Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 82

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Emperor and Empress left the palace to visit the Right Chancellor’s residence and pay respects to the Empress’s uncle, Dugu Jinyu.

The long procession stretched grandly, filling the entire street. Drums and music played in unison, colorful flags fluttered in the wind, and Imperial Guards protected the sides. The procession was solemn and festive, showcasing the nobility and majesty of the imperial authority.

Due to the Emperor’s departure from the palace, the entire capital was bustling with excitement, with countless out-of-towners flocking to catch a glimpse of the imperial family’s grandeur.

Every street and alley in the imperial city was abuzz with discussions about the event.

The Emperor and Empress personally celebrating a festival with their maternal uncle was unprecedented in the history of the Daqing Dynasty, a clear indication of the Emperor’s reliance on her uncle.

The entire Right Chancellor’s residence was already adorned with lanterns and decorations. Dugu Jinyu, along with his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law, had long been waiting outside the gate to welcome the imperial procession.

Days of unease had left Dugu Jinyu, a seasoned official, deeply troubled. But today, the gloom on his face vanished completely, replaced by a faint smile in his eyes. The Emperor still needed her uncle, after all.

All idle onlookers around the Right Chancellor’s residence had long been driven away by the Imperial Guards. Excited commoners stretched their necks, their eyes fixed intently on the luxurious and majestic Dragon Carriage in the procession.

The carriage came to a stop in front of the Right Chancellor’s residence. Liu Jili hurried to the front of the carriage, placed an exquisite mounting stool on the ground, and then stood respectfully to the side.

After ascending the throne, Xuan Jingchi could not bear the idea of stepping on a servant’s back when alighting from the carriage and had since ordered the use of mounting stools.

Xuan Jingchi was the first to emerge from the carriage. She wore a Golden Crown and a Dragon Robe embroidered with five-clawed golden dragons, symbolizing her status as the Son of Heaven.

The commoners, seeing the Emperor for the first time, were struck by her bright eyes and pearly teeth, her skin as fair as spring snow, more delicate and enchanting than the blossoms in a garden. Their hearts raced, and their eyes widened in awe.

Rumors had it that the Emperor was beautiful, but none had expected such breathtaking beauty—a truly nation-toppling, city-captivating beauty.

After Xuan Jingchi descended, Xiao Yueli also stepped out of the carriage, slightly bending forward. Complementing the Emperor’s Dragon Robe, she wore a Phoenix Robe embroidered with golden threads. Unlike the noble and solemn Dragon Robe, her Phoenix Robe was radiant as clouds, splendid and dazzling.

From afar, the commoners were once again stunned. They first marveled at the robe’s magnificence, but when they caught sight of the Empress’s face, they gasped in admiration. The Empress was dignified and noble, her temperament gentle and elegant—another peerless beauty.

As she descended, Xiao Yueli noticed Xuan Jingchi standing before the carriage, offering a fair hand to assist her. She smiled softly, placed her hand in Xuan Jingchi’s, and allowed the Emperor to help her down.

The entire Dugu family had already knelt to welcome the imperial couple. Xuan Jingchi promptly helped her uncle and aunt to their feet and, together with Xiao Yueli, entered the Chancellor’s residence.

Xuan Jingchi had never been one for small talk, especially with relatives.

Since childhood, she had been close only to her eldest aunt and her younger aunt, while remaining distant from other elders and relatives.

Every Lunar New Year felt like an ordeal to her. In elementary school, it hadn’t seemed so bad, but as she grew older, the holidays became increasingly difficult to endure.

Every Spring Festival, she had to greet her relatives with a beaming smile on her face while inwardly groaning at the annual “three soul-searching questions” they would inevitably ask.

Now, facing the aunt-like and uncle-like smiles before her, Xuan Jingchi mustered all her energy to maintain a professional smile and politely began the soul-searching inquiries with her elders, making conversation where there was none.

“How is your health?”

“Are your sons, daughters-in-law, and daughters all filial?”

“When will you be holding a grandchild?”

