After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 55

Anyu arrived outside the tent. Not far away, Xie Wan was speaking with her second older cousin.

She lightened her steps as she approached, but the person speaking suddenly looked up and spotted her.

The moment she saw her, a smile bloomed on Xie Wan’s face, and she beckoned to her.

Anyu thought, she heard that thumping sound in her heart again.

Walking closer with joyful steps, Anyu pretended not to be familiar with her and asked, “Cousin, is this the Imperial Envoy?”

Xie Wan smiled slightly, her conversation with Xie Yunliang no longer continuing. Instead, she turned to Anyu and cupped her hands in greeting, “Greetings, Deputy General Xie.”

Anyu lightly coughed, nodding gravely, “Mm, mm.”

Xie Yunliang: “…”

Xie Yunliang saw that his sister’s eyes were practically glued to the ‘Imperial Envoy’. He felt helpless and could only say, “Your Excellency, the wind and snow are getting heavy. Let’s go into the tent to talk.”

Xie Wan shook her head, “It’s late. I won’t disturb your rest. General, just arrange a place for me to stay.”

Xie Yunliang nodded, just about to speak.

Xie Wan then said, “Is Deputy General Xie’s tent warm?”

The named Deputy General Xie looked stunned. After a while, she foolishly chuckled, “Warm, my tent is the warmest!”

“Then how about I stay in Deputy General Xie’s tent?”

“Good, good!” Anyu nodded repeatedly.

Yes, yes, stay in her tent!

At this, not only the few people present, but even the surrounding soldiers couldn’t help but look up.

Could Deputy General Xie and this Imperial Envoy have known each other for a long time? They had never seen the Deputy General so enthusiastic about anyone!

Xie Yunliang thought it was simply unbearable to watch, but he still said solemnly, “Deputy General Xie, the Imperial Envoy has traveled a long way. You must take good care of her and not neglect her in the slightest.”

Xie Anyu hummed in agreement, as if to prove she could indeed take good care of the Imperial Envoy. She even untied her cloak, gave it a gentle shake, and draped it over Xie Wan, who was slightly taller than her.

“I’ll definitely take good care of her. Imperial Envoy, shall we go?” Anyu reached out and took her hand, as if the Imperial Envoy was a shy child, eagerly wanting to take her to play.

Xie Wan couldn’t help but laugh, “Okay.”

Letting Anyu lead her, she didn’t forget to turn back and say, “General Xie, please arrange accommodation for my attendant.”

Zhou Ning, who was touched that she hadn’t been forgotten after all: “…”

Xie Yunliang nodded, “Your Excellency, rest assured.”

Watching his sister lead the person away, Xie Yunliang exchanged a look with his friend.

The two were very familiar.

Xie Yunliang and Zhou Ning were truly childhood sweethearts. There was no need for formalities.

“Why did this ‘Your Excellency’ come?” Xie Yunliang raised an eyebrow.

Zhou Ning replied calmly, “To sign the truce treaty and, by the way, escort the ‘Northern Army’ back to the capital.”

Automatically replacing ‘Northern Army’ in Zhou Ning’s words with a certain person seemed perfectly fine.

Xie Yunliang covered his face, “What virtue and ability does my sister possess?”

“Oh, right, when are you getting married?” Xie Yunliang tilted his head to look at his friend. As expected of a friend, he always knew how to hit a sore spot.

Zhou Ning coldly retorted, “When are you getting married?”

Xie Yunliang rubbed his chin, “I’m not in a hurry. My eldest brother hasn’t married yet, so no one is rushing me.”

Zhou Ning: “…”

“But it’s been so long since you suppressed the bandits, haven’t your parents urged you?”

“They have.”

“Then you haven’t found a suitable match yet?”

“Not exactly.” As if thinking of something, the coldness in Zhou Ning’s eyes faded, replaced by a hint of gentleness.

This faint emotion was caught by Xie Yunliang. He reacted for a moment, then understood what Zhou Ning meant by ‘not exactly’. Xie Yunliang almost jumped up, “Who is it? Who is it?”

Zhou Ning has someone she likes? The iron tree has bloomed?!

His face was full of gossip.

“Someone you know.” Zhou Ning couldn’t be bothered with him and changed the subject, “Quickly find me a place to stay.”

Xie Yunliang looked at the sky; it wasn’t late yet. “Someone, take Attendant Zhou to her quarters.”

Someone he knew, who could it be?

“Yes.”

After Zhou Ning left, Xie Yunliang was still completely bewildered.

Who could it be?

Who could make an iron tree bloom?

Nie Mingzhuo, who was following behind Xie Yunliang, looked puzzled. Not to mention that Deputy General Xie would show such enthusiasm towards a certain person, even the General, who was usually very dignified in front of others, now had a hint of playful foolishness.

