After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 11

A thought suddenly occurred to Yan Heng. When she was chatting with her brother last night, could the box he saw at the Demon Market be the same kind that Eunuch Xia mentioned?

She instantly grabbed Liang Xiao’s wrist: “I know that kind of box!”

Liang Xiao was startled by her action, paused, and then asked, “A box? What box?!”

“It’s the mechanism box that Eunuch Xia just talked about. Just let me tell you slowly.”

Yan Heng did not let go, and the two stopped in the middle of the road as Yan Heng meticulously described the box.

“The coroner said Imperial Mother died of poisoning. Could it be related to this box?” Liang Xiao asked.

“It’s possible,” Yan Heng replied.

Liang Xiao’s heart was heavy with worry, and she frowned, “Can the Demon Market find buyers from a long time ago?”

Yan Heng pondered, “Some shopkeepers record the sellers using a sound-transmitting stone, so it’s easier to contact them if the item has a problem.”

“Then, can you take me to the Demon Market?” Liang Xiao asked.

Yan Heng nodded, “Of course I can.”

The fingers resting on her wrist were soft and delicate. It took Liang Xiao a while to realize Yan Heng’s hand was still on hers. No one had ever made such an intimate and boundary-crossing gesture, and for a moment, she felt lost, allowing Yan Heng to continue holding her hand.

After a long pause, she finally asked, “Then how do we get to the Demon Market?”

Yan Heng smiled, “I have the key!”

Just as she was about to continue walking, she realized she was holding something. She let go awkwardly and rubbed her hair.

“The Demon Market is a mixed bag of good and bad. If you’re going, I must go with you,” she said, looking away uncomfortably.

“Alright, when can we go?” Liang Xiao covered her mouth and coughed lightly, seemingly also masking her awkwardness.

“To go to the Demon Market, we have to find an excuse beforehand to avoid drawing attention.” The two walked slowly back along the cobblestone path.

“I’m fine; no one dares to bother me. As for you—” She turned to look at Yan Heng.

The sunlight cast a faint golden outline on Yan Heng’s face; the small mole under her right eye was extremely alluring. No wonder the Emperor liked her; even Liang Xiao was somewhat captivated.

“Hmm, I’ll be indisposed, refusing all visitors, and I can also avoid the nightly service,” Yan Heng said happily, clapping her hands and turning to meet Liang Xiao’s gaze.

The Liang Xiao she had met and knew was different from the one others talked about. Although she always spoke with a condescending tone, she wasn’t completely unapproachable. Perhaps the closeness from their childhood allowed her to see a different side of Liang Xiao, making it impossible to associate her with the rumored “spoiled, willful, and ruthless” wicked princess. Of course, it was also possible that the Liang Xiao in her dreams was different from the one outside of them.

Liang Xiao said faintly—neither of them knowing who looked away first—”Then it will be tomorrow night. Let’s prepare well today.”

“Understood!”

Meanwhile, in a hidden palace, two people were sitting opposite each other, one of them with a face full of worry.

“Reverend National Master, the matter from back then won’t be discovered, will it?”

“Don’t worry, I can guarantee absolute secrecy.”

“That’s good then,” the speaker let out a long breath, “With the National Master here, I’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Early the next morning, in Yan Heng’s palace, two people stood facing each other, their eyes fixed on the small, black, unremarkable stone in her hand.

“This is the key?” Liang Xiao’s expression was one of mild disbelief.

Yan Heng patted her chest, guaranteeing, “Of course, I’ve always used this one.”

“Then hurry up and use it,” Liang Xiao said, looking up at Yan Heng.

Yan Heng replied, “Princess, please wait. To enter the Demon Market, you must prove you are a demon, otherwise you’ll be kicked out.”

Liang Xiao looked “speechless” and asked, “How do I do that?”

Yan Heng placed the stone on the table, clasped her hands, and bowed to Liang Xiao, saying, “Pardon me!”

Liang Xiao was utterly confused.

Then, a mass of white phosphorescent light gathered in Yan Heng’s hands. Upon seeing it, Liang Xiao’s breath hitched instantly. She had never witnessed such a magical phenomenon and forgot to blink. Yan Heng formed a few hand seals, and then the ball of light flew toward Liang Xiao.

A moment later, Liang Xiao changed—a pair of white fox ears appeared on her head, and a white tail grew behind her, while her original human ears were gone. Liang Xiao froze on the spot.

Yan Heng exclaimed excitedly, “How about that? Isn’t my illusion technique amazing!”

Liang Xiao picked up the mirror from the table, checked her appearance left and right, and reluctantly nodded, “Acceptable.”

Yan Heng’s eyes widened, “How is it only ‘acceptable’? My illusion technique is one of the best in my clan!” As she spoke, she also let her own ears and tail appear.

Hearing her boast, Liang Xiao let out a contemptuous scoff.

Yan Heng: …Just say it if you look down on foxes.

“Princess, you have to hold my hand,” she said sincerely.

Liang Xiao reluctantly extended her hand, holding it as casually as she usually held Aunt Yue Hua’s hand.

Yan Heng: …It feels like I’m being treated like a servant.

