Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 61

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xuan Jingchi looked up at the person below her and gave a sweet smile, “Empress, you’ve worked hard.”

Xiao Yueli, dressed in a light gauze robe, sat upright behind the desk, writing tirelessly. She was transcribing the emperor’s verbal approvals into formal decrees.

Her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her gaze sharp, she lowered her head in thought, yet her brush moved swiftly like a dragon, without pause.

Not only did she not hear Xuan Jingchi’s words, she didn’t even notice when Xuan Jingchi had come to stand behind her.

Xuan Jingchi waited leisurely for her to finish writing before saying, “Empress, do you like this new job?”

Only now did Xiao Yueli have a moment to spread out a fresh sheet of paper. She glanced up at her with an exasperated look before lowering her head to write hurriedly, “What do you think?”

So, the helper Xuan Jingchi had mentioned was none other than Empress Xiao Yueli herself.

Xuan Jingchi chuckled, “Keeping a talented woman like the Empress confined to the inner palace is truly a waste. I’m merely discovering talents for the Great Qing Dynasty!”

Xiao Yueli lowered her head with a silent smile, extending her brush to dip into the ink. Noticing the ink was running low from the corner of her eye, Xuan Jingchi quickly bent down to grind more ink for her.

Just then, Chenxiang entered with tea and, seeing the emperor personally grinding ink, hurried over. “Your Majesty, let this servant do it.”

Xuan Jingchi declined, “I’ll handle it. The Empress and Wan’er are both exceptionally talented women who can write with such grace and fluidity even within these rigid regulations. It’s my honor to grind ink for the Empress. Don’t you dare compete with me for this privilege.”

Chenxiang stifled a laugh and gently placed the teacup on the desk.

Without looking up, Xiao Yueli remarked, “Has Your Majesty finished reviewing the memorials? Do you have time to chat idly here?”

Xuan Jingchi grinned, “All done. I write little—just one ‘approved’ character—so it’s quick.”

Xiao Yueli subtly glanced at her desk and indeed saw all the memorials neatly stacked to one side, completed. In comparison, she was much slower, which made her frown slightly.

Xuan Jingchi said, “Take your time, Empress. No need to rush.”

Then, turning to Chenxiang, she instructed, “Chenxiang, go back first and have dinner prepared. Make sure there’s fish tonight, and tell the kitchen to prepare some walnuts.”

Chenxiang asked curiously, “Your Majesty, why think of eating walnuts in such hot weather?”

Xuan Jingchi replied, “They’re for the Empress. She’s working hard, so I’m helping nourish her brain.”

Amidst her busy writing, Xiao Yueli couldn’t help but shoot her an exasperated look, as if scolding her for speaking so freely in front of others. Yet, with a faint smile at the corners of her lips, she shook her head and continued writing.

After dinner, Xuan Jingchi sighed contentedly to Xiao Yueli, “With the Empress helping, I can finish work much earlier.”

As they spoke, Chenxiang entered to announce, “Liu Jili requests an audience.”

Xuan Jingchi said, “Ask him to wait in the main hall.”

Chenxiang bowed and withdrew. Xuan Jingchi turned to Xiao Yueli, “Empress, you’ve worked hard today. Go bathe and rest first.”

Xiao Yueli shook her head, “I’ll accompany you to hear what Liu Jili has uncovered.”

“You should rest and conserve your energy,” Xuan Jingchi suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I’m afraid you won’t have any strength left tonight.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yueli’s cheeks flushed crimson as she instantly understood what “no strength” referred to.

She glared fiercely at Xuan Jingchi, a mix of urgency, embarrassment, anger, and frustration. “Xuan Jingchi, you shameless, debauched emperor! What kind of nonsense fills your head all day long?”

Despite her usual dignified, noble, and elegant demeanor, she couldn’t help but blurt out the word “nonsense.”

Xuan Jingchi laughed, “I’m only thinking of the Empress! Empress, don’t curse yourself like that. Even if you don’t mind, I certainly do.”

