Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 63

After quietly leaving the palace, Xuan Jingchi headed straight for Yanzhou.

Having departed half a month later than Meng Wan, she traveled light with just one horse, making swift progress.

This was her first solo long-distance trip in her life, and in an era with underdeveloped transportation where wilderness stretched as far as the eye could see.

Previously, she’d always traveled with classmates or friends, chatting and laughing on trains, with every destination’s logistics—food, lodging, transportation—just a few taps away.

Nothing like now, where everything had to be done personally. Even if encountering bandits, there was no 110 to call—survival depended entirely on one’s own combat skills.

On her first night, lacking experience, she’d focused solely on galloping through mountains and forests, missing any lodging. Finding herself stranded between villages with no shelter, she spent the night in wilderness woods, lighting a campfire and eating the flatbread and jerky Chenxiang had prepared.

Thirsty, she went to a stream for the first time to fill her waterskin—drinking untreated water straight from nature.

Xuan Jingchi watched the swarm of insects flitting around the campfire, leaning against the rough bark of a tree as she surveyed her surroundings.

The area was pitch black, eerily silent except for the chirping of insects in the woods. There was no other sound at all.

If not for her decent martial skills now and past experiences hiking through mountains at night with friends in scenic areas, she would have long lost her patience.

Poking the fire with a branch, Xuan Jingchi thought to herself, back when I read novels, I used to envy those wandering heroes who could camp freely under the stars with a campfire—it seemed so romantic and carefree.

Now that she was actually living it, she scoffed inwardly. Romantic my ass! There’s nothing romantic about this—just mosquitoes, bugs, and having to drink cold water.

I should’ve worn thicker clothes before setting out. Smack! She slapped her face again—too many damn mosquitoes!

That night, she covered her head and managed a rough sleep against the tree. At the crack of dawn, she mounted her horse and set off.

Farmers heading to the fields with hoes over their shoulders early in the morning caught sight of a young woman in green gauze robes, riding a tall steed, her face hidden behind an exquisite silver mask. Like a whirlwind, she sped past them in a flash.

“Who was that?”

“A woman.”

“No kidding, obviously it was a woman!”

“Did you see the bow and arrows on her horse? And the sword at her waist? Must be someone from the martial world.”

“Where’s she going in such a hurry?”

“Who knows?”

By the river outside Yanzhou, dusk approached, the scorching heat of the day fading as the last rays of sunlight danced like golden flecks on the water.

Meng Wan stepped out of the cabin and stood at the bow, quietly admiring the riverside scenery at sunset, her gaze fixed on the opposite shore.

Beyond the river lay Yanzhou.

Along the way, she had encountered many refugees fleeing to Yunzhou on the other side. The disaster was far worse than she had imagined.

Even as evening fell, the river was still crowded with boats—all carrying destitute refugees escaping Yanzhou. The small wooden vessels were packed to the brim.

Only her boat was heading toward Yanzhou, standing out starkly against the current.

The refugees on passing boats stared at her vessel and the lone woman standing at the bow, their sunken eyes flickering with disbelief.

Is this woman insane? Everyone’s fleeing, yet she’s charging straight into Yanzhou.

As darkness crept in, a small, swift boat suddenly glided across the river.

It was a tiny wooden skiff, light as a leaf on the waves—so fragile it seemed unfit for such a vast river.

From a distance, Meng Wan could barely make out a figure standing at the bow, clad in white robes and wearing a veiled hat. No one was rowing, yet the boat moved swiftly and steadily.

Meng Wan could now clearly see that the figure in white was graceful and slender, likely a young woman.

“Teacher, the river wind is strong. Be careful not to catch a chill,” Yao Xianhui said, emerging from the cabin at some point with a garment in hand. She walked up behind Meng Wan and gently draped it over her shoulders.

Meng Wan shifted her gaze from the woman in white and turned her head slightly to look at Yao Xianhui, smiling faintly. “Thank you.”

She felt a pang of embarrassment. As the teacher and a year older than Yao Xianhui, it should have been her duty to care for her student. Yet, throughout this journey, it had mostly been Yao Xianhui looking after her.

At that moment, the small boat shot forward like an arrow. As the two vessels passed each other, Meng Wan couldn’t help but glance at the stranger.

Despite the undulating waves of the river, the woman stood as steady as if she were on solid ground, motionless.

The skiff flashed by, and Meng Wan watched the receding figure with a thoughtful expression.

Yao Xianhui chuckled softly. “Teacher, what has you so captivated?”

“N-nothing,” Meng Wan replied, turning her head away with a calm tone.

For some reason, the woman in white gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

“Teacher, shall we have the mixed fish soup on the boat again today?” Yao Xianhui asked with a smile.

Meng Wan nodded. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Yao Xianhui laughed. “It’s no trouble at all. I’ll prepare it myself later—I won’t let those Guards handle it. They’d just ruin it.”

The two chatted lightly, completely unaware that the woman in white had lifted the veil hanging from her hat and turned to cast a lingering glance their way.

In a small town in Yunzhou, Xuan Jingchi walked down the street leading her horse. The sides of the road were lined with ragged beggars, each extending a broken bowl at passersby and pleading, “Please, kind soul, spare some food.”

