After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 62

Wanyi Palace.

It was a rest day, and Wanyi Palace welcomed a guest.

Qingcui hurried forward to greet them, but upon seeing the eyes and brows that bore a striking resemblance to Her Majesty’s, she quickly lowered her head. “This servant greets His Highness Prince Xian.”

The visitor was indeed Chu Tang.

Though only thirteen years old, he was already the sole prince in Da Yue.

But why would His Highness come to Wanyi Palace? Qingcui felt surprised and puzzled.

After a long silence without a response, just as Qingcui hesitated whether to call out again, the person in front of her spoke. “This prince happened to be strolling and arrived here… Is your mistress in?”

“Reporting to Your Highness, Her Ladyship is not in the palace today. With Her Majesty’s grace, Her Ladyship has gone out of the palace to visit relatives.”

“Returned to the Xie Manor?”

“Yes.”

Chu Tang pursed his lips. “Then… this prince will come again another time.”

Qingcui: ?

Qingcui found it a bit strange, as this wasn’t the first time His Highness the Prince had visited. The last time was when Her Ladyship was still in the northern region. But this time was also inconvenient; Her Ladyship had just returned to the palace and went to the Xie Manor to visit Great General Xie.

“Your Highness… is there something you wish to convey to Her Ladyship?” Qingcui asked, but upon reflection, realized this was not something a mere servant like herself should inquire about. She immediately apologized, “This servant has spoken out of turn! Please forgive me, Your Highness!”

Chu Tang looked at her, not blaming her. He merely said, “It’s nothing. It’s just that Consort Wan sister mentioned before that she would bring me back some gifts the next time she went out of the palace. I suppose she doesn’t remember someone like me.”

Consort Wan sister? What kind of address was that?

Qingcui felt a bit odd inside, but then she remembered that His Highness the Prince was only thirteen years old, and she suppressed the awkwardness in her heart.

“This prince will come again another time.”

“Respectfully seeing off Your Highness.” Qingcui bowed her head.

Chu Tang’s figure quickly disappeared from in front of Wanyi Palace.

The hidden guards stationed in Wanyi Palace were puzzled by this but still recorded the incident of ‘Prince Xian conveniently visiting Wanyi Palace, leaving after failing to find Her Ladyship’ and reported it to Her Majesty.

As for Anyu, she had returned to the Xie family at this time.

Several days had passed since the northern army returned to the capital.

Her Majesty’s sudden resumption of morning court had made the imperial court busy again.

Anyu should have also resumed her daily routine, but upon careful thought, she realized she hadn’t spent much time in the palace. In the past, she could pass the time by training the Imperial Guards at the Martial Arts Ground. Now that Commander Zhou sister was the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, she, the ‘training officer,’ was truly not needed.

So, Anyu simply proposed to Her Majesty the idea of leaving the palace for a few days to visit the Xie Manor. Xie Wan naturally agreed.

And so, she was back!

“Dad! Little Aunt and Uncle!” Anyu shouted loudly as soon as she entered the gate.

“Anyu is back!” Her aunt, Xie Qingyun, recognized her little niece’s voice immediately and beamed with joy. She stepped forward to greet her, and seeing that she was accompanied by guards, she quickly curtsied. “This subject’s wife greets…”

Anyu quickly helped her up. “Little Aunt! This isn’t the palace!”

Xie Qingyun smiled and indulged her.

Her Eldest Aunt followed behind and asked, seeing this, “Anyu, why do you only call your dad and your little aunt and uncle?”

Anyu’s eyes widened. “Eldest Aunt!”

She looked behind her Eldest Aunt and saw that her Eldest Uncle was there too!

In fact, since her Eldest Cousin was promoted to Minister of Revenue, the Xie family had subtly split up to avoid suspicion in court. Her Eldest Uncle’s family bought the residence next to the General’s Manor and converted it into the Minister’s Manor.

“That Minister’s Manor is just for show. Yunyu needs to avoid suspicion, but what do your Eldest Uncle and I need to avoid? Is there any reason for a family not to live together?” Her Eldest Aunt said heartily.

“Hehe, then I’m really happy.”

Anyu skipped over to her Eldest Aunt’s side. Her Eldest Aunt smiled, “This girl, she doesn’t look like a married woman at all. She’s already a Lady Consort!”

Her Little Aunt nodded from the side. “Exactly.”

