After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 79

After a welcoming banquet, Ajirui remained in Da Yue and took up residence in the palace. However, the significance of her stay in the palace was clearly different from that of Xu Shengwen, who had previously resided there temporarily due to Emperor Ruiming’s favor.

Perhaps in the eyes of others, this was no different from being a ‘hostage’.

But the truth was, she was neither made a consort nor was she a hostage. She was like a guest who had traveled a long distance, kept by the host, treated warmly. Neither Her Majesty nor Ajirui had mentioned how long she would stay in Da Yue.

On this day, Wanyi Palace received an imperial decree. The spring weather was fine, and the hundred flowers were in full bloom. The court was holding a Flower Appreciation Banquet in the Hundred Flowers Garden in the capital, and Consort Wan and the Eldest Princess of West Jin were ordered to attend together.

Anyu sat in the courtyard of Wanyi Palace. The spring day was bright. Qingcui, while styling her hair, muttered softly, “This servant will fetch the most precious hairpin from the cabinet for Your Ladyship to wear.”

Anyu: ?

Anyu quickly grabbed Qingcui’s hand. “Don’t be too elaborate. This Hundred Flowers Banquet isn’t in the palace.”

“But you are Consort Wan!” Qingcui was clearly dissatisfied. The hairpins and ornaments she had now were too plain and didn’t match her mistress’s status. Moreover…

“You are going out with that Eldest Princess this time. This servant naturally wants to dress you up in the best way.”

Xie Anyu suddenly smiled, reaching up to feel the bun styled at the back of her head. “No need, Qingcui. Don’t wear anything complicated. If there are many people and it gets crowded, wearing those things will just get in the way if I need to run.”

Qingcui didn’t notice the slight darkening of Anyu’s eyes as she said this. She only explained, “Your Ladyship is going out of the palace with guards. Who would dare to shove you!”

“But Her Majesty… there are so many flowers in the Imperial Garden, why specifically ask you to take that Eldest Princess out of the palace to appreciate them?”

Xie Anyu replied as if murmuring, “Some flowers cannot enter this palace.”

Qingcui thought she meant that the palace threshold was high, and not just any flower could enter. She immediately sighed, “That’s true.”

She didn’t continue speaking, only carefully inserted two simple hairpins into her hair.

Anyu looked at herself in the mirror on the table and gently pursed her lips into a smile. The person in the mirror had only applied a little makeup, yet possessed a natural beauty.

Compared to two years ago, there was almost no trace of the former childishness and naivety on her face. As Her Majesty put it, it wasn’t that her features had matured, but that her eyes had changed.

They had become more steady than before, and she had learned a few points of that person’s elegance and composure.

Although she had been forced to learn many things in the past two years, she had also gone out to lead troops quite a bit. Her Majesty never stopped her from leaving the palace, and even put a lot of effort into cultivating her.

Compared to Her Majesty’s hidden sharpness and coldness, the current Anyu was more like a sword capable of splitting mountains and rivers, possessing an innate aura and sharpness that no one dared to test.

Did she look like a suitable Empress now?

Anyu wasn’t sure. Because when Her Majesty was present, she still wanted to cling to her side, like a child.

When Her Majesty wasn’t present…

Qingcui was admiring her mistress’s beauty when she suddenly heard a sentence: “Qingcui, go fetch my sword.”

Qingcui was startled. “Your Ladyship, fetch a sword?”

“Yes.”

Qingcui had doubts in her heart, but she still went to fetch it.

After bringing the sword back, Qingcui couldn’t help but ask, “Your Ladyship… aren’t you going to appreciate flowers?”

Xie Anyu took the sword and smiled. “After all, we’re leaving the palace. Just in case.”

Qingcui seemed to understand something and hurried away with the sword.

Anyu met up with Ajirui, who was going with her, at the palace gate.

Her Majesty was not going on this trip; her Consort Wan was responsible for looking after Ajirui.

To be honest, Anyu had heard stories about this ‘former Emperor of West Jin’ from Her Majesty’s mouth before. The war she had ignited with her ambition had killed many people in the Xie family.

Even though this great disaster had not fully unfolded this time, Anyu didn’t have much goodwill towards her.

“Ajirui greets Consort Wan.”

Her features were not as rugged and imposing as those of typical West Jin people. Instead, she lowered her eyes submissively, giving the impression of having no aggression.

Speaking of which, their ages were similar.

One was a palace consort who had already been on the battlefield and killed enemies, with a father and brothers who were powerful officials.

The other had already gathered power early on, competing with her elder brother for the throne.

Neither of their experiences could be considered ordinary.

Anyu looked at her from inside the carriage and suddenly said, “The Eldest Princess is a guest, and it’s just the two of us going out today, so there’s no need for formality. Come up.”

Ajirui quickly got into the carriage.

The carriage also slowly began to move forward.

“I’ve heard that Da Yue has a scene of a hundred flowers blooming in spring. Ajirui has long yearned for this; it must be very beautiful.”

Anyu nodded. “Yes.”

“Spring in West Jin is also very cold, even colder than Jinghe,” Ajirui suddenly smiled and said. “I once saw Your Ladyship on the streets of Jinghe city. Your Ladyship saved a girl from a bully. At that time, I was still the Second Princess of West Jin, arranged by my eldest brother to go to Jinghe to sign the truce agreement.”

Anyu indeed showed surprise.