After greeting the elders, Xuan Jingchi didn’t spare her cousins and their spouses either.

“How are your studies going?”

“Are you engaged yet?”

“When are you having a baby?”

After the pleasantries, Xiao Yueli subtly tugged at her sleeve, and Xuan Jingchi immediately understood—the Empress wanted her to present the gifts.

Thus, Xuan Jingchi generously bestowed upon her uncle and aunt ginseng, deer antler, and cordyceps. She then promoted her three cousins to key positions in the court, followed by presenting her sisters-in-law and female cousins with hairpins, jewelry, precious curios, calligraphy and paintings, fragrant powders, rouge, and fine silks and satins.

Accompanied by her uncle’s family, Xuan Jingchi and Xiao Yueli strolled through the garden of the ministerial residence. Along the way, the Empress engaged in warm and natural conversations with her aunt, sisters-in-law, and cousins, inquiring about their well-being—far more cordial than her own soul-searching questions.

In the end, the entire family happily shared a reunion meal at her uncle’s home. Her uncle was reassured, and her cousins, their spouses, and female cousins were all delighted.

Xuan Jingchi and Xiao Yueli were also at ease—truly, everyone was happy.

Back in the palace, Xuan Jingchi picked up a piece of cake and popped it into her mouth. Seeing this, Xiao Yueli smiled and asked, “Your Majesty, did you not eat enough?”

Xuan Jingchi nodded, her expression serious. “I never eat my fill at banquets. For one, I have to listen to what everyone is saying, afraid I might miss or misunderstand a single word. For another, I feel too embarrassed. Just now, I really wanted to try that scallion oil chicken—it looked so delicious—but it was too far from me. I couldn’t bring myself to stand up and reach for it, lest others think this emperor has never tasted good food.”

Xiao Yueli listened, pursing her lips into a smile.

Xuan Jingchi handed her a piece of cake and said with a grin, “Empress, you must be hungry too. I noticed you didn’t eat much, busy talking with our aunt and sisters-in-law. Here, let’s eat together. I’ll lead the way.”

With that, she quickly chewed and swallowed the cake in her mouth, then fixed her large, sparkling eyes eagerly on Xiao Yueli.

Xiao Yueli knew that if she didn’t eat it, Xuan Jingchi would insist relentlessly. Smiling, she accepted the cake and took small, delicate bites.

Only after the evening meal did Xuan Jingchi feel she had finally eaten a proper meal that day.

Liu Jili sent someone to ask if they would board the boat for a lake tour that evening.

Due to the boat capsizing incident last Mid-Autumn Festival, the staff of the Imperial Household Department were secretly concerned. They wondered if the emperor, having been frightened, still had the heart for a lake excursion.

Xuan Jingchi herself had no such reservations, but recalling how the Empress had also been affected and nearly lost her life that time, she feared the Empress might be traumatized. She glanced discreetly at Xiao Yueli and, indeed, noticed her complexion was somewhat uneasy. Thus, she said, “The moonlight isn’t very good this year, and the wind on the lake is strong. We won’t go.”

The Little Eunuch acknowledged the order and left, inwardly puzzled. The moonlight tonight was excellent—the moon was big and bright, and the breeze on the lake was gentle and quite pleasant.

Xuan Jingchi had fruits and pastries set up in the courtyard outside the hall. Sitting with Xiao Yueli under the moonlight, they casually chatted about the scenery in her uncle’s garden.

As it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, the palace maids and eunuchs wore relaxed and joyful expressions.

Xiao Fu said, “Your Majesty, it’s been so long since you last told us a story. Since it’s a festival today, could you tell us one?”

Hearing this, Xuan Jingchi looked up at her and smiled, “What kind of story would you like to hear? One about catching monsters, or a story about a princess and a prince?”

Xiao Fu exclaimed in delight, “Your Majesty can tell stories about catching monsters too?” Her dark, sparkling eyes widened. “Could Your Majesty tell two stories—one about catching monsters and one about a princess and a prince?”

