Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 20

Xuan Jingchi sat on her bed, staring intently at the Scent Pouch in her hand while gently stroking it with her other hand.

This Scent Pouch was exquisitely crafted, with a green satin surface embroidered with a pattern of fish playing among lotus flowers.

Looking at the dense, meticulous stitches, Xuan Jingchi recalled the shy expression on the Empress’s face when she presented the pouch. Once again, the corners of her mouth curled upward involuntarily.

The Empress gave me a gift! And it’s a Scent Pouch!

She remembered that in Dream of the Red Chamber, Lin Daiyu had embroidered a Scent Pouch or a pouch for Jia Baoyu.

Haha, does she like me a little?

Even if it’s just a tiny bit.

This Scent Pouch is so beautifully made—she must have spent a long time embroidering it.

“Your Majesty, it’s time to retire for the night.”

Nuanxiang approached. Seeing Xuan Jingchi staring at the Scent Pouch in a daze with a silly smile, she said, “Your Majesty, all the princesses and your cousins have sent gifts. Would you like to take a look?”

“They sent me gifts?” Xuan Jingchi’s interest was immediately piqued, and she eagerly replied, “Bring them here for me to see.”

Nuanxiang smiled and left, returning shortly with a tray in her hands, covered with red silk.

“Your Majesty, everything is here. Please take a look.”

Xuan Jingchi excitedly lifted the red silk, only to freeze in shock the moment she saw what lay beneath.

At the same time, her joyful heart plummeted to the depths.

On the tray lay a row of Scent Pouches, all with green backgrounds, varying in shape but largely similar in design—each depicting fish playing among lotus leaves.

Clutching the Scent Pouch given by the Empress in her hand, Xuan Jingchi suddenly felt a pang of bitterness.

As sharp as she was, she had already sensed something amiss.

She muttered, “Why did they all send Scent Pouches? Couldn’t they have sent something else?”

Nuanxiang chuckled and said, “Your Majesty, have you forgotten? It’s a tradition in our Great Qing Kingdom for sisters to exchange Scent Pouches when celebrating a loved one’s birthday.”

So it was tradition!

The Empress gave me a Scent Pouch—just because of tradition!

Xuan Jingchi twitched her eyebrows and nodded woodenly. “Nuanxiang, take them all away. When my elder sisters and cousins have their birthdays, remind me—I’ll make one for each of them too.”

“As you wish.” Nuanxiang bowed and withdrew, carrying the tray away. She found it odd—just moments ago, the Emperor had been so excited about the Scent Pouches, yet now she seemed displeased.

Could it be that none of these Scent Pouches were as lovely as the Empress’s?

But no—Princess Gaole’s was exquisitely made, almost on par with the work of the Imperial Tailoring Bureau.

Xuan Jingchi flopped heavily onto the bed, clutching the Scent Pouch in her hand, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Sisters?

She sees me as a sister.

Why sisters? I don’t want to be her sister!

Xuan Jingchi sighed deeply.

But love between women…

Even in modern times, such feelings aren’t widely accepted.

Moreover, Xiao Yueli was born into a scholarly family, a refined lady thoroughly steeped in the teachings of propriety.

After a while, she turned over and suddenly remembered something—

She was Fahai!

The one who, unable to attain love, forcibly separated Yuan Zhao and her, leaving them eternally parted by life and death.

Would she ever like her?!!

It would already be a blessing if she didn’t kill her!

Xuan Jingchi closed her eyes, turned over again, and bit her lip tightly.

Why?

Why did it have to be like this?

She had finally met someone she liked,

Finally felt her heart stir…

A pang of sorrow struck her, and she curled into a ball.

Much later, two tears seeped from the corners of her eyes, dripping onto the brocade quilt and vanishing without a trace.

The Empress didn’t like her, and she couldn’t confess her feelings to the Empress either.

Between them stood Yuan Zhao, the blood feud of her lover’s death, and the undeniable fact that they were both women.

