Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 25

A month later, a palace maid arrived at the Grand Princess Manor. The maid wore slightly oversized palace attire, her hair simply tied up with a red ribbon. Her jet-black hair, smooth as jade, cascaded down her back, reaching her waist.

Her face was veiled with a white gauze, revealing only her long, arched eyebrows and a pair of narrow, almond-shaped eyes that shimmered like rain-kissed apricot blossoms—eyes brimming with tender affection.

Though it was but a fleeting glimpse, one could easily imagine that beneath the veil lay a beauty of unparalleled charm, a face so enchanting it could captivate nations.

Upon arriving at the Princess Manor, she gracefully bowed to Grand Princess Xuan Jingning and presented a basket in her hands, saying softly, “This is the Ding Sheng cake bestowed upon the Princess by Her Majesty.”

Xuan Jingning nodded slightly, and a servant promptly stepped forward to take the bamboo basket from the maid. With a faint smile, she said, “Thank my royal sister for her thoughtfulness. Come with me—I have something to entrust to you to bring back as a gift for her.”

The maid’s eyes sparkled with delight as she followed Xuan Jingning into the inner hall.

The two wound their way through the Princess Manor until they arrived at an inconspicuous small house.

One after the other, they entered the house.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Xuan Jingning immediately bowed and said, “Your subject, Xuan Jingning, pays respects to Your Majesty.”

The maid slowly removed her veil, revealing a face so bewitching it could topple cities and kingdoms.

It was none other than the ruler of the Great Qing Dynasty, Xuan Jingchi.

Xuan Jingchi smiled and said, “Sister, there are no outsiders here. Why stand on ceremony?”

She glanced at a closed door inside and asked, “How long has Uncle been waiting inside?”

“Over an hour.”

“Was he impatient? Angry? Did he threaten to leave?”

“No. Uncle sat quietly inside, drinking tea, and asked nothing.”

Xuan Jingchi nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. “After waiting so long, Uncle still hasn’t stormed off in anger. It seems he truly values me as his niece.”

She adjusted her appearance, removing the outer maid’s attire to reveal the imperial robe embroidered with five-clawed golden dragons.

Xuan Jingning pushed open the door, and Xuan Jingchi strode in with her head held high.

Inside sat a man nearing fifty, his temples streaked with gray, exuding an air of steady composure and experience.

Upon seeing Xuan Jingchi enter, he knelt and bowed deeply. “Your subject, Dugu Jinyu, pays homage to Your Majesty.”

Xuan Jingning silently closed the door behind them, then shut the outermost door before turning to leave. She made her way to a distant pavilion in the corner.

From there, she could observe every movement in the small cottage.

Shangguan Wei was already seated in the pavilion, leisurely sipping tea and nibbling on a freshly delivered Dingsheng cake.

“Alright, stop worrying and sit down,” Shangguan Wei smiled, her expression one of satisfaction as she praised, “The imperial chefs truly make excellent pastries. You should try some too.”

Xuan Jingning shook her head and sighed. “I wonder how their discussion is going? Will they reach an agreement? I know a little about our uncle—he’s extremely shrewd. And my younger sister, she’s still so young and used to only indulging in pleasure. I fear she might…”

Shangguan Wei chuckled. “You’re underestimating your sister. Look at how she deliberately made your uncle wait for over an hour today and even sent you Dingsheng cakes—why? To reassure you. In my opinion, she’s likely been planning this meeting for a long time. Your sister is far more astute than you think.”

Xuan Jingchi lowered her head in silence for a moment before suddenly saying, “I also feel my sister is very different from before. She’s learned to conceal her brilliance and bide her time, growing more and more into the bearing of a ruler. Mother’s spirit in heaven would surely be comforted to see this.”

At this point, she sighed again. “And also… she’s become much closer to me. It almost doesn’t feel like my sister anymore.”

Shangguan Wei said, “Jingning, what am I to do with you? When your sister treated you poorly before, you sighed. Now that she treats you well, you sigh again. If I were your sister, I wouldn’t know whether to be good to you or not!”

Xuan Jingning took her hand and laughed. “Of course, it’s better to be good. You know me—sometimes I just overthink things. Once my sister secures the throne, the two of us can travel the world, free from all worries!”

Shangguan Wei’s gaze flickered as she shook her head with a smile. “You’re just saying that to placate me. Once your sister stabilizes the throne, could you really step back and do nothing? What if someone plots to usurp power? What if foreign enemies invade? Could you truly stand aside and remain uninvolved?”

“This…” Xuan Jingning choked, unable to utter another word.

Seeing her at a loss, Shangguan Wei reached out and gently caressed her cheek, her voice tender. “Don’t force yourself to do things against your conscience that you’ll regret later.”

“Wei’er…”

“All I ask is to be with you, whether amid the clash of swords and lurking dangers or in carefree leisure like wild cranes in the clouds. I’ll cherish every moment.”

Xuan Jingning held her tightly. “Thank you!”

—

“Chier, reconsider the terms your uncle proposed. You’ve only just ascended the throne, with no power or influence. His suggestion is the best option for you.”

“As an emperor, you must learn what to ruthlessly discard and what to hold onto firmly.”

