After Rebirth, My Wife Turned Out to Be Myself - Chapter 85

Spring of the second year.

West Jin.

Hachinu led his troops and attacked the royal city.

The royal guards were utterly defeated, and no one dared to stop Hachinu from charging into the palace with his men.

The Emperor of West Jin sat alone in the great hall, holding a wine flask, and watched the charging figures with a cold sneer. “Hachinu, you came alone…”

“You lost, Ajili.” Hachinu stood in front of the hall in his iron armor. This time entering the royal city, he no longer needed to kneel to the royal family.

Ajili burst into laughter, tilted his head back, and drained the wine in the flask, his eyes revealing bone-deep hatred. “Where is Ajirui? Where is she? She helped you so much, and on this last day, she still won’t show herself to see her own imperial brother?”

Hachinu’s rugged expression changed, but he did not deny it.

Ajili seemed not to hear him at all, only laughing louder. “My eldest imperial brother told me before he died to be wary of my second imperial sister. I underestimated her. I should have killed her with my own hands back then!”

Hachinu said coldly, “If not for Ajirui, you wouldn’t be in this position. Ajili, you lost because you broke faith and righteousness.”

“Hmph, I broke faith and righteousness…” Ajili suddenly coughed up bl00d, hatred and pain twisting his features. “So be it, so be it. I will wait for her on the road to the Yellow Springs!”

Hachinu’s gaze fell on the wine flask in his hand.

Knowing there was no way out today, he drank poisoned wine himself?

Hachinu watched with his own eyes as the Emperor, writhing on the ground clutching his abdomen in pain, lost his breath not long after.

Hachinu’s subordinates standing outside witnessed this scene and rushed in.

Suddenly, someone shouted—

“Welcome the new Emperor!!”

Only then did the subordinates realize that the tide had turned, and they all knelt and cheered.

“Long live His Majesty!”

Hachinu’s rugged face was surprisingly calm, but a hint of excitement he couldn’t control still flickered in his eyes.

He had become the Emperor.

From now on, he could fight however he wanted, with no royal family to stop him.

Ajirui had said that after the civil unrest in West Jin ended, the war… would begin.

War, ah, how interesting.

How truly, exhilarating.

“After tomorrow, Hachinu will become the new Emperor.” In the royal city, someone watched all this, gazing towards the direction of the royal city, and said, “Your Highness, do you really think Hachinu can be a good emperor?”

“What does it matter if he can or can’t?” a female voice replied from across the person. “It’s better for West Jin to be in his hands than in Ajili’s.”

The advisor looked at the woman before him, only he knew what role she had played in this game.

Had she returned for revenge? But Ajili’s death was certain, yet there was no joy on her face.

Instead, he could vaguely sense her tension.

Ajirui lowered her eyes, her thoughts unknown to others.

Her condition for helping Hachinu was the people of West Jin.

She could instigate civil unrest in West Jin, but after winning, the common people must be spared. This was her deal with Hachinu.

Hachinu’s smooth entry into the royal city was naturally due to her assistance. In this civil war, both sides suffered three-tenths less casualties than expected; this was Ajirui’s effort.

Fortunately, Hachinu managed to unify West Jin and become the new Emperor before the three-nation truce agreement ended. This was good.

Resolving internal troubles earlier meant East Ming and Da Yue would not dare to act rashly.

Ajirui had not been in contact with the Emperor of Da Yue for long, but she knew how terrifying that woman was.

If she were the Emperor Ruiming of Da Yue, she would not give up on probing West Jin.

West Jin at this time was more like Da Yue a few years ago. During the Northern Border conflict, it was West Jin and East Ming probing Da Yue’s strength, trying to take a piece of flesh from Da Yue while it was weak. If the probing was highly effective, perhaps the armies of West Jin and East Ming would have already invaded Da Yue before the truce agreement.

If the previous Emperor of West Jin hadn’t died then, and East Ming hadn’t been drawn in, forcing the three parties to sign a truce treaty, Da Yue would have definitely lost the Northern Border conflict.

In just a few years, the positions of West Jin and Da Yue seemed to have swapped. Now, the one on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered, had become West Jin.

West Jin had suffered continuous civil wars, and the people were already in dire straits.

When the truce agreement ended, it would be the beginning of a war between the three nations.

Speaking of being skilled in warfare, among West Jin, who could surpass Hachinu?

Hachinu might not be good at governing, but he understood war. The people of West Jin were fierce and brave; no one would refuse a valiant general becoming emperor. When the other two nations attacked, only Hachinu could lead the people of West Jin to resist them.

This was West Jin’s only chance to win.

After speaking, she smiled somewhat passively. “Human effort has been exhausted; everything depends on fate.” Just as she finished speaking, Ajirui suddenly began to cough.

“Cough, cough, cough—”

The coughing shook her throat painfully. A mouthful of bloody air surged from her chest and abdomen into her throat. The sweet, metallic taste made Ajirui frown uncomfortably, but her vision was already darkening, and her body swayed.

“Your Highness?!”

The advisor’s terrified expression made Ajirui swallow the bl00d in her throat forcefully. She took out a medicine bottle from her sleeve, pulled off the cap, and swallowed the medicine whole. Only then did she slowly say, “It’s nothing.”

The Emperor of Da Yue didn’t want to let her go.

But she wouldn’t die yet.

At least not now.

The Emperor of Da Yue probably thought she would go for the throne. Recruit Hachinu to her banner, wield Hachinu as a sharp blade, and then restore West Jin’s prestige.

Unfortunately, this time she would guess wrong.

