After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 5

The next day, Zhaoxia indeed went to Wanyi Palace, bringing the pass for the Martial Arts Ground. On the tray with the pass was the rare military treatise Xie Anyu had been longing for.

“…Thank you.”

Xie Anyu’s gaze hadn’t left the rare book.

Zhaoxia smiled gently. “Your Ladyship is too kind. This servant merely made a trip. Her Majesty sent this servant to deliver the items and also to bring a message to Your Ladyship.”

Xie Anyu asked, “What message?”

“The rare book can be read anytime. Your Ladyship must not read it by lamplight at night, as it is bad for the eyes. Your Ladyship’s eyes are needed to aim at the bullseye of the target,” Zhaoxia said.

Xie Anyu paused, not admitting that she had indeed planned to do so.

After all… who knew if that stingy Emperor might suddenly decide to take her rare book back one day…

“Furthermore, Her Majesty also said that the Martial Arts Ground will be very lively today, and Your Ladyship can go and see.”

Xie Anyu: “Lively?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of lively?” Xie Anyu tilted her head. Watching excitement, she liked that. But what the Emperor said… she was afraid that person was tricking her again.

Zhaoxia shook her head. “This servant is not clear on that.”

Xie Anyu: …

That Emperor must have specifically sent Zhaoxia over just to keep her in suspense!

Zhaoxia delivered the items and left Wanyi Palace.

She had read military books and strategies from her family since she was a child; her books were worn out from reading. A rare book was different, firstly in its rarity, and secondly in the content it recorded.

With the mood of appreciating a treasure, Anyu eagerly opened the rare book.

Although the Emperor had called it a ‘rare military treatise,’ only after she opened it did she realize it wasn’t a discussion of military strategy.

It was a history book—

Recording various battles that had occurred in Da Yue and the previous dynasty. There were underdog victories where the few defeated the many, battles where risky maneuvers turned the tide, and also tragic defeats.

Even many of the characters were no longer very clear, and some places were covered by bloodstains.

Some chapters were even the post-battle accounts of the soldiers.

The people in the palace couldn’t repair it, so they could only bind its cover with high-quality cowhide paper to preserve its integrity. This was the war experience of predecessors, every stroke and every page.

In just the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Xie Anyu had only flipped through a few pages, but it felt as if she had personally witnessed a brief battle.

War had always been a river of bl00d.

The various military strategies she had been skilled in since childhood seemed to lack more than just a little realism in a real war environment.

Whether it was terrain, climate, or the number of soldiers, even factors like food and fodder supply, and morale had to be considered. War was truly not like playing chess, where she pointed to a position and the piece in her hand would move there.

This plunged Xie Anyu, who had wanted to be a general since she was a child, into a strange silence.

“Could I… also be a bit of a ‘paper general’?” Xie Anyu scratched her head.

Although she was a general’s daughter, and her father had taught her many things, she had never been on a real battlefield, never seen real corpses strewn across the ground.

Although she was a little disheartened, Xie Anyu was not discouraged.

If merely looking at war records could make her completely dejected, then her dream of being a general would be too laughable.

What about the Emperor? What was her intention?

Did the Emperor deliberately show her the rare book to strike a blow to her confidence?

“How could that be…” Anyu instinctively denied it.

The Emperor wasn’t her; how could she guess her thoughts?

Then there was only one possibility left.

“Does she really think I have military talent?” Anyu muttered softly, thinking, that hateful Emperor, she couldn’t possibly be planning to have her don armor and go to battle if something happened to Da Yue, could she?

Anyu propped her chin with one hand, and in her daze, she glimpsed the pass on the table.

The pass was made of unusual material, carved with a Pixiu, one of the dragon’s sons, and inscribed with the five large characters ‘Imperial Guard Pass’.

“Imperial Guard…”

As a general’s daughter, Anyu had some understanding of the military offices within the Da Yue palace.

The Imperial Guard Department, as the name suggested, was the palace guard. On the surface, they were the guards of the imperial palace; in secret, they were the Emperor’s direct secret guards.

It was clear that the Martial Arts Ground in the palace was truly not a place ordinary people could enter.

“Lively… Then I’ll go and see this liveliness.”

