After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 83

The following days, from the Spring Equinox to the Summer Solstice, Anyu remained in the palace.

However, their days of intimacy didn’t last long. It felt like time slipped through their fingers in the blink of an eye, and by late summer, Anyu was to set off on campaign.

This time, she received the title of General and headed to the northern border. Others from the Xie family were also to depart from the capital, and even most of Da Yue’s military generals had received imperial orders to participate in the war planned for the following year.

When the three-state truce ended, that would be the day Da Yue launched its attack on West Jin.

The sky in late summer was very blue, and the wind stirred the flags planted on the city wall.

Xie Wan stood on the city wall, watching the soldiers march into the distance.

Only when the crowd finally became dense little dots did Xie Wan withdraw her gaze.

This time, they would surely return victorious.

And when they returned in triumph, this land would surely usher in a century of prosperity.

Xie Wan looked back again. Her Anyu was among them.

In her previous life, when she went to that neighboring country’s battlefield with the Xie family, it seemed to be a similar scene.

In this life…

Xie Wan couldn’t help but look at the few people behind her.

In this life, her eldest brother was still standing on the city wall seeing ‘herself’ off, but the difference was that he was now married. Xie Wan’s gaze fell upon Qi Shu beside him; her belly was already showing, and the child would be born in another half a year.

And Younger Aunt was also among those seeing them off. This time, she wasn’t going to the battlefield, nor would she perish.

In this way, she had truly changed the fates of many in the Xie family, hadn’t she?

Xie Wan sighed softly. Thus, it was good.

While she was sighing, Xie Yunyu was also watching her.

Besides the close attendants, only the Xie family members remained on the city wall.

“Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

“This subject wishes to adopt his first child to Lady Consort Wan.”

Xie Wan was stunned. She truly hadn’t expected Xie Yunyu to say such a thing so suddenly.

“What nonsense are you speaking?” Her first reaction was to frown. She glanced at Qi Shu, who showed no reaction either, merely lowering her head and gently stroking her belly.

Presumably, the couple had already discussed this.

Considering there were others present, Xie Wan said, “I have already ordered people to search for skilled physicians. You need not worry about the matter of heirs.”

“This subject wishes to adopt the child to Lady Consort Wan,” Xie Yunyu insisted stubbornly. “Regardless of whether Your Majesty can bear children, when Anyu grows old in the future, there will be someone to care for her in her old age and see her off at the end.”

Xie Wan narrowed her eyes. “Qi Shu also agrees?”

Qi Shu, with her pregnant belly, spoke somewhat palely, “Lady Consort Wan will treat the child well.”

“But I do not agree,” Xie Wan said, giving them a cold glance. “Children are not born without parents. Since they have parents, let them grow up peacefully by their side. You do not need to worry about Consort Wan’s affairs.”

“Minister Xie, I have been too lenient with you. Even if there were to be an adoption, it should be from the imperial Chu clan, not from the Xie family… What, do you think the Xie family holds too little power now, that you even dare to scheme for my future Crown Prince?”

“This subject dares not,” Xie Yunyu lowered his head.

“Since you dare not, then dismiss this thought.”

Xie Yunyu sighed. “Yes.”

Xie Wan left, her back showing a hint of displeasure. It was rare for Her Majesty to display such outward emotion.

Younger Aunt approached, her face also filled with complexity. “When did you two… make such a plan? Anyu just left the capital. If she were here, she would surely be angry with you.”

Xie Yunyu looked at Younger Aunt and said something she didn’t quite understand: “Isn’t she already angry?”

Younger Aunt was suddenly speechless.

“You…”

Xie Yunyu straightened up and slowly closed his eyes. Her Majesty didn’t care who the Crown Prince was at all, otherwise, she wouldn’t have lied to the court officials about being unable to bear children.

The imperial Chu clan members were all several generations removed. The closest relative was the previously deceased Chu Tang.

Her Majesty saying she couldn’t bear children meant that the future Crown Prince would not have the bloodline of the imperial Chu family. Whether it was a child from the Xie family or someone else’s family, it didn’t matter.

