Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 86

Xuan Jingchi, dressed in red like a burning flame, quickly rode her horse back to the palace. As soon as she returned to Chenyuan Palace, she dismounted and rushed in like a whirlwind.

When Chenxiang, Nuanxiang, and the others saw her, it was like seeing a savior. “Your Majesty!”

“Where is the Empress?”

“She’s being held hostage inside the hall! That man has a dagger!”

“He used the excuse of delivering a painting from Consort Shangguan for Her Majesty to appreciate, then took her hostage!”

“He ordered all of us to step back, saying he had something to discuss with Her Majesty.”

“Her Majesty had no choice but to tell us to withdraw first.”

The four were about to say more when a roar suddenly came from the hall: “Xiao Yueli! You’ve disappointed me so much! You’ve let me down so much! I hate you!!”

Hearing this, Xuan Jingchi’s heart trembled, her face turning pale with shock. She strode forward and kicked the hall door open with force.

The man was gripping Xiao Yueli with both hands, shaking her violently. “Do you have any conscience toward me?! Any conscience at all?!!”

Xiao Yueli’s face was pale, her eyes closed as he shook her back and forth with great force. Her slender figure resembled a helpless willow leaf drifting in the wind, looking as if it might break at any moment under his assault.

“Stop!!!” Xuan Jingchi shouted, her heart burning with raging fury.

“Who are you?! How dare you disrespect the Empress!”

When the man saw her appear, he narrowed his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching as he revealed a strange smile.

He finally released Xiao Yueli, though the dagger remained pressed against her neck, and turned to face Xuan Jingchi.

“My dear Emperor, look carefully at who I am!”

“I don’t care who you are!” Xuan Jingchi fumed angrily. With a clang, she drew the precious sword from her waist. “Release the Empress! If you have any issues, deal with me!”

Hearing this, the man’s expression changed slightly, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.

Chenxiang, Nuanxiang, Xiao Fu, Xiao Rong, and Wang Zhan quickly followed, rushing into the hall.

When Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong saw the dagger at the Empress’s neck, they anxiously cried out, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, are you alright?”

When Chenxiang and Nuanxiang saw the man, their faces turned pale with shock and horror. “Yuan… Young Master Yuan?”

Xuan Jingchi asked, “What Young Master Yuan?”

“Yuan Zhao! Young Master Yuan Zhao!” Wang Zhan couldn’t help but interject.

Who in the world didn’t know that Yuan Zhao was the apple of the Empress’s eye, the unattainable white moonlight she yearned for but could never have.

Yuan Zhao! Xuan Jingchi was startled. It was actually Yuan Zhao!

She couldn’t help but scrutinize him carefully. He was tall and slender, like an elegant orchid or a jade tree, handsome and dashing with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, resembling an immortal banished to the mortal world. Even dressed in servant’s clothing, his radiance remained undiminished.

No wonder the original host had been unable to forget him, driven mad by love, and later, because of him, forcibly married her rival, Xiao Yueli.

Seeing Xuan Jingchi slightly dazed, Yuan Zhao felt a faint sense of satisfaction.

This woman would always lose her composure at the sight of him, unable to tear her eyes away, then rush over recklessly, pleading humbly for him to glance her way.

He was already prepared. When Xuan Jingchi lunged at him, he would grab her by the hair and harshly throw her in front of Xiao Yueli, making her see:

What kind of person have you married?

A lowly woman whose heart belongs to someone else!

How could you willingly be such a person’s wife? Aren’t you ashamed?

A cold smile curled at the corners of Yuan Zhao’s lips.

Over a year of living like neither human nor ghost had made him realize:

He would no longer cling to lofty ideals and purity.

Xuan Jingmou was right—in this lifetime, one should strive for everything one desires, even if it meant resorting to unscrupulous means!

This time, he would agree to Xuan Jingchi’s proposal to become her Imperial Consort. Then, naturally, he would attain supreme power, find an opportunity to kill Xuan Jingchi, and Xiao Yueli would be his!