Xuan Jingchi poured a cup of wine for Dugu Jinyu and smiled. “Uncle’s words are etched in my heart, Chier.”

Dugu Jinyu smiled faintly, “Chier, you’ve grown up and changed a lot. In the past, if Uncle had spoken to you like this, you would have overturned the table and stormed off in anger.”

Xuan Jingchi replied, “People always grow up. None of us can afford to be as willful as we were in childhood. Because when you grow up, you realize you’ve long lost the privilege of being willful.”

Dugu Jinyu stroked his beard with a smile, “Back then, when the late Emperor named you as heir, many opposed it. To be honest, Uncle was among those who objected. But now it seems, among all your siblings, you were indeed the best choice.”

Xuan Jingchi returned to her seat and poured herself a cup of wine. “Thank you for your approval, Uncle. But what you’re asking—Chier cannot agree. No, I should say, will never agree.”

A strange glint flashed in Dugu Jinyu’s eyes as he looked directly at Xuan Jingchi, his narrowed gaze making his expression unreadable.

“Chier, have you truly considered this?”

Xuan Jingchi answered calmly, “Yes, I have. Though I cannot agree to your condition, I can offer something else in exchange.”

“What is it?”

“Have you ever considered that one day, the Great Qing’s throne might bear the Dugu name?”

Dugu Jinyu trembled, his gaze suddenly turning complex. Struggling to suppress his excitement, his lips moved without uttering a word.

Xuan Jingchi continued slowly, “Uncle, you know I’m a woman, and the Empress is also a woman. There will be no heir between us.”

“I will select an outstanding descendant from the Dugu family to be my successor. Naturally, the Great Qing’s throne will be theirs in time.”

“I know that by making this offer, I am thoroughly defying filial piety as a daughter.”

Dugu Jinyu seemed incredulous, “For a woman, you would truly do this?”

Xuan Jingchi said, “She is not just any woman. She is my Empress, the woman I publicly declared to heaven and formally enshrined as Empress.”

“When I married her, I already ruined her once. Now, if you ask me to depose her, it would mean ruining her a second time.”

“I would rather die than do such a thing.”

At this point, Xuan Jingchi’s gaze turned icy. “Uncle, with such an excellent offer before you, are you still hesitating? Have you forgotten what you just taught me about what should be firmly grasped?”

Dugu Jinyu suddenly looked up, his eyes sharpening, “Xuan Jingchi! You—you! Aren’t you afraid of having no face to meet our ancestors in the afterlife?”

Xuan Jingchi said, “As long as the next emperor is a good ruler who revitalizes the nation, loves the people, and brings prosperity to Qing Country, I don’t care whether they bear the surname Xuan or Dugu. As for how to face our ancestors, that’s a matter for after my death—no need for Uncle to trouble himself over it.”

After a long silence, Dugu Jinyu suddenly laughed and nodded, saying, “Chier, today you’ve made your uncle see you in a new light!”

“So Uncle agrees then,” Xuan Jingchi smiled faintly, standing up and raising her wine cup. “To our successful cooperation! To show my sincerity, Chier will drink first as a token of respect.”

With that, she tilted her head back and drained the cup in one go.

Dugu Jinyu also stood and drank his cup dry, revealing a smile. “Your subject, Dugu Jinyu, pledges undying loyalty to Your Majesty and to the great Qing dynasty.”

When Xuan Jingchi emerged, she had changed back into her maid’s attire. She looked around and spotted Xuan Jingning and Shangguan Wei waiting in a distant pavilion.

Remembering how she had just calmly sold off the Xuan family’s empire without batting an eye, Xuan Jingchi felt she had wronged her sister—the eldest daughter of the Xuan family.

As Xuan Jingning approached, she couldn’t bring herself to meet her sister’s gaze, turning her head away instead. “Your Highness, I’ve delayed too long. This servant must return to the palace to report to His Majesty.”

Xuan Jingning handed her a prepared basket and asked with concern, “Did you reach an agreement?”

Taking the basket, Xuan Jingchi still avoided looking at her, keeping her eyes fixed on her toes. “It’s settled. Uncle has agreed to support us.” Afraid her sister might ask more, she hurriedly added, “Your Highness, this servant should leave the estate now.”

Xuan Jingning’s gaze swept over her younger sister, noticing how she persistently avoided eye contact. She couldn’t shake the feeling her sister was hiding something. But hearing that the matter was settled, the heavy stone in her heart finally dropped.

She said, “I’ll escort you out. Little sister, you must still be careful on your way back.”

“Mmm…”

Hearing the gentle tone, though she couldn’t see her sister’s expression, Xuan Jingchi could easily imagine the affectionate, doting look on her face.

This sister was truly good to her—exceptionally good. But she wasn’t her real younger sister.

An ache rose in Xuan Jingchi’s heart, and guilt became hard to suppress.

Over and over in her mind, she repeated: I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Sister, I’m not Xuan Jingchi. This Xuan Jingchi has wronged you, wronged you…

Fortunately, Xuan Jingning walked ahead while Xuan Jingchi followed with bowed head, preventing her sister from seeing the tears slowly falling from her eyes.