Her Majesty didn’t want his adopted child for no other reason than hoping the child could grow up happily by their parents’ side.

“Are you gambling with your own child just to get an answer in your heart?” The usually gentle Younger Aunt’s face was stern now. “What would you do if Her Majesty had actually agreed? This child is also Shu’er’s; did you make this decision alone?”

Xie Yunyu remained silent.

Qi Shu watched this scene and sighed. “Younger Aunt, I agreed to this matter.”

Even if adopted, the child could have two sets of parents. Their love for the child wouldn’t diminish. It was just that if Anyu had no children, in the future…

“You two…” Younger Aunt wanted to say more, but seeing Qi Shu stroking her belly, she ultimately didn’t continue.

The people on the city wall gradually thinned out.

Xie Yunyu held his wife’s hand and said softly, “I wasn’t gambling with the child. My sister, I know her. Even if the child were adopted to her, she wouldn’t treat the child poorly in the slightest.”

Qi Shu: “Mm.”

“The wind has picked up. Let’s go back.”

“Okay.”

Not long after, some news came from West Jin.

West Jin had another internal conflict.

Hachinu, the Great General of West Jin, had raised an army and was attempting to repeat the mistakes of the Ming Jin state, trying to split West Jin into two.

The new emperor, whose foundation was unstable, was caught off guard by Hachinu.

West Jin’s internal situation had completely erupted.

East Ming and Da Yue watched from the sidelines, clearly both harboring ulterior motives towards West Jin. If Hachinu truly split West Jin into two, then East Ming and Da Yue would naturally consider annexing West Jin’s scattered territories and forces.

After all, a country without a monarch was nothing but scattered sand, easily defeated one by one.

However, despite saying this, no one acted rashly before the truce ended.

It wasn’t that the truce was truly that important, but rather that both East Ming and Da Yue understood that taking down West Jin would not be accomplished in a single day.

The remaining year of the truce was sufficient preparation time.

At that time, who would emerge victorious would depend on their respective abilities.

Xie Wan sat in the Imperial Study. A map of the three states was spread out on her largest desk.

Her gaze had already fallen upon the territory belonging to West Jin.

Ming Jin was once a nomadic people living on horseback, gradually forming the rudimentary form/prototype of a nation led by several large tribes. However, due to unequal division of power and territory, conflicts frequently arose among the leaders of the large tribes.

Ultimately, after a civil war, it split into two, becoming East Ming and West Jin.

Because of the lessons learned, East Ming and West Jin imitated Da Yue and established a single monarch.

Now that the new emperor had ascended the throne, there would be no shortage of disobedient tribes. Ajirui, upon returning, would naturally stir up trouble.

In her previous life, Xie Wan had also met Hachinu. Although brave and skilled in battle, his mind was certainly not very deep. He had been a general for half his life; did he not want to be emperor?

The previous emperor who had suppressed him was dead. The current West Jin emperor was merely a half-baked ruler relying on the former emperor’s glory.

It was perfectly normal for Hachinu to raise an army and fight for power.

Although she didn’t know how much of a role Ajirui played in this, it was useful nonetheless.

As for East Ming…

If West Jin was the war faction, then East Ming was the conservative faction.

The monarch of East Ming was quite similar to Da Yue’s Emperor Ruiming.

They lacked the courage and decisiveness of a founding emperor, and they had no ambition to create a prosperous era. They only hoped that the country under their rule in this generation would not be reviled; this was the best they could do.

This was also why East Ming would rather send assassins to disrupt the marriage alliance.

Even if they killed a West Jin princess, West Jin, in its current state, would not dare to go to war with them.

But if Da Yue and West Jin joined forces, East Ming would inevitably be invaded by war.

So, the current situation…

Xie Wan guessed that East Ming’s internal situation was also very chaotic right now.

She could receive news of West Jin’s internal strife, and the East Ming emperor naturally knew as well. But Da Yue’s army had already begun quietly deploying along the border, while East Ming’s… was probably still debating whether or not to send troops to the border to participate in the war.

