After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 69

The Censorate Office of Da Yue was established specifically for investigation and interrogation. Whether it was royalty, nobles, or civil and military officials, as the largest supervisory body in Da Yue, it was directly controlled by the Emperor.

After Xie Wan became Emperor Ruiming, she purged many corrupt officials, and the Censorate Office was firmly in her grasp. However, these were mostly covert methods and were not brought into the open.

During Xu Ping’s imprisonment in the Censorate Office, many people submitted memorials to save him, and it was extremely difficult even for those with connections to get a meeting, let alone plant people inside. Xu Ping suffered for several months while he was in the Censorate Office. On the surface, this was due to the Censorate Office’s uprightness, but in reality, it was all at Xie Wan’s instruction.

Zhou Ning followed Xie Wan all the way to the Censorate Office. Seeing Her Majesty’s pale face, she couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, Lady Consort will be fine in the Censorate Office. You…”

Zhou Ning wasn’t saying this without reason. As things looked now, it was Her Majesty who was on the verge of trouble. As for the Censorate Office, she had also inquired and knew that Anyu was fine there.

Leaving aside the fact that the Xie family’s alleged plot to harm Her Majesty was still undecided, even if the medical book left by Lady Xie contained information about Danyu, it wasn’t enough to convict the Xie family of colluding with West Jin.

Anyu’s status was clear. Before Her Majesty woke up and pronounced judgment, no one dared to touch a single hair on the Lady Consort. Moreover, Zhou Ning also knew that Anyu had many hidden guards around her, all, of course, ordered by Her Majesty.

Furthermore, the Xie family was now not just a military family; they also had a Minister of Revenue who held real power as a Prime Minister.

To be honest, even if Anyu hadn’t gone to the Censorate Office, no one would have dared to forcibly arrest her.

So Zhou Ning couldn’t understand one thing.

When Her Majesty was in trouble, the safest person, without exception, should have been Anyu.

Xie Wan’s voice was full of weariness: “I know she’s fine…” She paused, then stopped speaking.

Well, maybe not entirely fine.

“Zhou Ning, you don’t need to follow me. Within half an hour, the news of my waking will spread throughout the palace. Go outside the palace with my token and summon all civil and military officials. Also, mobilize all the Imperial Guards in the palace.” She took a token from her waist and handed it to Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning frowned, “Your Majesty, you…”

“I have hidden guards following me. I don’t trust this matter to anyone else. Go, I’m fine, it’s just a bit of Danyu poison.” Xie Wan said lightly, her face showing no concern.

“Yes.” Zhou Ning clasped her hands, bowed, and left in a hurry.

Standing at the entrance of the Censorate Office, Xie Wan sighed softly, “I want to see Consort Wan. Lead the way.”

The people from the Censorate Office dared not disobey and quickly led her towards the Imperial Prison.

“Your Majesty, the Lady Consort is in the innermost cell. Those are private cells, with no neighbors on either side. The Lady Consort’s daily bathing and changing clothes will not be hindered, and her daily meals are carefully checked before being served,” the prison warden in charge of the Imperial Prison said cautiously.

After all, the incident of Her Majesty being poisoned had just occurred. If something happened to the Lady Consort in the Imperial Prison, they couldn’t bear the responsibility.

“As for the interrogation, it has all been done. The Lady Consort was very cooperative…” Speaking of this, the prison warden couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Your subjects believe the Lady Consort can already return to her residence, but the Lady Consort insists… on staying in this Imperial Prison until Your Majesty wakes up.”

Xie Wan: “…I understand.”

Xie Wan strode forward. As she approached the innermost cell, she paused, rubbed her face, and pursed her lips, trying to make her complexion look better.

After doing all this, she walked over.

The prison cell was rather dim. The person inside was wearing a white prisoner’s uniform and was practicing martial arts in the cell, showing no sign of being a prisoner.

Hearing the movement, the girl in the prisoner’s uniform turned her head.

Seeing the person who had arrived, her expression changed dramatically.

Her eyes were filled with light, as if in that instant she became the brightest point of light in the cell, but quickly, her face became stern again.

Looking at each other through the neatly arranged bars, Anyu pursed her lips tightly, staring at the person who had woken up.

It had been two days.

The jailer quickly opened the cell door, then lowered his head and retreated, leaving this corner to them.

Xie Wan asked with a smile, “Is Lady Consort Wan still not planning to come out?”

