Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 35

“Your Majesty, Empress, Minister Meng requests an audience.”

Xiao Yueli raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly, “Meng Wan coming at this time is likely here to plead on someone’s behalf.”

Xuan Jingchi said, “She’s on good terms with Leng Qiuci. It’s not surprising she’d come to beg for leniency.”

Xiao Yueli raised her voice, “Admit Minister Meng.”

The palace doors opened as someone hurried in—it was Meng Wan. After entering, she stood behind the screen.

Xuan Jingchi laughed, “We’re all women here, no need for such formality. Wan’er, come speak directly.”

Xiao Yueli frowned slightly as she walked over to lower the bed curtains before returning to sit at the table by the bedside.

Meng Wan approached and bowed to both, “Your Majesty, Empress.” Xuan Jingchi, sitting on the bed behind the curtains, said, “Wan’er, what brings you here?”

“I heard Your Majesty was injured and came to pay my respects. Is Your Majesty’s dragon body recovering well?”

Xuan Jingchi chuckled, “Bad news travels fast. I had a sparring match and shamefully lost spectacularly, suffering minor injuries.”

Afraid Xiao Yueli might reveal the true extent of her injuries, she quickly added, “With the Empress personally attending to me, I’m much better now—practically recovered.”

Through the curtains, she vaguely saw the Empress turn her head to glance at her, probably annoyed again by her shameless thick skin.

Meng Wan, with bowed head, missed the faint blush on Xiao Yueli’s face. Hearing there was no major issue, she assumed the injuries must be minor and sighed in relief.

With a thud, she knelt on both knees, “Miss Leng is young and reckless, overly competitive, and has offended Your Majesty’s dignity—a capital crime. I boldly beg Your Majesty and Empress to spare Leng Qiuci’s life for my humble sake.”

Xuan Jingchi thought, As expected—here to plead for mercy.

She smiled, “I wouldn’t have expected Wan’er to plead for Miss Leng. You two must be quite close.”

“I… I regard Leng Qiuci as my younger sister. Xiao Leng isn’t inherently bad, she just holds prejudices against Your Majesty. I’ll discipline her more strictly in the future.”

“Prejudices?” Xiao Yueli said, “Minister Meng, are you aware Leng Qiuci intended to assassinate the Emperor?”

“Assassinate?!” Meng Wan exclaimed in shock, “Xiao Leng was just being willful and didn’t know her own strength—she would never harbor such intentions!”

“It seems Minister Meng is also unaware. Perhaps you should hear her confession before deciding whether to plead for her.” Xiao Yueli gave a cold laugh and raised her voice, “Bring the criminal Leng Qiuci!”

“Acknowledged!”

Xiao Yueli stood, “Your Majesty, with me here, this matter will be handled properly. Rest and recover. Attendants, attend to Her Majesty well.”

Nuanxiang, Chenxiang, and two palace maids entered upon hearing the summons.

But Xuan Jingchi insisted on dressing and rising, supported by attendants to the main hall—she wanted to question Leng Qiucheng face to face.

Before long, Leng Qiuci was brought in under guard.

Xuan Jingchi glanced at her. Though her hair was slightly disheveled and her face somewhat haggard, she still exuded an air of unyielding coldness. Even as a prisoner, she showed no sign of begging for mercy upon seeing the emperor.

Xuan Jingchi admired people with such backbone.

“Leng Qiuci, your martial arts are exceptional, and your skills are truly impressive. I admire you,” Xuan Jingchi said with a smile.

Leng Qiucheng sneered coldly, “I have nothing to say since I’m in your hands. Kill me if you must—spare me the empty words.”

Meng Wan frowned and snapped, “Xiao Leng!”

Xuan Jingchi continued, “In a fair fight, I would be no match for you. I admit my defeat wholeheartedly and bear no grudge against you for it.”

Leng Qiucheng snorted, standing straight without kneeling. “If you don’t blame me, why then arrest me? Going back on your word—is this the emperor’s promise?”

