Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 32

When they arrived at Qinghui Courtyard, Meng Wan was preparing to go to Wenyuan Pavilion. Upon hearing the Emperor and Empress had come, she immediately knelt with her mother Lady Zheng to welcome them.

Xuan Jingchi stepped forward to help Lady Zheng up, then Meng Wan, saying, “We came to see how Wan’er is recovering.”

Meng Wan replied, “Thank you for Your Majesties’ concern. This subject has already recovered.”

Xuan Jingchi smiled: “Rest at home today—don’t go anywhere.” Worried Meng Wan might refuse, she specifically added, “This is an Imperial Edict.”

“This…” Meng Wan looked troubled but finally said, “This subject obeys the decree.”

Xuan Jingchi also apologized to Lady Zheng, explaining her original intention had been to invite Meng Wan for a moonlit boat ride—never expecting such an accident. Had anything happened to Meng Wan, Lady Zheng’s only child, she wouldn’t have known how to face her.

After sitting awhile at Qinghui Courtyard and bestowing many gifts, they bid farewell to Meng Wan and Lady Zheng.

Watching Xuan Jingchi’s retreating figure, Lady Zheng said to her daughter, “Child, your mother finally understands why you’re so devoted in serving Her Majesty. For a female emperor to be so courteous to scholars, disregarding our status as family of disgraced officials—such magnanimity is truly rare.”

Lady Zheng sighed: “They say the Emperor is willful and domineering, but rumors clearly don’t match reality.”

Meng Wan smiled slightly: “That might have been when Her Majesty was still a princess. The Emperor is intelligent, studious, kind and benevolent—certainly not willful or tyrannical. Otherwise, your daughter wouldn’t have become her official.”

After leaving Qinghui Courtyard, Xiao Yueli returned to Phoenix Palace while Xuan Jingchi continued to Archery Pavilion for martial arts and sword practice.

Although martial training was arduous, she understood clearly that in the era of cold weapons, possessing formidable martial skills was absolutely essential.

The legendary Mo Duo from She Country, who conquered cities and lands with unstoppable force, was precisely such a martial powerhouse.

The thought of one day facing such a formidable opponent made Xuan Jingchi’s heart pound. She immediately scurried off to practice her swordsmanship.

First step—she had to defeat Wang Zhan.

Facing the Emperor, Wang Zhan held back, unwilling to strike too swiftly or fiercely for fear of harming Her Majesty.

After half a day of sparring, Xuan Jingchi found it dull and snapped, “Wang Zhan, if this were a real battle against an enemy, would you still be this sluggish?”

Before Wang Zhan could reply, a cold yet delicate voice interjected, “This servant would like to give it a try.”

Xuan Jingchi looked up to see a figure in flowing white robes, slender and graceful, with an icy demeanor—none other than the aloof beauty Leng Qiuci.

Wang Zhan barked, “Who are you? This is no place for you.”

Leng Qiuci replied, “This servant is merely a Dancer from the Imperial Music Academy, with some modest martial skills. Hearing Your Majesty’s words just now piqued my curiosity.”

Wang Zhan waved her off. “Go back, go back. Blades and swords have no eyes—I wouldn’t want to injure a delicate little thing like you.”

Leng Qiuci smiled faintly. “General Wang, you are mistaken. Her Majesty is also an elegant and delicate woman, yet she fears no injury. Why should a mere servant like me be afraid?”

Wang Zhan, enraged, was about to rebuke her when Xuan Jingchi interjected, “General Wang, do not underestimate her. Let Miss Leng spar with me.”

Hearing the Emperor’s command, Wang Zhan scowled and handed his wooden sword to Leng Qiuci hilt-first.

To everyone’s surprise, Leng Qiuci did not take it. Instead, she fetched a wooden staff, bowed to Xuan Jingchi, and said, “Your Majesty, forgive my offense.”

Seeing her wield only a staff, Xuan Jingchi assumed she was being belittled. But recalling how Leng Qiuci had effortlessly speared fish with a hairpin that day, she thought to herself, This Leng Qiuci might truly be a master. I’d better be careful.

“Your Majesty, this servant is but a frail woman with little strength. I shall only engage you for twenty moves.”

Xuan Jingchi nodded. “Very well, twenty moves it is. Miss Leng, after you.”