These emotions of hers were destined to remain buried deep in her heart,

This love of hers was fated to wither before it could bloom…

The next morning, when Nuanxiang and Chenxiang came to wake the Emperor, they were shocked to find Xuan Jingchi already up—an unprecedented occurrence. However, she looked rather pale and couldn’t even stomach breakfast.

No one could have guessed that Xuan Jingchi had stayed awake all night.

Nuanxiang asked, “Your Majesty, should we summon the imperial physician for you?”

“No need. I’m not ill,” Xuan Jingchi replied with a self-deprecating smile. “Even if I were, this is an ailment no physician could cure.”

With that, she called for Nuanxiang and Chenxiang to dress her in casual attire and strode out toward the archery pavilion.

Nuanxiang and Chenxiang exchanged glances—the Emperor was acting strangely today.

Was she truly unwell?

If not, why claim that even a physician couldn’t heal her?

At the archery pavilion, Xuan Jingchi mounted her horse and immediately cracked her whip against its flank.

The horse, startled by the pain, bolted forward at full speed. Xuan Jingchi clung to its back as it raced wildly, heedless of direction, urging it faster and faster with shouts of “Hyah! Hyah!”

Wang Zhan, alarmed by the Emperor’s reckless riding, quickly mounted his own horse to pursue her.

To his shock, the Emperor’s horse was galloping straight for the palace gates.

When they reached the main gate, the guards recognized the Emperor and, hearing her distant shouts of “Open the gates! Open them!”, hurriedly swung the palace doors wide.

Without slowing, Xuan Jingchi lashed her whip and charged out of the palace.

In the blink of an eye, she vanished into the streets.

Moments later, Wang Zhan and several imperial guards arrived on horseback. “Where’s the Emperor?!”

“Her Majesty has left the palace!”

Wang Zhan paled. Turning to one guard, he ordered, “Quickly gather more men and follow me to search for Her Majesty.” To another, he said, “Inform the Empress and Minister Meng at once.”

With that, he led the remaining guards in a frantic pursuit.

Driven by the suffocating frustration in her chest, Xuan Jingchi had fled the palace at full speed.

She had no idea where to go—where she should go, or even could go.

So she simply let her horse run, pushing it relentlessly forward.

Once she reached the bustling streets, her white steed’s thundering hooves sent pedestrians scrambling aside with terrified screams.

Though Xuan Jingchi’s riding skills were now quite proficient—enough to clear a path by shouting “Move aside!” while ignoring the chaos of toppled bystanders—her anger didn’t blind her to the risk of injuring innocents.

Frustrated as she was, she had no desire to harm anyone. So she dismounted and continued on foot, leading her horse by the reins.

The imperial capital, situated at the feet of the Son of Heaven, was bustling and lively. Shops lined both sides of the streets, and the roads were crowded with people, the air filled with the constant clamor of vendors hawking their wares.

Xuan Jingchi had never left the palace before. In no mood for sightseeing or shopping, she walked aimlessly down the street, leading her horse with a sullen expression.

Eventually, she arrived in front of an imposing restaurant.

A waiter, seeing her pass by, noticed the Golden Crown restraining her jet-black hair and her strikingly beautiful, enchanting appearance. Stunned for a moment, he then observed her fine attire and noble bearing, assuming she must be a young lady from some aristocratic household out for a stroll.

Approaching her, he said, “Esteemed guest, would you like to stop for a meal? Our signature dish, the braised fragrant snails, is renowned far and wide. Paired with eighteen-year-old Nü’er Hong wine, it’s a delicacy so divine even immortals would forsake their status.”

Intrigued by his enthusiastic description and unsure where else to go, Xuan Jingchi replied, “Very well, I shall try these snails you claim are so delicious even immortals would abandon their immortality.”

Beaming, the waiter ushered her into the restaurant. Xuan Jingchi chose a secluded corner by the wall to sit.

Glancing up, she saw a famous line by Li Taibai inscribed on the wall: “When life is good, drink your fill—never let a golden cup sit empty under the moon.”

As if influenced by the verse, Xuan Jingchi, who normally didn’t drink, ordered several signature dishes and a pot of Nü’er Hong wine. She poured herself a cup and drank alone.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted in the restaurant. A crowd had gathered around a table, laughing and jeering, “Hahaha! This fool is spouting nonsense again!”

