After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 71

Three days later, Prime Minister Xu was beheaded before the Meridian Gate, while Grand Consort Qin and her son were granted a cup of poisoned wine and died in the Imperial Prison.

After Prime Minister Xu’s death, his last batch of cronies, including the Minister of Rites and others, were all apprehended.

This crackdown on corrupt officials was no less severe than the one during the disaster relief.

By the time everything settled and they came back to their senses, light snow had begun to fall in the capital. It wasn’t the kind of snow that piled up several feet thick like in the North, but rather a gentle flutter that landed on palms and hair, melting away silently.

Snow fell from the sky, and people holding umbrellas slowed their steps as they walked along the streets.

The New Year was approaching.

Even with the snow falling, the streets of the capital were bustling. Lanterns were hung, and carriages flowed like water.

“This year, there are many more small trinkets in the capital’s shops, and it seems many more eateries too, selling food unique to the North. This is all thanks to Your Majesty’s efforts in promoting commerce. It looks so lively.”

Because of the cold weather, even the hot breath exhaled condensed into white mist.

The young lady speaking wore a fluffy cloak, held an umbrella in her hand, and her skirt swayed slightly with her steps, the exquisite embroidery on her dress lifelike.

The woman beside her appeared older, also wearing a long fur cloak that reached her boots. In her hand, she held a patterned hand warmer.

At first glance, they looked like pampered young ladies from some noble household. However, passersby might be puzzled as to why these two beautiful young ladies had no servants accompanying them.

“It will become more and more lively in the future.” Xie Wan smiled. Whether it was the capital or the North, both would become increasingly vibrant.

“Two young ladies, would you like to buy something? These hairpins are modeled after the Snow Plum Blossoms from the Winter Flower Fest in the North, they’re very pretty!” A small vendor boldly called out to the two.

Snow Plum Blossoms?

Xie Wan turned back to look. Indeed, the vendor’s stall displayed many small accessories in the style of Snow Plum Blossoms.

This reminded her of her time in the North.

The two stopped in front of the vendor’s stall.

This made the vendor extremely happy, even straightening his hunched back a little.

However, the two did not intend to buy anything from him. They only looked for a moment before continuing forward with their umbrellas.

“These Snow Plum Blossom styles are selling very well in the capital now,” Anyu told her. “After frequent trade between the North and South, the story of the Northern Winter Flower Fest is no longer uncommon. Although Southerners don’t have this tradition, they find the story of the Winter Flower Fest interesting, so small items in the Snow Plum Blossom style sell exceptionally well. Most… are bought as gifts for family members.”

The Snow Plum Blossom of the Winter Flower Fest, which symbolized affection in the North, carried its story to the South, becoming the warmest expression of sentiment in winter.

“You certainly know a lot.”

Anyu smiled, “I’m not like Your Majesty, I occasionally go out of the palace to look around. And I know Miss Qi, she’s the head of the Capital Merchant Association, you see.”

“Miss Qi? Qi Shu?” Xie Wan was surprised. “You know her?”

The name Qi Shu was not unfamiliar to her. She had contributed greatly during the disaster relief in the North, and now the Qi family had become the Imperial Merchants of Da Yue. As the head of the family, Qi Shu’s reputation naturally spread far and wide.

Anyu blinked, “Yes, I know her. Miss Qi also sent someone to deliver a gift for Father’s birthday banquet last time.”

“She and Eldest Brother…?” Xie Wan looked at her, stating her guess.

Anyu gave a thumbs-up: “Your Majesty is clever!”

Xie Wan fell silent.

That Xie Yunyu could finally bloom like an iron tree was something she hadn’t expected.

Then she smiled, lowering her voice, “Imperial Merchant plus Minister of Revenue… these two becoming a family, did I lose or gain from this?”

Anyu blinked, “Naturally, you gained. Family members naturally help their own. When our state treasury is empty, we can even borrow money from Sister-in-law.”

Xie Wan chuckled, “That makes sense.”

“But I think they haven’t reached the stage of discussing marriage yet,” Anyu sighed. “Eldest Brother is smart in other matters, but quite dull when it comes to feelings.”

Xie Wan: “No rush. If they were to marry now, I would be the one in a panic.”

Anyu: ?

“I’ve given the Xie family so much power. Now they hold military power, and if they marry an Imperial Merchant, they’ll have money too. With both money and soldiers, shouldn’t the next step be rebellion?” Xie Wan saw Anyu eager to say something but didn’t give her a chance, instead smiling, “I know what you want to say, but Anyu, gossip is a fearful thing. There will always be people who think and say such things. Without the Xu family, the Xie family is naturally at the center of attention now.”

Anyu frowned, “Then…”

What Your Majesty said was right. To outsiders, the Xie family indeed held too much power now.

“No need to worry.” Xie Wan held her hand.

Anyu looked up.

“From my perspective, promoting members of the Xie family is only because they possess such talent. If they were not capable individuals, I would not use them. However, it’s not impossible that in the future, the Xie family’s descendants might become arrogant because of this, seeking glory and power, their hearts never satisfied, just like Chu Tang in this lifetime, blinded by desire.”