He was ready to accept a woman he didn’t love in the slightest, one he even found disgusting and detestable!

But to his surprise, Xuan Jingchi raised her sword and said bluntly, “Weren’t you dead? This is the crime of deceiving the sovereign! Release the Empress, and I will let you leave and spare your life!”

Yuan Zhao: “…”

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

Not only was Yuan Zhao stunned, but even Chenxiang, Nuanxiang, and Wang Zhan were dumbfounded!

This was the Emperor’s white moonlight!

The Emperor was pointing her sword at her white moonlight!

Yuan Zhao smiled. “Chier, do you know what you’re saying?”

When Xiao Yueli heard him call her “Chier,” she frowned, already understanding what Yuan Zhao was trying to do.

Even though she knew this Xuan Jingchi was not the same Xuan Jingchi, she couldn’t help but glance at her.

“Silence! How dare you address me so casually?! Yuan Zhao, do not test my patience any further.” Xuan Jingchi gripped her sword tightly.

She was truly enraged!

Not only had he taken her beloved Yueli hostage, but he had also cut her neck, and now he was shouting nonsense at her right in front of Yueli! Absolutely despicable!

Yuan Zhao was taken aback, his face turning pale with anger. “Xuan Jingchi, are you turning your back on me now?”

“What turning back? I was never close to you in the first place!”

Yuan Zhao seemed utterly infuriated. “You vicious woman! You ruined me, and now you’ve ruined my Xiao Yueli! She loved me, but you snatched her away!”

Everyone was shocked. Yuan Zhao actually dared to insult Her Majesty, openly admit to having an affair with the Empress, and even publicly compete with the Emperor for the Empress!

This… this…

No one dared to breathe!

Chenxiang, Nuanxiang, Xiao Fu, and Xiao Rong couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the Emperor.

Xuan Jingchi’s face was ashen, her sword pointed at Yuan Zhao. “Yuan Zhao, you say I ruined you? What exactly did I ruin? Did I force myself on you? Imprison you? Or destroy your bright future? Now I’m telling you to leave, but you refuse and instead accuse me of ruining you?”

The people below almost laughed out loud. The Emperor had even used the word “force.”

Yuan Zhao was left speechless, his face darkening. “You stole the woman I love and still claim you didn’t ruin me?”

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m Fahai, tearing apart you and Lady White Snake. Let me tell you, if the Empress is Lady White Snake, then I am Xiao Qing! Who told you Lady White Snake must love Xu Xian? Xiao Qing and Lady White Snake are the perfect match. That cowardly, worthless mortal—is he even worthy?!”

Everyone felt their worldview shatter!

So Lady White Snake loved Xiao Qing!

Thinking about it, if two snakes were together, there really would be no place for Xu Xian.

“Xuan Jingchi, only today have I truly come to know you!” Yuan Zhao trembled with rage. “You are a shameless scoundrel who disregards all moral principles!”

Xuan Jingchi sneered. “And you, repeatedly insulting me and threatening the Empress—is that not disregarding moral principles? Holding a knife to a weak woman—is that not shameless?”

Xiao Fu couldn’t help but clap. “Your Majesty, such eloquence! Well said!”

Xuan Jingchi nodded at her with a slight smile. “Thank you!”

“Xuan Jingchi, don’t push me too far!” Yuan Zhao gritted his teeth.

Why was this happening?!

The woman who had once loved him to the point of obsession now treated him like an enemy, pressing him relentlessly!

He turned to look at Xiao Yueli. She seemed still lost in Xuan Jingchi’s shocking words, a faint smile playing on her lips, her gaze tenderly fixed on the woman he loathed so deeply.

Yuan Zhao tightened his grip on the dagger, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

He couldn’t bear it! He refused to admit he had been utterly defeated!

“Xiao Yueli, I’ll ask you one more time. Do you love her or me?”

