After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 70

Chu Tang and Grand Consort Qin were surrounded by the Imperial Guards and ‘invited’ to the Golden Hall.

By the time they entered, the Golden Hall was already filled with civil and military officials.

Everyone had been puzzled as to why Her Majesty would summon the ministers immediately after waking up, until they saw Zhou Ning leading the Imperial Guards escorting Prince Xian and his mother.

That was Her Majesty’s only younger brother.

What crime had he committed?

Nothing major had happened in court recently… Could it be…?!

Someone looked at Xie Wan, who was still pale on the throne, and a preposterous guess emerged in their heart.

“Your Majesty, Prince Xian, Grand Consort Qin, and Imperial Physician Su have been brought.”

“Imperial Sister, what is the meaning of this?!” Even in the hall, Chu Tang was still being held. He was forced to kneel on the ground, struggling to look up at the Emperor on the Dragon Throne.

Not far away in the hall, there was also a slender figure. Chu Tang recognized who it was at a glance.

It was Xie Anyu.

“What meaning? While I was unconscious these past two days, the Censorate Office investigated many things, Chu Tang. Do you want to hear?”

Chu Tang still refused to admit anything, “Please enlighten me, Imperial Sister.”

The Minister of the Censorate stepped forward at Her Majesty’s signal, “In Imperial Physician Su’s residence, we have already found the poison made from Danyu.”

Grand Consort Qin was startled upon hearing this and immediately looked at Imperial Physician Su, who was also kneeling on the ground.

Imperial Physician Su also looked bewildered.

When did she bring the Danyu poison home? That was something that killed instantly upon contact with bl00d.

Seeing her confusion, Chu Tang’s heart sank further.

Clearly, this was a fabrication.

His Imperial Sister had ‘invited’ them here today to truly deal with them!

Regardless of what these few people thought, if the Censorate Office said they found it, then they found it.

The hall erupted in an uproar.

“Danyu originates from West Jin. Da Yue Empire does not have an environment suitable for its growth. So, Imperial Physician Su, where did this Danyu come from?” Xie Wan asked softly.

Imperial Physician Su opened her mouth to speak, but Xie Wan ruthlessly interrupted her, “Colluding with a neighboring country to assassinate the Emperor is a capital crime punishable by the Nine Familial Exterminations. Think carefully before you answer.”

Upon hearing the words ‘Nine Familial Exterminations’, Imperial Physician Su couldn’t help but tremble all over.

She had long disregarded her own life by helping Grand Consort Qin and her son, but the Nine Familial Exterminations…

Imperial Physician Su looked as if she had lost her parents, “Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble subject did not collude with West Jin. This Danyu… was, was given to this humble subject by Prime Minister Xu. This humble subject was only responsible for making the poison… As for other matters, this subject knows nothing.”

Grand Consort Qin felt a little relieved upon hearing this.

She had saved Imperial Physician Su’s life before, and by not implicating her, Imperial Physician Su could be considered someone who remembered kindness.

Xie Wan didn’t care how many doubts the officials present had. She raised her hand and waved, “Bring Prime Minister Xu.”

Chu Tang was stunned. She had even arrested Xu Ping.

Xu Ping was brought into the hall, his face looking even worse than Grand Consort Qin and her son. He was the Prime Minister, yet he was escorted into the palace in such a humiliating manner, being roughly pushed to the ground.

“Prime Minister Xu, Imperial Physician Su said that the Danyu was given to her by you. Where did the Danyu come from?”

Xu Ping sneered, “Whatever Imperial Physician Su says is true? How could I have Danyu? There must be a limit to framing someone. This subject just came out of the Censorate Office not long ago. This subject has never even heard of this Danyu. Why would Imperial Physician Su frame me? As a mere subject, what benefit would I gain from harming Your Majesty! The matter of poisoning is even less related to this subject. Your Majesty, this subject didn’t even attend General Xie’s birthday banquet!”

Imperial Physician Su shivered under his venomous gaze and could only lower her head and call out, “Your Majesty, it was indeed Prime Minister Xu who gave this humble subject the Danyu!”

“What deep hatred does Imperial Physician Su have with this official to frame me like this?” Prime Minister Xu adamantly denied it.

