Empress, Can I? [Transmigration + GL] - Chapter 9

The next day, after court adjourned, Xuan Jingchi’s first order of business was summoning Meng Wan.

She appointed her as her personal reader, an official position she had come up with after consulting Chenxiang the night before.

On Chenxiang’s reminder, she also freed Meng Wan and her mother from their slave status and assigned them living quarters within the palace.

Meng Wan kowtowed in gratitude.

Xuan Jingchi said, “The meaning in your poetry—I hope you keep it close to heart and remain forever loyal to me.”

Meng Wan kowtowed again, “This humble official would gladly lay down my life for Your Majesty.”

Though Xuan Jingchi wore a smile, her thoughts wandered elsewhere.

This person was loyal to her, but what about others?

Earlier in court, a group of ministers clearly didn’t take this young empress seriously. Led by that Chancellor Lin, they pretended to be respectful while actually blocking her involvement in every matter.

Even a blind person could see they intended to render her powerless as emperor.

The most infuriating was Chancellor Lin himself! Relying on his position, he deliberately used the most convoluted and obscure language possible.

Purposely making it hard for her to understand!

Purposely making it impossible for her to interject!

Purposely making her appear incompetent before the ministers!

Infuriating! Absolutely infuriating!!

Xuan Jingchi abruptly stood up and began pacing back and forth in the hall, hands clasped behind her back.

Her eyes were icy, brows tightly knit.

The attending guards Nuanxiang and Chenxiang had never seen Her Majesty in such a state before.

Everyone could tell that Her Majesty was angry, but no one understood why.

“Meng Wan, draft an edict!” Xuan Jingchi suddenly commanded.

“As you command.” Meng Wan walked to the writing desk, prepared paper and ground ink, waiting for the emperor’s instructions.

“I’ll dictate, and you refine my words—make them elegant and scholarly.”

Scholarly?

Meng Wan was momentarily stunned but quickly responded, “Understood, Your Majesty.”

“You are to order the Six Ministries to submit memorials directly to me for review from now on, bypassing the Grand Secretariat.”

Meng Wan was inwardly shocked but maintained her composure, drafting the edict as Xuan Jingchi had instructed.

At that moment, a voice interjected, “Hold.”

A dignified and graceful figure appeared at the doorway.

Everyone turned to look and bowed in respect. Xuan Jingchi also saw the person and was slightly surprised. “Empress?”

Empress Xiao Yueli slowly entered the hall, glanced at Meng Wan seated behind the desk, and approached Xuan Jingchi. “Your Majesty, I heard you were busy with state affairs. Today, I have prepared a fragrant drink for you to enjoy.”

The Empress wants me to drink something?

Xuan Jingchi instinctively wanted to say, “I’m not thirsty.”

But then it occurred to her—the Empress wouldn’t come without reason to offer her a drink.

Could it be that I shouldn’t issue this edict?

Though she didn’t understand the Empress’s intentions, she said, “Thank you for your concern, Empress. Since I have nothing pressing, I’ll join you for a drink.”

Xiao Yueli’s eyes brightened—this person was actually willing to cooperate with her.

She smiled faintly and addressed the others, “All of you may withdraw. I will accompany Her Majesty for tea in the side chamber. No one is to disturb us.”

“As you command.” A large group of palace attendants, including Meng Wan, quickly exited the hall.

Nuanxiang escorted the emperor and empress to the side chamber. To Xiao Yueli’s surprise, the chamber was filled from top to bottom with books.

She glanced at the titles—mostly on governance strategies and policies enacted since the dynasty’s founding—and thought, this person truly isn’t Xuan Jingchi.

If these serious books had been placed before the real Xuan Jingchi, she would have burned them all long ago, preferring to see none of them.

“Empress, what drink have you prepared for me?”

Xuan Jingchi asked with a smile, sitting at the table like a little white cat waiting by its bowl for its owner to feed it.

Xiao Yueli whispered a few words to Xiao Rong, who then looked shocked and hesitant. “Your Majesty?”

“Go, do as I said.”

Xiao Rong bowed and left.

How mysterious—what exactly is the Empress offering me? Xuan Jingchi was filled with curiosity and anticipation.

“Your Majesty, are all these books yours to read?” Xiao Yueli asked casually.

“I have been reading them, though I haven’t finished. To be honest, I’ve only read a little,” Xuan Jingchi replied with an awkward smile.

She had little talent for such matters, and the texts were obscure, making her progress slow.

If given a book like Tiangong Kaiwu, she might have read much faster.

Seeing the Empress remain silent, she worried about losing face in front of such an accomplished woman and quickly added, “I’ll read faster in the future, especially with Meng Wan’s help.”

“Meng Wan?”

