Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 83

In the autumn of the 377th year of Daqing, the Grand Princess and Grand Marshal of the World’s Armed Forces, Xuan Jingning, led thirty thousand troops to drive out the invaders from Shao Country, quell the border conflicts, and return triumphantly.

The entire Qing Country celebrated. The Emperor was immensely pleased, bestowing countless rewards, further enfeoffing the Grand Princess as the Guardian Grand Princess, increasing her stipend from three thousand to five thousand households, and arranging her marriage to Shangguan Wei, the niece of the current Prime Minister Shangguan Meng.

The common people were abuzz with discussions. Gossip could be heard everywhere in teahouses and taverns.

“Have you heard? The Emperor arranged for her own elder sister to marry a woman!”

“And this is her own sister!”

“Is the Emperor showing love or harming her sister?”

“It must be love. Why else would she give so many rewards? A stipend of five thousand households! The highest for any princess in history was only three thousand.”

“In my opinion, the Emperor doesn’t think much of her sister. Otherwise, why arrange for her to marry a woman? Isn’t that absurd and ridiculous?”

“What do you all know? The Emperor prayed to the gods and learned that the Grand Princess is destined to marry a woman. If she were to marry a man, both the groom and the princess would die suddenly on their wedding day.”

“So sinister?!”

“The Grand Princess is really unlucky.”

The crowd sighed with sorrow, lamenting that the Grand Princess could not marry a man, pitying her tragic fate as a beauty destined for misfortune.

Speaking of ill-fated beauties, they then sighed for the Empress. Though the current Empress governed the country with competence, she was utterly ruthless toward her love rival.

Xiao Yueli, the most beautiful woman in the Great Qing Dynasty, had once been forced into the imperial harem by an Imperial Edict issued by the Empress out of jealousy. Such was the tragic fate of a beauty—pitiable, truly pitiable.

Little did they know that these two ill-fated beauties they spoke of were currently toasting and chatting merrily at a banquet in the Princess Manor.

“Congratulations to the happy couple on your harmonious union and everlasting love,” Xiao Yueli raised her glass to toast Xuan Jingning and Shangguan Wei.

Both Xuan Jingning and Shangguan Wei were dressed in bright red wedding attire, adorned with phoenix crowns and ceremonial robes, radiating joy and vitality. Hearing the Empress’s blessing, they exchanged a smile and raised their glasses to drink heartily.

As Xiao Yueli watched the two in their red garments, their faces unconsciously glowing with happiness, she couldn’t help but recall her own wedding day.

That day, on her wedding night.

She had worn a cold expression, her head bowed beneath the bridal veil. When that Xuan Jingchi came to lift the veil, her face was equally dark and stern.

Neither looked at the other, their expressions like those of enemies meeting, unable to bear even a glance.

That Xuan Jingchi snorted as she lifted the veil, tossed out the words, “Xiao Yueli, don’t you dare think you’ll have a good life in this lifetime!” and then left.

On her wedding day, the bride Xiao Yueli’s heart sank to the depths.

Not long after, Xuan Jingchi, for some unknown reason, rushed into her palace, gripped her neck tightly, and screamed, “Xiao Yueli, I hate you! Why must there be someone like you in this world? Just die!”

In her previous life, it was only because Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong desperately pulled Xuan Jingchi away that she managed to catch a breath. Staring straight at Xuan Jingchi, she coldly watched this woman driven mad by love and calmly said, “Just kill me.”

But Xuan Jingchi suddenly released her grip, shoved Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong aside, pointed at her with a twisted expression, her face a mix of laughter and tears, “Xiao Yueli, I won’t let you die so easily! Just wait! My dear Empress, I will make your life a living hell! Hahaha…”

Xiao Yueli’s face turned pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead. The sound of that nearly insane, venomous laughter seemed to echo in her ears.

“Yueli, what’s wrong?”

Startled, Xiao Yueli saw Xuan Jingchi appear before her, leaning in closer. The nightmare seemed to resurface, and her heart trembled, her fingertips turning cold as she instinctively shrank back.

“Yueli, Yueli, are you unwell somewhere?”

The concerned call and the warmth from the hand holding hers made Xiao Yueli lift her head slightly.

She looked into Xuan Jingchi’s eyes and recognized her instantly.

Her gaze was clear and gentle, like the calmest lake, soothing her frightened and uneasy heart.

It was her Xuan Jingchi!

Xiao Yueli shook her head slightly, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips, signaling that she was fine.

“Yueli, you don’t look well. You shouldn’t drink anymore,” Xuan Jingchi said, helping Xiao Yueli sit down. Under the table, she held Xiao Yueli’s hand with one hand while raising a wine cup with the other to toast her elder sister.

Today, the Princess Manor was brightly lit and filled with distinguished guests, as the Emperor and Empress had graced the occasion with their presence. Members of the imperial clan, Chancellor Dugu Jinyu, Shangguan Meng, Meng Wan, and even Lin Zaifu were all in attendance. Seeing this, not a single court official failed to come personally to offer their congratulations.

After three rounds of drinks, a drunken man slurred to Shangguan Meng, “Your Shangguan family has certainly made a name for yourselves this time. Since ancient times, women have married men, but your fine niece has married a woman! Hah! Unheard of! Truly earth-shattering and unprecedented!”

