After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 78

On the day the West Jin envoys entered the capital, a banquet had already been prepared in the palace.

Ajirui alighted from the carriage, entered the palace, and after bathing, changed into Da Yue palace attire. It wasn’t convenient for overly bold movements, but it looked very beautiful and grand.

Ajirui thought mockingly, changing into Da Yue palace attire probably wasn’t the Da Yue Emperor’s intention, but rather the envoys’ idea to make her more appealing to the Da Yue Emperor’s eye.

Chu Long.

The Emperor was rumored to be not very assertive, but in the past two years, Da Yue had become increasingly prosperous under her leadership. Before meeting her, Ajirui was very cautious and dared not jump to conclusions.

Chu Long…

Ajirui chewed on the name in her heart, following the envoys into the Golden Hall.

Da Yue had always been more prosperous than West Jin.

This palace, situated in the center of the imperial city, was truly magnificent and resplendent, even the bricks underfoot shimmered in the sunlight.

“Ajirui, Eldest Princess of West Jin, pays respects to Her Majesty the Emperor of Da Yue.” Ajirui bowed with the envoys, her head slightly lowered, appearing as meek and harmless as the rumors suggested.

“Princess has traveled a long way, there’s no need for formality. Someone, grant her a seat.” It was a gentle female voice.

Ajirui looked up.

But upon meeting those eyes, her pupils suddenly contracted.

Xie Wan was looking at her with a smile.

Ajirui, however, slightly tightened her hands within her wide sleeves.

It was her.

She wasn’t some imperial envoy; she was actually the Emperor of Da Yue!

And two years ago, during the truce agreement meeting of the three kingdoms’ envoys, not a single person had discovered it!

An Emperor, yet she traveled far to the border to sign this truce agreement.

Ajirui was almost certain that the exposure of her power was inextricably linked to Da Yue!

Time had passed, and facing those eyes again now, she still couldn’t hide the unease in her heart.

She slightly turned her head to avoid the gaze, her mood exceptionally heavy. But just as she turned, she unexpectedly met another pair of eyes. That gaze freely assessed her, even carrying a hint of coldness.

Ajirui looked closely and was stunned.

She had also seen this person in Jinghe.

At that time, the young general was a bit more youthful than now; she had skillfully stopped a street disturbance. Ajirui remembered her face.

The daughter of the Xie family of Da Yue, daughter of Xie Chengdong. A young general who rose to fame during the numerous skirmishes in the northern border, and also…

The current Lady Consort Wan of Da Yue, rumored to be the Da Yue Emperor’s sole favorite, who even disbanded the imperial harem for her.

Ajirui didn’t believe the rumors.

Rather than any talk of sole favor, she believed more that this Lady Consort Wan was a handle the Da Yue Emperor held to control the Xie family. After seeing that the Da Yue Emperor was actually the owner of those eyes, she became even more certain of this.

However… at this moment, she was looking at her with cold eyes… was she afraid that she would enter the palace and steal her position?

It didn’t seem like it either.

In short, in the past two years, this young general seemed to have grown quite a bit.

In that instant, many thoughts flashed through Ajirui’s mind, but she suppressed them all.

Being new here, it was better not to make enemies for herself.

Ajirui lowered her head and sat down to the side.

The West Jin envoys then stated their purpose, speaking in not-so-fluent Da Yue language: “Your Majesty the Emperor of Da Yue, our new Emperor of West Jin has ascended the throne and intends to establish a hundred years of good relations with Da Yue.”

“This time, we have sent the Eldest Princess precisely to form a marriage alliance with Da Yue. We have long heard that Your Majesty the Emperor loves women, and our Eldest Princess is of noble status. We hope Your Majesty the Emperor can marry our Princess as your wife.”

Xie Wan’s expression was languid and smiling, and she asked unhurriedly, “As wife?”

“Yes,” the envoy replied.

Even Ajirui herself was stunned by these words.