At these words, both Meng Wan and Xiao Yueli paled. Xiao Yueli’s gaze darkened as she stared at Leng Qiuci.

“No, you’re mistaken. I didn’t bring you here for that.”

The Empress had captured her, but Xuan Jingchi took full responsibility, shouldering the blame. “What I want to ask you is this: On the night of the Mid-Autumn Moon Viewing, were those invisible, deadly threads your handiwork?”

Xuan Jingchi’s tone was calm, even gentle, laced with a hint of amusement—as if she hadn’t nearly died when the boat capsized.

Leng Qiucig froze, clearly taken aback. Her icy gaze wavered with hesitation.

“What’s wrong? Does the valiant Leng Qiuci dare to act but not to admit it?” Xuan Jingchi said with a smile. “Don’t forget, I’ve seen you fish. The threads that killed that night weren’t ordinary—thin yet incredibly strong, much like the ones you used for fishing.”

“Yes! It was me!” Leng Qiuci didn’t deny it, lifting her head to meet Xuan Jingchi’s gaze. “Now that you know, do as you please—kill me or cut me to pieces.”

Meng Wan gasped in shock, her eyes widening. “Xiao Leng! You… you really tried to assassinate Her Majesty?! Why would you do such a thing?”

Leng Qiucheng lowered her head, her shackled hands clenching until her knuckles cracked, radiating an intense, chilling fury.

Even from her elevated throne twenty paces away, Xuan Jingchi could clearly sense the overwhelming murderous intent.

“Why would I do it? Ask your precious emperor!”

“Her Majesty?” Meng Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned to Xuan Jingchi.

Xuan Jingchi remained composed. “I don’t recall. I’d also like to know what I did to earn such hatred from you.”

She suddenly recalled something, “Could it be… I am the demon you speak of?”

“You don’t remember?!” Leng Qiucheng sneered coldly. “After committing so many atrocities, of course a minor incident like this would slip your mind!”

“Do you recall three years ago on the Luo River? You overheard people praising my sister’s beauty—how not only was she exceptionally lovely, but her hands were especially exquisite. Do you know what you did then?”

Xuan Jingchi instinctively knew she must have done something terrible. She steeled herself and remained silent.

“What? You dare not admit it?! You beast in human skin! You despicable emperor! You ordered my sister’s hands severed and her face mutilated, driving her to drown herself in the river! And still unsatisfied, you slaughtered my parents in your rage—blaming them for their plain looks yet producing such a beautiful daughter!”

What?!

Xuan Jingchi’s heart pounded with horror. It seemed the original owner of this body was not only arrogant and cruel but downright depraved!

So depraved it made her sick!

She felt all words, all apologies, would be pitifully inadequate before Leng Qiucheng.

Her face turned deathly pale as she stood frozen.

“I… I…” She struggled to utter even these two words before choking completely.

Her entire body trembled faintly from the icy dread in her heart.

“What? Are you frightened now?!” Leng ‘s cold laugh grew more murderous by the second.

Meng Wan’s expression darkened to the extreme. Having served sixteen years as a palace maid, she’d vaguely heard rumors of Xuan Jingchi’s conduct during her princess days.

Yet when summoned later, witnessing with her own eyes and ears, she’d found the rumors untrue—Xuan Jingchi was nothing like the tales suggested.

Now, hearing Leng Qiuci’s blood-soaked accusations, she could scarcely reconcile the tyrant described with the sovereign seated before her.

Xiao Yueli reacted first, commanding sharply, “Guards! Protect Her Majesty!”

No sooner had she spoken than dozens of elite imperial Guards marched in. One row drew swords, forming an iron wall before Xuan Jingchi, Xiao Yueli and Meng Wan, while another surrounded Leng Qiuci.

The cold glint of blades all pointed at Leng Qiuci.

Her peerless beauty now frosted over, eyes burning with terrifying fury.

She glared fixedly at Xuan Jingchi, “You vile emperor! At worst I’ll die today! I swear I’ll either kill you or cease to be human!”

