After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 67

“Her Majesty arrives—!”

At a loud announcement, the officials in the courtyard immediately rose to bow, and Xie Wan, dressed in bright yellow robes, stepped down from the carriage. Zhou Ning followed closely behind her, step for step.

Xie Wan was in good spirits today. Her long hair was coiled up, with gilded hairpins shaped like crescent moons tucked into her dark hair. She wore a winter skirt convenient for movement, its hem and sleeves embroidered with gold patterns.

Emperor Ruiming’s body was not bad; one could even say it was stunningly beautiful. But as Xie Wan stepped closer, no one dared to look at her face for more than a few glances.

This was because within that dazzling beauty was etched solemnity and majesty.

“Rise.”

Her voice, while not booming, was certainly not weak.

In fact, ever since the court resumed, the officials had felt that Her Majesty’s health had significantly improved after the ‘serious illness’.

Now, seeing Her Majesty leave the palace in winter, and with such vitality, some secretly mused—

Her Majesty’s health has truly recovered.

“I have come to congratulate Great General Xie on his birthday,” Xie Wan said.

Zhaoxia, standing beside her, promptly presented the gift.

It was a gift box that looked exquisite.

Great General Xie bowed low to receive it. “Your Majesty’s presence graces this humble dwelling.”

Xie Wan smiled without speaking.

All the officials witnessed this.

After the officials bowed, Xie Wan was welcomed to the seat of honor by her father. Naturally, Anyu also followed, lifting her skirt.

Seeing Anyu, a smile touched Xie Wan’s face. She raised a hand to stroke her cheek. “Consort Wan, sit with me.”

That blatant favoritism was displayed before everyone without reservation.

The officials sighed inwardly.

Although they had long known that Her Majesty doted on Lady Consort Wan immensely, seeing it in person was still…

According to custom, only the Empress could sit beside Her Majesty at a birthday banquet of this scale, celebrating with the officials.

It seemed Her Majesty truly intended the position of Empress for Lady Consort Wan.

Everyone had different thoughts.

But before the banquet began, another arrival was announced.

“Prince Xian arrives—!”

The voice from the entrance carried, and everyone looked over.

Prince Xian came too?

Although only thirteen years old, Prince Xian was still Her Majesty’s younger brother. With Her Majesty present, and now Prince Xian arriving, they couldn’t help but lament how the Xie family was no longer what it used to be.

Even Prime Minister Xu back then probably didn’t command such respect.

“Chu Tang pays respects to Imperial Sister.” Chu Tang, dressed in dark brocade robes, walked closer and bowed from a distance towards the Emperor on the main seat.

Anyu’s hand under the table tightened slightly.

Xie Wan gently held her hand, slowly smoothing out her fingers.

“Dispense with the formalities.”

Chu Tang looked up and happened to notice their proximity, and the hands that seemed to be overlapping under the table. Chu Tang’s eyes darkened slightly. He turned and walked towards Great General Xie, offering his congratulations.

That subtle shift in Chu Tang’s expression did not escape her eyes. It was an emotion of jealousy.

Xie Wan, however, was surprised by this.

Chu Tang would actually reveal his emotions like this in front of others? One must know, the Chu Tang she knew in her previous life was a fox in sheep’s clothing.

That sheepskin was seamless, never revealing even a hint.

Could it be that after being reborn, he had become so arrogant? So prone to showing his emotions, did he think that knowing the past meant he had nothing to fear?

Xie Wan only thought for a moment before dismissing the idea.

Chu Tang’s arrival seemed to be just a minor interlude that wouldn’t cause any ripples.

Great General Xie’s birthday banquet began.

Almost all the military officials came. Many civil officials also attended. Of course, not all colleagues in the capital were present. The Da Yue Empire was in ruins and needed manpower in all areas, so those who were too busy or had only ordinary relationships naturally came less.

And those who were enemies, naturally, did not come.

Xie Wan scanned the room and did not see Xu Ping, but she did see Xu Ping’s lackey, the Minister of Rites.

“The Minister of Rites came shamelessly. He sent a gift, so Father couldn’t very well not let him in,” Anyu explained from the side.

“Mm.” Xie Wan smiled, unconcerned.

Xu Ping, unable to attend due to his deep enmity with the Xie family, naturally had to send a trusted subordinate to observe the situation.

The presence of the Minister of Rites here was not surprising.

“Your Majesty, the auspicious time has arrived. Shall we begin the banquet?” Great General Xie asked.

“Very well, let the banquet begin.”

Anyu had seen many similar birthday banquets. The scale of the General’s Manor banquet was naturally not comparable to Her Majesty’s birthday banquet in the palace, but apart from the slightly inferior dishes and arrangements, there was not much difference.

Once the dishes were served, there were naturally songs and dances.

Ultimately, this was a subject’s birthday banquet. The Emperor was not the main character. After tasting a few dishes, she should have left to allow them their proper lively atmosphere.

But Xie Wan did not leave.

While enjoying the food and wine that the servants had already tested for poison, she occasionally exchanged a few words with Anyu beside her, either commenting on the songs and dances or talking about other things.

During the banquet, some people couldn’t help but inquire about the Xie family’s young masters.

There was no need to mention the brothers Xie Yunyu and Xie Yunliang; even the young cousin who was only in his teens was asked about.

Many officials had the idea of forming a marriage alliance with the Xie family.

If Lady Consort Wan truly became Empress…

No, even now, the Xie family was a big tree. While they could still climb, grabbing onto a small branch might allow them to soar.