“She is my study companion,” Xuan Jingchi said with a smile. “The poem I showed you last night was written by her. Even you praised it, so she must be exceptionally talented. With someone like her accompanying me, I’ll learn much faster.”

Xiao Yueli asked, “Your Majesty wishes to study?”

“Of course. As the ruler of a nation, I can’t afford to be ignorant and become a laughingstock.”

Xiao Yueli looked at her, her gaze sweeping over her face, which in turn made Xuan Jingchi feel somewhat embarrassed.

She had always thought that her original body was too alluring, its demeanor lacking the elegance to grace high society, completely incomparable to the Empress, who was like a pure white moonlight.

Seeing her scrutinize herself, Xuan Jingchi lowered her head guiltily.

Little did she know, in the Empress’s eyes, it was a beauty lowering her gaze, exuding infinite shyness, making her even more breathtakingly beautiful.

One had to admit, Xuan Jingchi truly had a striking appearance. Xiao Yueli suddenly felt the urge to understand the Xuan Jingchi beneath that beautiful facade.

“Your Majesty, did you not study in the past?”

Princes and princesses naturally had tutors to teach them, so of course, they had studied.

Xiao Yueli knew this, which was why she deliberately asked.

“I did, of course. I read quite a bit, and my studies were varied, though none of it is very useful now.”

Xuan Jingchi smiled on the surface but inwardly sighed.

Indeed, all those computer science books were read in vain—like learning dragon-slaying techniques but never encountering a dragon. In this world without even a single computer, what could she possibly operate?

Xiao Yueli noticed her slight shyness and a hint of melancholy, finding it somewhat peculiar.

This person must have studied, but who knows what she actually read?

Still, judging by her demeanor, it couldn’t have been too poor.

As they spoke, Xiao Rong entered carrying two cups of tea.

The delicate white porcelain cup was given to the Empress, while the purple clay cup was placed before Xuan Jingchi.

Seeing the drink the Empress had specially ordered prepared for her, Xuan Jingchi was overjoyed.

There was no milk tea in ancient times, so it must be floral tea.

Floral tea was fine too. The ancients were refined—who knew what astonishing flavors they could concoct?

Xuan Jingchi excitedly rubbed her hands together and couldn’t resist lifting the lid of the cup, immediately catching a faint, refreshing aroma.

She eagerly took a sip—

And nearly spat it out!!!

Bitter! So bitter! So bitter!

It was so bitter her eyebrows furrowed into a knot, and her face—the face of a femme fatale capable of toppling kingdoms—twisted in agony!

The Empress sat across from her, watching calmly, her expression as serene as water, without the slightest ripple.

Xuan Jingchi thought, I absolutely cannot lose face or composure in front of the Moonlight Goddess, so she forced herself to swallow that mouthful of bitter liquid.

Instantly, she felt her stomach roar in protest.

“Empress, what have you given me to drink?” Xuan Jingchi’s voice still carried a slight tremble.

“Coptis tea clears heat and purges the lungs—perfect for Your Majesty.”

The Empress actually gave me this to drink!!!

Xuan Jingchi instantly felt the fury of being played for a fool, glaring at the Empress. Yet her expression didn’t seem like she was idly amusing herself at his expense—her gaze was open and forthright. Pausing in surprise, he suddenly understood something and said, “The Empress has something she wishes to say.”

Xiao Yueli replied, “What this concubine wishes to say is all in this cup of tea.”

With that, she took her leave from Xuan Jingchi. “This concubine bids farewell.”

Xuan Jingchi watched her figure disappear beyond the doorway as the palace doors closed once more.

Now only she and Nuanxiang remained in the chamber.

As silence settled around them, Xuan Jingchi’s heart also grew calm.

The Empress’s meaning was clear—she wanted him to purge the fire in his heart, meaning he shouldn’t have lost his temper over today’s matter.

Then another thought struck him—when that decree was issued, the Six Ministries had just gone through the motions of submitting all those memorials, waiting for his approval.

How could he make any decisions when he knew nothing?

Even if he did make decisions, they’d be riddled with errors.

Even if they saw him making mistakes, they certainly wouldn’t point them out.

No—they’d be delighted to see him fail!

Chancellor Lin would particularly enjoy watching him make a fool of himself, only to step in later and save the day.

Hah! Then the whole world would know what a stupid, incompetent fool of a female emperor he was.

As for governing the country? That would still fall to Chancellor Lin!

Xuan Jingchi, you’re no longer that top student praised by all your teachers. Here, you know nothing—just a newly hatched chick, weak in every way.

Gritting his teeth at this thought, Xuan Jingchi downed the entire cup of coptis tea in one gulp.

The taste was bitter, but she had to endure it!