Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 31

That night, Xuan Jingchi kissed her over and over, until Xiao Yueli’s lips were swollen. Only when Xiao Yueli pushed her away did she reluctantly stop.

Xiao Yueli chided, “No more kissing! If this keeps up, I won’t be able to face anyone tomorrow.”

Xuan Jingchi nodded, pointing at her own slightly swollen lips. “Then you kiss me. I don’t mind losing face.”

Xiao Yueli glared at her. “You shameless rogue!”

In the morning, when Xiao Yueli woke up, she found herself pushed to the edge of the bed again, with Xuan Jingchi clinging tightly to her in sleep, leaving a vast empty space behind.

Xiao Yueli looked down at the peaceful sleeping face beside her, recalling their intimate kisses from the night before. A shy smile curved her lips as a wave of tender affection surged in her heart. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to Xuan Jingchi’s radiantly fair cheek.

The delicate, flawless skin felt exquisite against her lips—a sensation no jade or satin could compare to.

After savoring the sweetness, Xiao Yueli kissed her again. Xuan Jingchi seemed disturbed by it, frowning slightly in her sleep before turning over to continue dreaming.

However, Xiao Yueli seemed unwilling to let her off, leaning in to plant kiss after kiss on the sleeping woman’s face, from her cheeks down to the corners of her lips.

Even though Xuan Jingchi was thoroughly disturbed, she still refused to wake up, utterly addicted to sleep and unable to extricate herself.

Xiao Yueli shook her head as she watched Xuan Jingchi, who slept as soundly and foolishly as a little piglet.

From outside the door came Xiao Rong’s voice, “Your Majesty, are you awake?”

Xiao Yueli replied, “We’re awake. You may come in to attend to us.”

Xiao Fu noticed that Her Majesty was in exceptionally good spirits today, smiling at the mirror while doing her makeup.

Having grown up serving Her Majesty, she had never seen her wear such an expression before.

Xiao Fu sighed inwardly—this was bad. After falling into the water, Her Majesty’s mind had also been affected.

As usual, Xuan Jingchi was dragged out of bed by Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong yanking the blankets away.

The first words out of her mouth upon waking were, “Where’s the Empress?”

Not seeing Xiao Yueli made her panic.

She feared that yesterday’s kisses had just been a dream—that while she thought she was kissing Xiao Yueli, she had actually been nuzzling and kissing her pillow.

“Her Majesty is reading in the courtyard, waiting for Your Majesty to join her for brunch.”

Yueli is waiting to have breakfast with me?

Xuan Jingchi was overjoyed but also filled with regret. “Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”

Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong exchanged glances, thinking to themselves—Your Majesty, it’s not that we didn’t try, but you were impossible to rouse!

After a hurried wash, Xuan Jingchi stepped out of the bedchamber.

Spotting Xiao Yueli sitting beneath the grapevine trellis, she recalled last night’s kisses and suddenly felt shy herself. Grasping for something to say, she blurted, “Empress, you’re up.”

Once again, Xiao Yueli noticed that Xuan Jingchi was even more bashful and timid than she was, not even daring to meet her gaze. She smiled faintly. “Did Your Majesty sleep well last night?”

“Very well! I slept wonderfully!” Xuan Jingchi narrowed her eyes with a grin, though inwardly she thought—if only I could kiss Xiao Yueli goodnight every evening, that would be the happiest thing in the world.

She coughed lightly, afraid the Empress might see through her little fantasy, and turned her head away. “Xiao Fu, make sure to fumigate the rooms again today. There are mosquitoes inside—autumn mosquitoes are particularly vicious.”

Xiao Fu, who was helping Xiao Rong set the table, looked up in surprise. “Mosquitoes?”

How come the Empress never mentioned them?

Why is it always Your Majesty who discovers the mosquitoes?

How very strange.

Xuan Jingchi nodded firmly. “Be sure to fumigate thoroughly today so they don’t disturb the Empress’s sleep.”

Xiao Fu replied, “As you command,” silently resolving to fumigate every nook and cranny inside and out today.

After breakfast, Xuan Jingchi started the carriage back to Chenyuan Palace.

Xiao Yueli rose and said, “Your Majesty, this humble consort shall accompany you. By your side, it is my duty to share your burdens.”

Once again, Xuan Jingchi noticed the Empress’s intelligence—she knew he intended to interrogate those involved in yesterday’s boat incident.

Upon returning to the palace, Xuan Jingchi commanded, “Summon the Chief of the Imperial Household Department, Chen Handian, to see me.”

Before long, Eunuch Chen arrived trembling, kowtowing fearfully.

Xuan Jingchi said, “The Mid-Autumn Festival boat excursion has always been your department’s responsibility. How goes the investigation I ordered you to conduct last night?”

Eunuch Chen replied, “For frightening Your Majesty and the Empress last night, this worthless servant deserves death! Through the night, I interrogated everyone and conducted a thorough search. In Little Liuzi’s room, we found these.”

A young little eunuch behind Eunuch Chen stepped forward and opened a large bundle in his hands, revealing piles of gold, silver, and banknotes.

Xuan Jingchi glanced at it and asked, “Where is this Little Liuzi? Bring him before me!”

Sweat dripped from Eunuch Chen’s face as he stammered, “Li Liu… has already taken his own life out of guilt.”

This outcome did not surprise Xuan Jingchi. “How did he die?”

“When we entered, he was already lying on his back with his throat slit. A sharp knife was found beside him. It seems the wretch knew he couldn’t escape blame and chose to end his life.”

Xuan Jingchi remained silent for a long moment before waving his hand. “Dismissed. Order the Ministry of Justice to examine the body. The rest will await my judgment.”

