Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 50

The sky was filled with swirling snowflakes, and the courtyard was blanketed in white, a pristine winter scene.

Xuan Jingchi had ordered all the servants to go out and play, forbidding them to return until they’d had their fill of fun.

Xiao Fu was the most exuberant—even through the thick courtyard walls, her bell-like laughter could be heard.

Xuan Jingchi stood beneath the eaves of the grand hall, silently watching the snowflakes swirling across the sky.

The cold wind brushed against her face, bringing a chill.

Yet she remained motionless, as if unaware, seemingly deeply captivated by the snow-white world before her.

Someone gently draped a black cloak over her shoulders. “Your Majesty, the wind is strong here. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

The voice was gentle, clear and smooth like pearls—it was Empress Xiao Yueli.

She wore a silver-white short jacket with a collar lined with white rabbit fur, draped in a snow-white fox fur shawl that accentuated her fair, snow-like complexion and bright, captivating eyes.

Xuan Jingchi turned to look at her, smiling faintly as she adjusted the cloak with her hand, then let out a soft sigh.

“The place where I was born never saw snow like this all year round. Seeing such snow is a rare thing.”

“I remember when I was six or seven, there was a heavy snowfall. That day, on my way to school, my mother was afraid I would slip, so she told me to hold her hand. I refused, insisting I could walk on my own. But before I could finish speaking, I slipped and fell flat on my back.”

Xiao Yueli chuckled softly. “It must have hurt a lot, didn’t it?”

Xuan Jingchi shook her head. “I don’t remember.”

She sighed deeply. “So much has changed over the years. The path I walk has changed, and so have I.”

The only thing that hasn’t changed is that the road ahead remains slippery, full of dangers.

She raised the paper in her hand, densely covered with names.

These were the lists of factions loyal to Lin Zaifu, Xuan Jingming, and Xuan Jingmou, secretly gathered by Liu Jili over the past year.

Undoubtedly, these people would be the first enemies she would face after assuming full governance.

Gazing at the snow-white world, Xuan Jingchi’s eyes gradually grew resolute, and she curled her lips in self-mockery.

“From now on, I may become the very person I once despised the most. For power, I might turn into someone cold, cruel, and ruthless!”

“Yueli, I’m afraid I can no longer remain as pure and untainted as before.” She turned to look at Xiao Yueli, her tone tinged with faint sorrow. “Will you still like me?”

Amid the biting wind, Xiao Yueli reached out and took Xuan Jingchi’s hand.

“Your Majesty, this is a path of no return. We have no choice but to give it our all—there is no retreat.”

“What I wish to say is, no matter where Your Majesty goes, I will always be by your side.”

“Even if it means descending into the depths of Avīci Hell after death…”

Xuan Jingchi covered her lips with her hand, stopping her from continuing.

Her eyes sparkled brilliantly, and when she smiled, they curved like crescent moons. “We won’t go to hell! Hell is for the truly wicked. We’ll just watch from the shore.”

Xiao Yueli couldn’t help but laugh softly.

This person was truly pure—too pure, just like the pristine snowflakes drifting chaotically in the air, landing silently on the ground.

After the wind and snow passed, they remained so immaculate that one couldn’t bear to defile them.

Xuan Jingchi calculated based on the era names of previous emperors—this year marked the 376th year of the Daqing Dynasty.

For a dynasty to endure this long was already far from short.

Would a dynasty that had lasted 376 years descend into decay and ruin, or would it be revitalized with new life?

It all depended on her.

—

Year 376 of the Daqing Dynasty, New Year’s Eve.

With the support of Dugu Jinyu, Xuan Jingchi officially ascended to the throne and assumed full governance.

Meng Wan attended by the Empress’s side, overseeing imperial edicts and decrees, while the little eunuch Liu Jili rose rapidly to become the Chief Eunuch.

The next day, on the first day of the new year, the era name was changed to “Divine Blessing.”

On the third day after court resumed, someone from Lin Zaifu’s faction stepped forward, eager to test just how capable this young Empress really was.

After reading the memorial, the Empress flung it to the ground in anger.

“Thirty thousand dan of grain and funds, seized by three hundred starving refugees, vanishing without a trace in an instant. Soldiers chased them for ten li but couldn’t catch up.”

“If I recall correctly, the Yuanzhou region is flat terrain, with no forests or vegetation for cover.”

“Not to mention, each person would have to carry over a hundred jin of weight. And these were refugees who had been starving for days?”

“Guards! Give Lord Qin a hundred jin to carry. Let him run a hundred paces first, then the guards will chase him. I want to see if my guards can catch up to the plump and well-fed Lord Qin within a single li.”

The entire court stifled laughter.

Immediately, two guards stepped forward, wordlessly loading Lord Qin’s shoulders with a hundred jin of iron hammers and plates, then pushing him outside to run.

Xuan Jingchi’s expression was stern as her gaze swept slowly over the assembled ministers. “Though my learning may not match yours, I am not a three-year-old child. If you wish to deceive me, you’d better be more clever. You may insult my looks, but do not insult my intelligence!”

This remark soon reached the inner palace. When Xiao Yueli heard it, she couldn’t help but laugh. She thought to herself, This Xuan Jingchi is just arrogant about her beauty. She knows full well she’s one of the Great Qing Dynasty’s most stunning women—how could anyone insult her looks?

A few days later, the Lantern Festival arrived.

That year, under the Empress’s rule, the palace maids received an unexpected favor. The Emperor, sympathizing with their youth and the fact that they were confined within the palace walls in the prime of their lives, granted them permission to leave the palace and enjoy the lantern displays.

Laughing and calling to one another, they left the palace in small groups.

In an instant, the vast palace felt eerily empty and desolate.