“You—you!” Xiao Yueli was so furious she could no longer sit still and reached out to pinch her.

Xuan Jingchi winced and yelped in exaggerated pain, “Ow! Stop, stop! It hurts! Ouch, ouch, ouch!”

Thus, the palace maids outside the hall witnessed the Emperor running out with a panicked expression, followed closely by the Empress whose face was flushed red with anger.

Xiao Fu’s eyes widened as she exclaimed, “Good heavens! The Empress is chasing the Emperor to pinch him! How much must she despise Her Majesty!”

Xiao Rong merely glanced before lowering her head, suppressing a smile as she said, “What nonsense about despising? Don’t speak foolishly.”

Xiao Fu clicked her tongue, “Just look! When has Her Majesty ever hit anyone? Not even when she was a young lady!”

“Enough now, stop gossiping. You’re still young and understand nothing. Don’t be silly.”

Xiao Fu pouted angrily, “Hmph! You’re calling me silly again. I’ll have you know, if you call me silly one more time, I’ll… I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Xiao Rong laughed.

“I’ll pinch you to death!” With that, Xiao Fu suddenly lunged forward and gave Xiao Rong’s arm a vicious twist.

Caught off guard, Xiao Rong’s eyes welled up with tears from the pain. “You little minx, that hurt!” Spotting a broom on the ground, she grabbed it and swung at Xiao Fu.

But Xiao Fu was already scampering away with gleeful laughter, easily dodging the blow.

“Empress, Empress, I was wrong! I’ll never speak out of turn again!” Xuan Jingchi, held firmly by Xiao Yueli with one hand while being pinched by the other, grimaced in pain, her face contorted in a pleading expression.

“How many times have you said that exact phrase?”

“This time I mean it! I’ll never spout nonsense again… Ouch!!!”

“That’s what you always say!”

Xiao Yueli continued pinching her, though the pressure gradually lightened.

“This time is real, really, really!”

Finally releasing her, Xiao Yueli shot her a glare. “The ruler of a nation, yet you never act with proper dignity.”

Rubbing her arm nonchalantly, Xuan Jingchi retorted, “Who says a ruler must maintain a stern face all day? Does a stern face make one appear more impressive? I prefer to ‘reduce enemy fleets to ashes amid laughter and talk.'”

“Come, let’s go see Liu Jili.”

As she uttered those last words, all traces of humor vanished from her face, replaced by sudden solemnity—as if she’d transformed into an entirely different person in an instant.

Yet when she took the Empress’s hand, her touch remained gentle as ever.

Xiao Yueli lifted her arm slightly, whispering, “Does it hurt much?”

“Not at all,” Xuan Jingchi insisted through the lingering sting, forcing a faint smile. “Don’t worry, Empress. It doesn’t hurt one bit.”

The two of them went to the main hall to listen to the report from the scouts sent by Liu Jili.

It turned out that shortly after Jian Ci was promoted to the position of judicial officer, the previous county magistrate of Laiyang was transferred away. The new magistrate took an instant dislike to this judicial officer.

There were two reasons for this. First, Jian Ci was upright and incorruptible, handling cases without favoritism—whether the accused was noble or commoner, if they broke the law, they were arrested. This offended many local gentry. Moreover, he adamantly refused to engage in flattery or sycophancy, which made the magistrate immediately view him as a thorn in his side.

Second, Jian Ci’s investigative abilities were too strong. In his first year in office, he solved cases involving hidden silver, a husband’s murder, and a headless corpse in a desolate temple. Most notably, he cracked a long-standing unsolved major case that even drew attention from the provincial government. When higher officials came to inspect, they couldn’t help but praise him verbally. However, instead of being entrusted with greater responsibilities afterward, Jian Ci was completely sidelined and relegated to merely filing case records.

The magistrate handed all cases, big and small, to his trusted associates. Minor cases were manageable, but the complex ones remained unresolved, dragging on until they became cold cases. When questioned by the provincial government, the magistrate claimed that Jian Ci was arrogant, unwilling to contribute, and slacking off.