The monarch lacked courage, so the court officials would also be indecisive.

As long as West Jin was dealt with, East Ming was not to be feared.

Xie Wan’s gaze left the map, and she leaned back slightly in her chair, a hint of relaxation in her brows.

She had worked hard for three years, avoided all of Da Yue’s major disasters, eliminated so many parasites from the court, all for this day.

With Da Yue’s current strength, taking down the other two countries was only a matter of time.

Everything would go smoothly.

A gentle breeze blew, and a leaf outside the window quietly detached from the branch, fluttering in the wind, and finally landed on the ground not far from the windowsill.

A single leaf signals autumn.

Zhaoxia picked up the leaf and looked into the Imperial Study. Her Majesty had actually fallen asleep in her chair.

Zhaoxia quickly pushed the door open and entered.

“Your Majesty, please go to the couch to rest.”

Zhaoxia saw that her breathing was steady and she was deeply asleep. She had no choice but to fetch a blanket and gently draped it over Xie Wan.

Xie Wan had a dream.

When she opened her eyes, she didn’t see the map in the study, nor the autumn outside the window, but a panoramic view, a panoramic view of the entire Da Yue.

The capital was easy to recognize; it was always the most bustling and prosperous area of Da Yue, with carriages and horses flowing like water, and the sounds of hawkers were endless.

North of the capital, extending north to Jinghe and south to the South Sea, was the territory of Da Yue.

But the map of Da Yue before her eyes clearly extended beyond that. Even the northern regions belonging to East Ming and West Jin seemed to be connected by Da Yue’s roads. People of several distinct ethnicities mixed together in the cities, still bustling.

“This is Da Yue fifty years after your death in your previous life,” a sudden voice came from behind Xie Wan.

She turned around and saw a familiar face.

It was a face she often saw in the mirror now, but she herself would never show such an expression.

“Chu Long.”

The emperor whose name was called seemed to be momentarily lost in thought, then said, “Long time no see… Xie Wan.”

There was none of the fear and panic she had shown in their previous encounters; instead, there was more calmness.

“Look, fifty years after your death, Da Yue became like this. It’s your achievement. You won a peaceful and prosperous era for Chu Tang, much more impressive than me… than I was.”

Xie Wan: “You specifically entered my dream to praise me? How unpleasant.”

Her relationship with Chu Long was far from good.

“No, I just feel that I didn’t choose the wrong person.”

Xie Wan stared intently at her. “It was indeed you who brought me here.”

Chu Long seemed to tremble slightly, but still gave a dry laugh. “This is my atonement. It’s better to hand Da Yue over to you than for it to decline in my hands.”

“Taking my achievements as your atonement?” Xie Wan said flatly.

If she were Chu Long, if she knew her future clearly, she would never allow that future to happen. Even if she had to force herself, she would change the present situation.

“You know, I didn’t have that ability…” Chu Long said.

“Even if Da Yue is prosperous, I am starting over here. But those who died because of you will not be resurrected. To me, you are still unforgivable.”

“But if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have met ‘yourself’,” Chu Long suddenly said, her expression becoming somewhat strange. “Indeed, a person like you can only love yourself.”

Xie Wan narrowed her eyes. “What exactly do you want to say?”

Chu Long took a step back and said softly, “Nothing, just before leaving… to say… thank you.”

Xie Wan scoffed. “I killed Xu Shengwen.”

Chu Long seemed to flinch, but still smiled. “Still, thank you.”

The conversation with Chu Long didn’t last long.

The mist in the dream gradually dispersed, and the sounds of noisy people became clearer in her ears.

Imperial physicians surrounded her, and Zhaoxia’s face was also anxious.

Xie Wan slowly sat up.

“She’s awake, she’s awake! Your Majesty is awake!”

Xie Wan didn’t immediately ask how long she had slept.

“What is the date today?”

Zhaoxia answered blankly, “Your Majesty, today is the twelfth of September.”

Xie Wan fell silent.

September twelfth.

It was the day Emperor Ruiming died of illness in her previous life.