Hachinu was still the sharp blade, and she was still the one wielding it. Only, she had learned from the Emperor of Da Yue and hidden behind the scenes.

“Cough, cough… I also want to know… whose blade is faster, mine or yours,” Ajirui murmured softly.

News of Hachinu’s ascension to the throne in West Jin reached Da Yue.

The generals in the Northern Border were naturally the first to receive the news.

The Northern Border line was very long. On the surface, it was still Xie Yunliang’s Northern Army guarding it, but in reality, hundreds of thousands of troops had already gathered and been stationed south of Jinghe for half a year.

At this time, there were still three full months until the truce agreement ended.

Ajirui had probably done her best.

Three months might not change much, but it was enough for the new Emperor of West Jin to mobilize a large army to guard the border.

In the council tent, the main commanders and strategists were gathered, a rare occurrence.

“This is the best time to launch an expedition,” Xie Chengdong said in a deep voice. “With the new Emperor of West Jin ascending and the truce agreement not yet over, attacking West Jin at this time can catch the enemy off guard.”

Especially since East Ming would definitely not be able to react in time.

Xie Yunliang nodded. “Seconded.”

Anyu said at this time, “The truce agreement, except for East Ming who doesn’t want to fight and will abide by it, is regarded as nothing by both West Jin and Da Yue. Moreover, based solely on this intelligence, we cannot determine the situation on the West Jin border.”

“Indeed, Hachinu took the throne too easily and smoothly,” said Nie Mingzhuo, the strategist.

Launching an attack rashly at this time, whether it would catch the enemy off guard was unknown, but it could easily put Da Yue in a passive position.

If they attacked West Jin, and East Ming took the opportunity to do something, Da Yue would be attacked from both sides.

For a moment, everyone was silent.

Anyu looked around and then smiled, “However, no matter how many speculations, they are just speculations. Great General Xie is right, this is the best opportunity, and opportunities lost do not return.”

“Besides, the current West Jin doesn’t require us to be too cautious,” Anyu said in a steady voice.

Even if West Jin was prepared, so what?

Even if West Jin’s civil war ended and it had a new ruler, so what?

“This is war. Being hesitant and indecisive is not the way of a general. As generals, we should be decisive! Behind us, we still have Her Majesty!” Anyu said.

If not for the fact that everyone present were main commanders, they would probably want to shout along with her.

Xie Chengdong looked at his daughter, then cleared his throat slightly. “Well said. However, whether to fight or not is not for us to decide. The news still needs to be sent back to the capital…”

Xie Yunliang also nodded. “I have already sent someone to deliver the message. Everything still depends on Her Majesty’s imperial decree.”

Everyone nodded in silence.

Yes, even though they were eager to seize this opportunity, without an imperial decree…

Just then, a gust of wind suddenly lifted the tent flap, and a soldier’s voice came from far to near—

“General! An imperial decree has arrived! An imperial decree from the capital!”

Anyu suddenly stood up. “An imperial decree?!”

The generals and commanders present all exchanged glances, unable to suppress the excitement in their hearts.

No way, an imperial decree at this time…

Could it be that Her Majesty…

It’s impossible that she even calculated such a timing, right?!

The soldier stammered, but his eyes couldn’t hide his excitement. “General, not only the imperial decree, Her Majesty, she, Her Majesty she…”

Anyu: ?

“Her Majesty she! Has come in person!”

This time, not only Anyu, but everyone was stunned and rooted to the spot in shock.

Her Majesty, has come in person?!

Anyu rushed out of the tent in a hurry. The wind that greeted her was not as biting as in winter, carrying a slightly cool chill that made her soberly aware of the feeling of bl00d surging through her veins.

“Your Majesty!”

From a distance, Anyu spotted that person’s figure.

That person was not wearing any luxurious robes. She had even tied her long hair up high, just like herself. She wore close-fitting soft armor on her lean body, and even carried the necessary weapons at her waist.

She was clearly dressed like many soldiers. But even just her back view was so dashing that people couldn’t take their eyes off her.

She didn’t even need to distinguish; with just one glance, she could recognize her.

Her Majesty, she had actually come!

Hearing Anyu’s call, the woman turned her head slightly, her eyes unable to hide a smile, and the corners of her mouth lifted uncontrollably. “General Xie.”

“Your Majesty…” Running a few steps to her side, Anyu stared at her with bright eyes.

“General Xie, the expedition to West Jin is urgent.”

Anyu’s heart leaped, and she immediately knelt on one knee. “Yes!”

She had truly calculated the timing of West Jin’s pacification. She had truly…

“But, why has Your Majesty come in person?”

“Because… I have come to personally lead the expedition.” Xie Wan helped her up, meeting Anyu’s shocked gaze, and slowly smiled. “Go west with confidence. As for East Ming, I will watch over them for you.”

Anyu took a sharp breath.

Suddenly, she laughed again. “In that case, there truly are no worries left.”

If East Ming were to intervene while West Jin and Da Yue were fighting, Da Yue would inevitably be attacked from both sides.

But now, Her Majesty said she would watch over East Ming.

At that moment, she even felt that Da Yue was invincible.

After all, no one knew that the person playing chess behind Da Yue was actually the sharpest blade.

Xie Wan smiled and said, “Oh, and congratulations, you have gained a little niece.”

Anyu’s eyes widened instantly.

Big sister-in-law gave birth?!

It’s a girl!

“I have already sent the longevity lock. Minister Xie asked me to bestow a name, and I said, let’s call her Xie Ningjing.”

Xie Ningjing.

The four seas rise in peace, the eight directions are tranquil.

It is for…

Peace under Heaven.