Anyu stood where she was, looking at her, “When did you wake up?”

“Just now, just woke up.”

Anyu clenched her fists, “When you told me the plan, you didn’t say you were going through this.”

Xie Wan sighed, “I didn’t know they would poison me.”

“You didn’t know?” Anyu gave a short laugh, “Her Majesty’s people were watching Father’s birthday banquet the entire time. How could you not know?”

“…I only knew about this the day before the birthday banquet. I apologize, I made you worry.”

Xie Wan walked towards her, reaching out to touch Anyu, but was swatted away.

“Danyu poison is very potent, it’s written in the medical book Mother left behind. I’ve read that medical book, how could Your Majesty not have read it? The Imperial Physician said that at the time… if Your Majesty had eaten even one more bite of that dish, not even an immortal could have saved you.” Anyu stared at her with burning eyes, angry and furious.

Just a little bit more, and she would have died.

It was a matter of life and death, why did this person talk about it so lightly?!

Seeing the fire in her eyes, Xie Wan’s heart also tightened.

She had truly angered her.

“Did Your Majesty never consider what it felt like for me to see Your Majesty spitting bl00d?” Anyu gritted her teeth, “Does Your Majesty know what it felt like for me to see Your Majesty lying on that bed, on the verge of death?!”

“I…” Xie Wan was speechless.

“The Xie family is suspected of harming Her Majesty and colluding with West Jin, but not a single person from the Xie family was arrested. Your Majesty had already thought of this step, and made arrangements long ago. Even when I entered the Censorate Office, people catered to me in everything. I stayed here for a day, and even the interrogations were gentle, for fear of frightening Lady Consort Wan!” Xie Anyu said angrily, “Your Majesty has so many methods, with so many methods, why did you still eat that poison?”

Xie Wan: “…I need a reason that I can explain to the officials and the common people to kill Chu Tang and Xu Ping.”

“Even if it means risking your own life?!”

Xie Wan smiled bitterly. Her life was only precious in Anyu’s eyes. But after thinking about it, Xie Wan didn’t dare to say that, only softly explained, “I started secretly having people research an antidote for Danyu a long time ago. I originally thought I would eventually confront West Jin, but I didn’t expect to use it at this time. If I hadn’t truly been poisoned, I couldn’t have fooled Imperial Physician Su.”

Whether it was Xu Ping leaving the Censorate Office, Grand Consort Qin and her son revealing their true colors, or their collusion to take her life… This was something she had been planning since before she went to the Northern Border. The birthday banquet was an excellent opportunity, and she didn’t want to give it up.

Taking a risky move, indeed.

But the facts proved that her arrangements were not wrong.

If Chu Tang and Xu Ping had wanted to make a desperate move while she was poisoned, the Imperial Guards and the Xie family army would have immediately executed them on the spot.

But Chu Tang still didn’t dare.

He wanted the throne, but he didn’t want to bear the name of treason and usurpation.

Xu Ping was even less likely to act rashly; he had no one left in the palace. After the Emperor was poisoned, the area around the sleeping quarters truly became an impenetrable fortress; not even a fly could fly around randomly.

Thus, when she woke up, it would be time to deal with them.

“Actually, this poison isn’t as potent as the Imperial Physician said. It’s just… this body is too delicate, which is why I was unconscious for two days.” She had been poisoned before when fighting, and it hadn’t been fatal.

“I won’t die, I promised you. Only this once.”

Xie Wan spoke sincerely, but Anyu clearly didn’t give her face, “Next time, I’ll also find some kind of poison to try. Then perhaps Your Majesty will also feel the same way.”

Xie Wan: “…You are not allowed.”

Anyu turned her head away, silent.

“It’s my fault.” Xie Wan poked her cheek, “I was wrong.”

Anyu puffed out her cheeks, “Don’t want to hear it.”

“I admit my mistake, and I accept the punishment.”

Anyu’s ears twitched.

“Anyu can punish me however she wants.”

Hearing her say this, Anyu became even more unhappy, “Punish you for what? Will punishing you make you remember? It’s funny, I planned to sit in the Censorate Office for a few days, preferably with some harsh interrogation, so that when you saw me, you would understand what I was angry about.”

As she spoke, she gritted her teeth again, “But these people, they were afraid I’d be cold even in a prisoner’s uniform, so they added many thick clothes for me to wear underneath. Even when I was squatting in the cell, the hidden guards were within ten steps of me!”

