After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 81

The next day, the obituary notice announcing the assassination and death of the Eldest Princess of West Jin was posted at the city gate, along with the imperial decree from the palace.

This news was undoubtedly a disaster for the West Jin envoys who had planned to leave the capital and return home.

The West Jin envoys immediately went to confirm Ajirui’s body.

They were instantly dumbfounded.

The Eldest Princess was dead. How were they supposed to report back?

The people from the Censorate Office quickly handed over all the assassins’ bodies to the West Jin envoys. Xie Wan even waved her hand, ordering them to take the bodies back to West Jin for the West Jin Emperor to deal with.

Looking at the bodies, the West Jin envoys’ faces turned dark. Because, without exception, none of the assassins had the faces of Da Yue people.

Da Yue people and West Jin/East Ming people have very obvious differences in facial features. Perhaps due to differences in climate and living environment, Da Yue people’s features are always more delicate.

At the very least, it could be initially confirmed that these assassins came from West Jin or East Ming; in short, they could not possibly be Da Yue people.

The West Jin envoys had come for a marriage alliance. Why would they send assassins to kill the Eldest Princess? Even if the marriage alliance failed, her staying here as a guest was West Jin showing sincerity in not wanting war.

So, was it East Ming who did it?

The envoys couldn’t make a conclusion on this matter.

Regardless, the Eldest Princess was dead, and the assassins were from West Jin or East Ming.

“Your Excellencies, please accept my condolences,” Xie Wan said in a deep voice from her high seat. “I will order the best coffin to be prepared… to send the Eldest Princess back to West Jin.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty of Da Yue.” Although he said this, the West Jin envoy felt utterly disheartened. He didn’t know what he would face upon returning. Now that Ajirui was dead and the marriage alliance had failed, Her Majesty would surely blame everything on him.

Speaking of which, it had nothing to do with him. It was the Eldest Princess who, instead of staying safely in the Da Yue Imperial Palace, insisted on going out to admire flowers. It served her right…

And East Ming…

That’s right, the culprit must be East Ming!

About seven or eight days later, the West Jin envoys finally left the capital with Ajirui’s coffin.

Of course, the West Jin envoys had no other requests, only hoping before their departure that Da Yue would send people to escort them safely to the West Jin border.

The reason was simple: if it was truly East Ming’s doing, and they even killed the Eldest Princess, who knew if they would attack the envoy party?

The fearful West Jin envoys’ request was not excessive, and Xie Wan naturally agreed.

In fact, this was exactly what Xie Wan wanted.

The suspended animation drug Ajirui took would only last for three days. If she wasn’t swapped out of the coffin within three days, her feigned death and return home would still be exposed.

But if she had people planted there, then swapping the ‘cat for the prince’ would be very simple.

Even if the coffin was exquisite, it couldn’t prevent the body from decaying. By the time the envoy party returned to West Jin, the body would have long since decomposed, and no one would doubt whether the body was truly Ajirui’s.

Ajirui, upon hearing Xie Wan’s plan, merely gave her a deep look.

“You are guarding against me.”

Xie Wan smiled faintly, “What?”

“‘Ajirui’ is dead. This time returning home, even if I can bring Ajili down, I cannot ascend the throne under the name Ajirui in the future.”

Because the Eldest Princess was already dead, having died in Da Yue. Even if she had proof that she was the Eldest Princess of West Jin, the people of West Jin would never acknowledge an Eldest Princess who colluded with Da Yue to fake her death and seek revenge on the West Jin royal family.

She was caught in a dilemma.

Xie Wan just smiled after hearing this: “Does the name matter? The Eldest Princess did indeed die in Da Yue. The person standing before me now is merely an ordinary person who managed to save her life by making a deal with me.”

Ajirui lowered her eyes, having to admit that Xie Wan was right.

Besides making a deal with the devil, she had no other choice.

Not dying at the hands of East Ming was a stroke of luck. If she were to truly stay in Da Yue and cause trouble, she probably wouldn’t survive this spring.

As for treason… Ajirui was perfectly clear. If she didn’t agree to Xie Wan’s deal, she wouldn’t even be able to keep her life, let alone talk about treason or not.

She had nothing in Da Yue, yet Ajili thought she would be unwilling and lie low in Da Yue, waiting for a chance to rise again, or even disrupt the situation in Da Yue.

But Ajili probably didn’t expect that the Emperor of Da Yue was not the incompetent opponent he imagined.

This woman’s mind, Ajirui found terrifying.

Perhaps she had already lost, having lost two years ago in Jinghe City. Lingering on until now, she could only become a chess piece in her hands.

So, Ajirui still took the suspended animation drug and lay in the coffin, and was transported back to West Jin this way.

Only by returning to West Jin would she have a chance to turn things around.

“Once the West Jin envoys return home and the news of the Eldest Princess’s death spreads, I fear the undercurrents between these three nations will resurface after two years of stability.”

“…Mm.”

Xie Yunyu, who was discussing matters with her, stopped upon seeing this. “Your Majesty?”

Xie Wan: “I’m fine. Everything else will proceed as planned.”

There was still over a year until the truce agreement ended, and Da Yue still had over a year to begin planning how to take down the other two nations.

There was no great rush.

Xie Yunyu gently reminded her: “According to the plan, in at most another six months, Consort Wan will need to leave the palace.”

If war was to begin in a year, then it wouldn’t be long before Anyu should leave the palace.