Ajili actually had the envoys say this… She, a discarded piece sent for a marriage alliance, was asking for the position of Empress of Da Yue right away? Was this out of fear that she, this discarded piece, would have too good a time in Da Yue in the coming days?

The Golden Hall fell silent. The court officials made no sound, and the palace attendants standing by didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.

Become Empress?

West Jin sending just any princess and expecting her to become the Empress of Da Yue was simply too absurd and arrogant! The Empress is the mother of the nation; letting the Eldest Princess of West Jin be this mother of the nation would only be a laughingstock!

“This new Emperor of West Jin is truly overbearing,” Xie Wan suddenly said.

The West Jin envoy sensed that the female Emperor on the high seat seemed a bit displeased, so the envoy said, “The Eldest Princess is of noble status, being His Majesty’s only elder sister. We hope Your Majesty the Emperor of Da Yue can treat the Eldest Princess well.”

Many court officials had already turned cold faces.

This West Jin is truly shameless!

As if anyone didn’t know that the new Emperor of West Jin had just ascended the throne and his foundation was not yet stable. Coming for a marriage alliance now was simply because the three-kingdom truce agreement signed two years ago would expire next year, and the new Emperor of West Jin wanted peace, which was why he resorted to this marriage alliance move.

They were clearly begging Da Yue for a marriage alliance, yet they dared to open their mouths and demand the position of Empress.

So what if she’s the Eldest Princess? She’s still the Eldest Princess of West Jin!

Don’t think they don’t know that this Eldest Princess being sent to Da Yue, seemingly noble, is actually a discarded piece abandoned after the new Emperor’s ascension!

Some wanted to stand up and curse the envoy to his face, but seeing Xie Wan on the high seat still looking calm and composed, and even Lady Consort Wan sitting beside her not saying a word, they didn’t dare to act rashly.

The West Jin people didn’t know, but they did! Her Majesty might seem peaceful, but she was not a weak ruler!

“West Jin envoys, it seems you have misunderstood something.” After a long while, Xie Wan said with a smile.

West Jin envoy: ?

“Her Highness the Eldest Princess is welcome to visit Da Yue, of course. Staying here for one or two years, Da Yue can ensure the Princess is well-provided for. But as for this marriage alliance… when did I ever agree to it?”

The West Jin envoy was taken aback and quickly said, “The truce agreement signed by the three kingdoms will end next year. Our Emperor’s intention is… why not form a marriage alliance for a hundred years of peace… We respect Your Majesty of Da Yue, and we also hope Your Majesty of Da Yue respects our Eldest Princess, at least… grant her the position of a Noble Consort.”

“You are afraid of war and are begging Da Yue for a marriage alliance, so why are you still bargaining?” Xie Wan asked, propping her chin on her elbow, seemingly puzzled.

The West Jin envoy understood the Da Yue language, but it took him a moment to react. His face turned red. “A marriage alliance is a win-win for both sides, how can you use the word ‘beg’!”

West Jin had indeed just stabilized domestically, and it must be said they did have the idea of developing peacefully. But this point really shouldn’t be brought up openly. Was this Emperor too contemptuous of West Jin?!

Xie Wan smiled: “Because my Da Yue is not afraid of war.”

She was a ruler who had truly seen corpses strewn across the fields, and she knew deeply that weakness could not protect one’s homeland, much less the lives of the people under heaven. Although war was always associated with death and sacrifice, there was a saying: ‘Without destruction, there is no construction.’

If starting a war could bring peace to the world for hundreds or thousands of years, why not?

War, would she be afraid?

In her previous life, she had climbed up by stepping on corpses!

The West Jin envoy heard the ambition and deep meaning, and his heart suddenly leaped. Fearing he might show a look of fear, for a moment, he didn’t know how to retort.

Who on earth said the Emperor of Da Yue was weak and incompetent!

