After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 8

The news that Xie Anyu had returned from the palace instantly caused the entire Xie family to erupt.

Aside from those who were away on official business, the entire extended family of the Xie manor gathered in the main hall.

Xie Anyu, holding Xie Wan’s hand, slowly arrived at the main hall and saw the Xie family’s first branch, third branch, and Old Man Xie, a group of over ten people, all looking straight at them…

…at their clasped hands.

Immediately, everyone’s expression changed.

Xie Anyu didn’t think too much and rushed towards the crowd, “Father! Eldest Uncle! Eldest Aunt! Younger Aunt! Younger Uncle! Eldest Cousin! Second Cousin! Younger Cousin!”

That’s right, in this generation of the Xie family, Xie Anyu was the only girl.

Seeing her lively appearance, Old Man Xie finally breathed a sigh of relief, but glancing at Emperor Ruiming, his gaze deepened involuntarily.

“The Xie family, from top to bottom, greets Your Majesty and Lady Consort Wan.”

Everyone made to kneel, but as soon as the words fell, Xie Wan said, “No need for formalities. Today, I accompany Consort Wan on her return visit; there’s no need for such ceremony.”

With her saying this, not a single person from the Xie family knelt.

Not having to kneel was good. The Xie family simply ignored her, the Emperor.

“Anyu, were you wronged in the palace?” Younger Aunt and Eldest Aunt quickly pulled their niece’s hands.

Xie Anyu smiled, “I’m doing great.”

“Sister, I almost didn’t recognize you in this getup,” her cousins also teased her.

“Do I look good?”

“You look good, just not used to it.”

“My sister is a true beauty when she changes clothes!” Even her younger cousin gave a thumbs-up.

Xie Anyu hooked her arm around her cousin’s neck and laughed, “Yuntao, you have good taste!”

Seeing this, Xie Wan sighed with a smile in her heart. Only from Emperor Ruiming’s perspective did she understand why Emperor Ruiming had regarded her Xie family as a thorn in her side back then.

It wasn’t just because the Xie family held military power, but also because these people from the Xie family stood straighter than anyone else. The Xie family’s disdain for Emperor Ruiming seemed almost openly displayed.

However, this was also because Emperor Ruiming insisted on marrying the Xie family’s only daughter, their precious treasure.

Seeing her own family members, Xie Wan felt a bit emotional.

In her previous life, ever since she entered the palace, she had almost no chance to leave. Emperor Ruiming never allowed her to return home and rarely let her see her Xie family members. It was as if she was afraid she would relay some information to her father.

It wasn’t until something happened to Emperor Ruiming that she had a chance to go home.

Unfortunately, she didn’t even have time to give her family a hug before trouble broke out on the Da Yue Empire’s border.

Neighboring countries invaded, and bandits in Lingbei within the country also took the opportunity to raise an army and rebel.

The Xie family had no choice but to throw themselves into the battlefield.

But in the end, only Eldest Cousin from Eldest Uncle’s family and Younger Cousin from Younger Aunt’s family survived.

Xie Wan couldn’t even save her father’s life.

Now seeing her father standing alive right before her eyes… but only for a moment, she suppressed all the emotions in her heart.

She was no longer Xie Anyu; she was Xie Wan, the former Regent King of the Da Yue Empire, and now the Emperor of the Da Yue Empire.

Xie Chengdong’s gaze lingered on his daughter for a moment before turning to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, let’s talk in the study.”

She couldn’t possibly be here today just for a return visit.

Xie Wan paused slightly, “Alright.”

“I…” Xie Anyu wanted to speak upon hearing this, but Eldest Cousin Xie Yunyu grabbed her hand, “Anyu, tell us how you’ve been in the palace.”

Xie Anyu frowned and looked up at Xie Yunyu, “Eldest Cousin…”

Xie Anyu sighed and finally compromised.

She could go later, that was fine too.

Her father probably wouldn’t beat the Emperor, right… Hmm, probably not.

Thinking this, Xie Anyu gave Xie Wan a look that said, ‘Good luck to you.’

Xie Wan smiled and followed Old Man Xie out.

Their interaction made Xie Yunyu frown slightly, “Anyu, what’s going on between you and Her Majesty…?”

…

Meanwhile, on the other side, Xie Wan followed her father to the study.

There was no one else in the study, and the atmosphere became heavy.

“Your Majesty has come to the Xie manor, what are your instructions?” Old Man Xie brought her a chair, while he himself stood, his back straight, looking unyielding.

Of course, he didn’t look sick at all.

Xie Wan did not sit down, “I am accompanying Consort Wan on her return visit.”

Old Man Xie twitched his mouth, “Consort Wan doesn’t have such importance as to have Your Majesty accompany her on a return visit. Your Majesty, please speak directly if you have any instructions; beating around the bush is pointless.”

“Then I would like to ask General Xie to lend me thirty people,” Xie Wan said directly, “I need guards who are skilled and have steady temperaments.”

Old Man Xie pursed his lips upon hearing this, “Guards? To protect whom? Your Majesty has five thousand Imperial Guards, yet you ask this subject to lend you people? This subject’s manor, from top to bottom, cannot find thirty guards.”

To ask him for people at this juncture, this Emperor was either naive or thick-skinned.

If there had been sadness and grievance on Anyu’s face today instead of a smile, he would have charged up with a stick just now.

Xie Wan said in a deep voice, “There is a severe drought in the north; I fear there will be a famine this year. The disaster relief funds and grain from the national treasury have all been allocated.”

Old Man Xie: !

This year was indeed hotter than previous years.

General Xie remained calm, “How is this related to Your Majesty asking this subject to lend people?”

