After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 54

The Jinghe County Magistrate hadn’t recognized who the person in front of him was at first, but now that the crowd had dispersed, he focused his gaze and clearly saw Anyu’s appearance. His heart immediately jolted. This person, dressed in a skirt and yet called ‘Deputy General’, could only be that one person, couldn’t she?

The sister of Xie Yunliang, a general in the Northern Border Army, a daughter of the Xie family, the current Emperor’s favored consort, and Xie Anyu, who had led the reinforcement army to assist this time!

“This humble official pays respects to Deputy General Xie!” The Jinghe County Magistrate quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

Anyu’s gaze shifted from a certain spot and landed on the Jinghe County Magistrate’s face. “Magistrate Sun, why are you here?”

The matter of the bully Wang was secondary now. Anyu swept her gaze over the group of ‘unfamiliar faces’ behind him. People from the Ming and Jin countries were easy to recognize; at the very least, their facial features and skin color were completely different from those of the Da Yue people.

“Reporting to the Deputy General, today is the day the three countries sign the armistice agreement. This humble official is accompanying the Imperial Envoy and the envoys from the two countries to admire the scenery of our Da Yue’s northern lands.”

Anyu raised an eyebrow. “Which Imperial Envoy?”

The Imperial Envoy who was called upon walked out calmly and unhurriedly, cupping her hands in a perfunctory salute towards Anyu. “This humble official greets the Deputy General.”

It was her, indeed.

“…Mm.” Anyu forcefully suppressed the urge for her lips to curl upwards. Just as she was about to say something, she caught sight of the Imperial Envoy’s slightly pale complexion, and her eyes immediately darkened. “Although Jinghe is lively today, the streets are a mixed bag of people. For the safety of the envoys from the two countries, the Magistrate should find a place to host them. Furthermore, there is snow today; it would be bad if the envoys caught a chill.”

After saying so much, the key point was in the last sentence.

Upon hearing this, the Jinghe County Magistrate quickly apologized. “It is this humble official’s oversight. I will immediately send people to arrange a banquet and invite the envoys to be seated.”

Xie Anyu curved her lips. “Mm, that’s right.”

Seeing her like this, a helpless smile appeared in Xie Wan’s eyes.

Actually, she was wearing quite a lot.

And her health had improved significantly. But Anyu probably wouldn’t listen to her say these things.

“Deputy General, would you like to join us…?” the Jinghe County Magistrate asked in a low voice.

Anyu waved her hand. “I won’t go. The matter is concluded, and I need to return to the camp. You saw what happened just now; that ‘bully Wang’ must not be tolerated.”

“This humble official will remember.”

“Also… send some people to protect Miss Li in the coming days.”

“Understood.”

After saying this, Anyu nodded. “Go on. I’m going back too.”

With that, Anyu turned and left. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would reveal her reluctance to part. Her Majesty had come to the northern lands as an ‘Imperial Envoy’; she must have her reasons. She absolutely must not mess things up.

Thus, she completely failed to notice the deep look in a certain Imperial Envoy’s eyes when she instructed the Magistrate to send people to protect Miss Li.

“Deputy General Xie…”

Hearing the familiar voice, Anyu pursed her lips and turned back. “Mm?”

The Imperial Envoy’s tone was gentle. “The wind and snow are heavy on the way back to the camp. Deputy General, take care.”

Anyu: “…Mm.”

Anyu’s appearance and departure were both hurried. This chance encounter was like footprints in the snow, gradually hidden as a new round of wind and snow arrived.

But were they truly hidden?

The envoys from East Ming and West Jin were very curious about Xie Anyu.

During the banquet, the envoys from East Ming and West Jin couldn’t help but inquire about her.

“Is that Deputy General a Deputy General of the Northern Border Army? We heard there is a female general in the Northern Border Army who is very brave. Is she the Deputy General Xie from just now?”

Of course, they were curious.

This northern border conflict had been a ‘minor skirmish’ between the three countries for over two months, and Da Yue’s iron-like defense had left the other two countries quite sighing.