Her white robes fluttered as she snapped the ankle chains, kicking out with ghostly speed—Guards fell like wheat before a scythe.

Xuan Jingchi gasped, profoundly shocked.

Leng Qiuci was incredible! A true martial arts master!

This seemingly fragile snowflake of a woman proved indestructible, unstoppable!

As more Guards rushed forward, Qiuci fearlessly seized a blade from one.

The weapon became an extension of her will—even manacled, her movements flowed effortlessly. One slash sent a Guard collapsing in a spray of blood across the hall.

The crimson reflection in everyone’s eyes made hearts tremble.

Meng Wan cried out, “Xiao Leng! Xiao Leng! Stop this violence!”

Leng Qiuci ignored her. Retrieving the broadsword, she reversed her grip and severed the manacles, casting off all restraints.

Now truly nothing could stand in her way.

She reversed the blade, using the blunt side this time. With a single swing—bang, bang, bang—the guards cried out in pain, collapsing in large numbers.

“Protect Her Majesty! Protect Her Majesty!” Wang Zhan roared, drawing his sword and joining the fray.

Xuan Jingchi stood motionless, watching coldly as the bloodshed fueled by vengeance unfolded before her, her heart a tumult of conflicting emotions.

As more and more guards fell, even Wang Zhan was struck down.

Xiao Yueli’s expression changed abruptly, and she hastily ordered, “Quickly, escort Her Majesty away!”

“Where do you think you’re running, you damned emperor?”

Leng Qiuci, hearing that Xuan Jingchi was about to flee, instantly leaped into the air, soaring over the crowd. The glint of her blade flashed as she swung straight down at her.

A guard stepped forward to shield her—pierced by the sharp blade, he fell with a thud.

Xiao Yueli and Meng Wan both paled in shock.

Xuan Jingchi, for reasons unknown, found the courage to shout, “Stop!”

Her voice carried the imperious authority of royalty, the majesty of an emperor!

Leng Qiuci landed before her, pressing the cold blade against Xuan Jingchi’s neck, blood dripping from its tip. “At death’s door, what more do you have to say?”

“Your Majesty!” Xiao Yueli and Meng Wan turned pale simultaneously, rushing forward.

A large group of guards encircled Leng Qiuci once more—this time, trapping the emperor along with her.

Leng Qiuci’s icy gaze remained fixed on Xuan Jingchi, ignoring the others. “Don’t come any closer. Take one more step, and I’ll kill her!”

Xiao Yueli said, “Miss Leng, if you harm Her Majesty, you won’t escape either!”

Leng Qiuci sneered, “Do you think I want to escape?”

Seeing her resolute in her death wish, hellbent on killing Xuan Jingchi, Xiao Yueli grew frantic but had no solution.

Meng Wan pleaded, “Xiao Leng, stop this! Release Her Majesty at once!”

Leng Qiuci finally turned her head to look at her. “Sister Wan, you heard it yourself—how this wolf in sheep’s clothing destroyed my family. And you still ask me to let her go?!”

“I… I…” Meng Wan’s face turned ashen, her lips trembling, unable to utter another word.

“This isn’t fair,” Xuan Jingchi suddenly said. At the brink of death, she had grown eerily calm.

Leng Qiucheng paused. “What did you say?”

“Because I abused my power, oppressed the people, and ruined your family—if I were you, I’d also want to kill that person for revenge!”

Leng Qiuci stared at her, her gaze as cold as steel. “Good. You understand.”

“But if you seek vengeance, you should challenge me openly and honorably. Don’t stoop to my level, bullying the weak like a coward.”

Xuan Jingchi knew she was resorting to bandit logic at this moment, but for the sake of survival, she had no choice.

She was gambling—gambling on the pride of a peerless martial artist like Leng Qiuci.

Just like how she wouldn’t feel accomplished for outdoing an elementary student in arithmetic.

She sensed a flicker of hesitation in Leng Qiuci’s gaze and pressed her advantage. “Dare you compete with me fairly? If I lose, I’ll accept it willingly, and you can deal with me however you please.”

