Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 44

A few days passed, and Xuan Jingchi spent her days practicing archery. In her spare time, she continued working on that peculiar book of hers—a jumbled mix of English alphabet lessons, multiplication tables, and geometry.

Xiao Yueli, however, found these subjects refreshing and novel, asking a question or two about them every day.

Noticing Xuan Jingchi’s handwriting was crooked and sloppy, far from the elegance of proper calligraphy and utterly unfit for display, she teased, “Your Majesty, don’t you plan to practice your handwriting properly?”

Xuan Jingchi’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she replied, “It’s not that I don’t want to learn—it’s just that Wan’er isn’t a good teacher. Why don’t you teach me instead, Empress?”

With that, she spread out a fresh sheet of paper, dipped the wolf-hair brush fully in ink, straightened her posture, and declared with mock solemnity, “Teacher Xiao, please!”

A faint smile playing on her lips, Xiao Yueli stepped behind Xuan Jingchi and said, “Write a character first—let me see.”

Xuan Jingchi pretended to think for a moment before deliberately gripping the brush clumsily and scrawling the character “Xuan.”

The Empress shook her head. “Your Majesty, that’s not how you hold the brush.”

Suppressing a laugh, Xuan Jingchi feigned innocence. “Then how should I do it?”

Xiao Yueli watched as she proceeded to write “Jingchi” just as poorly, her grip still incorrect despite the reminder. Sighing, the Empress stepped closer, bent down, and placed her slender, delicate hand over Xuan Jingchi’s to guide her.

This was exactly what Xuan Jingchi had been waiting for. The moment Xiao Yueli’s soft fingers wrapped around hers, she felt so giddy she could almost float away.

She bit her lip hard to stifle a grin, afraid the Empress would notice.

Xiao Yueli, focused entirely on the brush tip, missed the expression on the other woman’s face. Unaware of Xuan Jingchi’s little scheme, she only noticed that the hand beneath hers seemed to grow weaker and more limp. Frowning, she chided, “Your Majesty, concentrate!”

Xuan Jingchi nodded, her hair swaying with the motion and brushing against Xiao Yueli’s face. The tickling sensation unsettled the Empress, stirring something in her usually calm heart.

She shifted slightly to the side, but her guiding hand remained steady as a mountain.

Yet Xuan Jingchi leaned her head closer, deliberately chasing after her.

At that moment, Xiao Yueli realized—she was being toyed with.

She said, “Your Majesty, writing requires complete concentration. Only with a mind free of distractions can one’s strokes be as steady as towering mountains and deep pools.”

Xuan Jingchi nodded repeatedly, “I’ll remember that.” Xiao Yueli sighed softly, about to complete the final stroke of the character “Li” in her writing.”

Unexpectedly, Xuan Jingchi suddenly turned her head and quickly pecked her on the cheek.

With the palace doors wide open and servants occasionally passing by outside, Xiao Yueli hadn’t anticipated this sudden stolen kiss. Her face flushed crimson with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

The final stroke of the character “璃“ flew off into oblivion.

“Hahaha, Empress, why aren’t you concentrating on your writing either?”

Seeing the instigator smiling brightly and winking at her triumphantly, Xiao Yueli couldn’t contain her frustration and rapped Xuan Jingchi on the head. “You’re never serious! What exactly fills that head of yours?”

This action was witnessed by passing palace maids, who froze in shock, their eyes widening.

The Empress actually struck the Emperor?!!

Xiao Yueli: “…”

Nuanxiang raised her voice sharply, “What are you looking at? How dare you disturb Her Majesty’s studies and calligraphy practice?”

The maids startled and hurried away, not daring to linger for even a moment.

Rubbing her forehead, Xuan Jingchi laughed, “It’s filled with how much I love you.”

Xiao Yueli was momentarily stunned before realizing this was the answer to her earlier question. Her jade-white face flushed red once more.

“Look, it’s written right here.” Xiao Yueli looked down to see Xuan Jingchi had added the character “love” beneath “Chi”.

With this addition, the writing now read: “Xuan Jingchi loves Xiao Yueli.”