“And he has the audacity to claim he’ll become prime minister someday!”

“If a drunkard like you can become prime minister, then I must be the Jade Emperor himself!”

“Exactly! What rubbish! Talking about She Country being the strongest—who doesn’t know Fang Country is the dominant power now?”

“She Country can’t even compare to our Qing Country!”

Xuan Jingchi was startled.

She Country—wasn’t that the name of the nation ruled by the wise and expansionist monarch from the books?

How did this man know She Country would become the strongest?

She listened intently.

The drunken man slurred, “King Moduo of She Country is diligent and capable, with countless fierce generals under his command. Right now, he’s just biding his time, gathering strength. When the moment comes, he’ll sweep across the land, one kingdom after another.”

“Hahaha! What a joke! A tiny She Country sweeping the land?”

“Don’t forget, Fang Country is the foremost great power. Hmph! How could a puny She Country ever defeat Fang?”

The man chuckled darkly, “How can a dying tree withstand a thunderous strike?”

“This guy must be either crazy or stupid. Fang Country is a dying tree?”

“If the Emperor appoints a blabbermouth like you as prime minister, our Great Qing Dynasty is doomed.”

“I say, future prime minister, when are you going to pay for all the food and drinks you’ve been scamming here?”

The man replied, “Put it on my tab. When I become a high-ranking official, I’ll repay you double.”

The crowd burst into laughter, “Always putting it on tab! Have you no shame?”

The tavern owner said, “My shop operates on thin margins. I can’t afford to feed a freeloader like you. Pay up today or get out.”

With that, he snatched the wine pot from the man’s hand.

The man remained good-natured, smiling ingratiatingly, “Boss, just one more tab. Only this once.”

The owner retorted, “You say that every time. Not today. Pay up now.”

The man, disheveled with unkempt hair and a scruffy beard, pleaded, “I’ll pay later. Just let me have a few sips. Fine, just two sips. If not, even one sip will do.”

The owner was firm, “No! Pay now.”

“I’ll cover his tab,” a clear voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned to see an exceptionally beautiful young woman standing gracefully, dressed in luxurious and opulent attire.

Xuan Jingchi had left the palace this time without taking anything—not even a single copper coin.

Under the crowd’s admiring and curious gazes, she walked forward, plucked one of the South Sea pearls adorning her collar, and placed it on the table. “This should be enough, right?”

Someone nearby exclaimed, “Wow! Such a large, perfect pearl. It must be worth a fortune.”

The drunkard squinted at Xuan Jingchi but didn’t thank her. Instead, he suddenly grabbed the wine pot from the owner’s hand and staggered out the door.

Xuan Jingchi had wanted to talk to him more, but when she looked up, the man had already disappeared.

She hurried to the entrance and scanned the bustling streets, but the man had vanished into the crowd.

“Your Maj—” Wang Zhan, spotting Xuan Jingchi suddenly appear at the tavern entrance, was overjoyed and almost shouted before remembering the public setting. He quickly approached and said, “Miss, please return with this general.”

Xuan Jingchi arched her delicate brows and said, “Wait here for me.”

With that, she went back inside, removed all the pearls from her collar, and told the owner, “Whenever that man comes to drink again, serve him. This is my advance payment for his drinks.”

The crowd marveled:

“Whose daughter is this? So extravagantly generous!”

“Look at her clothes—definitely from an extremely wealthy family!”

“That drunkard hit the jackpot, having someone pay his tab for him.”

After leaving the tavern, Xuan Jingchi found several Guards already waiting outside with her horse brought to the entrance.

The encounter with the drunkard had unexpectedly dissipated much of the inexplicable anger in her heart. She mounted her horse, straightened her back, and rode off without looking back.

The crowd watched her departure with fascination until someone suddenly realized, “Aren’t those imperial Guards?”

“Gasp, who is she?”

“Why would she have imperial Guards escorting her?”

“She’s royalty! But which princess is she?”

Someone gasped inwardly, Could it be… Her Majesty the Empress?