The name Xie Yunliang was already known to everyone in the border army, and his Deputy General was no ordinary person, having led many Da Yue soldiers to repel foreign forces numerous times.

They had just signed the armistice agreement and unexpectedly had the chance to meet her.

The most surprising thing was that she was actually a young woman!

“And hearing the Magistrate call her ‘Deputy General Xie’, could she be a relative of General Xie Yunliang?” the envoy from West Jin also asked.

The Jinghe County Magistrate stiffened.

Could he say this?

That person’s identity…

The Jinghe County Magistrate looked towards the Imperial Envoy sent from the capital with a somewhat pleading gaze.

The Imperial Envoy understood and took over the conversation. “Deputy General Xie is General Xie Yunliang’s paternal cousin, and even more so, the daughter of Great General Xie Chengdong. The Xie family of generals, the envoys from the two countries should not be unfamiliar with them.”

East Ming and West Jin were both startled.

The Xie family, Xie Chengdong!

Of course, they weren’t unfamiliar! Xie Chengdong was Da Yue’s most formidable general!

Xie Chengdong wasn’t dead yet, and his nephew was already a general in the Northern Border Army, while his daughter could already serve as a Deputy General in the Northern Border Army?

This Da Yue Xie family…

Though inwardly shocked, they still smiled on the surface. “So it is Great General Xie’s daughter. Truly, a tiger father has no dog daughter.”

Afterwards, when they asked more questions, the Jinghe County Magistrate skillfully deflected them with laughter.

Only the Second Princess of West Jin, who was present, kept her head lowered.

The shock in her heart was no less than that of the envoys at this moment.

According to the information she had obtained, Xie Chengdong only had one daughter.

And his daughter should have already married into the palace, and it was even widely rumored among the common people—Lady Consort Wan of the Xie family was the most favored by Her Majesty.

But why would Xie Chengdong’s daughter appear in the Northern Border Army, and as a Deputy General?

Didn’t the Da Yue’s imperial harem most taboo interfering in politics?

A favored consort, able to command military power, able to be a Deputy General?

Ajirui sighed inwardly—

The Emperor of Da Yue, was her heart too big?

Just as the rumors said, she was an unwise ruler.

As for the Xie family… they repeatedly produced excellent generals.

But if Emperor Ruiming was truly incompetent, it wouldn’t be difficult to eliminate the Xie family. There was a saying in Da Yue: one dynasty’s ruler, one dynasty’s officials. Xie Chengdong was a general and minister of the late Emperor, now holding a high position. She didn’t believe Emperor Ruiming wouldn’t be wary.

Ajirui thought many things in her heart before slowly raising her head.

But as soon as she raised her head, she happened to meet the gaze of the Imperial Envoy sitting opposite her.

Those peach blossom eyes were full of deep meaning, making Ajirui almost drop the cup in her hand.

An inexplicable fear slowly rose from her heart.

It was as if the person before her had seen through everything she was thinking.

Ajirui pretended nothing was wrong, put down her cup, and lowered her eyes again.

Only she knew that even her fingertips were trembling slightly.

This Imperial Envoy surnamed Zhang, she needed to investigate upon returning.

As dusk fell and the moon began to rise, the reception concluded. The envoys also returned to their lodgings, while Xie Wan and Zhou Ning headed towards the Northern Border Army camp.

Xie Wan, being in poor health, naturally took a carriage.

A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted slightly, a charcoal brazier was placed at her feet, and she held a warm hot water bottle in her hands.

As the wind rushed in, the charcoal in the brazier flickered between bright and dim.

“Your Majesty, is there a problem with the Second Princess of West Jin? You kept looking at her during the banquet,” Zhou Ning asked softly. “Do we need to be wary?”

Xie Wan: “You are quite observant. But there’s no need to be wary.”

“The envoys will leave with the agreement tomorrow, and the border armies of the three countries will orderly withdraw a portion the day after tomorrow.” Xie Wan gently stroked the hot water bottle, leaning against the carriage, her expression languid. “The next time we meet, it will be when Ajirui becomes the Emperor of West Jin.”

What she wanted to convey to Ajirui seemed to have been fully conveyed.