The moment the words left her lips, a white blur flashed before her eyes—Leng Qiuci had already closed the distance.

Xuan Jingchi was stunned. So fast!

Before she could react, thud—a solid strike landed squarely on her chest.

Thankfully, it was only a wooden staff. Had it been a wooden sword, the tip would have pierced her. And if it had been a real blade, she might have been impaled through the heart.

Wang Zhan shouted in alarm, “How dare you disrespect Her Majesty!”

Leng Qiuci turned a deaf ear, swinging her staff backward to strike Xuan Jingchi heavily on the back. Xuan Jingchi shuddered violently, stumbling forward four or five steps before regaining her balance.

Leng Qiuci smirked faintly. “Your Majesty, no one shows mercy on the battlefield.”

Xuan Jingchi finally understood—Leng Qiuci was no delicate, fragile woman. She was a hidden martial arts master, possibly even on par with the legendary Xiaolongnü.

Wang Zhan, furious, moved to snatch the wooden staff from Leng Qiucig’s hands.

“Stand down!” Xuan Jingchi barked coldly. “Lady Leng is merely sparring with me. None of you are to interfere. Anyone who dares step forward will be punished with fifty heavy strikes for disrespecting Us.”

After being struck twice by Leng Qiuci, Xuan Jingchi’s temper flared.

She admitted her martial skills were mediocre, her swordsmanship average—but she wasn’t so weak as to be utterly defenseless.

Seeing the Emperor’s stern command and genuine anger, Wang Zhan and the Guards dared not intervene further. They watched intently, eyes fixed on every move between the two.

Leng Qiuci sneered. “Your Majesty, be careful. This servant is targeting the Quchi acupoint on your left wrist.”

Quchi acupoint? Where was that?

Before Xuan Jingchi could react, a gust of wind rushed toward her, and a sharp numbness shot through a spot near her elbow.

Well, now she knew where the Quchi acupoint was.

Eighteen moves passed in a flash.

Xuan Jingchi was utterly overwhelmed! Her body, legs, arms, and even her backside burned with pain.

Compared to Leng Qiuci, she was like an amateur facing an Olympic champion—completely outmatched. All she could do was endure the blows.

Wang Zhan and the others watched as Leng Qiuci swung her staff again—this time aiming straight for the Emperor’s devastatingly beautiful face.

One strike there, and Her Majesty would surely be left with a bruised, swollen face—utterly disfigured.

With sighs of pity, they turned away, unable to bear the sight of such beauty being ruined.

“Wait!” Xuan Jingchi, seeing the staff hurtling toward her face, paled in terror. She covered her head and shrieked, “Not the face! Don’t hit my face!”

Leng Qiuci paused, redirecting the staff mid-air. She spared Xuan Jingchi’s face, instead jabbing at her ribs.

“AHHH!!!”

Xuan Jingchi felt as if her liver, gallbladder, and intestines had been crushed together. Excruciating pain shot through her, forcing out a scream.

Wang Zhan and the others covered their faces, unable to watch—the Emperor was suffering terribly!

Clutching her stomach, Xuan Jingchi hunched over like a shrimp, swaying unsteadily but somehow managing to stay upright.

Yet Leng Qiuci showed no mercy.

“Your Majesty, one last move. This servant will strike the back of your knees.”

With that, the staff flipped, striking twice—thud thud—against the hollows of Xuan Jingchi’s knees.

With a heavy thump, Xuan Jingchi collapsed to her knees.

She looked up at Leng Qiuci standing before her. Leng Qiuci gazed down coldly, her grip on the staff creaking, her frosty eyes sharp as blades.

Xuan Jingchi shivered under that gaze. A sudden realization struck her—Leng Qiuci wanted to kill her!

But before she could dwell on it, Leng Qiuci tossed the staff aside and walked away.

Wang Zhan and the others immediately surrounded her.

“Audacious servant! How dare you harm the Emperor! Seize her at once!”

Kneeling on the ground, Xuan Jingchi forced out a breath. “Let her go! It was a fair match. I was simply outmatched.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhan had no choice but to wave off the guards and let Leng Qiuci leave.

Palace maids immediately rushed over, surrounding and supporting Xuan Jingchi as they helped her onto the sedan chair.