Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 22

When Xuan Jingchi arrived at Phoenix Palace, the lights in the bedchamber were still on.

Is she waiting for me?

Xuan Jingchi suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Even though she knew Xiao Yueli was only waiting because ancestral customs dictated that the emperor would visit every two days, she still couldn’t bear the thought of Xiao Yueli staying up late just for her.

Peering through the palace doors, she saw Xiao Yueli indeed waiting for her under the lamplight.

Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong sat by the entrance, so drowsy that Xiao Fu had already started dozing against the doorframe.

When Xuan Jingchi appeared, Xiao Rong immediately perked up and nudged Xiao Fu beside her.

Xiao Fu opened her eyes and, upon seeing Xuan Jingchi, mumbled, “Your Majesty, you’ve finally come. Why are you so late? We’ve been waiting forever and thought you weren’t coming.”

Xuan Jingchi apologized, “My apologies, I was delayed. Tomorrow night I’ll come earlier and tell you a story, how about that?”

Xiao Fu beamed with joy, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Seeing how exhausted they both were, Xuan Jingchi said, “After you help the Empress change, you may retire for the night. I’ll change by myself.”

“Yes,” Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong replied in unison before going to assist Xiao Yueli.

With nothing else to do, Xuan Jingchi wandered around and noticed a sheet of paper on the desk, its corner peeking out with fresh ink, as if it had just been written.

It must be something Xiao Yueli wrote.

Approaching the desk, she saw the page covered by a handkerchief. Clearly, the writer didn’t want anyone to glimpse her thoughts.

Curious, Xuan Jingchi reached out to lift the handkerchief but hesitated, knowing it was wrong to pry into others’ privacy.

Her hand hovered mid-air, torn between wanting to see and respecting boundaries.

Just as she wrestled with the decision, a fair, jade-like hand suddenly reached over, swiftly crumpling the paper and handkerchief together before tossing them into a drawer and shutting it firmly. Turning to Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong, Xiao Yueli said, “You may leave now. Your services are no longer needed here.”

Once the bedchamber held only the two of them, Xiao Yueli spoke, “These were just some careless words I scribbled, hardly worth seeing. I wouldn’t want to offend Your Majesty’s eyes.”

Understanding that Xiao Yueli didn’t wish for her to see it, Xuan Jingchi smiled and said, “How could the words of the court’s greatest talent be anything less than excellent? You’re too modest, Empress. My handwriting is the one that’s truly dreadful—Wan’er says it looks like spring earthworms and autumn snakes.”

Xiao Yueli raised an eyebrow slightly, recalling Xuan Jingchi’s enthusiastic demeanor toward Meng Wan that day, and said indifferently, “This concubine is no talented woman. In terms of literary talent, I naturally cannot compare to Minister Meng Wan.”

Xuan Jingchi replied, “Empress, you are the daughter of a Hanlin scholar, born into a family of scholars. You could recite the Analects at the age of five—truly a talented woman worthy of the title. If you are not a talented woman, then I fear no one in the world could be called one.”

Only after speaking did Xuan Jingchi belatedly realize how flattering her words sounded.

Xiao Yueli shook her head. “If we speak of vision and insight, this concubine believes Your Majesty is the true talented woman.”

She stepped closer to Xuan Jingchi and said, “It is already very late. Allow this concubine to assist Your Majesty in changing clothes.”

Xuan Jingchi immediately flushed red. She even seemed afraid to meet Xiao Yueli’s gaze, hurriedly turning her head away. “No need, no need! I can manage on my own.”

Xiao Yueli noticed that this Xuan Jingchi was remarkably thin-skinned, blushing at the slightest provocation—even more easily embarrassed than herself.

“Empress, you should retire first. I will change my clothes myself and join you shortly.”

As she spoke, Xuan Jingchi even exaggeratedly clutched the collar of her robe, as if fearing Xiao Yueli might do something to her.

Xiao Yueli found this behavior quite amusing and couldn’t help but smile. Her smile was truly gentle and charming, radiant enough to put flowers to shame.

Unfortunately, Xuan Jingchi, with her flushed face and lowered gaze at that moment, failed to notice it at all.

Xiao Yueli turned and walked to the bed, lifting the covers to lie down.

Xuan Jingchi exhaled in relief. Seeing the Empress settled, she hurried behind the screen, swiftly removed her clothes, then crept under the covers like a thief.

Knowing Xiao Yueli wasn’t yet asleep, she dared not breathe too loudly or move a muscle.

Before coming, she had resolved not to look at or acknowledge the Empress. Yet now, all her plans had come to naught.

Not only had she looked, but she had also spoken, flattered, and even smiled.

Xuan Jingchi sighed inwardly, staring at the canopy above the bed, waiting for Xiao Yueli to fall asleep first.

Gradually, steady breathing sounds came from Xiao Yueli’s side.

She must be asleep by now, Xuan Jingchi thought.

Only then did she turn her head to look at Xiao Yueli’s profile.

It was only at times like this that she could gaze without restraint.

Her tender eyes wandered over Xiao Yueli’s face, lingering on every feature and contour.

Even with the Empress’s eyes closed, Xuan Jingchi could imagine the brilliance and wisdom they would hold when open.

She looked for a long time.

For a very long time, without turning away.

Suddenly, sadness welled up in her heart again. Here she was, lying beside her, sharing the same bed.

She only needed to lean in and reach out to touch the face she had been dreaming of day and night.

Yet, she could never do so.

Xuan Jingchi understood in her heart that this beautiful and intelligent woman did not belong to her.

Suddenly, that sorrowful verse came to her mind:

The furthest distance in the world is not between life and death,

But when I stand before you, yet you don’t know that I love you.