Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 68

Xuan Jingchi sat in the tavern, sipping tea while watching the exuberant Mr. Meng, shaking her head slightly.

After encountering Mr. Meng that day, she had let him lead her horse as they traveled together. When he mentioned wanting to drink, he indeed took her to a large town.

Now, Mr. Meng sat contentedly in the tavern, gulping wine from a large bowl and reciting poetry in a drunken slur. Seized by inspiration, he grabbed a brush and began scribbling wildly on the tavern wall—his strokes bold and unrestrained, full of untamed energy.

Though his calligraphy was undeniably skilled, Xuan Jingchi could barely make out what he had written.

In her opinion, cursive script was the most infuriating style. Writing was meant to convey meaning—what was the point if no one could read it?

Mr. Meng finished his masterpiece in one breath, tossed the brush aside, and called for the waiter to fill his gourd with more wine before staggering out the door.

At the horse, he bowed respectfully and said, “Seventh Miss, please mount.”

The onlookers observed the pair—a disheveled, drunken man swaying unsteadily as he led the horse, and an elegantly dressed woman wearing a mask, her posture graceful, a precious sword hanging at her waist, smiling as she rode.

No one could quite figure out their relationship.

Xuan Jingchi assumed that now that he had eaten and drunk his fill, they would finally turn back toward Yanzhou.

But the man continued leading the horse forward without any intention of turning around.

Xuan Jingchi mused to herself, This man is hiding his true intentions. Dragging me eastward must serve some purpose. She simply smiled and asked, “Where are you taking me, Mr. Meng?”

“Seventh Miss, I’ve long heard that Taizhou to the east of Yunzhou is a land of abundant treasures and beautiful scenery. I’ve always wanted to visit, but unfortunately my purse is light—no travel funds, nor money for meals. Now that I’ve met Seventh Miss, why don’t we go together? Having company along the way will make the journey less lonely and dull.”

Upon hearing they were heading to Taizhou, Xuan Jingchi couldn’t help but wonder—why Taizhou specifically?

If they were considering prosperous places with good scenery, wouldn’t Yanzhou to the east be better?

She smiled and asked, “What exactly is so special about Taizhou that has Mr. Meng so eager to visit?”

Mr. Meng replied, “There are plenty of good things there—claypot chicken, crystal pork, strong liquor, all excellent! Hahaha! Most importantly, you can eat without worrying about being arrested as a notorious bandit mid-meal.”

Quick-witted as she was, Xuan Jingchi immediately understood. Last night, she had accepted the petition, and promptly, Yunzhou officials came to arrest her, even labeling her a notorious bandit—all to cut off the commoners’ path to justice.

Dealing with so many displaced refugees would cause too much commotion. If it stirred public outrage and led to riots, it would inevitably alert the central government. In comparison, making a lone woman disappear would be much easier.

The reason went without saying—Yunzhou and Yanzhou were undoubtedly in cahoots.

If Yanzhou had the means to get Yunzhou on its side, it was hard to say whether Yuezhou to the east was also part of the scheme.

Xuan Jingchi’s mind raced, quickly recalling that among the high-ranking officials of the four wealthiest prefectures—Yanzhou, Yunzhou, Yuezhou, and Taizhou—Lin Zaifu’s influence was pivotal.

As the emperor, she had read enough memorials and case files to know this background, but she was surprised that this person was also fully aware of it.

She couldn’t help but glance at Mr. Meng, increasingly convinced that he was like a hidden dragon or phoenix of their time—absolutely a recluse of extraordinary talent!

“In that case, let’s go to Taizhou. I’ve never tried claypot chicken or crystal pork before. Mr. Meng, feel free to eat, drink, and enjoy yourself—I’ll cover all expenses.”

Hearing this, Mr. Meng turned to look at her and said with a grin, “Hahaha! This commoner thanks Seventh Miss. I must say, though you’re a woman, you’re more open and generous than many men.”

Thus, the two headed east together, chatting and laughing along the way as Mr. Meng spun his tales. Xuan Jingchi listened carefully, growing more and more impressed by his vast knowledge and extraordinary insights—astrology, divination, military strategy, even irrigation systems. What shocked her most was when he mentioned he had once helped deliver piglets.

“Teacher, Guard Yan and the others secretly investigated and found that the relief grain is all old stock, mixed with sand and pebbles.”

Yao Xianhui said indignantly, “What’s worse, they only give it to those who move into the big houses. Those who refuse get nothing—they’re practically starving them to death!”

Seeing Meng Wan remain unmoved, she grew anxious. “Teacher, do you know what the commoners are saying?”

Meng Wan was drafting a memorial when she heard the words and looked up, asking, “What do you mean?”

“They’re cursing the court, saying the court doesn’t care about their lives. They’re also cursing you, Teacher, saying you, the imperial envoy, are colluding with those local officials. They even say you…” Yao Xianhui’s face flushed, whether from anger or something else, and she suddenly stopped speaking.

Meng Wan remained calm and smiled faintly. “Are they saying that this imperial envoy took bribes and is just putting on a show, going through the motions? That a woman like me spends her days carousing with officials, laughing and reveling, forsaking virtue and lacking shame?”

Yao Xianhui widened her large, watery eyes. “Teacher, how did you know all that?”

Meng Wan replied, “The other day, the prefect publicly delivered several chests of gifts to the courier station, and I didn’t refuse. They invited me to the most luxurious restaurant in the city, and I didn’t refuse. Later, they asked me to a private estate to compose poetry, enjoy music, and revel in song and dance—I didn’t refuse that either.”

“After doing all this, aside from currying favor with me, wasn’t it also to show the common people? To let them see clearly what kind of person this imperial envoy is?”

Yao Xianhui pouted. “Teacher, not to criticize you, but you shouldn’t have accepted those gifts, shouldn’t have gone to those banquets, and definitely shouldn’t have composed poetry.”

Meng Wan pressed her lips together in a smile. “Yes, Xianhui is right. I admit my mistake.”

She shook her head, lowered it in thought, and resumed writing swiftly.

The disaster in Yanzhou involved numerous officials, collusion between officials and merchants, embezzlement of relief supplies, passing off shoddy goods as quality, and under the guise of aid, seizing commoners’ land on a large scale.

Meng Wan paused in her writing, suddenly recalling an unresolved doubt. She said, “Xianhui, go call Guard Yan for me.”

Yao Xianhui left and soon returned with Yan Xing.

Meng Wan said, “Keep a close watch on that man. He’s a key witness in the case of the fake bandits who attempted to assassinate the imperial envoy.”

Yan Xing replied, “Rest assured, Your Excellency. I’ve already assigned men to guard him. No matter how much Magistrate Wangnan sends people to search, they won’t find him.”

Good. Meng Wan nodded, then suddenly added, “There’s one more thing. Over 100,000 people in Wangnan County and surrounding areas have been affected by the disaster. Even though the rains have stopped for two months, the floodwaters haven’t receded. There are also rumors among the people that Her Majesty has offended the heavens. I suspect someone is behind this. Investigate discreetly.”

Yan Xing said, “Understood. I’ll take my men to investigate immediately.”

Yao Xianhui laughed. “If the floodwaters haven’t receded, could someone be blocking the river?”

Hearing this, Meng Wan had a sudden flash of insight. “Guard Yan, start your investigation downstream and work your way upstream. You’ll surely find the answer.”

Yan Xing replied, “Understood. I’ll see to it.”