Xie Wan laughed after hearing this.

“You’re still laughing!” Anyu was angry, “It’s all your arrangements, you did it on purpose…”

Xie Wan buried her head in her neck, muffled laughter coming out, “I didn’t know you would come to the Censorate Office, truly.”

In her plan, the Censorate Office wouldn’t arrest anyone. Anyu voluntarily entering was beyond her expectation.

Hearing her say this, Anyu’s anger gradually dissipated.

Her voice, falling into Xie Wan’s ears, was slightly ethereal and distant, “Your Majesty, only this once. It’s not just Your Majesty who regards me as a treasure; Anyu also wants Your Majesty to be free from illness and pain, and always smiling.”

Xie Wan raised her head and pulled her into her arms, “I promise you.”

“Mm.” Anyu responded softly.

Actually, after calming down, Anyu wasn’t unable to understand her.

Because Xie Wan was herself.

If she were in Her Majesty’s position, she would also do the same.

They were the same kind of person deep down.

When she was injured on the battlefield, she would also feel that a little injury was nothing, as long as she could win, could be victorious, then it was worth it. Her anger wasn’t because she wanted Her Majesty to stop such plans.

She just hoped that if something like this happened again in the future, they could both consider things a bit more, use a more secure method, even if… just for the simple reason of not making the other person feel heartache.

For my sake, be a little more afraid of death.

Anyu grabbed the hem of her clothes, thinking this.

At the same time, the news of Xie Wan waking up quickly spread to all the palaces.

“Imperial Physician Su, she has woken up.” Grand Consort Qin sat in the main seat, Chu Tang beside her, while Imperial Physician Su knelt before them, being questioned.

“Grand Consort, rest assured. Based on Her Majesty’s body, even if she wakes up, she won’t last long. The Danyu poison cannot be completely expelled with ordinary antidotes. As long as the toxin remains in Her Majesty’s body for a day, combined with the prescription I gave, within half a year, Her Majesty will… die from weakness,” Imperial Physician Su said, sweating profusely.

Grand Consort Qin didn’t say whether she was satisfied or not, only said, “Imperial Physician Su, go back. Her Majesty is awake, you should be attending to her.”

“Yes, this subject takes her leave.” Imperial Physician Su got up, her legs numb, and walked out.

She had done many things for Grand Consort Qin when she was young.

Now, even if she wanted to escape, she couldn’t.

“Tang’er, what are you thinking about?” Grand Consort Qin looked at her son.

Chu Tang shook his head, hesitated for a moment, but still asked, “Mother, that Danyu… can it really cause someone to die from weakness without a sound?”

“It also requires Imperial Physician Su’s prescription,” Grand Consort Qin said lightly, “By then, no one will be able to trace it back to us.”

What Xu Ping wanted was to directly poison the Emperor to death, but what Grand Consort Qin wanted was to plant a poisonous seed in her.

Her Tang’er couldn’t bear the name of treason and regicide. To become Emperor legitimately, the best way was for Emperor Ruiming to die of illness.

The Xie family was indeed loyal, but if Chu Long died, even the Xie family could only recognize her son as Emperor!

Chu Tang paused.

What appeared in his mind at this moment was the scene from his dream.

He vaguely remembered that Sister Wan later died, seemingly also from illness…

It was about half a year after he ascended the throne.

Could it be…

Chu Tang looked at his mother, then slowly lowered his head.

“Tang’er, do you think Mother is too cruel?” A strange look appeared in Grand Consort Qin’s eyes.

Chu Tang shook his head, “No. Mother is right.”

Before the throne, no matter who it was, as long as they were his obstacle, they had to be cleared away one by one.

As soon as his voice fell, a hurried report came from outside—

“Grand Consort, Your Highness, this is bad! The Imperial Guards, the Imperial Guards have surrounded us… surrounded Jiahua Palace!”

Grand Consort Qin suddenly stood up, “What did you say?!”

The next moment, the palace door was violently broken open. Zhou Ning had already rushed into the hall, and with her came the dense ranks of the Imperial Guards from the palace.

And in the hands of those Imperial Guards, they were holding Imperial Physician Su, who had just left her palace.

Grand Consort Qin’s face turned pale.

Even Chu Tang’s face became difficult to look at.

“Zhou Ning, what is the meaning of this?!”

Zhou Ning said calmly, “Grand Consort Qin, Prince Xian, Her Majesty requests your presence.”