Nuanxiang, Chenxiang, and Xiao Rong didn’t go out to see the lanterns, which wasn’t unusual, but even Xiao Fu—who loved excitement the most—stayed behind in the palace. Xuan Jingchi was quite surprised and asked her why she hadn’t gone. Xiao Fu replied that she wanted to stay and celebrate the Lantern Festival with the Emperor and Empress.

Xuan Jingchi couldn’t help but recall the Mid-Autumn Festival, when they had also gathered to drink and laugh together. If not for the assassination attempt during the boat ride, she would have considered that evening quite pleasant. She ordered, “Go warm some wine and summon Meng Wan. Let’s all drink and play riddles together, shall we?”

Xiao Fu clapped her hands in delight. “Yes, yes! That sounds wonderful!”

Xiao Yueli shook her head. “Your Majesty, today is the Lantern Festival. Minister Meng has likely gone out to admire the lanterns.”

“I don’t think so. Meng Wan is such a workaholic. Asking her to go out and have fun would be like telling her to write a hundred poems—she’d find the latter much more comfortable.”

Before long, Meng Wan arrived.

Her delicate face was slightly flushed from the cold. Xuan Jingchi asked, “Chenxiang, was Minister Meng reading when you went to Qinghui Courtyard?”

Chenxiang smiled. “Your Majesty is absolutely right.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yueli turned to look at Xuan Jingchi and smiled. When it came to understanding people, Xuan Jingchi seemed to have a natural talent.

By then, the refreshments and wine were ready.

Xuan Jingchi laughed. “Wan’er, come quickly and have some wine.”

The group sat down to play drinking games, engaging in the refined pastime of “shooting the cover”—a game of riddles and poetry.

This elegant drinking game, beloved by scholars and poets, was beyond the understanding of Nuanxiang, Chenxiang, and Xiao Fu. Even Xuan Jingchi couldn’t keep up.

She smiled as she watched Xiao Yueli and Meng Wan go back and forth, thoroughly enjoying themselves. She sipped her wine, occasionally laughing when she heard a particularly clever riddle.

In her tipsy haze, she looked up at the Empress. Under the candlelight, with the wine’s gentle warmth, the beauty’s smiling face was indescribably lovely.

As midnight approached, Meng Wan stood to take her leave, not forgetting to admonish the Emperor. “Your Majesty, there’s an early court session tomorrow. You should rest soon.”

Xuan Jingchi frowned, slurring slightly, “Everything here is great… except work starts too early. Can’t we make it nine o’clock…?”

Meng Wan was baffled, staring blankly at Xuan Jingchi, utterly confused by her words.

Xiao Yueli quickly stepped forward to support her, saying to Meng Wan, “The Emperor is drunk and rambling. Minister Meng, please go rest. You also have an early court session tomorrow.”

Meng Wan bowed and took her leave.

Xiao Yueli ordered the banquet cleared, afraid Xuan Jingchi might say something even more shocking. She personally helped Xuan Jingchi back to the bedchamber.

Drunk, Xuan Jingchi was surprisingly docile. Xiao Yueli led her by the hand, and she swayed along obediently, following wherever she was taken.

The room was warmed by a charcoal fire, the air almost stiflingly cozy.

As soon as she lay down, Xuan Jingchi tugged at her clothes and pulled Xiao Yueli close. “Yueli, Yueli… I like you so much…”

Her cheeks were flushed, her peach-blossom eyes glazed with intoxication, and her lips—red and alluring against her fair skin—only enhanced her already devastating beauty, making her even more enchanting and irresistible.

Xiao Yueli’s heart raced as she was pulled into an embrace. Unable to resist, she kissed Xuan Jingchi’s lips.

The woman beneath her responded with fiery passion, their breaths growing heavy and urgent as their mouths tangled.

Clothes were shed at some point, and Xuan Jingchi’s intoxicated gaze, slender waist, and long legs sent waves of desire through Xiao Yueli.

Unlike Xiao Yueli’s shy restraint, Xuan Jingchi was unrestrained and fervent, offering herself without reservation.

The sounds of their passion echoed through the chamber…

Outside, Nuanxiang overheard the faint, intimate noises and blushed furiously.

Before dawn, Xiao Yueli sat up, lifting the jade-white arm draped over her waist. She gently shook the sleeping figure. “Jingchi, Jingchi… it’s time to wake up.”

Xuan Jingchi remained deep in slumber. Her neck and arms bore the marks of last night’s fervent love—crimson kisses against snow-white skin, like red plum blossoms against winter snow, vivid and arresting. Xiao Yueli’s gaze lingered, captivated.

Xiao Yueli recalled the passionate intimacy of the previous night, her cheeks flushing with shyness as she gently nudged the other. “Jingchi, it’s time to wake up. You should get up now.”

Yet despite several pushes, Xuan Jingchi remained deeply asleep, merely mumbling something incoherent before burying her face further into the bedding.

With a sigh, Xiao Yueli resorted to her ultimate tactic—leaning down to lightly nibble on her ear.

The ticklish sensation made Xuan Jingchi squirm away, furrowing her brows as she grumbled, “I want to sleep…” Her voice was soft and sweet, her demeanor docile and utterly adorable.

Filled with tender affection, Xiao Yueli only bit down harder…

After a while, Xuan Jingchi finally rose from bed with great reluctance, slowly pulling on her undergarments.

By then, Xiao Yueli was already fully dressed. She called toward the palace doors, “Her Majesty is awake. Enter and assist her with dressing.”

Author’s Note:

Xuan Jingchi tempts: “Empress, tonight—who’s on top and who’s on the bottom?”

Xiao Yueli blushes: “You’re on the bottom!”

Xuan Jingchi gasps in shock: “Me again?”

Xiao Yueli snorts coldly: “You don’t want to?”

Xuan Jingchi surrenders: “I do, I do.”