Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 4

“Your Majesty, you were so affectionate with the Grand Princess today.”

Xuan Jingchi said, “Was I not kind to my sister before?”

Chenxiang hesitated for a moment but didn’t answer.

Nuanxiang said, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late. Take your medicine and rest early. You have court tomorrow morning.”

Xuan Jingchi glanced at the sky outside the window, estimating it was only around seven o’clock. Going to bed now was way too early.

She said, “I’m not tired yet. Bring me a book to read.”

Read a book?!!!

The notoriously unscholarly Emperor actually wanted to read?

This was even more astonishing than the sun rising from the west!

Although the Emperor had behaved strangely in many ways over the past two days, frequently startling them, Chenxiang and Nuanxiang were still shocked anew by this command.

Chenxiang cautiously asked, “What book would Your Majesty like to read? This servant will fetch it from the Wenyuan Pavilion.”

Xuan Jingchi thought for a moment and said, “Bring me all the records on national policies, governance, and major events since the founding of our dynasty.”

“As you command.” Chenxiang was about to leave when Xuan Jingchi called her back. “Wait, first bring me the imperial genealogy.”

Xuan Jingchi thought that in ancient times, not only did noble families have genealogies, but even common households maintained them. Besides family relationships, they inevitably recorded notable ancestors, their achievements, and honors, making descendants proud.

The imperial family must have one too. Princes and princesses would surely be recorded in it.

“As you command. This servant will bring the Jade Register for Your Majesty’s perusal.”

Xuan Jingchi: “…”

So it’s called the Jade Register. Well, another cultural gap revealed.

Chenxiang left with two young eunuchs and soon returned carrying a pile of books.

“Your Majesty, the Wenyuan Pavilion supervisor reports that the Jade Register was revised just before Your Majesty’s grand wedding.”

So it was the latest version.

Xuan Jingchi nodded. She picked up the Jade Register and eagerly read under the candlelight about “her” parents and siblings’ names.

Her elder sister was named Xuan Jingning, born to the same mother, the late Noble Consort Dugu.

Jingning, Jingning—such a beautiful name.

Further on, she found the Empress’s entry. The Empress’s father was a Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy, from the Xiao clan of Yunzhou.

Xuan Jingchi clicked her tongue in admiration. The Empress truly came from a scholarly family—no wonder her demeanor was so refined!

Flipping further, she discovered she had several half-siblings from the same father.

After finishing the genealogy, she instructed Chenxiang to put it away safely and casually picked up a chronicle of the dynasty’s founding to browse.

Not looking was one thing, but seeing was another. Those traditional Chinese characters, densely packed from top to bottom and right to left without a single punctuation mark—at a glance, there were at least four or five characters she didn’t recognize.

She struggled through, half-reading and half-guessing, until her head spun and her vision blurred, utterly baffled by the content. She sighed inwardly, feeling miserable.

With another sigh, she set the book down and rubbed her eyes.

Chenxiang and Nuanxiang exchanged glances at the sight, thinking to themselves, Her Majesty is still the same—headaches at the sight of books.

“Chenxiang, do you know how to read?”

“Your Majesty, this humble servant recognizes a few characters here and there.”

“Good. Then read it to me. You read, I’ll listen.”

“As you command.” Chenxiang took the book and began reading word by word. Her voice, pleasant and clear, articulated each character distinctly with proper pauses.

Indeed, this was much easier than trying to read it herself.

As she listened, Xuan Jingchi suddenly said, “Chenxiang, I want to test you.”

At this, Chenxiang’s gaze flustered, and her hands trembled as she held the book. “Your Majesty wishes to test… what?”

“I want to see if you can explain the book’s meaning in the simplest terms, just like how we speak in everyday conversation.”

Chenxiang grew even more panicked. “Your Majesty, this servant merely recognizes a few characters. The writings in this book are beyond my comprehension, let alone explaining them clearly. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”

Xuan Jingchi thought, Fair enough, I really am asking too much of you. After a moment’s consideration, she deliberately said, “Then tell me, who can explain it to me? I don’t want to read—my eyes hurt. I don’t want to think—my head hurts. I just want to hear it in plain language.”

Chenxiang said, “The scholars of the Hanlin Academy are all immensely learned and eloquent. If they were to read for Your Majesty, there would certainly be no issue.”

Xuan Jingchi considered this. Involving the Hanlin Academy would mean letting the whole world know I’m an ignorant fool who can’t even read properly.

Even though she was a modern person, she still had her pride.

Then, a certain someone flashed through her mind—her Empress, the daughter of the Hanlin Academy’s Grand Secretary, whose literary talent was beyond question.

But asking her to read for her? Given the Empress’s attitude toward her, Xuan Jingchi didn’t dare make such a request—nor did she have the face to.

She picked up her teacup and took a sip of plain water. “What about within the palace? In this vast palace, is there really no one who’s read books?”

Within the palace?

Apart from palace maids, eunuchs, guards, and the lowest-ranking convict slaves who did the most menial labor, who else was there?

Then Chenxiang suddenly remembered someone. “Your Majesty, I’ve heard that among the convict slaves, there is one who was exceptionally bright from childhood and well-read in poetry and literature. She might be able to assist Your Majesty.”

Nuancxiang’s face showed surprise and reproach. “Chenxiang! Reporting to Your Majesty, this person is the descendant of a disgraced official. How could she possibly serve by Your Majesty’s side?”

Xuan Jingchi understood her implication. The descendant of a disgraced official might harbor resentment toward the emperor, with potentially sinister intentions. Casually, she asked, “What crime did her family commit?”

Nuancxiang froze, remaining silent while lowering her head even further.

Xuan Jingchi pressed, “Speak. What exactly was their crime? If you don’t answer, I will grow angry.”

Nuancxiang trembled and hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

“This woman is named Meng Wan. Her grandfather, Meng Yi, was originally the Imperial Censor. Sixteen years ago, when Your Majesty was two years old, the late emperor once remarked offhandedly, ‘This child resembles me. Perhaps our Great Qing will one day have a female emperor.’ He even spoke of establishing Your Majesty as Crown Princess.”

“Upon learning of this, Meng Yi submitted a memorial opposing it, claiming that if Your Majesty ascended the throne, it would… it would bring… an omen of the nation’s downfall.”

“The late emperor was furious and executed their entire family. The men were beheaded, while the women were enslaved in the palace. The matter of establishing a Crown Princess was thus temporarily abandoned.”

Xuan Jingchi had no idea such a past existed.

So my doting father killed Meng Wan’s grandfather and his entire family out of favoritism for his daughter.

This so-called father of mine was truly a foolish ruler!

But his love for the original owner of this body was indeed genuine!

While marveling at such paternal devotion, Xuan Jingchi also sighed—Meng Yi hadn’t been wrong. The original owner had indeed been a ruler who brought about the nation’s downfall.

Nuancxiang hesitated before speaking, “Your Majesty, Meng Wan’s background is complicated. Please reconsider carefully.”

Xuan Jingchi waved it off dismissively. “We are not afraid. With all of you by my side and guards for protection, what could a mere weak woman possibly do to me?”

Though she said this, inwardly she thought, I should still maintain at least three steps of distance from her. If she’s hiding a hairpin or scissors and tries to stab me, that gap should give me enough time to react before she can fatally wound me.

Seeing her stance, Nuancxiang and Chenxiang bowed in unison. “As Your Majesty commands!”