Xiao Yueli: “…”

This Xuan Jingchi was truly cunning! More sly than a fox!

But what shocked her even more was when Xuan Jingchi added another character “kiss” below “love.””

Now it read: “Xuan Jingchi loves to kiss Xiao Yueli.”

Xiao Yueli’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, wishing she could vanish into the ground.

In a fury, she snatched the paper and rapped Xuan Jingchi’s head three times in succession, scolding angrily, “Xuan Jingchi, you shameless, vulgar wretch!”

Xuan Jingchi clutched her head, wailing dramatically, “Ow ow ow ow ow!”

Seeing this, Xiao Yueli was both angry and amused. “Serves you right!”

Nuanxiang couldn’t help but glance into the hall, smiling inwardly. The Emperor and Empress truly had a wonderful relationship, always flirting and bantering like this.

Turning back, she noticed Meng Wan approaching and went to greet her. “Minister Meng, do you need to see Her Majesty?”

Meng Wan smiled slightly and nodded. “Is Her Majesty available?”

Nuanxiang replied, “Both Her Majesty and Her Majesty are in the side hall.”

Hearing voices outside, Xuan Jingchi and Xiao Yueli immediately composed themselves, sitting up straight with solemn expressions.

When Meng Wan entered, the first thing she noticed was the scattered paper fragments on the floor.

Xiao Yueli calmly explained, “Her Majesty wrote some characters earlier but found them too unsightly for public display. In her shame, she tore them up herself.”

Xuan Jingchi glanced at her Empress who lied so earnestly, then smiled and openly admitted to Meng Wan, “Wan’er, you know how terrible my handwriting is.”

Having served as Xuan Jingchi’s study companion for many days, Meng Wan was well aware of the Emperor’s poor penmanship and dislike for calligraphy practice. She smiled and said, “With Your Majesty’s intelligence and wisdom, if you truly dedicate yourself to practice, you’ll surely develop your own distinguished style in time.”

Xuan Jingchi looked at her with a smile. “Wan’er, you didn’t come here today just to flatter me, did you?”

Meng Wan said, “It’s nothing urgent. I merely heard from several officials compiling books at the Wenyuan Pavilion that a purification ritual to dispel evil spirits will be held at Xuanyi Gate in three days. Since I was unaware Your Majesty had such plans, I came to see if there was any way I could be of service.”

Xuan Jingchi was secretly astonished.

A purification ritual in three days? How come she hadn’t heard of this?

A ceremony to pray for blessings and exorcise evil spirits—she’d never seen such a thing before. It must be quite interesting.

Just as she was about to ask Meng Wan for details about the ritual, her gaze fell upon the Empress, whose expression had suddenly turned grave. This puzzled her.

“Empress, do you have something to say?”

Xiao Yueli smiled faintly. “As the Edict Secretary, this is precisely when Minister Meng should serve. May I trouble Minister Meng to draft a prayer proclamation on behalf of the Emperor to demonstrate Your Majesty’s sincerity.”

Meng Wan bowed. “This official obeys the decree.” With that, she withdrew after another bow.

Xuan Jingchi finally understood—Meng Wan had come circling around just to request this assignment. And here she was, foolishly prepared to engage in idle chatter.

After Meng Wan left, Xuan Jingchi laughed, “When does the palace usually hold purification rituals? Every year? Will there be people wearing masks to dance? What do I need to do? Don’t they say one must fast and bathe beforehand? Does that mean I should start eating vegetarian today?”

Seeing her brimming with curiosity about the ritual, appearing completely relaxed and oblivious to the danger looming before them, Xiao Yueli felt a pang of sorrow. Her voice turned somber, “Your Majesty, have you not considered what exactly this ‘evil spirit’ refers to?”

“What evil spirit?” Xuan Jingchi asked cheerfully, taking a sip from her teacup.

Xiao Yueli’s face paled. Her gaze, initially conflicted and uncertain, gradually filled with grief and compassion. “Your Majesty… they intend to purge… you.”

Xuan Jingchi froze. The teacup slipped from her fingers and shattered on the ground with a loud crash.

Tea spilled across the floor.