Xuan Jingchi stopped in front of an inn. The attendant, noting her fine attire, the long sword at her waist, and her light footsteps, assumed she was a wandering heroine of the martial world despite the mask she wore. He promptly greeted her, “Madam, will you be dining or staying the night?”

Xuan Jingchi replied, “First a meal, then lodging.”

The attendant eagerly ushered her inside. She ordered a pot of hot tea, a plate of beef, a plate of crispy duck, two seasonal vegetable dishes, and a bowl of rice.

As the waiter served her, she noticed the beggars at the entrance staring at her food with drooling mouths, their eyes gleaming with longing.

Xuan Jingchi, uncomfortable under their gaze, said, “Waiter, bring some food for those poor beggars. Put it on my bill.”

The waiter smiled. “Madam, you’re too kind. There are so many of them—you can’t possibly help them all. Even if we gave out all the food in our shop, it wouldn’t be enough.”

Though he couldn’t see Xuan Jingchi’s expression, he could imagine her surprise beneath the mask. He chuckled, “You must come from a wealthy family, never having gone hungry or suffered. You’re not from around here, are you? Have you heard about the floods in Yanzhou?”

Xuan Jingchi said, “Yes, I’m actually heading to Yanzhou.”

“To Yanzhou?!” The attendant was stunned, doubting his own ears. He scrutinized Xuan Jingchi again. “Miss, everyone’s fleeing Yanzhou right now. Who in their right mind would go back? Forgive my bluntness, but are you going there to die?”

“Those beggars outside, coming in waves—do you think they’re from Yunzhou? They’re all refugees fleeing from Yanzhou!”

“They’re all disaster victims?!”

Xuan Jingchi’s heart suddenly sank, her expression changing.

“Indeed,” the waiter sighed, noticing her sudden silence. “These days, with the mountains high and the emperor far away, who cares? It’s the common folk who suffer!”

He flicked the towel over his shoulder. “Here’s your food, sir. Enjoy your meal.”

“Wait,” Xuan Jingchi suddenly said, “young man, hold on a moment.”

Her voice was clear yet soft, even melodious and captivating.

The waiter couldn’t help but stop and turn to look at her. “What else do you need, sir?”

“Young man, take all the food in your shop and distribute it to them. I’ll pay. I know there are too many of them, and the food won’t be enough, but give as much as you can. We can only help them within our means.”

The waiter was stunned, then gave her another glance before saying, “I’ll go inform the manager.”

Soon, the manager arrived and greeted Xuan Jingchi politely. “Miss, you’re truly kind-hearted. But do you know how much silver it would cost to buy all the food in our shop?”

Xuan Jingchi smiled faintly. “How much?”

“Two hundred taels.”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Jingchi reached into the bag beside her and pulled out a banknote. “Here’s a thousand taels. Take it all. If possible, prepare some food for them every couple of days.”

Even the well-traveled manager was astonished. He took the banknote and sighed, “You’re truly a great benefactor, sir.”

Xuan Jingchi shook her head with a light smile. “I’m just a small benefactor—far from being great.”

A thousand taels would only feed these people for a few meals—just a small kindness. Truly great benevolence would be to completely resolve Yanzhou’s flood disaster, ensuring the people live in peace and prosperity, with ample food and clothing.

Before long, a clamor arose outside the door, with voices shouting loudly.

“Food! There’s food!! Come quick! Come quick!”

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, kind soul!”

The manager’s voice rang out, “Don’t thank me! Thank the great benefactor inside—she’s the one treating you!”

“Which great benefactor?”

“The green-clad lady wearing a mask.”

As soon as the words were spoken, two figures walked in from outside—an elderly man and a middle-aged man, both dressed in tattered rags. Yet their hair was neatly combed, and though their faces bore signs of hunger, they were clean and tidy.

Upon seeing Xuan Jingchi, they immediately knelt and kowtowed to her. Xuan Jingchi hastily rose to her feet, helped them up, and invited them to sit at the table.

“Elder uncle, how should I address you? Is your family from Yanzhou?”

Xuan Jingchi called for the attendant to bring two teacups and personally poured tea for them.

She wore a mask that revealed only her chin and a pair of eyes, giving her a rather peculiar appearance. Yet her demeanor was composed and graceful, exuding an air of steady magnanimity.

After observing her for a while, the two no longer found her so intimidating. Instead, they thought to themselves that such a kind-hearted young woman must be wearing a mask due to an unfortunate appearance or some hidden facial ailment.

Hearing Xuan Jingchi’s question, the old man first bowed to her before slowly replying, “This humble one is named Zhou Fu, the village chief of Zhou Village in Xishui Township, Wangnan County, Yanzhou. This is my son, Zhou Rui, a scholar from our township. Due to the floods devastating our homeland, we had no choice but to lead the villagers to Pingzhou to beg for survival.”

Xuan Jingchi said, “As a traveler myself, I’ve heard the court allocated funds and supplies, even ordering the construction of shelters for disaster victims. How did you end up displaced here?”

“Ah,” the old man sighed, “We dared not stay in those shelters.”