Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 8

Upon hearing the announcement of the Emperor’s arrival, Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong panicked simultaneously, stopping their tasks to look at the Empress.

Xiao Yueli was equally surprised.

Why is she here again?

Didn’t she just visit a few days ago?

And didn’t she just send cherries over?

“Your Majesty, quickly receive the Emperor,” Xiao Rong hurriedly reminded, following Xiao Fu as they both rushed out and knelt on the ground.

Xiao Yueli was still hesitating whether to receive the Emperor when Xuan Jingchi breezed in like a gust of wind.

Only then did Xiao Yueli notice that the hem of Xuan Jingchi’s robe was shorter, making it much more convenient to move around, though it lacked a bit of the usual opulence.

She really is a little different.

In her memories of the past life, Xuan Jingchi was extremely vain, always dressing in the most extravagant fashion, never compromising even the slightest bit of her appearance for the sake of convenience.

As soon as Xuan Jingchi entered, she saw a table full of dishes. Though not as varied as what she usually had, it was still quite a spread—definitely a lavish feast.

Xiao Rong followed and politely said, “Has Your Majesty eaten yet? Why not dine here?”

She was being polite, but Xuan Jingchi didn’t stand on ceremony.

Before Xiao Yueli could voice any objection, Xuan Jingchi had already plopped down in a seat. “Great! I’m just hungry. I’ll eat with the Empress then.”

No sooner had she spoken than she suddenly remembered that Xiao Yueli was the host here. Sitting down without the host’s consent would be considered rude even in modern society.

She awkwardly stood up, looking sheepishly at the Empress, and said, “Actually, I’m not that hungry. If it’s inconvenient, I can just go back and eat. It’s fine either way.”

Xiao Yueli replied, “There’s no inconvenience. If Your Majesty doesn’t mind, please dine here.”

Hearing this, Xuan Jingchi beamed. “I don’t mind at all!” and immediately sat back down.

Xiao Rong served her rice and dishes, but Xuan Jingchi said, “I’ll help myself. Could you please bring me another pair of chopsticks?”

At these words, all three people in the room were taken aback.

The Emperor had actually used the word “please” to one of the Empress’s maids.

Xiao Yueli looked at her, her heart growing increasingly unsettled and suspicious.

Seven years of living together had made her all too familiar with Xuan Jingchi.

Xuan Jingchi was willful, domineering, and as a noble princess, she had always held herself high above others, issuing commands with an air of superiority.

She would rather die than speak to a servant like this.

This Xuan Jingchi… was very off.

She could recite “The Charcoal Seller,” wasn’t as vain, and was surprisingly polite to servants—completely unlike the Xuan Jingchi from her past life.

The Xuan Jingchi from her past life…

In an instant, she recalled her own bizarre experience, and her heart jolted with shock!

She grew even more convinced that something was wrong with the Xuan Jingchi before her.

Could it be… that she had also been reborn?

Or, as the palace rumors suggested, had she truly changed her temperament after the drowning incident?

Or… was she not Xuan Jingchi at all, but someone else impersonating her?

Though a storm of questions raged in her heart, her expression remained calm and composed. Seeing Xiao Rong standing frozen like a clay statue, unmoving, she frowned and said, “Hurry and fetch Her Majesty another pair of chopsticks.”

Xiao Rong startled as if waking from a dream, murmured, “Yes,” and hurried out.

Xuan Jingchi’s voice followed after her, “No rush, don’t be nervous.”

The kinder and gentler she sounded, the faster Xiao Rong scurried away in fright.

Xuan Jingchi surveyed the table full of dishes and asked, “What does the Empress like to eat?”

Xiao Yueli pretended to sip her tea, covertly observing every move of this Xuan Jingchi, and replied indifferently, “This humble consort enjoys everything.”

Xuan Jingchi remained oblivious to being scrutinized, her attention wholly captured by the array of natural, untainted delicacies before her.

As soon as Xiao Rong returned with the new chopsticks, Xuan Jingchi first used them to serve the Empress a portion of each dish.