This was why Jian Ci’s record remained unremarkable.

That night, as the two nestled in bed, Xiao Yueli noticed the bruises on Xuan Jingchi’s fair arm and secretly felt heartbroken, regretting that she hadn’t been more careful. Xuan Jingchi held her gently and said, “It’s fine. A good night’s sleep will heal it. I have the spiritual power bestowed by the Immortal Venerable—I’m not that fragile.”

Xiao Yueli wrapped her arms around Xuan Jingchi’s waist and buried her head in her chest. Listening to Xuan Jingchi talk about Jian Ci, Xiao Yueli remarked, “Jingchi, you don’t seem surprised.”

Xuan Jingchi replied, “When a capable person suddenly becomes mediocre, there are only two possibilities. First, they weren’t truly talented to begin with, and time exposed their shortcomings. Second, others forced them into mediocrity. Sometimes, being too outstanding is a sin—those around will unite to suppress them.”

Xiao Yueli laughed. “You really know everything.”

Xuan Jingchi grinned. “To be honest, I’ve seen a senior sister of mine go through something similar to Jian Ci. Highly capable, ostracized by her superiors, and eventually forced to seek opportunities elsewhere.”

“You have a senior sister?” Xiao Yueli asked. “Did she also work as a minor official?”

“Haha, no, no. She worked in a company.” Seeing Xiao Yueli’s confusion, Xuan Jingchi explained slowly, “Where I come from, after finishing studies, people have many choices—some take civil service exams, some become doctors, others join companies. As for what a company is…”

The next day at court, Xuan Jingchi issued an edict summoning Jian Ci, the judicial officer of Laiyang County in Bingzhou, to the capital, where he was exceptionally promoted to the rank of Imperial Censor.

The night before, she had confided in Xiao Yueli her intention to send someone like Jian Ci—an upright and unyielding figure—to investigate the corruption case involving the governor of Bingzhou.

Xuan Jingchi nodded in agreement and smiled. “When it comes to official matters, the Empress always thinks more thoroughly.”

The entire court was shocked. Jian Ci had leapt from an eighth-rank minor official to a fourth-rank position—an unprecedented promotion in the history of the Daqing Dynasty.

Faced with the ministers’ opposition, Xuan Jingchi responded, “I urge the heavens to shake off their lethargy and send down talents without discrimination.”

Upon hearing this, the court was once again astonished. The emperor, who usually spoke in plain language, could actually compose such a verse.

What a bold declaration—to send down talents without discrimination!

A few days later, Jian Ci hurried to the capital’s strategic location, summoned by the emperor to the palace.

This was Jian Ci’s first formal audience with the emperor.

He saw the young woman seated regally on the throne, just as he had encountered her that day in the tavern—noble, radiant, and dazzling.

The young queen was resplendent, exuding confidence and composure, her face adorned with a smile, devoid of any trace of the arrogance and haughtiness rumored among the people.

It was this young woman, who held the highest authority in the Great Qing Dynasty, that granted him the grandest stage of his life.

He heard the emperor ask him, “Are you aware of the case involving the Governor of Bingzhou?”

Jian Ci replied, “Your subject has heard a little about it.”

“If I were to send you to thoroughly investigate, to uproot all those who embezzle, break the law, and commit crimes—regardless of their rank—would you be willing?”

Without hesitation, Jian Ci answered, “Your subject is willing to go!”

“Minister Jian, I must warn you—the dangers you face may exceed your imagination. You might even encounter threats to your life.”

Jian Ci calmly responded, “If I feared death, I would not have become an official of justice!”

In the summer of the 377th year of the Great Qing Dynasty, an obscure minor official from Laiyang County was personally appointed by the emperor as the Censor-in-Chief and dispatched to Bingzhou to conduct a thorough investigation.

Upon hearing this, the officials in Bingzhou paled with fear.