“Your Majesty, this poisoning incident was entirely orchestrated by Prime Minister Xu and Imperial Physician Su. What crime have this consort and Tang’er committed?” Grand Consort Qin blinked, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She was indeed beautiful, otherwise the late Emperor would not have had a son in his old age.

The ministers discussed amongst themselves, while Anyu watched this scene with some unease.

If Imperial Physician Su only implicated Prime Minister Xu, wouldn’t Grand Consort Qin and Chu Tang be able to escape unscathed?

“Your Majesty, this was also found in Imperial Physician Su’s home.”

The people from the Censorate Office presented the evidence at the right time.

It was a prescription slip.

“Give this prescription to Imperial Physician Chen to examine. What are the medicines on it for, and who are they for?”

“Your Majesty, this prescription…” Imperial Physician Chen stepped forward, examined the prescription carefully for a moment, and then knelt down with a thud, “This prescription… At first glance, it seems to be for calming the nerves, but for a weakened body poisoned by Danyu, the medicinal properties are conflicting. If taken for a long time, I’m afraid…”

“Weakened to death, right.”

Imperial Physician Chen sighed, “Yes.”

“Imperial Physician Su is too bold!”

“This is truly treason!”

“But can this prescription be blamed on Prime Minister Xu? If Your Majesty were truly… then the one who would benefit the most should be Prince Xian.”

“Your Majesty, it was Imperial Physician Su’s own treason, it has nothing to do with Tang’er!” Grand Consort Qin insisted, “How can you calculate based on who benefits the most? Everything must be based on evidence!”

“Grand Consort Qin means that I have wronged your good son?” Xie Wan smiled, “You wouldn’t think… that I am looking for the ‘true culprit’ among the three of you, would you? You seem to have misunderstood something. Since I have arrested all of you, it means that all of you are guilty.”

Grand Consort Qin and her son were both stunned.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of the Censorate immediately presented more evidence, “Your Majesty, this is a visiting card found in the Prime Minister’s Manor. The date is a few days after Prime Minister Xu left the Censorate Office, and the visiting card is also stamped with Prince Xian’s personal seal.”

“Oh?” Xie Wan’s gaze swept over the people below, “Chu Tang, what business did you have meeting Prime Minister Xu?”

Prime Minister Xu and Chu Tang were speechless.

What business could Prince Xian, who was staying in the palace, have with Prime Minister Xu, who had just come out of the Censorate Office?

But clearly, that visiting card… should have been destroyed.

It should have been destroyed, shouldn’t it? Why was it in Her Majesty’s hands?!

“Imperial Sister, someone deliberately framed…” Chu Tang hurriedly tried to explain.

“Someone framed you with the visiting card, but did I also wrong you by saying you left the palace several times to meet Prime Minister Xu? Chu Tang, I have seen your every word and action.”

Xie Wan was not lying when she said this.

She had people in Jiahua Palace, and the area around Xu Ping’s Prime Minister’s Manor was even more filled with her informants. As for whether Chu Tang had left the palace to meet Xu Ping, it was simple; she only needed to check his records of leaving the palace.

She summoned the officials today not to convince anyone with evidence, but simply to inform everyone that Prime Minister Xu and Grand Consort Qin and her son were guilty of treason.

This trap, like catching a turtle in a jar, had already ended the moment she woke up from being poisoned.

“Imperial Physician Su repaid Grand Consort Qin’s kindness from years ago and has been working for you. You and your son are inseparable from the state of my body now. As for this poisoning…” Xie Wan smiled indifferently, “Prime Minister Xu wanted to avenge his two sons, and you wanted the throne beneath me, so you conspired together. Am I right?”

Chu Tang was speechless.

Being looked at by those eyes that seemed to see through everything, Chu Tang seemed to lose all strength and sat down on the ground.

So…

In fact, Imperial Sister knew everything. She had already set up a trap, waiting to catch them like turtles in a jar?

Evidence or no evidence, it no longer mattered.

She could fabricate a hundred pieces of evidence to convict them.

What Her Majesty wanted was simply to spread the news of their treason throughout the land and kill him openly and justifiably.

Seeing their expressions, the officials also understood something. They knew the truth but remained silent. Grand Consort Qin and her son had always been well-behaved; who knew they harbored such wolfish ambitions…

“Tang’er, Tang’er, get up!” Grand Consort Qin called out her son’s name unwillingly.