As if he had lost his mind, Yuan Zhao pressed the cold blade of the dagger against Xiao Yueli’s throat. A trickle of blood formed, winding its way down her fair neck like a tiny stream.

He awaited Xiao Yueli’s final answer.

Xiao Fu, Xiao Rong, Nuanxiang, and Chenxiang screamed in terror.

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Stop! Please stop!”

“Master Yuan, stop!”

Xuan Jingchi quietly reached for a piece of jade at her waist, holding it between her fingers. Suddenly, she said, “Don’t ask her. I know the answer.”

Yuan Zhao turned his head. “What?”

Just as he was staring at Xuan Jingchi, a flash of light appeared in the air. Yuan Zhao cried out in pain as his wrist was struck, and the dagger clattered to the ground.

With a light step, Xuan Jingchi leaped forward and delivered a swift kick to Yuan Zhao.

With a heavy thud, Yuan Zhao was sent flying and crashed hard onto the floor. His face instantly turned pale, devoid of any color.

Wang Zhan waved his hand, and the guards swarmed in, apprehending Yuan Zhao.

Xiao Fu and Xiao Rong immediately stepped forward to support the Empress.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

Xiao Yueli shook her head weakly and walked toward Xuan Jingchi, saying softly, “Your Majesty, let’s go.”

Xuan Jingchi nodded, then turned to Wang Zhan and ordered, “Take Yuan Zhao to the dungeon. Keep a close watch on him—don’t let him die!”

With that, she left together with Xiao Yueli.

Yuan Zhao watched their retreating figures and suddenly snarled viciously, “Xiao Yueli… you still haven’t answered me… Will you choose me or her?”

Hearing this, Xuan Jingchi abruptly stopped and turned around.

“Yuan Zhao, who do you think you are?”

“You’re not as good-looking as I am, your skin isn’t as fair as mine, your temperament isn’t as refined, your status isn’t as high, and your wealth doesn’t compare to mine! If she doesn’t choose me, why would she choose you?!!”

At these words, everyone finally couldn’t hold back their laughter.

Xuan Jingchi said, “Xiao Fu, you’re the most honest one here. Tell me, if it were you, would you choose me or him?”

Without hesitation, Xiao Fu replied, “What’s there to think about? Of course, I’d choose Your Majesty!”

Xuan Jingchi helped Xiao Yueli back to the bedchamber, while Xiao Fu and the others hurried off to summon the Imperial Physician.

Xuan Jingchi examined the wound on her neck and called for a basin of water. She soaked a towel, wrung it out, and gently wiped away the bloodstains from Xiao Yueli’s neck.

She wiped with great care and focus, her movements gentle and meticulous.

Xiao Yueli watched her and suddenly grabbed her hand. “Jingchi, I’ve never liked him. Please believe me.”

Xuan Jingchi noticed a faint ripple of anxiety in her usually calm eyes and couldn’t help but smile.

Her smile was warm and gentle, and her voice was soft, like the breeze rustling willow branches in March, carrying a hint of sweetness.

“I know. I am Yueli’s sun, her only sun, the brightest one in the entire solar system!”

She took Xiao Yueli’s hand, raised it to her lips, and kissed it. “No matter how many people pursue the Empress, I’m not afraid because I am the best one.”

Xiao Yueli laughed. Although she didn’t understand what the “solar system” was that Xuan Jingchi often mentioned with her startling remarks, the uneasiness in her heart miraculously vanished.

“Jingchi, how can you be so shameless? Who praises themselves as the best?”

Xuan Jingchi sighed, “What can I do? No one praises me, so I have to praise myself. Empress, why don’t you praise me instead?”

Xiao Yueli smiled, “Then what would you like me to praise you for?”

“Anything! Like how beautiful I am, how smart I am, how skilled I am, how much I adore the Empress…”

“Jingchi, you really are shameless!”

“Ah, well, I’ll take that as the Empress’s compliment then.”

“Utterly shameless.”

“Thank you for the praise.”