Anyu’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I’ve finally come back for a visit, can’t I be a little happy?”

“You came back just in time for lunch.” Xie Chengdong feigned anger. “I thought you went to the northern region and came back, and wouldn’t even come out of the palace to see the whole family.”

“Hehe, Dad!” Anyu lifted her skirt and ran over, giggling.

Xie Chengdong’s expression changed several times. This was his daughter, his only biological child. In the end, he couldn’t keep a straight face and burst into laughter. “I’ll have the kitchen prepare a few dishes you like. Today is a rest day, your Eldest Cousin and Second Cousin will also come over for lunch.”

“Okay!” Anyu looked around, surprised. “Oh, right, why haven’t I seen Yuntao?”

Her Little Aunt said softly, “Yuntao is at the martial arts hall. Many martial arts training halls have opened in the capital now, and quite a few students have signed up, all preparing for the martial examination next spring.”

Anyu nodded. “Ambitious.”

The martial examination…

Speaking of which, she hadn’t asked Her Majesty about the situation with the autumn imperial examination this year. She wondered if Her Majesty had found any good talents from it.

In the blink of an eye, she had been in the northern region for several months, and when she returned, it was already the twelfth lunar month, deep winter.

Before long, her Eldest Cousin and Second Cousin also arrived.

Her Eldest Cousin, now the esteemed Minister of Revenue, was naturally swamped with work. Coupled with Minister Xu’s return to court, it was false to say that Xie Yunyu felt no pressure at all.

However, upon returning home and seeing his elders, he seemed to revert to his leisurely days at home. After taking off his official robes, the family was harmonious and happy.

After lunch, Xie Yunyu walked around under the trees in the courtyard to aid digestion. Seeing Anyu come out, Xie Yunyu asked the question on his mind, “Anyu, does Her Majesty truly intend to make you Empress?”

Anyu blinked. “What? Empress? I haven’t heard anything.”

“Her Majesty hasn’t yet given a statement regarding your meritorious service in the northern region.”

Anyu smiled. “I don’t care about rewards or anything.” She hadn’t gone to the northern region to help for the sake of receiving rewards anyway.

“But Her Majesty must give you a reward,” Xie Yunyu said. “Many people in court are speculating that Her Majesty wants to give you the position of Empress. Many officials have submitted memorials, advising Her Majesty to reconsider.”

Anyu opened her mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating.

“Since you entered the palace, no more consorts have been selected. It is known to all that Her Majesty favors you. Anyu, as your brother, I want to ask you, what are your thoughts?” Xie Yunyu asked.

Being made Empress also meant that there would be no more legitimate heirs in the Da Yue imperial family.

The court officials were worried about the direct lineage of the Da Yue imperial family, while Xie Yunyu had learned some things that happened in the northern region from his younger brother, thus inferring that the two of them had likely opened up to each other.

His sister getting what she wished for, Xie Yunyu was naturally happy for her.

But if Her Majesty were to defy all opposition and make her Empress, that would be different.

“…At that time, many people might target you.”

“Is Big Brother overthinking? Her Majesty hasn’t said anything to me.” Anyu shrugged. “But if Her Majesty wants me to be Empress, I’ll be Empress. I don’t care what anyone says. I want to be her Empress, why should I care what others think?”

Xie Yunyu was speechless for a moment.

“Besides, I think you’re overthinking it,” Anyu smiled. “If such a small achievement could make me Empress, that would be too easy.”

Xie Yunyu was helpless. “Being Empress isn’t like being a general, why would it depend on achievements?”

Anyu waved her hand. “It’s the same. Anyway, I just have a feeling that Her Majesty won’t make me Empress right now.”

“Why?” Xie Yunyu asked.

“Just won’t, I guess,” Anyu pondered with a small frown.

Anyu just had this intuition.

“Besides, wouldn’t it be better to wait a bit longer? When I bring peace to this land, who would dare say a word against me?”

Anyu’s bright eyes sparkled. “They will only say that Her Majesty and Little General Xie are a perfect match!”

Xie Yunyu looked at her and sighed, realizing he had worried too much.

His sister had her own ideas.

“At that time, whoever brings up the issue of imperial descendants to criticize me, I’ll point an arrow at their brow, and see who dares to talk nonsense!”