The West Jin envoy was stunned, while the Da Yue court officials all relaxed their brows. The younger ones even directly praised Her Majesty’s might in their hearts.

Seeing that the conversation couldn’t continue, the Golden Hall fell silent.

Only then did the main character of this marriage alliance matter finally stand up.

“Your Majesty of Da Yue. Please allow me to say a few words,” Ajirui said in her not-so-fluent Da Yue language.

Xie Wan slightly narrowed her eyes. “Please speak, Eldest Princess.”

“Upon arriving, I witnessed the scenery of Da Yue. Da Yue is becoming increasingly beautiful under your leadership; you are an undoubtedly wise ruler. But such beautiful scenery should not be tainted by war, nor should the common people be displaced because of conflict. A marriage alliance is a win-win situation. Ajirui dares not aspire to the position of Empress of Da Yue, but is willing to stay in Da Yue to witness the friendly relations between our two nations.”

The court officials nodded in agreement with the first half of the sentence, thinking to themselves, this Eldest Princess is certainly more articulate than those West Jin envoys.

Upon hearing this, the West Jin envoys, on the contrary, looked at Her Highness the Eldest Princess in astonishment.

As people of the Third Prince… no, His Majesty, they naturally had some understanding of Ajirui. This seemingly harmless imperial daughter had almost climbed to power by stepping on her imperial brothers.

Her words clearly indicated that she was presenting herself as a hostage, not a marriage alliance candidate.

What did she want to do? The envoys’ eyes showed vigilance. Was being a hostage better than being a consort of the Da Yue Emperor? One must know, a hostage compared to a Noble Consort… that was a world of difference.

Or was it that the Eldest Princess had completely given up?

No, that’s not right…

His Majesty was certain that Ajirui would not be resigned. Therefore, wanting her to be an imperial consort of Da Yue was to let Ajirui reach out and stir up the situation in Da Yue. If she became a powerless hostage, wouldn’t His Majesty’s plan be in vain?

“Eldest Princess, how can this be? You are His Majesty’s only elder sister! How can you humble yourself to this extent…” the West Jin envoy stammered, shouting in Da Yue language.

His face, however, was a little pale, regretting taking on such a mess. The Second Imperial Daughter, at this point, would absolutely not follow His Majesty’s arrangements. She would rather be a hostage than let His Majesty get his way!

“Your Excellency the Envoy, this Princess is the Eldest Princess of West Jin,” Ajirui said to him coldly.

The West Jin envoy trembled, but it was out of anger. He turned to Xie Wan and said indignantly, “Your Majesty of Da Yue, what Her Highness the Eldest Princess said is not the intention of our Emperor. Although West Jin has a new Emperor, it will not allow the Eldest Princess to come to Da Yue and become… become a hostage!”

Ajirui, however, didn’t even glance at him. She only stared intently at Xie Wan on the dragon throne, waiting for her reply.

Her earlier praises hadn’t moved the Da Yue Emperor in the slightest, not even a hint of smugness or happiness was visible. This person… just like when they first met, had a depth that made her feel uneasy.

Xie Wan also looked her over, and without much thought, she said, “Envoy, I don’t understand what you’re saying. As an envoy, one must be cautious with their words and actions. The Eldest Princess is clearly here as a guest in Da Yue, so why speak of a ‘hostage’? I said before, Her Highness the Eldest Princess is welcome to visit Da Yue, of course. Please, Eldest Princess, stay and appreciate the scenery of Da Yue at your leisure.”

Ajirui raised her hand and bowed slightly to her. “Ajirui thanks Your Majesty of Da Yue.”

This banquet was destined to be enjoyable for the host and guests, except for… the West Jin envoys.

The West Jin envoys stared fixedly at Ajirui, wishing they could skin her alive.

A traitorous wretch! Fortunately, West Jin didn’t fall into her hands!

But now, what should they do?!

The West Jin envoys forced a smile, their faces extremely grim.