They were asking in front of Xie Wan, and Xie Wan naturally wouldn’t pretend not to hear. She even looked at Xie Yunyu and Xie Yunliang, who were seated at the banquet. “The two Ministers Xie are meritorious officials of my Da Yue. If you fancy any young lady, I will personally bestow the marriage upon you.”

As soon as she said this, those present who were interested in arranging marriages with the Xie family became eager.

But despite their excitement, they hadn’t heard of the two Xie brothers being close to anyone.

Xie Yunliang was quite close to Commander Zhou, the daughter of Minister Zhou, but there had been no talk of marriage.

If their own daughters or nieces could gain the favor of these two, it would be excellent.

Xie Yunyu and Xie Yunliang were surprised by these words.

Her Majesty was so enthusiastic? Even offering to bestow marriage upon them?

Xie Yunliang scratched his head. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but this subject has not yet thought about it… If I find a young lady I like someday, I will naturally come to request a marriage decree.”

Xie Yunyu said, “This subject as well.”

Xie Wan sighed softly. “Alright.”

Anyu also dutifully chimed in, “Your Majesty, since Eldest Brother and Second Brother don’t wish it, then let’s wait a bit longer.”

“Then so be it. Everyone, do not rush them. These two young masters of the Xie family, if they have someone in mind, they will naturally send someone to propose.”

These words helped the two Xie brothers out of an awkward situation.

The banquet continued with eating and drinking.

All of this, seen through Chu Tang’s eyes, was extremely unpleasant.

It was indeed because of Xie Wan, because of the Xie family.

The Da Yue Empire was different from the one in his dream. The fundamental reason was Xie Wan.

She must have known how things would develop long ago, which was why after she entered the palace, the original trajectory kept changing.

This time, because of Xie Wan’s presence, Xu Shengwen couldn’t enter the palace to charm Imperial Sister, and the Xu family lost imperial favor.

Instead, it was the Xie family. Xie Yunyu entered the court early, Li Mingxin, Zhou Ning, and others became her confidantes, and even Xie Yunliang, who died tragically on the battlefield in the previous life, became a capable General of the Northern Border in this life.

Indeed, everything was because of Xie Wan.

Chu Tang’s gaze couldn’t help but fall upon Anyu.

This young version of Xie Wan was different from the one in his dream.

Although Chu Tang had not personally experienced everything in the dream, that dream was too vivid, so vivid that he felt as if he could sense the power of that Xie Wan in the dream.

Even after he ascended the throne, he still felt a faint fear of that Xie Wan in his heart.

He both admired and feared her.

He wanted her to be his Empress, but he was also afraid that she was too capable and would snatch the dragon throne from under him.

It was just a dream, but every time he thought of the Regent King’s eyes in the dream, the thirteen-year-old Chu Tang still felt lingering fear.

In the eyes of the thirteen-year-old Chu Tang, he couldn’t possibly like this kind of Xie Wan.

No Emperor could allow his Empress to be stronger than himself.

But after the dream ended, when he was awake, he found himself unable to forget the slingshot in a small box.

It was just a slingshot hastily made by breaking off a branch and whittling it down; it wasn’t even smooth to the touch.

But it was given to him by Xie Anyu.

Chu Tang felt that perhaps this was fate.

If he hadn’t had the dream about his previous life later, perhaps the lingering thoughts left by that slingshot would have been diluted by time.

But he happened to know about the previous life. He knew that his previous self would also fall in love with her.

This was fate.

He didn’t get her in this life, which was why he had the dream about the previous life, right?

Chu Tang became unwilling.

Especially now that Xie Wan had actually humbled herself for the sake of changing the Da Yue Empire, submitting to her Imperial Sister.

She was the one who said she looked down on Emperor Ruiming.

Now, watching the two of them being intimate without a care for others, Chu Tang felt both jealous and powerless.

Why, after coming back, did she choose Imperial Sister instead of him?

Chu Tang thought distractedly.

Until midway through the banquet, he heard Xie Anyu’s cry of alarm—

“Your Majesty!”

See, even the worry in that voice seemed so genuine.

Xie Wan, you can’t really fall in love with my Imperial Sister.

Subsequently, shouts of disbelief erupted among the officials. “Imperial Physician, quickly summon an Imperial Physician!!”

Chu Tang looked over at the sound.

His Imperial Sister, who was sitting not far from him and had just been chatting and laughing with Anyu beside her, now had a deathly pale face, bl00d spilling from the corner of her mouth, dripping straight down, blooming like bl00d flowers on her bright yellow robe.

And as Chu Tang watched this scene, a slow smile curved his lips.

Only, he didn’t expect that the next moment, Imperial Sister would raise her head, her gaze meeting his precisely.

Chu Tang’s smile froze on his lips. He seemed to want to feign concern, but in that instant, the person with bl00d spilling from her mouth stared at his smile before he could.

His Imperial Sister looked at him, her face too pale, some of its stunning beauty gone.

A sickly person.

But in the eyes of that sickly person, there was blatant mockery and amusement.

As if to say—

So this is all the trickery you have.

Chu Tang’s heart tightened inexplicably.

He suddenly stood up!

No one noticed the fear in his eyes in that instant.

In everyone’s eyes, it seemed as though he was worried about Her Majesty.

The General’s Manor suddenly became chaotic.

People shouting for an Imperial Physician, the Xie family members rushing about as if their worry was not fake, and even Xie Wan beside Imperial Sister was so anxious.

The noise in his ears confirmed that everything was going smoothly. As for that look… Chu Tang clenched his fist, comforting himself that just now… he must have been mistaken.