Eunuch Chen and the little eunuch withdrew in fear. Xuan Jingchi and Xiao Yueli moved to a side chamber, instructing Xiao Rong to stand guard outside.

Xuan Jingchi asked, “What does the Empress think?”

Xiao Yueli replied, “This Li Liu was merely an insignificant pawn. He may not have been the true assassin—someone could have framed him. Even if he was involved, whether he succeeded or failed, death was inevitable. Whether he killed himself or was silenced no longer matters.”

Xuan Jingchi nodded. “What I want to catch is the mastermind behind this assassination attempt.”

Xiao Yueli smiled faintly. “It seems Your Majesty already has an idea of who is behind this?”

Xuan Jingchi sneered. “Who else? Who would dare plot against the reigning emperor and stand to gain from it, if not my two dear brothers? The only question is—which one made the move this time? Prince Liang or Prince Yin?”

Xiao Yueli fell silent.

In her past life, Xuan Jingchi had been indulgent and negligent in governance, spending nearly every day carousing with his male favorites in drunken revelry.

State affairs had largely been controlled by her two brothers, eventually devolving into open rivalry between them.

Both had sought to eliminate the other, intending to seize absolute power before disposing of the foolish tyrant Xuan Jingchi and claiming the throne of Daqing for themselves.

In that life, Xuan Jingchi had been a cruel and incompetent ruler, yet he had reigned peacefully for seven years—until the kingdom fell.

Why, in this life, had they grown impatient and moved directly against him?

Unaware of Xiao Yueli’s silence, Xuan Jingchi suddenly recalled something and smirked. “I know who it was.”

Xiao Yueli snapped out of her thoughts and asked knowingly, “Who?”

Xuan Jingchi looked at her and chuckled. “The Empress is so clever—you must have already guessed. Why ask me?”

She sat down and took a sip of tea, speaking deliberately, “This person chose to act neither earlier nor later, but precisely after I sought out my uncle. It can only mean one thing—if I were to assume the throne, it would inevitably threaten this person’s interests.”

“And who else could that person be if not Prime Minister Lin? If I recall correctly, the wife of Prince Yin is his daughter.”

Xiao Yueli gazed at her with a faint smile, her eyes carrying a trace of admiration.

“Fortunately, my food and medicine are strictly overseen by Chenxiang and Nuanxiang, otherwise…” Xuan Jingchi trailed off, then set down her teacup and suddenly said, “Yueli, let’s take a walk in the palace today and visit my noble lady.”

“Your noble lady?”

“Of course, it’s Meng Wan. If she hadn’t risked her life to jump in yesterday, both you and I would have met a terrible end.”

Xiao Yueli hadn’t seen the fine threads last night and assumed Xuan Jingchi’s mention of a “terrible end” referred to drowning.

But even if Meng Wan had jumped in, she couldn’t swim and wouldn’t have been able to save them.

For Xuan Jingchi to say this, it seemed she truly held Meng Wan in high regard.

A flicker of stiffness passed over Xiao Yueli’s expression, but she quickly regained her composure.

As the two walked toward Qinghui Courtyard, Xiao Yueli couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, you and Minister Meng seem to have an excellent relationship as ruler and subject.”

“Indeed, Meng Wan is my right-hand woman,” Xuan Jingchi nodded instinctively before suddenly realizing the Empress’s emphasis wasn’t on their roles as ruler and subject, but on the words “excellent relationship.”

She abruptly stopped in her tracks, causing the dozens of attendants following them to halt in unison.

With an imperious tone, Xuan Jingchi commanded, “I have words to speak with the Empress. All of you, retreat fifty paces and turn around. Without my permission, if anyone dares to eavesdrop or glance this way, I’ll have their head on the spot!”

The palace servants were startled, hastily retreating—some even farther than fifty paces—and turning around stiffly. None dared to move a muscle, terrified the Emperor might suspect them of peeking or listening.

“Empress, come with me.”

With that, she led the way to a willow tree.

Xiao Yueli, puzzled by Xuan Jingchi’s sudden behavior, followed and asked, “Your Majesty, what did you wish to discuss with—mmph…”

Her lips were abruptly sealed as Xuan Jingchi pressed her against the tree and kissed her deeply.

In broad daylight, no less, right beside a bustling palace pathway.

Blushing furiously, Xiao Yueli pushed at Xuan Jingchi in frustration. But Xuan Jingchi caught her hand, refusing to retreat—instead, she leaned in even closer.

The kiss grew more intense.

“Empress, if you don’t kiss me back, I won’t let go. Let them keep waiting.”

Xiao Yueli: “…”

This person truly has the thickest skin and is utterly shameless!

With no other choice, Xiao Yueli closed her eyes and returned Xuan Jingchi’s kiss.

Xuan Jingchi braced one hand against the tree trunk while placing the Empress’s hand on her own waist with the other. She kissed with deep passion and intoxication, gradually causing Xiao Yueli’s other hand to also wrap around Xuan Jingchi’s waist.

After a long, lingering kiss, Xuan Jingchi finally released her, cheeks flushed: “Empress, my relationship with Meng Wan is purely that of ruler and subject. Empress, I want you to know—in this lifetime, I’ll only love you, only do these intimate, blush-worthy things with you!”

Such bold and straightforward confession would make anyone who heard it die of embarrassment.

Xiao Yueli admitted to herself she could never say such words even if beaten to death—she truly didn’t know how Xuan Jingchi could declare them so righteously and without shame.

Once again overwhelmed with shyness and urgency, yet inexplicably feeling at ease, she blushed crimson and said, “This consort understands.”