

But no matter how they chose, the Northern Border Army would absolutely not be afraid.

With Her Majesty watching from the rear, the Northern Border Army’s supplies and logistics had almost never been lacking.

Perhaps this was the sense of security that came from having an enlightened ruler managing the court.

But honestly, if possible, it was better not to start a war. If Da Yue faced another war this year, even if they won, recovery for the northern lands… would likely be very difficult.

The current situation was clear: both the barbarians and Da Yue were gambling, seeing who would yield first. But on the surface, Da Yue still had the greater advantage.

“Deputy General Xie, the General orders your immediate return to camp!” A soldier galloped over from a distance, dismounted hastily, and reported.

Anyu’s expression turned serious, “What’s the situation?”

“News came from Silver Snake.” The soldier’s face bore a smile, “The General said it’s good news!”

Anyu’s expression relaxed, “Good! I’ll head back right away!”

She stepped into the stirrup, mounted her horse, and headed towards the military camp.

Silver Snake was another birthday gift from Her Majesty.

Hearing the name, one knew who it referred to; yes, it was the three Nie siblings she had previously rescued in Lingbei.

However, after returning and requesting commendations for them, she hadn’t paid further attention to the Silver Snake Escort Agency.

Who knew that Her Majesty had secretly recruited the Silver Snake Escort Agency, officially incorporating the Silver Snake intelligence organization under government control.

And the three Nie siblings truly deserved to be the ‘capable people’ Her Majesty valued. Now, the Nie siblings held important positions in the Northern Border Army, and Silver Snake had become a crucial intelligence hub for the confrontation between the Northern Border Army and the Northern Invasion Forces.

Silver Snake brought good news… Anyu guessed that the stalemate between Da Yue and the barbarians… likely wouldn’t last much longer.