Reborn Before My Husband Ascends the Throne
Chapter 3

The emperor's appearance after her death was something Ye Suijin did not get to see. She had exhausted her vitality in this life, and finally closed her eyes.

Before her death, scenes from this life flashed before her like a galloping horse, and in the end, it froze on Pei Lian.

Pei Lian, Pei Guifei, the mother of the Crown Prince.

This woman had fought with her for half a lifetime, until she finally saw through Zhao Jingwen, until her heart turned cold.

She too prided herself on her beauty, yet looked emaciated when dying.

"My Lady..." Nearing her death, her shriveled eye sockets were full of regretful tears.

"Worthless."

"My Lady and I, both worthless."

At that time, Ye Suijin did not fully agree with her words.

She felt it was only because in the end, Pei Lian did not become Empress. If Pei Lian had become Empress, perhaps she would not have said such things.

But now, Ye Suijin felt it really was worthless.

This whole life, all worthless.

If, if she could live again.

If, she could live again...

...

...

In the fiery June sun at its peak of summer heat, a dark red steed galloped swiftly on a village road, leaving a trail of dust behind.

The busy farmers harvesting the summer grain also looked up, feeling uneasy.

"Isn't that Duan Xiaolang?"

"Did something happen that he's in such a hurry?"

It was the midst of summer harvest, and with so many refugees, incidents of grain robbery would occur from time to time. The Ye manor had sent men to all the surrounding villages to maintain order and prevent refugees from becoming violent mobs and looting grain.

When people were starved enough, they could do anything.

It was said that in Huang County to the north, they had hung and burned the county magistrate alive and looted the county treasury empty.

So some grew worried, "Could something have happened at the manor?"

They all relied on the Ye manor's protection to have a peaceful corner in these chaotic times. Whenever they heard the refugees talk about things outside, they felt fortunate.

As long as the Ye family was here, the sky could collapse and the Ye's would hold it up. They just needed to catch their breath down below.

What they feared was even the powerful Ye's could not endure. Some of the rogue troops were even more vicious than bandits. Wherever they went was like a locust plague, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake.

That's what they were afraid of.

The dark-skinned village chief rolled up his pants and shouted with sweat running down his flushed face, "Hurry, don't just stand there! Keep working! The sooner we get the grain harvested and stored, the sooner we'll all feel at ease!"

The farmers asked, "Master, why did Duan rush back? Is something wrong back at the manor?"

Since the Ye manor's rise, they had protected this area of Deng Prefecture and allowed it to remain peaceful.

Because of the Ye family here, the magistrates of Deng Prefecture's three counties were still in office, overseeing the livelihood and administration of the people, making it look much like the peaceful times.

Unlike the north, where afraid of dying, officials had all fled, leaving their posts vacant. Over the past few years, the empire had changed emperors twice, and changed dynasties twice, yet no new officials had been appointed.

Many county offices no longer had a magistrate. It was the local clerks and sheriffs pro-tem keeping things going.

When trouble arose, though they did not dare fight, at least they could organize the local braves to guard the city gates. If things went badly, they would promptly close the gates to protect themselves.

The village chief said, "What could happen! The young mistress has sent troops in all directions to patrol, anyone who dares make trouble in the Ye family's territory will promptly be driven out!"

With the village chief's words, everyone felt a little more at ease.

But there were still murmurs, "It would be better if the old Lord was still around."

It was said down south, with just a few thousand troops in hand, one could proclaim himself king on the spot. Even if one lacked guts, one could at least proclaim himself General first.

All over the south, there were dozens of big and small Kings and Generals, all warlords controlling large territories and armies.

The Ye manor had over a thousand retainers. Based on the south, they could at least proclaim themselves General.

Yet the current Lord was a young woman. And so people subconsciously did not have such expectations of her.

"Stop murmuring nonsense! If you spout more rubbish, I'll rip your mouth apart! So you can show everyone how well you can talk then!" The village chief angrily scolded, "The young mistress took over the house at seventeen, and it's been three years. Have we gone hungry? Have outsiders bullied us?"

"Or are you dissatisfied? If you're dissatisfied, go fight the young mistress yourself! See if the young mistress doesn't spear you in one move!"

The murmuring farmer quickly shrank back.

Hands on hips, the village chief said, "Don't delay the farming! Don't you see those outsiders, eyes green with envy. Quickly, harvest the grain this year and transport it to the Ye manor. Only then can we feel at ease!"

Seeing the farmers hurriedly harvesting, the village chief grumbled as he returned to the path. Sᴇaʀᴄh the NovᴇlFɪre .ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Looking in the direction that horse had departed, towards the Ye manor, his heart was also uneasy.

Because although Duan Xiaolang came with the patrol troops, he was not just a regular soldier. He was a page who served closely beside the young mistress.