“Compete in what?” Leng Qiuci sneered. “Don’t think I don’t see your scheme. If it’s poetry and literature, of course I can’t match you.”

With that, she pushed the blade forward, instantly drawing a thin line of blood on Xuan Jingchi’s neck.

Xiao Yueli gasped in alarm, “Stop!”

Leng Qiuci glanced at her. “Empress, you’re worried for such a cruel and despicable wretch?”

Xiao Yueli replied, “In this consort’s eyes, Her Majesty is the most compassionate and benevolent—a wise and virtuous ruler. Please show mercy, Lady Leng.”

“Hmph!” Leng Qiuci glared at Xuan Jingchi with a cold laugh. “Dog Emperor, to think someone still speaks well of you—truly blind.”

Xuan Jingchi smiled. “Lady Leng knows the old me, while the Empress knows the present me. Since you see different versions, your judgments naturally differ.”

Leng Qiuci snapped, “Enough nonsense! Quickly—what will we compete in?”

“Of course, in what Lady Leng excels at—swordsmanship.”

Leng Qiucheng raised a brow. “You want to compete in that? Hah, have you forgotten who just rendered you helpless moments ago?”

“I must thank Lady Leng for holding back earlier.” Xuan Jingchi met her gaze. “Ten years! In ten years, we’ll have a duel. If I lose, you can take my wretched life.”

“Ten years?!”

“What, can’t you wait?” Xuan Jingchi, afraid Leng Qiuci might refuse, quickly taunted her. “For revenge, you can’t even wait ten years? Or are you afraid that in a decade, you won’t be able to defeat me?”

“I won’t defeat you?” Leng Qiuci scoffed. “Even if you trained for twenty more years, you wouldn’t reach half my skill. Why would I fear you?”

“Lady Leng is honorable and peerless in martial arts—of course you wouldn’t fear me.” Xuan Jingchi chuckled. “To be honest, sometimes even I feel like I deserve a beating. It takes an expert like you to knock some sense into me.”

Leng Qiuci stared at her, suspicion flickering in her eyes—was this dog emperor so terrified that she’d lost her mind?

Gritting her teeth, Leng Qiuci said, “Fine! It’s you who asked for this duel!”

Xuan Jingchi nodded and declared loudly, “Then it’s settled. Ten years from today, we’ll duel atop the Dongguan Tower. A fair contest. If I lose, you can kill me before the world and claim your revenge.”

“Deal! Ten years it is!” Leng Qiuci said. “Don’t even think of running. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I’ll find you and kill you.”

Xuan Jingchi grinned. “Why would I, the Emperor, run? Isn’t the palace the most comfortable place to live?”

Leng Qiuci watched her before slowly withdrawing the blade from Xuan Jingchi’s neck.

Xiao Yueli immediately stepped forward, leaning in to inspect the wound. “Your Majesty, are you all right?” Her concern was unmistakable.

Xuan Jingchi took her hand, smiling faintly. “It’s nothing, nothing. This Emperor is fine.”

The Guards rushed forward, this time encircling Leng Qiuci tightly.

Outside the hall, urgent footsteps echoed as a large group of archers swiftly stormed in.

Xuan Jingchi declared loudly, “Let Miss Leng go. I have a ten-year agreement with her. No one is to harm her!”

At the emperor’s command, the guards swiftly retreated in unison, clearing a path.

Leng Qiuci glanced at Meng Wan, then turned to look at Xuan Jingchi once more. Suddenly, she spat out, “You damned emperor! At this moment, I truly envy you!”

With that, Leng Qiuci turned and walked away without looking back.

Meng Wan rushed toward the palace gate but suddenly halted. She watched Leng Qiuci’s white-clad figure grow increasingly distant, nearly vanishing from sight. The words “Xiao Leng” seemed stuck in her throat.

In the end, she neither called out nor gave chase, only letting out a sigh.

With Xiao Leng’s martial prowess, once outside the palace, she likely wouldn’t be bullied by anyone.

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