Seeing this, Grand Consort Qin gritted her teeth and said, “Your Majesty, this consort pleads guilty! The matter of the visiting card was entirely this consort’s doing. Tang’er knew nothing… He is Your Majesty’s own brother. Regardless of anything else, Your Majesty should consider this remaining sibling affection!”

Perhaps a mother is strong for her child. Grand Consort Qin was also at a loss at this moment, only wanting to protect her son.

Xie Wan merely glanced at her and said, “Grand Consort Qin, it is not I who should consider this remaining sibling affection, but your good son.”

Thinking about it now, she also felt a wave of sorrow for Emperor Ruiming.

Chu Long had originally regarded Grand Consort Qin as half a mother. But what had Grand Consort Qin instructed Imperial Physician Su to do to her? Her untimely death was entirely due to this mother and son.

Xie Wan could not tolerate them.

In this life, she had to live relying on Chu Long’s body. Therefore, she could not allow any other mishaps.

Xie Wan waved her hand as if to get them out of sight and out of mind, “Take them to the Censorate Office.”

“Yes.”

Before being taken away, Chu Tang stared intently at Anyu in the hall.

Anyu felt that gaze, filled with anger, unwillingness, and resentment. It was the same look he had shown that night he specifically came to the General’s Manor.

Anyu couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

Why was he looking at her?

The Imperial Guards escorted the few people to the Censorate Office, and the court returned to silence.

The sentencing would have to wait until the Censorate Office thoroughly interrogated the details. In short, everyone involved would not escape death.

But the matter of Her Majesty being poisoned was finally settled.

The conspiracy between Prince Xian, Grand Consort Qin, and Prime Minister Xu to harm the Emperor was now set in stone. Everyone sighed, only able to say how audacious they were.

Later, after careful investigation and interrogation by the Censorate Office, the source of the Danyu was indeed found.

Danyu did not appear out of thin air.

Xu Ping had been in contact with people from West Jin many years ago. Even the arms smugglers Anyu caught while suppressing bandits in Lingbei were somewhat related to Xu Ping.

Earlier, among the silver found in the manor of Minister Qian’s wife’s cousin, a portion of the source was from smuggling.

However, later, when he held a high position, he no longer managed these matters and handed them over to others.

But the idea for the Danyu actually came from Chu Tang’s side.

Danyu from West Jin could be made into a strange poison, capable of poisoning the Emperor and also framing the Xie family.

That’s why Xu Ping contacted the West Jin people again and bought the Danyu with a large sum of money.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. The poison did not kill Emperor Ruiming instantly upon contact with bl00d, and the Xie family was completely unharmed. Instead, the person woke up two days later, and the conspiracy was exposed to the sunlight, with nowhere to hide.

The investigation did not take much time.

Grand Consort Qin and her son had no strong backing. Chu Tang, relying on his ‘rebirth’, could be considered ‘bold due to his skill’.

But this time, the plan was too far ahead of the previous life. Emperor Ruiming not only wasn’t muddled by illness but was also very shrewd. There were too many variables. Chu Tang ultimately overestimated himself and underestimated Xie Wan.

Xu Ping’s case, on the other hand, implicated many others, which also achieved Xie Wan’s original goal—

To completely eradicate the parasites of Da Yue Empire.

Pulling one hair moves the whole body; not a single one could escape.

Those who should be arrested were arrested, and those who should be killed were killed.

By the time everything was over, seven days had passed.

Grand Consort Qin and her son would be executed soon. Before that, Xie Wan proposed going to the Censorate Office.

“To see Chu Tang?” Anyu asked her.

“Yes.”

Anyu remembered the look in Chu Tang’s eyes when he saw her in the hall. He was clearly looking at someone else through her, and that person was right in front of her now.

A hint of displeasure quietly arose in her heart, and Anyu asked, “What is Your Majesty going to do?”

“To see Chu Tang.”

“Then I’ll go too.”

Xie Wan felt inexplicably annoyed, but she didn’t show it outwardly, “What are you going to do?”

Seeing this, Anyu pursed her lips, “Can’t I go?”

Xie Wan was completely bewildered. How could Anyu seem even more unhappy than her? So she compromised, “Go if you want.”

The two then went to the Censorate Office together.