The remark was dripping with sarcasm and, given the wedding setting, was utterly rude and disrespectful. It not only mocked Shangguan Wei but also insinuated ridicule toward the Empress. Someone immediately tugged at his sleeve under the table.

Shangguan Meng smiled faintly, unruffled and unangered. “My niece has high standards and lofty aspirations. I’m afraid ordinary men would hardly catch her eye. The Grand Princess, with her literary and military prowess, far surpasses the average man. Since the Grand Princess does not disdain my niece’s humble qualities, my niece has found her lifelong companion.”

Unexpectedly, the man persisted, emboldened by his drunkenness. “What kind of companion can a woman be? What a waste of a beautiful night and the wedding chamber!”

His words inevitably sparked wild imaginations. Some began whispering among themselves, while others stifled giggles.

A faint trace of anger appeared on Xuan Jingning’s face. She was about to step forward and confront him when Shangguan Wei gently held her back.

Xuan Jingchi summoned Liu Jili, listened to his whispered words, and nodded. Then, raising her wine cup, she looked at the portly, nearly fifty-year-old man and said with a smile, “Minister Tang has had a bit too much to drink. Let’s not take the words of a drunk seriously.”

Seeing the Emperor smoothing things over, the guests raised their cups in unison. But then Xuan Jingchi added with a teasing smile, “Minister Tang, the state of Shao has presented us with many precious medicinal herbs. I thought of distributing them, and while others might not need them, I must bestow some upon you, Minister Tang.”

The guests were puzzled by the Emperor’s meaning and turned their eyes toward her.

Then, Xuan Jingchi continued with feigned concern, “Minister Tang, it’s understandable if a man your age finds himself lacking in vigor. But taking concubines again and again—isn’t that unfair to them? Aren’t you wasting their youth? Aren’t you afraid they might run off with someone else? But don’t worry, I will immediately issue an edict to grant you those herbs. I guarantee those young ladies will never complain again.”

“Oh, my apologies! I’ve had too much to drink and accidentally let that slip. It’s all drunken nonsense, just a joke. Don’t take it seriously, Minister Tang.”

For a man, there is nothing more unbearable than being told he is inadequate.

And it was the Emperor who said it. And she said it in front of so many people. And she claimed it was just a joke. Most importantly, how did she know?

Minister Tang’s face turned ashen, flushing red and then pale with humiliation. He was so embarrassed he wished he could vanish into a crack in the ground.

The officials in the hall could no longer contain themselves. They burst into uproarious laughter, gleefully turning their mocking gazes toward Minister Tang.

Xiao Yueli couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Xuan Jingchi. Though her expression remained neutral, inwardly she was secretly amused. This Xuan Jingchi truly dared to say anything—insulting people without using vulgar words, what a sharp tongue she had.

After the banquet concluded, the Emperor and Empress returned to the palace. Having bathed, they prepared to retire for the night.

Unexpectedly, Xuan Jingchi suddenly called for Chenxiang. “Chenxiang, pour two cups of wine for me.”

Chenxiang acknowledged and went out.

Xiao Yueli chuckled, “Haven’t you had enough to drink already? What do you need wine for now?”

Xuan Jingchi blinked, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Chenxiang quickly returned with two cups of wine. Xuan Jingchi said, “Just leave them on the table. You may go now; we don’t need anyone to attend to us here.”

“Yes,” Chenxiang replied, bowing her head and withdrawing.

As soon as the palace doors closed, Xuan Jingchi immediately jumped down from the bed, pulling Xiao Yueli along to the table. She picked up one cup of wine for herself and handed the other to Xiao Yueli.

“Yueli, let’s drink a ceremonial wedding toast.”

Xiao Yueli was taken aback, somewhat dazedly accepting the cup of wine, staring blankly at Xuan Jingchi.

“I truly wish I could marry you, but I can’t marry you again,” Xuan Jingchi said. “I’m a bit envious of my sister! How about we hold our wedding tonight? After drinking this ceremonial wedding toast, you’ll be my wife.”

With that, she held her cup and looped her arm through Xiao Yueli’s.

A ceremonial wedding toast?

In her previous life, she had never drunk one.

Xiao Yueli’s heart swelled with countless emotions. Gazing at the person before her, beaming with happiness, and then at the cup of wine in her hand, the rich aroma of the fine wine made her head feel somewhat dizzy. She felt as if she had returned to that night of her wedding, the bridal chamber aglow with candlelight.

Only this time, the one standing before her was her Jingchi.

The Jingchi who loved her deeply, and the Jingchi she deeply loved in return.

Xiao Yueli imitated her, looping her own arm through Xuan Jingchi’s.

Their arms intertwined, they stood extremely close, their eyes meeting. They smiled at each other, tilted their heads back, and laughed as they drained their cups in one go.

Xuan Jingchi was overjoyed. From the wine, two blushes appeared on her cheeks, and a hint of springtime charm lingered at the corners of her eyes and brows. Her naturally captivating and alluring eyes grew hazy and entrancing, becoming even more mesmerizing.

She scooped Xiao Yueli up into her arms, carrying her toward the bed, and gently laid her down. Leaning in, she kissed her tenderly, declaring with excitement and reverence, “Yueli, tonight is our wedding night.”