“If that day comes, I will not be lenient.”

Anyu understood her meaning. The person inside was indeed surnamed Xie, but she was also the Emperor of Da Yue, and the burden on her shoulders was completely different from her own.

“At that time, Your Majesty need not act personally. Anyu will personally take the command to handle it,” Anyu said solemnly.

The next second, the hand warmed by the hand warmer rested on her cheek, gently tucking away a strand of hair. “Anyu has grown up quite a bit compared to a year ago.”

Anyu looked puzzled, “Even before, I would have said the same thing.”

If there were treacherous officials in the Xie family, the Xie family members themselves would be the first to execute them.

Even when Emperor Ruiming was alive, it was like this. Now that ‘Emperor Ruiming’ had become a wise ruler, the Xie family would assist Her Majesty with all they had.

Xie Wan smiled and didn’t explain.

After the Xu family and their cronies were dealt with, the court experienced a period of calm.

Aside from state affairs, the officials’ attention began to focus on the position beside her; the position of Empress of Da Yue was still vacant.

“Anyu, I want to make you Empress.”

It was an abrupt sentence, her words clear, but it still almost made Anyu fail to react.

Anyu first let out an “Ah,” before saying, “But… that won’t work, will it?”

Xie Wan’s heart skipped a beat. “Why won’t it work?”

Anyu said, “Didn’t Your Majesty just say that gossip is a fearful thing? If Your Majesty insists on making me Empress against all opposition, then tomorrow many officials will kneel before the palace gates begging Your Majesty to reconsider. At that time, they will truly say that Xie Anyu is a calamitous concubine who ruins the state.”

She was a girl, and Her Majesty was too. If she became Empress, the imperial lineage would have no legitimate heir.

Succession was one problem.

And her surname was Xie, which was another problem.

As soon as the imperial decree was issued, the memorials in the Imperial Study would likely pile up into small mountains the next day, filled with pleas for Her Majesty to reconsider.

“Da Yue has just gotten rid of its stubborn ailments. Let those people’s minds focus on state affairs,” she said, seeing Xie Wan remain expressionless, then laughed it off, “Besides, if the Xie family gains another Empress, then Eldest Brother and Miss Qi truly won’t have a chance, will they?”

Xie Wan still didn’t speak, which made Anyu a little anxious.

Until Xie Wan let out a soft sigh.

“Well! My treatment in the palace now… is actually no different from that of an Empress,” Anyu said softly. “Let’s wait a few more years, after I’ve earned a few more military merits… or when Da Yue is stable, then we can talk about establishing an Empress?”

Anyu felt that Her Majesty’s situation wasn’t actually that good.

In earlier years, Emperor Ruiming was seen by officials as incompetent and weak. Although that had changed now, it had only been a year. Anyu didn’t want to push both Her Majesty and the Xie family into the eye of the storm over the matter of establishing an Empress.

“If we mention it a few years from now, no one will kneel before the palace gates begging me to reconsider?” Xie Wan suddenly asked her, her eyes dark. Her little Anyu had grown up, she was considering so much now.

Anyu choked up, and after a while, she quietly said something treasonous, “By then, I’ll be carrying military achievements and holding military power. I’d like to see who dares stop me from being Empress!”

Xie Wan paused, her gaze seemingly penetrating into Anyu’s heart.

After a moment of silence, Xie Wan said vaguely, “I will only wait for you for two years.”

Anyu suddenly froze.

“My little Anyu is a coward,” Xie Wan shook her head.

Her little thoughts exposed, Anyu almost couldn’t hold her umbrella, her face flushed red as she said, “You! Did Your Majesty think about becoming Empress when you were seventeen? Being Empress… isn’t just about taking care of Your Majesty.”

Xie Wan raised an eyebrow, “Then I won’t avoid it either.”

Anyu pouted. She was just a little worried that she wouldn’t be able to fulfill the role of ‘Mother of the World’ well.

From a young age, she knew that the higher the position, the greater the responsibility.

Because she stayed by this person’s side, she deeply understood the difficulty of being in a high position. It was true for the Emperor, and it was true for the Empress.

Although she had also declared she would be this person’s Empress, it had only been a few months since she said those words! She wasn’t even considered a ‘Little General’ yet.

“I’ll only give you two years,” Xie Wan rubbed her hair.

She was herself; how could she not know what Anyu was thinking? The word Empress didn’t just mean someone’s wife; Anyu wanted to be her Empress, and also wanted to be the Mother of Da Yue.

If she couldn’t do it well, she would be unwilling.

As expected, Anyu’s face lit up upon hearing this. “Two years it is! Hehe.”

Xie Wan shook her head helplessly and took the umbrella from her hand.

The two then walked hand in hand towards the lively scene further ahead.

“Oh right, Your Majesty! Let’s buy some small Snow Plum Blossom trinkets to take back. The flower Your Majesty gave me during the Winter Flower Fest has already withered.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s exchange them every year. I’ll give them to Your Majesty too.”

“Okay.”

The vendor’s calls still echoed in their ears, accompanying them towards the greater excitement ahead.