Sent out on assignment by her, rushing back in such a panic, it was no wonder others would think too much.

What had happened at the Ye manor?

Duan Jin didn't care what others thought. He rode at a dead gallop that covered eight hundred li in urgent speed.

The hoofbeats were like hammering at his heart, making him anxious.

Three days ago, he had gone with the troops to patrol the summer harvest and prevent refugee riots. Suddenly, somehow, he felt a pang in his heart and instinctively looked towards the Ye manor's direction, feeling like something had happened there.

He wanted to tell the others, but it sounded inauspicious, so he kept it to himself.

Who knew someone would be sent from the manor today to call him back, saying the young mistress had suddenly fallen into a stupor three days ago, sometimes lucid, sometimes unconscious, uttering incomprehensible ravings.

Last night she finally awoke, but grabbed those beside her and asked, "Where's A-Jin? Is A-Jin still alive?"

"Where is he?"

"Call A-Jin to see me!"

Unable to travel at night, first thing this morning the manor had sent someone urgently to find him.

When Duan asked when this happened, comparing the time, it was when he had felt that pang.

He knew it must not be good!

Not wanting others to slow him down, riding solo he raced back to the Ye manor.

Having gone quite far on this patrol, even riding urgently it was nightfall when he returned to the Ye manor. Only his fine steed, gifted by the young mistress this year, collapsed in exhaustion at the manor gates without making it into the walled town, causing him to tumble into the dirt.

The gate guards recognized him and quickly went to help him up, "Be careful!"

Duan grabbed a familiar face and asked, "How is my mistress?"

The guard said, "What happened to the Lord? We don't know."

He was foolish, of course the gate guards would not know things within the manor residence.

Duan hurried through the town gates and went to borrow a horse from the courier, "Let me borrow your horse!"

Though named a manor, it was more like a town. From the gates to the Ye residence was still quite a distance. Horses were kept at the ready by the gates for couriers to quickly report to the Lord's manor.

Duan rode the horse and charged back to the Ye estate.

Along the way, townsfolk pointed and murmured, "That's Duan Xiaolang."

"Duan Xiaolang has grown up too. So handsome. Who knows which family will get such a son-in-law."

Ma's wife jokingly made to hit them, and the passersby laughed as they fled.

Some stood hands on hips, jumping and yelling from behind, "Duan Xiaolang, why are you running! You kicked over my vegetable basket, remember to pay for it!"

Refugees were not allowed inside the walled town. The town housed only locals. At a glance, the streets were bustling with shops and markets, porters and women with baskets, chatting and laughing, looking for all appearances like the bustling prosperity of peaceful times.

At the Ye estate gates, Duan gave the horse back to the gateman, "Return it to the city gates!"

He rushed towards the young mistress's residence.

Along the way, servants instructed maids carrying water, "Hey! Hey! You can't go in there!"

Duan was sweating heavily, "My mistress summoned me back!"

"Zhao Langjun has returned! He's inside!" The maid pulled him away, "Mistress said no one is to enter unless called."

Duan's footsteps halted as he looked at the closed door, lips pursed.

Zhao Langjun was Zhao Jingwen, the young mistress's husband.

A husband by marriage had low status, often looked down on. The young mistress did not allow others to look down on her husband, and had set rules early on. She managed the household like an army, even maids had to obey.

When the couple shut their door, it meant no one could enter unless summoned.

Duan was fifteen. Peers were already fathers, and talked indecently when together. Though inexperienced, he understood enough.

He took one look before turning away, letting the maid pull him out.

"How did you get so dirty?"

"Fell off the horse."

"Falling off horses too, see how capable you are."

"How is my mistress?"

"Nothing's wrong now. The last two days gave everyone a fright, she wasn't lucid. Granny Yan came to perform an exorcism ritual, talismans and potions, after sleeping she woke up perfectly fine. No issues at all anymore, don't worry."

The maid said, "Back then, she kept asking for you, kept asking if you're still alive. Scared everyone."

The maid shuddered recalling the young mistress's expression then, truly frightening.

But the youth's brows and eyes relaxed, finally at ease, even smiling proudly, "Even in a stupor, my mistress remembered me!"

The maid spat at him, "Hurry and wash up! No knowing when mistress will summon you! Look at you, dirty as a mud monkey! Don't stain the carpets!"

Having raced back, sweated all the way, and baked in the sun, even he could smell himself.

Couldn't meet the mistress like this. Master Zhao was always pristine.

Duan turned to go, "I'll go wash up!"

These last two days, Ye Suijin had sweated layer upon layer, jolting awake covered in sweat each time.

Just finished bathing, when she heard voices outside, a maid came in saying, "Master Zhao has returned."

Ye Suijin, soaked in the hot bath, slowly opened her eyes.

Zhao Jingwen.

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