Pork, chicken, fish, venison—animal proteins and essential minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium should be sufficient. Then came plant-based protein, so she added a tofu ball. Of course, dietary fiber couldn’t be missed, so she swiftly piled on vegetables with her chopsticks.

By the time she finished, the Empress’s bowl was stacked high like a precarious little mountain on the verge of collapse.

She smiled sheepishly. “Emperor, please enjoy.”

Then, without hesitation, she helped herself to generous portions of each dish into her own bowl.

Finally, she picked up her personal chopsticks again and began eating heartily from the piled-up feast before her.

Xiao Yueli noticed she ate with great enthusiasm, even consuming fish—something she distinctly remembered Xuan Jingchi detesting.

“Your Majesty, do you like fish?” Xiao Yueli slowly placed a bamboo shoot from the peak of her own bowl into her mouth, asking as if casually.

“Yes, fish is good. Eating more makes you smarter.”

Xuan Jingchi was delighted—here, she could talk during meals.

In her own palace, she ate alone while a crowd watched. The room was so silent that aside from her chewing, there was no other sound, nearly giving her indigestion.

After finishing the fish in her bowl, Xuan Jingchi used the serving chopsticks again to take another piece of fish before switching back to her own chopsticks to eat.

Xiao Yueli understood—those chopsticks were specifically for serving food.

She hadn’t known Xuan Jingchi had such a particular habit.

After a moment’s thought, she deliberately used those chopsticks to place a bright red piece of spicy chicken into Xuan Jingchi’s bowl.

And waited to see her reaction.

Xuan Jingchi turned her head to glance at her and said, “Thank you.” Without hesitation, she popped the piece of chicken into her mouth, not even furrowing her brows. Squinting her eyes with a smile, she remarked, “Delicious! It would be even better with more spice!”

She actually ate spicy food!! And even wanted it spicier!!

Wasn’t she the one most afraid of spice?!

Everyone in the palace knew she disliked spice and couldn’t handle it, which was why the Emperor’s imperial meals never contained even a hint of spice.

It was said that back in the Princess Manor, she once had a chef beaten thirty strokes for serving her a single spicy dish. After that, no one dared to present anything spicy before her again.

Not just chili peppers—even black pepper was avoided.

“Empress, you should eat too. It won’t taste as good once it’s cold,” Xuan Jingchi said between bites, tossing the rule of “no talking during meals” to the winds.

Xiao Yueli nodded and replied meaningfully, “This consort understands.”

Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong watched as the Emperor and Empress, treating each other with mutual respect and even serving each other dishes, secretly smiled to themselves.

The Emperor was truly good to the Empress, and the Empress was finally willing to spare the Emperor a glance.

At last, they looked like a married couple—no, a married pair of women.

After the meal, the Emperor showed no intention of leaving. Xiao Rong prepared tea for her.

The Emperor said, “This Emperor has matters to discuss with the Empress. You may withdraw for now.”

Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong responded in unison, “As you command.”

Suppressing smiles, the two maids withdrew.

As night fell, candles were lit in the chamber, their flickering flames casting dancing shadows, alternating between brightness and dimness.

Xiao Yueli watched as Xuan Jingchi stepped closer to her, one step at a time. Lifting her head to meet her gaze, her heart hung suspended in tension.

What did Xuan Jingchi intend to do?

Xuan Jingchi stopped before the Empress and, mimicking the way palace maids bowed to her, performed a formal salute to the Empress.

This only served to further unsettle Xiao Yueli.

“Empress, the other day, this Emperor nearly strangled you by mistake. I apologize.” Without waiting for Xiao Yueli’s response, she continued, “I know such brutality is no different from attempted murder and is unforgivable! I dare not beg for your forgiveness. What I wish to say is—I swear I will never harm the Empress ever again, not even slightly. Please believe me!”

Her words struck Xiao Yueli like a thunderclap.

Xuan Jingchi was actually apologizing to her?

Xuan Jingchi was admitting her actions were unforgivable?

Xuan Jingchi was promising not to harm her?

The Empress gazed at this enchantingly beautiful woman whose looks could topple kingdoms. Peering through those unconsciously alluring peach-blossom eyes, she glimpsed something unfamiliar deep within them—

—Sincerity.