The Northern Army had become increasingly brave under Xie Yunliang’s leadership over the past two years, but if war broke out, there would not be just one general in the army.

The troops Anyu was to lead were definitely not just the Northern Army.

Whether it was the Northern Army, the Xie Family Army, or other armies in Her Majesty’s hands, they would undoubtedly be sent to the front lines once war began.

Her Majesty’s ambition lay in the other two nations, which meant this would not be an easy campaign.

Going earlier was excellent.

Becoming accustomed to the severe cold of the north would prevent her from showing fear when war broke out.

Moreover, the soldiers needed some time to get used to each other.

Xie Wan: “…Mm.”

Xie Yunyu deliberated for a long time before asking, “Did Your Majesty and the Lady Consort quarrel?”

Xie Wan was surprised, “No. Anyu and I are rarely together as it is; we don’t have the time for quarreling.”

In the past two years, although there hadn’t been much warfare in Da Yue, Anyu had actually spent very little time in the palace.

Anyu wasn’t like her, busy with countless affairs. In the palace, besides accompanying her, she had nothing else to do.

Xie Wan also had no intention of caging her little hawk chick, so whenever there was a suitable task for Anyu, she would temporarily appoint her as an imperial envoy and send her to handle it.

Each time, Anyu would handle the matters beautifully, leaving no room for criticism.

Similarly, Anyu spent very little time in the palace.

Just like now, in at most six months, she would be going far away to the north again. And who knew how long that trip would take.

“Let’s not talk about me and Anyu. How is things at your home, Minister Xie? I heard your wife is pregnant.”

Xie Yunyu nodded, his expression softening slightly, “Yes, thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. The imperial physician has been there, and both mother and child are well.”

Xie Wan smiled, “That’s good.”

She didn’t ask anything further. “I’m going to Wanyi Palace. Minister Xie, would you like to come along?”

Xie Yunyu shook his head: “I won’t go. I will visit Lady Consort Wan another time.”

Xie Wan nodded and left.

Xie Yunyu watched her leave, his eyes holding a complexity no one could read. Finally, he just sighed softly.

Two years had passed. Occasionally, folk doctors would enter the palace each year to treat Her Majesty.

The court officials also eagerly awaited good news about Her Majesty’s infertility being cured.

But they waited until now, and as time passed, the officials gradually gave up hope.

Xie Yunyu was an insider.

Because he knew, he felt even more helpless.

Her Majesty truly intended to spend her life with Anyu like this…

Some things he never wanted to think about in detail, because upon closer examination, it would likely be utterly shocking.

As for descendants…

There was no rush for now.

His own sister, pampered like this for half her life… as long as they were happy, it was fine.

When Xie Wan arrived at Wanyi Palace, Anyu was painting in the study.

She was painting very seriously.

Xie Wan lightened her steps and came to her side, seeing a beautiful longevity lock painted on the Xuan paper under her hand.

“A gift for your little niece?”

Anyu suddenly looked up, smiling, “Yes. Does Your Majesty also think it’s a little niece?”

Xie Wan thought for a moment and said, “Mm, I like girls.”

Anyu smiled and nodded: “Mm, I like girls too.”

They looked at each other and both smiled.

They were the same person, so their preferences were naturally the same.

“Big Brother and Sister-in-law are both good-looking, I can’t even imagine how cute that little one will be in the future,” Anyu said with a smile. “It’s a pity though…”

“I probably won’t see her birth.”

Xie Wan’s happy expression suddenly changed, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Anyu: “I have to go to the north for the campaign.”

“You just won’t see her birth. When she can call out ‘Auntie’, you will naturally have returned victorious.”

“…That’s true,” Anyu said, grinning sheepishly.

Noticing Xie Wan’s expression wasn’t good, Anyu awkwardly tugged at her sleeve: “Don’t be angry. I said the wrong thing.”

Xie Wan looked at her steadily, standing there, and said in a deep voice: “I don’t like you saying those things. Don’t say them again, they give me a headache.”

“Okay.” Anyu lowered her head, her expression downcast, but her cheeks couldn’t help but puff out slightly.

Like a spoiled child who couldn’t stand a word of annoyance from an adult.

And she said she was almost nineteen.

A smile appeared in Xie Wan’s eyes, though it didn’t show on her face. She placed her hand on Anyu’s head and gently stroked it, “The campaign is still far off. During this time, I won’t assign you any tasks.”

Anyu looked up, “What will I do then?”

“Stay in the palace and keep me company.”

Anyu was startled, not mentioning how busy this person was, and grinned: “Okay.”

“I’ll paint the longevity lock with you.”

When she said this, Anyu moved over a bit, making space beside her for Xie Wan.

Xie Wan sat down and picked up the paper to look at it, as if thinking about where else needed to be changed.

Anyu sat beside her, couldn’t help but lean on the table, looking at the painting, then at her, “After it’s drawn, Your Majesty can order someone to have it made, and then give it to the little one for me.”

“Okay.”

Xie Wan picked up the brush, as if she had finally decided where to start. Suddenly, she paused, “Oh, right.”

Anyu: “What is it?”

“Last time Anyu said she was almost nineteen. I thought, since you’ve grown up, let’s hang a sign at the General Affairs Office.”

Anyu was clearly confused, “Hang what sign?”

“A sleeping arrangement sign,” Xie Wan smiled.

Anyu took a second to react, and her cheeks instantly turned crimson.