“The memorials submitted by the local officials stated that the drought was not severe this year. I allocated disaster relief funds and grain to the north as in previous years. But if a famine truly breaks out, this amount of money and grain will not be enough. I have already arranged for people to take more disaster relief funds and grain to the north.”

“Being prepared is wise, Your Majesty is sagacious,” General Xie’s tone remained flat.

“Then does the General know why I have arranged for additional personnel to go north?”

General Xie was startled.

Xie Wan sighed, “I sent two batches of disaster relief grain, one to the imperial envoy I arranged, and one allocated to the north according to the usual procedure. General, how much of the latter do you think will reach the hands of the disaster victims, and how much will end up in the pockets of certain ministers?”

“Does Your Majesty have evidence?” General Xie frowned; this matter was of great importance. If someone was truly embezzling disaster relief grain, it was no small matter.

“I do not. But with this drought, there will be a conclusion as to who is corrupt and who is innocent.”

General Xie’s eyes flickered, “Then Your Majesty asking this subject to lend people…”

“Is in the hope that the imperial envoy I sent north can return alive,” Xie Wan said, “Although I gave instructions discreetly regarding this matter, there is no wall that is completely airtight in this world, let alone Minister Li going to provide disaster relief, it’s impossible to hide it completely. I am just being cautious.”

“Li Mingxin?”

“Yes.”

General Xie paused, “She is indeed a rare upright official.”

However…

General Xie smiled coldly, “Your Majesty wants to investigate corruption, but these matters pass through Minister Xu and several other ministers every year.”

Prime Minister Xu was her ‘beloved minister’, as everyone knew.

“The Son of Heaven who breaks the law is punished the same as a commoner,” Xie Wan lightly tapped the table, “Indeed, in these past years, I have allowed the Xu family to become lawless.”

“Your Majesty should not say such things to this subject,” General Xie couldn’t help but lose his temper after hearing this, “My Xie family is even worse than the Xu family! The Xu family at least received Your Majesty’s grace, but my Xie family is ‘treasonous’! Your Majesty comes to ask this subject to lend people, I regret that this subject has no one to lend!”

Xie Wan did not deny it, but said, “If the Xie family lends people to me, I also promise that Consort Wan will live very well in the palace.”

“Is Your Majesty threatening me? Do you truly believe that with Anyu in Your Majesty’s hands, the Xie family will be at Your Majesty’s beck and call?” What Xie Chengdong hated most was that imperial decree; for the sake of the entire Xie family, he could not refuse. So he personally sent his daughter into a cage and locked her up.

“I am the Emperor, General, watch your words!” Xie Wan’s face sank.

General Xie choked.

Yes, she was the Emperor. What the Emperor wanted, and what a subject possessed, who would dare not offer it with both hands.

But… who was willing?

If she were a wise ruler, the Xie family would die for her without hesitation, but this Emperor Ruiming was a…

“It’s not impossible for Your Majesty to borrow people, but this subject wants Anyu to come home,” Xie Chengdong said stubbornly.

“No,” Xie Wan calmly refused, “Consort Wan is already my consort; how can she return to the Xie family? What kind of propriety is that? I will take good care of Minister Xie’s daughter, rest assured, I will take very good care of her.”

Xie Chengdong suddenly remembered the scene of the two of them walking into the room hand in hand, and immediately became angry and embarrassed, “What does it matter if she’s well taken care of! Anyu would never turn her elbow outwards!”

Just then, there was a knock on the door—

“Father?” Xie Anyu’s anxious voice came from outside the door, “Father, that’s Her Majesty! Her Majesty can’t take a beating!”

Xie Chengdong’s face turned red, but it was from anger.

He had just said his daughter wouldn’t turn her elbow outwards.

Xie Anyu, are you trying to anger your father to death!

“Father? Your Majesty?” Xie Anyu was still knocking outside the door.

Xie Wan stopped smiling and replied, “Consort Wan, I’ll be out right away.”

“Oh…” Xie Anyu finally quieted down.

“General, I want to rectify the court and need the Xie family’s strength to make the Da Yue Empire prosperous and peaceful,” Xie Wan looked at her father and said solemnly.

Borrowing the Xie family’s strength to make the Da Yue Empire prosperous and peaceful.

…

Xie Anyu waited at the door for a while longer before seeing the two of them come out.

Seeing Xie Wan completely unharmed, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

She had heard her father’s roar even while standing outside the door just now.

She thought they were going to fight.

Xie Chengdong glared fiercely at his daughter and walked away, flicking his sleeve.

“?” Xie Anyu looked innocent.

Huh? What happened?

Looking at Xie Anyu, Xie Wan gently stroked her head, “Not raised in vain.”

Xie Anyu: ?

Her father, who had walked halfway out, suddenly turned back and said, “Stay for dinner at the manor later. Eat before you leave. I’ll have the cook make your favorite dishes.”

Xie Anyu nodded, “Oh, okay!”

“Did my father agree? About lending people?” Xie Anyu tilted her head and asked her.

Xie Wan: “Yes.”

Actually, Xie Wan had never worried that the matter of borrowing people wouldn’t succeed.

She was Xie Wan, the Xie family’s Xie Wan.

She understood her father very well, and the Xie family too.

As long as Emperor Ruiming could stand firm, the Xie family would die for the Da Yue Empire. What’s more… this was just being a pawn.

Xie Wan looked in the direction where General Xie had disappeared and sighed in her heart.

In her previous life, she would think that it would have been better if the Xie family were truly treasonous, so they wouldn’t have to die for loyalty, leaving only three survivors in the end.

But she was also a member of the Xie family.

Even now, she was still trying to save the Da Yue Empire.

Xie Wan thought, perhaps this was the fate of the Xie family.

She couldn’t help but look at Xie Anyu beside her.

Her little general was still a little eaglet.

When she could spread her wings and soar, what would the Da Yue Empire look like?