“During the Northern Border conflict, West Jin and Da Yue also had frequent clashes. At that time, Deputy General Xie’s reputation spread widely,” Ajirui smiled. “At that time, I already sighed that Your Ladyship was very capable.”

Anyu replied calmly, “The Eldest Princess overpraises me.”

“Later, I learned that the brave Deputy General Xie was also Da Yue’s Consort Wan,” Ajirui paused. “It’s truly regrettable.”

Anyu furrowed her brow. “Regrettable?”

“If I were Your Ladyship, compared to becoming the Emperor’s consort, I would still feel it’s better to become a towering general,” Ajirui sighed.

Anyu: …

Anyu didn’t deny it; she used to think that way too. This Ajirui knew how to play to her audience. It was just…

“A fish knows not the joy of a fish,” Anyu blurted out. “Before becoming the Deputy General of the Northern Border, this consort was already Consort Wan. I don’t know what the Eldest Princess means by saying this, but this consort doesn’t like to hear it.”

Anyu wouldn’t pretend politeness with her.

Ajirui was clearly stunned. This was obviously different from what she had envisioned.

Of course, she knew that Xie Anyu became Consort Wan first, and only later the Deputy General of the Northern Border. In the past few days, Ajirui had inquired about a lot of information, and her impression of Anyu was no longer just that of a simple consort in the harem who would compete for favor, or the chivalrous Deputy General Xie she had seen on that snowy night.

In her view, controlling the Xie family was the original intention of Da Yue’s Emperor in bringing Xie Anyu into the palace. Just like now, letting Xie Anyu be Consort Wan, and then letting her leave the palace to be a general, was just to ‘make full use’ of Xie Anyu while restraining the Xie family.

She felt that the relationship between the Xie family and Her Majesty was not as good as it appeared on the surface.

Perhaps Xie Anyu becoming Consort Wan was not what she wanted either.

But clearly, her move to deliberately bring this up and try to get close to Xie Anyu had gone wrong.

“I misspoke, Your Ladyship, please don’t be offended,” Ajirui could only say this.

“The Eldest Princess is very capable, and not as insignificant as the rumors say,” Anyu stated plainly. “Now you are like a clay Buddha crossing a river, so don’t set your sights on Da Yue anymore. Some things are not as the Eldest Princess thinks. If the Eldest Princess wants to enjoy the scenery in Da Yue properly, it’s best not to do anything unnecessary.”

Ajirui stiffened. “Setting my sights on Da Yue… Your Ladyship truly thinks highly of me. Ajirui knows her situation well, which is why I wanted to befriend Your Ladyship, but unfortunately, I used the wrong method.”

Compared to the unfathomable Emperor, Ajirui would rather befriend the Xie family. If she was on good terms with the Xie family, her days in Da Yue wouldn’t be bad either.

Xie Anyu stared at her. Her intuition about people was actually very accurate. At this moment, Ajirui might truly have no ill intentions towards her, but Anyu still said, “I don’t like you.”

“Is Your Ladyship afraid I will steal Da Yue’s Emperor?” Ajirui couldn’t help but ask.

Anyu looked at her strangely. “You can’t steal her.”

Ajirui: “…”

Consort Wan was very confident.

However, Ajirui hadn’t intended to steal her anyway. Ajirui didn’t understand what love was. If she were Xie Anyu, she would only pretend to cater to the Emperor of Da Yue and use the Xie family’s influence to become the person above everyone else.

But she wasn’t Xie Anyu. She was now just a discarded piece of West Jin. Self-preservation was difficult, let alone her former ambitions.

Her expression became more casual. “Then I don’t understand why Your Ladyship doesn’t like me.”

Anyu pretended not to hear and turned her head away.

Ajirui: ?

Never mind.

Halfway through the journey, a commotion suddenly came from the front. The horse neighed and was pulled to a sudden stop by the coachman.

Ajirui lurched forward violently, quickly grabbing the side wall of the carriage to barely steady herself. Had it come?

But at this moment, Ajirui’s nerves were taut. She had learned some martial arts, but only a little.

“What is it?” Anyu frowned. Without moving, she lifted the carriage curtain.

The guard said in a low voice, “Your Ladyship, a horse in front was startled and knocked over a peddler’s stall. It’s nothing serious.”

“Okay.” Anyu glanced and then lowered the curtain.

Seeing her expression was normal, Ajirui also calmed down.

“Tomorrow, the West Jin envoys will leave the capital,” Ajirui said, glancing at the sword by her side.

“Whether Your Ladyship likes Ajirui or not, I hope Your Ladyship can protect my life.” After saying this, Ajirui added, “This is also Her Majesty of Da Yue’s intention.”

“I know.”

Ajirui wanted to say something else, but then heard Anyu’s voice suddenly deepen, “Be careful!”

In that instant, Ajirui was violently pulled by a strong force.

The next moment, three arrows were seen piercing through the carriage curtain, firmly embedding themselves in the cushion where she had just been sitting.

Ajirui felt a lingering fear. If Xie Anyu hadn’t pulled her just now…

At the same time, the sound of weapons clashing came from outside the carriage.

The sounds of weapons clashing followed one after another.

Ajirui’s heart sank further.

Tomorrow, the envoys would leave the capital and return to their country. Whether she stayed as a consort or as a hostage, it meant that West Jin and Da Yue had temporarily reached some kind of consensus not to wage war.

Moreover, such a major event as a marriage alliance between West Jin and Da Yue could not be allowed by East Ming to succeed. The best way was to…

Kill her.