Ajirui’s ability and intelligence were beyond doubt, given that she could lie low in West Jin for so many years before getting rid of her siblings and finally ascending to the throne.

But people with quick minds are always prone to complacency.

This complacency would intensify after Ajirui became emperor.

The current situation of the Xie family and Da Yue would only further convince Ajirui that the Da Yue Emperor was an idiot.

Let East Ming and West Jin both be complacent.

It wasn’t time for war yet.

Hearing this, Zhou Ning was silent for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty believes she can become the Emperor of West Jin, so why not take this opportunity to keep her in Da Yue permanently?”

There was a hint of killing intent in her words.

Xie Wan waved her hand. “Too risky.”

When two armies are at war, they do not kill envoys. West Jin sending their Second Princess this time already showed a lot of sincerity. If Ajirui died in Da Yue, this northern border conflict might not end so easily.

Furthermore…

“What if she becomes emperor in the future?” Xie Wan uttered four words faintly: “Not worth fearing.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ning withdrew the chill from her tone but became even more puzzled. “Then why did Your Majesty travel thousands of miles to Jinghe?”

Pretending to be an Imperial Envoy, and making such a series of moves?

Xie Wan: “…”

Seeing her silence, Zhou Ning also closed her mouth. She seemed to have asked a question she shouldn’t have.

“…I came to inspect the results of the Ministry of Works over the past few months.” Xie Wan lightly tapped the hot water bottle a few times with her fingers, raised her eyelids, and asked Zhou Ning, “Minister Li has done well. I must reward her when we return.”

Zhou Ning: “…”

The Ministry of Works was indeed building in the northern lands, but it shouldn’t have reached as far north as this border city of Jinghe.

Zhou Ning glanced at the Snow Plum Blossom by Her Majesty’s hand, and a faint guess arose in her heart.

If that were the case, it wasn’t impossible.

Anyway, she had to inspect the results of the Ministry of Works, and since she had come to the northern lands, she might as well ‘incidentally’ come to Jinghe to issue an imperial decree to the Northern Border Army and bring her wife back to the capital.

Zhou Ning instantly guessed the truth, but she didn’t dare to say it.

If Her Majesty said she was inspecting the results in the northern lands, then she was inspecting the results.

Meanwhile, Anyu had finished washing up and returned to her tent.

She fiddled with this, then fiddled with that, feeling a bit flustered.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to do.

Read military texts? How could she concentrate on them now!

Write war records? No, no, she couldn’t calm down at all.

Finally, Anyu sat cross-legged in front of her low table, cupping her face and giggling foolishly.

Her Majesty had come to the northern lands.

Not only came to the northern lands, but even reached Jinghe!

She only knew that an Imperial Envoy was coming to sign the armistice agreement and issue an imperial decree allowing the Northern Border Army to return to the capital, but she had no idea…

The Imperial Envoy was Her Majesty!!

When she was standing on the street, she thought she had completely mistaken her!

Her Majesty, seemed not to have changed much.

Well… it had only been a little over two months, less than three months, since she left the capital.

But, was her health much better?

To actually come to a cold place like Jinghe. Anyu frowned.

That person always looked ten steps ahead. Could there be a reason she had to come to Jinghe at this critical juncture?

Was it the armistice agreement between the three countries?

Or something else?

Anyu racked her brain but couldn’t come up with a reason out of thin air.

Until she heard some noise outside her tent.

“Deputy General, the Imperial Envoy who is here to deliver the imperial decree has arrived!”

Anyu sprang to her feet. “So late?!”

The soldier who came to deliver the message was stunned for a moment. “Deputy General, is it late?”

Could it be that the Deputy General had long wanted to leave the northern border?

Anyu didn’t know he had misunderstood and said hurriedly, “Yes, it’s late. The sky is already so dark, and the wind and snow have picked up again. How could they come at this time!”

As she said this, she hastily picked up her cloak and walked out.

She had thought Her Majesty would stay in Jinghe city for the night!

They had met, but there were others present! Tomorrow they could be alone! The long-distance separation would temporarily end!