Xiao Yueli’s heart stirred slightly as she replied calmly, “This concubine believes Your Majesty is speaking from the heart at this moment.”

Inside, she sneered coldly. But whether you can actually keep your word is another matter entirely.

“Really?” Xuan Jingchi was overjoyed and assured her again, “When I say something, I mean it.”

Her fair, delicate face bore a childlike, innocent smile.

This was the second unfamiliar thing Xiao Yueli had seen on Xuan Jingchi’s face today.

“Your Majesty, what matter brings you to seek this concubine?”

Xiao Yueli averted her gaze.

Though this person was no longer as utterly detestable as in her past life, she still couldn’t bear to look at that face for long.

“I came to you for a reason—to seek the Empress’s counsel.”

As if hearing something utterly unbelievable,

Xiao Yueli’s heart skipped a beat.

She’s asking for my advice?

Since when does Xuan Jingchi ever consult me?

If she doesn’t mock or ridicule me, that’s already an act of great mercy!

“What is it?” Xiao Yueli maintained her composure, her tone indifferent.

Xuan Jingchi pulled out the poem Meng Wan had written from her robes and presented it to the Empress with both hands. “Would the Empress please take a look and tell me how well this poem is written?”

A poem?

Xiao Yueli glanced at the paper in her hands, hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out to take it. Unfolding it, she saw it was a five-character regulated verse, praising the magnolia flower. The poem was elegant and refined, with impeccable parallelism, though the writer seemed to be subtly expressing gratitude toward the Emperor through the metaphor of the flower.

“Well, Empress? How is this poem? Is it good? If full marks are a hundred, what score would you give it?”

Xiao Yueli was taken aback—this was the first time someone had asked her to grade a poem. She found this Xuan Jingchi increasingly extraordinary.

“This poem… wasn’t written by Your Majesty, was it?”

As the Emperor, it was always others who pledged their loyalty to her.

Xuan Jingchi scratched her head sheepishly. “Haha, no, of course not. I couldn’t write something like this.”

Xiao Yueli arched a brow and glanced at her.

Indeed, this embroidered pillow—this utter fool—could never produce such a profound and expansive poem.

She placed the paper on the table and said, “It’s very well written—not only is it eloquent, but it also expresses loyalty to you, Your Majesty. As for a score, it’s above ninety-five.”

Ninety-five? That’s not bad.

Back in her school days, she had scored full marks in every subject except literature and English.

A ninety-five wasn’t the absolute pinnacle, but it was still excellent.

Xuan Jingchi was delighted, her eyes crinkling with joy. “Thank you, Empress! Thank you!”

She picked up the paper from the table, folded it neatly, and tucked it back into her robes. “I’ve disturbed you enough today, Empress. I’ll take my leave now. Rest early.”

With that, she swept out like a gust of wind.

Xiao Yueli heard Chenxiang’s voice outside: “Your Majesty.” Then came the loud announcement at the door: “Escort Her Majesty back to the palace!”

That night, Xiao Yueli lay in bed, her eyes wide open.

Xuan Jingchi, you haven’t been reborn.

If you had, the first thing you’d do is have me—the one who killed you—executed by a thousand cuts!

In her past life, Xuan Jingchi had nearly strangled her, stopping only at the last moment thanks to Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong’s desperate intervention.

In this life, Xuan Jingchi had stormed in, furious, truly intending to choke the life out of her.

She had felt the hatred, rage, and jealousy in her fingertips.

But then—why had she suddenly stopped?

Why had she let her go?

The light in Xiao Yueli’s eyes grew deeper and more profound.

That night, Xuan Jingchi had mistaken the palace, thinking this place was Chenyuan Palace.

At the time, everyone assumed it was just a slip of the tongue in the emperor’s fit of rage.

But looking back now, perhaps from that moment on, Xuan Jingchi was no longer the same Xuan Jingchi.

Xiao Yueli gazed absently at the golden embroidery on the phoenix canopy above her, lost in thought.

Xuan Jingchi, just who are you?