Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 23

The next evening, Xuan Jingchi indeed arrived much earlier.

Unlike her, ancient people didn’t have the habit of staying up late. She usually stayed awake until midnight as a routine, but she didn’t want the Empress to wait long for her.

Tonight’s story wasn’t a beautiful one—it was the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet, which made Xiao Fu cry uncontrollably.

Between sobs, Xiao Fu said, “Your Majesty, next time please tell a story like Sleeping Beauty. This one is too heartbreaking.”

Xuan Jingchi paused for a moment before replying, “Eight or nine out of ten things in life don’t go as we wish. Moreover, life itself is a tragedy, and all of us are merely finding joy amidst suffering.”

Seeing Xiao Fu’s sorrow, she forced a smile and said, “Tomorrow, I’ll tell you the story of Beauty and the Beast.”

“Beast? Is that a good story?”

“Of course, they live happily ever after in the end.”

Xiao Fu wiped her tears and smiled, “That’s wonderful.” Suddenly, she remembered something, “But tomorrow is the ancestral ritual day, Your Majesty. Will you still come?”

Xuan Jingchi froze. She had spoken without thinking and hadn’t considered this issue.

If she came tomorrow, would the Empress welcome her?

She stole a glance at the Empress, only to find Xiao Yueli looking back at her. Their eyes met.

Xuan Jingchi quickly averted her gaze, as if caught red-handed, her heart pounding wildly.

“This Emperor, this Emperor…”

Oh no, she was stuttering.

“Your Majesty, since Xiao Fu enjoys listening and you’ve already promised with your golden words, perhaps you could come tomorrow to tell her the story.” The Empress’s voice grew softer as she spoke.

Xuan Jingchi felt a flutter in her heart and suddenly became overwhelmingly happy. This happiness couldn’t help but show on her face.

Is the Empress inviting me?

Does she not dislike me as much as I thought?

Do I have even the slightest chance?

“Your Majesty, are you coming tomorrow or not?” Xiao Fu

Her outrageous sleeping posture once again startled the Empress. Xiao Yueli didn’t push her away, instead gazing at the person who had somehow ended up clinging tightly to her while asleep.

She slept soundly, a smile lingering on her face even in slumber.

Her heart must be far less purely joyful than her outward appearance suggested.

Otherwise, how could she have uttered such a cruel yet truthful statement—that life is a tragedy?

The next day, after Xuan Jingchi got up, she said to the Empress, “I’ll come see you all tonight.”

Without waiting for a reply, she cheerfully headed to the Archery Pavilion to practice her swordsmanship.

Wang Zhan noticed that the Emperor was in unusually high spirits today, a stark contrast to her frosty demeanor of the past few days.

At this moment, the Emperor’s face was radiant with a smile, more enchanting and alluring than the blossoms in full bloom on the branches.

Even Wang Zhan, a seasoned warrior with nerves of steel, found himself momentarily dazzled, inwardly repeating, “Such disrespect, such disrespect…”

“General Wang, today let’s see if you can defeat my sword within a hundred moves. If you win, there’s a reward. If you lose, I won’t hold it against you.”

Seeing the Emperor so spirited and vigorous, Wang Zhan felt invigorated as well. “Your Majesty, be careful!” he called out, then with a metallic ring, thrust his sword decisively forward, abandoning all restraint.

Nuanxiang noticed the Emperor returning earlier than usual. Upon entering, Xuan Jingchi said, “Nuanxiang, prepare a bath for me.”

“As you command.”

“Also, tonight I’ll be dining with the Empress at the Phoenix Palace. Have the meal served there.”

“As you command.”

As Xuan Jingchi walked toward the bath, she suddenly remembered something. “When Wan’er arrives, tell her I’m taking the day off today. We’ll make up for it tomorrow evening.”

“As you command.”

After her bath, Xuan Jingchi felt refreshed and invigorated. She changed into a deep red gauze robe and took the Scent Pouch the Empress had given her from the bedside, hanging it at her waist before happily heading to the Phoenix Palace.

Dressed in red, Xuan Jingchi’s face—the very visage of a kingdom-toppling enchantress—appeared even more bewitching and captivating, breathtakingly beautiful.

Xiao Yueli was momentarily stunned. She had never imagined there would come a day when she would find herself admiring the face she had once loathed so deeply in her past life.

Her gaze shifted to the Scent Pouch hanging at Xuan Jingchi’s waist, instantly recognizing it as the one she had gifted her.

“Empress, let’s dine.”