Xiao Rong nudged Xiao Fu with her elbow and said, “Her Majesty and the Empress just returned from their outing today and must be tired. How can you ask for two stories?”

Only then did Xiao Fu realize her oversight and stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

The Empress said, “Why doesn’t Your Majesty tell Xiao Fu a lively story?”

Xuan Jingchi replied, “Very well, I’ll tell the story of how the Monkey King and his two fellow disciples escorted their master on a journey to the West to retrieve scriptures, battling demons and monsters along the way. This story is very long, with many monsters in it. Today, I’ll just tell one part of it.”

“Wonderful!” Xiao Fu clapped her hands.

The TV series Journey to the West was truly lively—broadcast every holiday and during summer and winter breaks. Telling this story now felt quite fitting.

She thought for a moment and began with Sun Wukong’s birth, then how he became the Monkey King on Flower-Fruit Mountain, crossed oceans to seek out Patriarch Subodhi as his master, later became the Bimawen in Heaven, grew dissatisfied with his lowly position and rebelled against the heavens, declared himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, and finally caused chaos in the Heavenly Palace. In the end, he was no match for the Buddha and was suppressed under the Five-Finger Mountain.

In places where her memory was unclear, she glossed over the details. Xiao Fu listened with rapt attention, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the storyteller. Not only her, but Xiao Rong and Chenxiang were also completely captivated.

Xiao Fu asked, “What happened next, Your Majesty? What came after that?”

“What came next? Well, next, Tang Sanzang makes his appearance. The story after that is even longer.” Xuan Jingchi smiled and picked up her teacup to take a sip of plain water.

Xiao Fu was eager to hear more, but Xiao Yueli said, “Her Majesty is tired. Let’s stop here for today. Her Majesty can continue the story another day.”

Seeing the Empress speak up, Xiao Fu, though still longing for more, had no choice but to relent, hoping only that the Emperor would tell her more next time.

The two returned to their bedchamber. Xiao Yueli bathed first, followed by Xuan Jingchi. After her bath, Xuan Jingchi watched as Xiao Yueli sat before the mirror, combing her hair.

Her slender, delicate hands, pale as jade in the candlelight, gently stroked her jet-black hair. The dark tresses cascaded down, falling over her soft silk nightgown. Her face was faintly illuminated by a soft glow, her features gentle and elegant, like the graceful and enchanting goddess of the moon emerging from its depths.

Xuan Jingchi felt a stir in her heart. She placed both hands on Xiao Yueli’s shoulders, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, “My goddess, it’s the Mid-Autumn Festival today. Let’s share a dance.”

Hearing herself called “goddess,” Xiao Yueli was inwardly surprised. She smiled slightly, set down her comb, and turned around.

Before she could respond, Xuan Jingchi pulled her up from the chair.

“Aren’t you tired, Your Majesty? You have the morning court session tomorrow.”

Xuan Jingchi shook her head. “Not at all. Being with my goddess doesn’t tire me in the slightest.” With that, she took Xiao Yueli’s hand in one of hers and placed the other on her waist.

Xuan Yueli chuckled softly and rested her hand on Xuan Jingchi’s shoulder. Her gentle eyes, filled with deep affection, gazed at the person before her. Moving her feet to the soft melody hummed by Xuan Jingchi, she followed her lead in a graceful dance.

In the vast bedchamber, the candlelight flickered like stars.

“Yueli, your eyes are so beautiful—they hold the stars.”

Xuan Yueli smiled, but then she heard Xuan Jingchi say, “My eyes are even more beautiful because they hold you.”

Xuan Yueli was momentarily taken aback, then the corners of her lips curved into a tender, blissful smile.

The romantic melody draped everything around them in a hazy, dreamlike veil.

Their steps, initially light and nimble as they moved together, gradually became more lingering and intimate.

The candlelight cast their long shadows on the floor.

The two figures drew closer and closer until they slowly merged into one.

In the tranquil moonlit night, lost in each other’s deep affectionate gazes, they couldn’t resist embracing and kissing.