This Imperial Envoy’s attendant seemed to have a very good relationship with the General. That familiarity was definitely not faked.

The attendant’s surname was Zhou…

Familiar with the General.

Someone surnamed Zhou in the capital… Nie Mingzhuo thought of someone, but couldn’t believe it.

If this Attendant Zhou was that person… then wouldn’t the Imperial Envoy be…

Nie Mingzhuo abruptly lowered his head, not daring to reveal his shock in the slightest.

Anyu led her Imperial Envoy back to her own tent.

She casually dismissed the soldiers guarding the tent.

Entering the tent, she lit the charcoal fire, placed a kettle of water on the coals, and after doing everything, she obediently sat down.

“Jinghe is very cold, Your Majesty, why did you come here?” Anyu couldn’t bear her smiling gaze and asked softly.

Xie Wan: “To take a look.”

To take a look? Look at what?

Anyu couldn’t figure it out, so she softly hummed in understanding.

“You’ve gotten thinner.”

Anyu realized she was talking about herself and touched her cheek, “Have I gotten thinner? I eat a lot.”

Xie Wan smiled lightly, then looked at the flames in the charcoal basin and said to herself, “The truce treaty between the three states could be signed so smoothly, it is your credit. Whether it’s Jinghe or other border cities, I have seen with my own eyes that the Northern Army has guarded them very well.”

“That is as it should be,” Anyu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Protecting the people of the north is the duty of the Northern Army.”

“You’re starting to look like a general,” Xie Wan said with a smile.

Suddenly praised, Anyu rubbed her small hands and asked, “Really?”

Both Her Majesty’s sudden arrival and her praise made her feel happy and flustered.

Seeing her rub her hands, Xie Wan said, “Anyu, come here.”

Anyu looked up and saw her pull open a corner of her cloak, revealing the space beside her.

Anyu: !?

“Sit here.”

Anyu’s face immediately turned red, “I, I, I, can I sit there, there?”

To be covered by the cloak, wouldn’t that mean sitting beside her or in her arms?!

Xie Wan raised an eyebrow, “This cloak was originally given to you by me, or I can take it off and give it to you.”

Anyu quickly slipped into the cloak.

The cloak was large, usually easily covering her entirely. Now with two people sharing it and the charcoal fire burning, it wasn’t too cold.

She could smell a hint of fragrance on Xie Wan. Anyu called out with a red face, “Your Majesty.”

“Mm.”

“Did something happen?”

Xie Wan was startled, “Why do you ask that?”

“Your Majesty is actively getting close to me,” Anyu pouted, “Clearly before… you avoided me like a snake.”

Xie Wan: ?

She was somewhat amused, “When did I avoid you like a snake? Lady Consort Wan, I don’t understand what you mean.”

Anyu glared at her, “Anyway, when I came to the north, Your Majesty must have felt relieved.”

Xie Wan lightly coughed, feeling a bit guilty.

“Now you’re actively letting me get under your cloak, so what happened?” Anyu’s bright eyes reflected Xie Wan’s face.

The child seemed to have grown up a bit, able to calmly analyze the situation now.

Xie Wan shook her head leisurely, “Nothing happened. You’ve misunderstood.”

Anyu: ?

Is that so?

“Is it strange for me to sit with you and share the same cloak?” Xie Wan asked her.

Anyu: “It doesn’t seem very strange.”

Xie Wan smiled without speaking.

But she also didn’t quite understand what she was doing.

She clearly knew Anyu’s feelings, yet she still let her come over, sit close together, and share the same cloak.

What was strange was that seeing Anyu pouting with a red face beside her, she felt a sense of peace.

For a moment, Xie Wan couldn’t describe this emotion.

She had never felt it before.

“How has Your Majesty been in the palace? Do you exercise every day? What’s your routine like? Are you eating properly?” Anyu asked about her recent situation.

Xie Wan: “Mm.”

“Just an ‘mm’?” Anyu tilted her head and asked.

Xie Wan smiled helplessly, “I thought the Imperial Physicians allowing me to come to Jinghe already indicated that my health is better.”

“Your cheeks still look quite pale, though.”

“But I should be able to go hunting birds in the mountains with you now,” Xie Wan said with a smile, gently stroking her head.

Anyu: !

Anyu felt a little embarrassed. It seemed that last year, when she discovered Her Majesty could shoot arrows, she had told her that they would go up the mountain to compete in shooting birds in the future.

…Her health is better, she can hunt birds now.

That’s really good.

“What about you? My health is recovered, how many injuries have you sustained?” Xie Wan asked her.

Her peach blossom eyes seemed to see right into her heart. Anyu’s heart pounded wildly, and she replied lightly, “Not many injuries, it wasn’t as dangerous as when we suppressed the bandits.”