Xie Yunyu: “…And what about yourself? You’ll have no children in the future, is that alright?”

“It’s alright,” Anyu curved her lips, thinking that if there was a little brat between her and Her Majesty, she wouldn’t like it either. And giving birth to her own child… that was truly beyond the scope of her understanding, already outside the realm of what she could contemplate.

After the meal, Xie Yunyu hurried away from the Xie Manor again.

Although it was a rest day, he had a pile of work on his hands.

The elders of the Xie family also knew he was busy and didn’t keep him.

Compared to Xie Yunyu’s busyness, Minister Xu seemed much more leisurely.

Although he still held the title of Prime Minister, the court officials had already become accustomed to reporting everything to the Minister of Revenue.

It was clear who was the favored person in Her Majesty’s eyes now – whoever could enter the Imperial Study after court was dismissed.

What was Xu Ping?

He was nearing fifty and had no successor. Xie Yunyu, on the other hand, was young and had a promising future.

Anyone with a discerning eye knew which side to stand on.

Therefore, even though he was released from the Censorate Office, he found it difficult to move forward in court these past few days.

Unable to bear this hardship, Xu Ping hastily summoned his right-hand man—the Minister of Rites.

“Prime Minister, for this year’s autumn imperial examination… Xie Yunyu sent a new supervisor. You were in the Censorate Office, and I was alone and unable to support myself. I couldn’t get any of our own people in.”

The ability to become Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor, was largely due to the crucial role of building connections through the imperial examinations. It was common practice to manipulate things during the exams.

Previously, he also liked to promote scholars from humble families who had no connections. Such people had no background, were easy to use and obedient, and could also earn him a good reputation in front of Emperor Ruiming for ‘promoting humble scholars’. For example, the current Minister Qian was promoted by him using this method.

Minister Qian was smarter than many others, which was why he could rise to the position of Minister of Revenue. But he was greedy; once his hands touched the oil and water of the Ministry of Revenue, he could never let go. Losing everything in one misstep was exactly what happened.

“How many usable people do you still have?”

“This…” The Minister of Rites was sweating profusely. “Prime Minister, after you entered the Censorate Office, Her Majesty began to dismantle our faction, as if she knew exactly who was on our side… Some were sent out, some were demoted for causing trouble. Now, there aren’t many left…”

Xu Ping’s withered hand clenched fiercely.

In fact, he had felt it during the court sessions these past few days. There were very few people in court who supported him. His position as Prime Minister was not as influential as Xie Yunyu’s as Minister of Revenue.

He thought he had won against Emperor Chu by getting out of the Censorate Office.

But he hadn’t expected her to go to such lengths! Even his connections…

His clenched fist slowly relaxed, leaving indentations from his fingers in his palm.

“Have you investigated? Is there any mole?”

“We have investigated, but…” The Minister of Rites slowly shook his head.

“Who are the people who entered court from this year’s autumn imperial examination?” Xu Ping had to find another way, thinking that the autumn examination hadn’t been long ago, and it might not be too late to win them over now. His reputation among scholars was still quite good.

“Prime Minister… those who entered court this year have all been sent by Her Majesty to be local officials in the northern region,” the Minister of Rites swallowed. “They are beyond our reach. This subordinate… is powerless.”

“Bang!” Xu Ping finally couldn’t help but smash the tea table in front of him fiercely!

Did Her Majesty release him just to toy with him?!

How could this be!

How could this happen!

He hadn’t even avenged himself yet!

Originally, he thought that even if he couldn’t overthrow the Da Yue imperial family, he would make Chu Long regret killing his two sons for half her life! He would also ensure the Xie family had no descendants left!

But now, with the facts laid bare, he felt as if he could hear Emperor Ruiming looking at him with a sidelong glance, saying with a half-smile, ‘Minister Xu, you’ve lost’.

Xu Ping gritted his teeth, sweat slowly trickling down his temples.

There must be another way.

There must be.

Just then, the guard at the Prime Minister’s Manor rushed in—

“Prime Minister, someone has delivered a calling card.”

Someone coming to visit at this time? When he was at the end of his rope?

Xu Ping’s heart stirred. “Who?”

“…Unknown. The person who delivered the message said that the Prime Minister would know once he saw it.” The guard presented the calling card.

It was unsigned.

But judging from the craftsmanship and the paper, the owner behind this calling card was either rich or noble.