Anyu got up, looked around, and finally carefully placed the rare military treatise into the box she had brought from the General’s Manor.

Then, she lifted her long skirt and stepped out of the sleeping quarters of Wanyi Palace.

…

By the time Xie Anyu arrived, Xie Wan was already at the Martial Arts Ground.

The Martial Arts Ground was vast. Looking out, the clear sky above was cloudless, and dense ranks of soldiers were neatly arrayed on the field, waiting for her inspection.

These were the five thousand Imperial Guards directly under Xie Wan, and her personal guards were usually selected from here. Soldiers were not allowed to be kept in the capital, so the palace only kept these five thousand guards. And these five thousand guards were all from different battalions.

Except for certain necessary guards, almost all the Imperial Guards were gathered at the Martial Arts Ground today.

Because Her Majesty had issued an order to inspect the Imperial Guards.

The sudden imperial decree had stunned Commander Sun of the Imperial Guard Department, but he quickly relayed the order to the various battalions, resulting in the scene before them now.

“Consort Wan is here.” Xie Wan saw her and smiled lightly. But the smile was not wide, as if… she wasn’t very happy.

Xie Anyu frowned slightly. “Is the liveliness Her Majesty spoke of for this consort to watch the inspection of the Imperial Guards? This consort is from the inner palace; is it inappropriate to attend such an occasion?”

Unexpectedly, little Anyu could think of this layer. Xie Wan’s smile widened. “There’s nothing inappropriate. Sooner or later, this face will be lost anyway; might as well lose it completely in front of Consort Wan first.”

Xie Anyu: ?

Anyu didn’t understand the meaning of her words.

Xie Wan didn’t seem to mind, waving her hand and saying, “Commander Sun, begin.”

Commander Sun was also startled when he saw Xie Anyu behind Xie Wan, and a hint of unease flashed in his heart, but he didn’t dwell on it. After a light cough, he said, “You may begin!”

Immediately, a row of guards appeared, walking neatly from a distance.

They were all tall and upright, with handsome appearances, wearing the silver armor issued by the royal family, which was very eye-catching, and each held a silver spear.

At Commander Sun’s command, this group began to perform spear movements in public.

The five thousand guards stood behind them, their presence imposing.

To an outsider, every move these people made was powerful and impressive.

But in Xie Anyu’s eyes…

The force of the spear swings was insufficient, and the thrusts were like they hadn’t eaten.

“You asked me to watch these people perform fancy spearplay? Is this the liveliness Her Majesty spoke of?” Xie Anyu watched patiently for a while before she couldn’t help but ask her.

Xie Wan let out a laugh, a teasing laugh that made Commander Sun’s heart tighten.

“Commander Sun, you explain to Consort Wan, what is this fancy spearplay about?”

Commander Sun was so anxious that cold sweat dripped down. “Your Majesty, Lady Consort Wan, how can this be called fancy spearplay?”

Xie Anyu frowned. “This isn’t fancy spearplay? The dogs guarding the gate of my General’s Manor perform better than this!”

On the battlefield, spears gained advantage from their length and could be used for thrusting or sweeping; they were truly weapons used to kill.

But what these people were performing… was purely for show, pleasing to the eye but essentially superficial.

“Consort Wan may not know, but only Commander Sun is performing fancy spearplay. The spear movements these people perform, if they were to perform on the streets, perhaps the common people would give them a few copper coins.” Xie Wan’s voice suddenly deepened. “I said I wanted to inspect the troops, and you bring me a fancy spear honor guard to fool me!”

Commander Sun trembled all over and knelt down with a thud. “Your Majesty, this, this honor guard, is just a small program before the inspection.”

Xie Wan: “Oh?”

“The inspection, the inspection is still to come.”

“Then I shall wait and see.”

Commander Sun quickly wiped the sweat from his face, jumped down from the high platform, and gave a few instructions.

Soon, a dozen or so guards walked out from the five thousand.

They stood upright, their steps swift.

Upon reaching the imperial presence, they stood quietly, seemingly also about to perform something for Her Majesty like the fancy spear team.

Xie Anyu could tell at a glance that these few people should possess martial arts skills.

At this point, Xie Anyu also understood what Emperor Ruiming meant by calling her to watch the ‘liveliness’ today.