Xie Wan didn’t press further.

How could one fight a war without getting injured?

Even small skirmishes between armies were far from simple one-on-one fights. Swords and blades had no eyes, and it was not strange to get injured in a chaotic battle.

Xie Wan didn’t expose Anyu’s lies, but a hint of heartache still appeared in her eyes.

To make a little eagle fledgling grow up, the first thing was to teach her to fly. She might fall and get hurt, but besides watching, she had no other way.

“I brought an imperial decree for the Northern Army. After the truce between the three states, the Northern Army will return to the capital.”

“What about second older cousin?”

“He’s also returning,” Xie Wan said, “Until West Jin chooses a new emperor, the north will be peaceful for a while.”

Anyu understood the meaning of her words and nodded. As she nodded, she felt something was off, “What about me? Without war, will I just stay in the capital?”

Xie Wan curved her lips, “If you want to go out, I naturally have things I can arrange.”

“I don’t want to!” Anyu’s eyes curved into smiles, and she hugged her arm, “Not for now.”

Xiao Anyu’s thoughts were too clear. Her bright eyes conveyed all her affection.

She wanted to go back to the palace.

She missed her.

For some reason, a hint of impulse surfaced in Xie Wan’s heart, as if a voice was gently questioning her—

Xiao Anyu is so lovable. If one day the object of her coquetry and joy becomes someone else, how will you, Xie Wan, respond?

Xie Wan closed her eyes, not answering.

“Your, Your Majesty, you’ll be sleeping here tonight,” Anyu suddenly stammered, bringing up the matter.

The voice in Xie Wan’s heart suddenly disappeared. She raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Didn’t you invite me here? Are you scared now?”

Anyu puffed out her chest, holding onto her arm and not letting go, “What, what am I afraid of? I like Your Majesty. If Your Majesty stays here, it should be Your Majesty who is afraid!”

Xie Wan curled her lips, “What am I afraid of? What can you do to me?”

Anyu was captivated by her eyes. After a second of eye contact, she lowered her head, “While Your Majesty is asleep… kiss, kiss you?”

Xie Wan laughed out loud, “Then I can’t sleep too soundly tonight.”

Anyu’s face turned red.

Damn it!

Why wasn’t she scared at all?!

Xie Wan gently scraped her nose, smiling, “My Anyu is still a child.”

“I don’t like hearing that!” Anyu said fiercely, but she didn’t swat away her hand.

That’s right.

She just liked this person.

Even if she treated her like a child, she still enjoyed that unique favoritism very much!

Xie Anyu, you’re really hopeless!

Catching sight of the Snow Plum Blossom on the table, Anyu reached for it, then placed it in her hand, her tone still fierce, “Winter Flower Fest, for Your Majesty.”

Xie Wan was startled, then accepted it, “Thank you, the flower is very beautiful.”

Anyu puffed out her cheeks, “I’ll go make the bed.”

The space beside her became empty. Anyu had already slipped out and, as she said, went to make the bed.

Looking at the Snow Plum Blossom in her hand, a strange sense of satisfaction rose in Xie Wan’s heart.

Many people gave Anyu flowers.

But Anyu’s flowers were only given to her.

“Anyu, I also bought a Snow Plum Blossom,” Xie Wan said.

Anyu, who was making the bed, suddenly turned back, “Your Majesty bought one too? Where is it?”

Xie Wan took out another Snow Plum Blossom from her sleeve, “Here.”

“Is there any meaning to giving flowers on the Winter Flower Fest?” Xie Wan asked her.

Anyu stared at the flower in her hand, her eyes fixed on it.

Of course there was.

According to legend, those who exchanged flowers on the Winter Flower Fest would receive the blessing of the Flower God, pledge their lives to each other, and live happily ever after.

Anyu said, “There’s no meaning. You just give it to… whoever you like.”

While saying this, her dark eyes darted around, subconsciously avoiding Xie Wan’s gaze.

Xie Wan’s smile deepened, but her face showed a hint of confusion, “You have to like them to give them?”

“Yes…” Anyu jolted, pouting and pretending to be angry, “Does Your Majesty not like me? I gave mine to Your Majesty. Giving flowers… naturally, you should exchange them.”

Xie Wan calmly handed the flower to her, “Then I’ll give my flower to Anyu.”

Anyu carefully took it, then smiled, “Okay.”

The Flower God probably wouldn’t mind if she had fooled Her Majesty, right?

The blessing, give it, will it be given?

Seeing her happy, Xie Wan’s eyes flickered slightly, and she didn’t say anything to spoil the mood.

She didn’t believe in the legend of the Winter Flower Fest.

But Zhou Ning was right.

As long as the wife is happy.

Anyu was happy because she gave her a flower, and she was happy because Anyu was happy. It was as simple as that.