Xuan Jingchi beamed as she served dishes to the Empress, chatting between bites. “I once had some delicious conch. Next time, I’ll take you to try it.”

Xiao Yueli didn’t quite understand but nodded along with her enthusiasm, saying, “Alright.”

After dinner, Xiao Fu eagerly listened first to the story of the Frog Prince, then to Xuan Jingchi’s telling of Belle’s tale, gasping in amazement.

Xuan Jingchi, however, was unimpressed. “If it were me, I wouldn’t kiss a beast.”

Xiao Fu asked, “Why not?”

“The beast is so ugly—how could I kiss it? If I were to kiss anyone, it’d be a beautiful person.”

Xiao Fu burst into laughter, covering her mouth. “Ah, I see! Your Majesty prefers kissing beauties like our Empress.”

Xuan Jingchi, caught off guard, blushed instantly.

Xiao Yueli’s fair face flushed crimson as she scolded in embarrassment, “You’re becoming more and more unruly, even daring to tease the Emperor!”

Though it was less about teasing the Emperor and more about teasing herself, she couldn’t possibly redirect it to herself—so she pinned it on Xuan Jingchi instead.

Xiao Fu stuck out her tongue in fright, but Xuan Jingchi said, “Xiao Fu didn’t mean any harm. I won’t blame her.”

Xiao Rong interjected, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late. Allow this servant to assist you in retiring for the night.”

Xiao Yueli nodded. “Xiao Fu, fetch a pot of water for His Majesty. He drinks it at night.”

Xuan Jingchi was puzzled. How did the Empress know she drank water at night?

Two nights prior, she had arrived too late and hadn’t asked Xiao Fu or Xiao Rong to prepare tea. Unable to sleep, she grew thirsty but found no water. Unwilling to wake the maids sleeping in the outer chamber, she endured the thirst and slept.

How did the Empress know?

Had she been awake that night? Or had Xuan Jingchi disturbed her?

Xiao Fu obeyed the Empress’s order and soon returned with tea.

Night fell, and it was time for the two to sleep. Xuan Jingchi, unused to retiring so early, tossed and turned restlessly in bed.

At this hour, she would usually still be in the side hall, listening to Meng Wan read or explain texts to her.

“Your Majesty, can’t you sleep?” A sudden voice broke the silence.

Xuan Jingchi froze, turning to see the Empress looking at her.

“What is Your Majesty thinking about?”

“I—I wasn’t thinking about anything.” Xuan Jingchi turned away, her face reddening. She would never admit she had been thinking about the Empress again.

“If Your Majesty can’t sleep, this humble consort can keep you company in conversation.”

Xuan Jingchi turned back, blinking. “What would the Empress like to talk about?”

“This consort wonders—did Your Majesty’s family raise many sheep in the past? How many exactly? Over a thousand, or even more?”

Xuan Jingchi was stunned. Sheep? Over a thousand?

Seeing her confusion, Xiao Yueli added, “One night, this consort woke at midnight and heard Your Majesty counting sheep.”

Realization dawned on Xuan Jingchi, and she burst out laughing. “I only eat sheep—I don’t raise them. My family didn’t have a single sheep. Counting sheep is just a way to fall asleep—it could be cows, pigs, or chickens for all it matters.”

Now it was Xiao Yueli’s turn to be embarrassed. She burrowed deeper under the covers, her muffled voice emerging from beneath the quilt. “This consort misunderstood.”

This was the first time Xuan Jingchi had seen the usually composed and serene Xiao Yueli make such an expression—utterly adorable.

She wanted so badly to kiss her, to press her lips against those delicate, flawless cheeks.

Suppressing this wild impulse, Xuan Jingchi leaned closer and silently gazed at her.

After a long while, Xiao Yueli finally peeked her head out from under the quilt, only to meet a pair of mesmerizing peach blossom eyes the moment she looked up.

Those eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water, shimmering with gentle ripples, tender beyond words.

She gazed into them, her own gaze sinking deeper, lost in a daze for what felt like an eternity.

It wasn’t until Xuan Jingchi cleared her throat that Xiao Yueli snapped out of her trance, hurriedly averting her eyes.

“Yueli, may I call you that?” Xuan Jingchi’s heart raced wildly, but she suppressed the frantic beating in her chest, forcing her voice to remain steady. “When we’re alone, don’t call me ‘Your Majesty.’ Call me Jingchi, alright?”

Moonlight spilled its gentle glow, casting a silver frost across the floor by the bed.

Xuan Jingchi nodded softly, her voice just as tender and lingering as the moonlight. “Alright… Jingchi.”