Among the five thousand Imperial Guards in the capital, could only these dozen or so people be presented?

At Commander Sun’s command, these dozen or so people began to practice martial arts in public.

Seeing that the Emperor’s expression hadn’t changed at all, Commander Sun’s heart grew even more fearful.

Her Majesty rarely came to the Martial Arts Ground, and each inspection was just a perfunctory affair. After all, the people he selected could perform any routine and fool the Emperor, who didn’t know martial arts.

But today, how could this be…

“These dozen or so people are not bad,” Xie Wan commented.

Commander Sun felt a slight relief, and just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Xie Wan raising her voice. “But Commander Sun, I remember I told you I wanted to inspect the training results of these five thousand Imperial Guards.”

Commander Sun’s back was covered in cold sweat, and his face showed difficulty. “Your Majesty… this… everyone just rushed back from their posts…”

Xie Wan didn’t even look at him, raising her voice and saying, “Then I shall conduct a random check.”

Her gaze swept across the crowd.

“The second son of Marquis Muqing, the second son of the Capital Prefect, and the legitimate son of the Vice Minister of Revenue… These few are sons of officials, serving in my Imperial Guard Department. They should set an example for the other guards. You few, step forward and let me see.”

Commander Sun’s lips turned pale this time.

How could Her Majesty happen to pick these few?

Having been called out by Emperor Ruiming, these few should have stepped forward immediately without hesitation, but Her Majesty called out three, and not a single person came forward.

Xie Wan’s eyes darkened. “It seems none of the three are present.”

Commander Sun opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Xie Wan had already turned to look at him. “Commander Sun, do you have anything else to say?”

“Your, Your Majesty…” Commander Sun knelt down, his legs trembling.

Xie Wan smiled. “Commander Sun, are you going to vouch for these three?”

Commander Sun’s face was ashen. “This subject… dares not.”

“It’s alright. If Commander Sun cannot manage them, someone else can. When court convenes tomorrow, I will personally ask Marquis Muqing, the Capital Prefect, and the Vice Minister of Revenue. Those three will surely know where their sons have gone.”

Commander Sun dared not respond.

He had a vague sense of unease.

“Commander Sun…”

“This subject… is here.” His voice was almost trembling.

Xie Wan smiled as she stared at him. “The next time I come, I don’t want to see fancy spearplay again.”

“…Yes!”

Xie Wan didn’t continue to be harsh but shifted her gaze, saying to the five thousand people below, “I have been too lenient with you usually. I should send you to the battlefield for training, to see how soldiers on the battlefield train.”

None of the five thousand Imperial Guards dared to utter a sound.

“Oh, right. My Consort Wan has inherited the true teachings of General Xie… Why not entrust this matter to Consort Wan?” Xie Wan acted completely like a foolish ruler, waving her hand and handing the matter over to Xie Anyu.

“Does anyone have any objection?”

Perhaps there were countless voices of opposition in the hearts of the Imperial Guards, but with Her Majesty in a temper, who would dare to speak up? That would mean losing one’s head.

Xie Anyu also couldn’t help but widen her eyes and look at her.

Xie Wan lowered her voice and chuckled near her ear. “I’ve arranged for you to be a ‘little general’. Are you happy?”

Xie Anyu: !

“…They won’t listen to me,” Xie Anyu said softly, her heart beating a little fast. Becoming a general…

Xie Wan stroked her hair. This time, Anyu didn’t dodge. “When you first become a commander, there will always be people who don’t obey you. This is your first step to becoming a general.”

She spoke as if she had been one herself. Xie Anyu muttered softly to herself, but on her face, she asked, “How should they be trained?”

She wouldn’t be afraid of this challenge.

“Train them to the death. The more valiant, the better. They are eating my salary; they are not here to retire in the palace,” Xie Wan said, clasping her hands behind her back.

Xie Anyu nodded upon hearing this.

But in a blink, she glanced at Commander Sun, who was still kneeling on the ground, and couldn’t help but look at Xie Wan.

This person is so incompetent; can he still be kept?

Xie Wan understood ‘her’ meaning and shook her head.

Right now, she had no one to replace him with.

How to replace him, and who to replace him with, she would have to visit the Xie family first.