Chu Tang was also locked in a solitary cell, his treatment incomparable to that of Lady Consort Wan when she was here last time.

His young body had already suffered many tortures. His prison uniform was crisscrossed with bloodstains, and his hair was messy, showing no trace of the nobility of a Prince Xian.

The two did not ask the jailer to open the door. Instead, they dismissed the jailer and stood in the deserted prison cell, looking at Chu Tang through the bars.

Chu Tang had suffered enough these past few days. He looked at the two richly dressed figures with red eyes, his hatred pouring out.

“Are you here to see me make a fool of myself?”

“As your Imperial Sister, shouldn’t I come to see you off on your final journey?” Xie Wan said.

Chu Tang hated her condescending and superior attitude. Since he was going to die anyway, he said angrily, “If she hadn’t helped you, do you think you could have lived until now! Chu Long, I didn’t lose to you, I lost to her!”

After speaking, Chu Tang’s knife-like gaze fixed on Anyu. It was clear who the ‘she’ he spoke of was.

Xie Wan neither confirmed nor denied, only asking, “You knew what Anyu knew, didn’t you? Do you think you lost unfairly?”

“Haha… Xie Wan, you really told her everything!” Chu Tang gritted his teeth, “Did you forget? Did you completely forget? Chu Long loved Xu Shengwen the most. What are you? Sooner or later, you will regret choosing her now!”

“What if I chose you?” Xie Wan smiled, “I helped you in the previous life, and didn’t I still die at the hands of your mother?”

Anyu grabbed Xie Wan’s hand, her eyes filled with surprise.

Regarding Her Majesty’s end in the previous life, she had always been vague.

Xie Wan gently held her hand, indicating that it was alright.

Chu Tang was stunned when he heard this. He trembled his lips and looked at Anyu, saying in a low voice, “I didn’t know… I said I didn’t know about this, does Sister Wan believe me?”

“There’s nothing to believe or not believe.” Xie Wan sighed softly, “You might not believe it when I say this, but at that time, I knew those medicinal soups were poisoned. If I didn’t want to, you couldn’t have killed me.”

Her power at that time was indeed so great that it aroused suspicion. It was estimated that Grand Consort Qin couldn’t sleep at night because of it.

She didn’t necessarily have to be the Regent King.

She didn’t really want to live either.

“You?” Chu Tang’s gaze fell on her, and he flinched.

Why did she refer to herself as ‘I’, and why did she continue his sentence?

Sister Wan…

Chu Tang suddenly looked at Anyu beside her. She was indifferent, indifferent to his repeated calls of ‘Sister Wan’.

But how was that possible?

Xie Anyu wasn’t Sister Wan, Imperial Sister was Sister Wan?!

“Is Heaven playing a joke on me?” Chu Tang exclaimed.

He had completely mistaken the person?!

“You don’t need to feel like someone played with you.” Xie Wan said mockingly, “Even if you knew who I was, you still wouldn’t give up the throne.”

Chu Tang was silent for a long time, then slumped to the ground.

He had already lost completely, hadn’t he? What was the point of saying anything more?

Suddenly thinking of something, Chu Tang raised his head and looked at their clasped hands, “You…”

He had seen it at the birthday banquet, the way they were intimately close. That wasn’t fake.

Imperial Sister was Xie Wan, so who was Xie Anyu? What kind of relationship… did the two of them have?

Xie Wan raised Anyu’s hand to her lips and kissed it, “This is my Empress.”

Anyu’s heart trembled slightly, and she whispered, “I’m still Consort Wan right now.”

“You will be eventually.”

Xie Wan smiled and pulled Anyu to walk back.

As for the person in the prison cell, no matter how much he cursed and roared, she had completely cast him out of her mind.

She had asked the questions she wanted to ask.

She was certain that this Chu Tang was definitely not the Chu Tang from the previous life.

This current Chu Tang was merely someone who had accidentally learned about the previous life and thus became obsessed with the throne, changing his original intentions.

The Chu Tang of the previous life, although also deeply cunning, had witnessed the suffering of Da Yue Empire. Compared to the throne, he hoped more for a peaceful land and a prosperous world.

Perhaps it was because of this.

That’s why she was willing to drink those poisoned medicines.

But this time, she had an Empress she wanted to marry and a prosperous world she wanted to see. Therefore, she would not yield.