She shook her head, then recited an incantation. The stone immediately emitted a dazzling light, forcing them to close their eyes. When they opened them again, they were in the middle of a lively and bustling market.

To facilitate their movement, both were dressed simply, lest their fancy clothes attract robbers’ attention. Liang Xiao had never been to such a lively place. Though she was always skilled at hiding her true emotions, curiosity shone in her eyes.

Yan Heng said proudly, “This is Elder Sister’s territory! Come on, let me take you for a good tour!”

Liang Xiao: “…Mind your manners.”

Despite saying that, there was no anger on Liang Xiao’s face, but rather a faint smile played on her lips. She must have been in a good mood today, so she just let Yan Heng be.

The Demon Market was prosperous, and the goods here were truly dazzling. There were also many species Liang Xiao had never seen before—

A butcher with a bull’s head and a human body held a knife, chopping meat while yelling, “Fresh beef here!”

A large rooster set up a small stall with a sign that read, “Authentic Chicken Noodle Soup.”

A humanoid demon with branch-like hands, shedding leaves rustlingly, called out to customers, “Wood! Good quality wood!”

The scene was truly a bit strange. Did the goods in the Demon Market all come from the vendors themselves…?

Yan Heng introduced things to Liang Xiao as they walked: “Look, that’s a Snake Demon, skilled in making poison; definitely don’t offend them. This is a Mermaid; their tears can become pearls. That’s a Peacock Demon; isn’t the tail pretty—”

Liang Xiao’s eyes were practically spinning.

“I asked my brother yesterday, and he said the shop that sells mechanism boxes is a bit hard to find. It might take us some time to look for that box.”

“Alright,” she nodded.

The two then proceeded slowly along the seemingly endless street, searching.

The shopkeepers in the Demon Market were very enthusiastic, shouting out a greeting whenever a customer passed by.

“Beautiful Miss Fox, high-quality deodorizing sachets here!” A jarring voice rang out, causing Yan Heng to stop abruptly.

Yan Heng: …

If she didn’t flip this stall, she would take Liang Xiao’s surname.

Yan Heng rolled up her sleeves while thinking this.

Shopkeeper: Help! A demon is being beaten in the street!

Fearing that Yan Heng would cause trouble here, Liang Xiao quickly grabbed her and whispered in her ear, “The box! The box is important. Don’t make unnecessary trouble.”

Although dragged back, Yan Heng still stood with her hands on her hips, pouting angrily, “You’re the one who smells! Your whole family smells!”

The scene was apparently too amusing, as Liang Xiao unexpectedly covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Yan Heng turned back and glared at her, “Do I smell? Where do I have ‘fox odor’?”

The smile faded from Liang Xiao’s face, but the amusement in her eyes had not dissipated. She shook her head and said, “No, you don’t.”

Yan Heng had never seen Liang Xiao genuinely amused before and was momentarily stunned. The facial features of the person in front of her were no longer stern and unsmiling, but had become very lively, making her feel a little embarrassed to look.

This smile dispelled most of her anger. She turned back to the shopkeeper and warned fiercely, “Say that foxes smell again, and I’ll really beat you up next time I see you!”

The shopkeeper nodded profusely. He had always used this method to attract customers, as many fox demons did frequent his shop, but he didn’t expect to meet someone so sensitive about their appearance today.

Liang Xiao composed herself, her expression serious again, and said, “Let’s go quickly, we have important business.”

Yan Heng relented, but not before shaking a fist at the shopkeeper as they left.

Yan Qiu was right; there were indeed many shops selling handmade hidden weapons and mechanisms. However, when asked about that specific kind of box, they all shook their heads, saying they hadn’t seen it. After all, fitting thousands of poisonous needles into a small box and ensuring they could all be fired simultaneously was a truly delicate task.

As it was nearing lunchtime, weariness was visible on both their faces.

“Grumble—” Yan Heng shamelessly rubbed her stomach.

“Your High… Miss Liang, are you hungry?” Yan Heng turned to ask.

Liang Xiao still maintained a straight face, shaking her head expressionlessly, but—

“Grumble—” Her stomach rumbled.

Yan Heng pretended not to hear.

“There’s a noodle place that makes excellent noodles, the same way humans do, and the shop is just ahead. I’m really starving, please accompany me to eat,” Yan Heng said, pulling Liang Xiao toward the shop.

She was very careful this time, only holding onto Liang Xiao’s sleeve.

Liang Xiao paused for a moment, and before she could react, she was already being pulled along. Her gaze fell upon the slender, pale fingers gripping her sleeve, and her heart stirred slightly.

Only this fox dared to be so presumptuous.

Upon entering the shop, Yan Heng slapped down a few large coins on the table and declared boldly, “Madam Boss, two bowls of the signature beef noodles.”

Liang Xiao stood by the side and did not sit down. Yan Heng was confused, then suddenly remembered Liang Xiao’s status—the Princess probably couldn’t stand this place and thought it was dirty.

Yan Heng got up, asked the madam boss for a clean cloth, and meticulously wiped the stools and the table clean.

“Please, Your Highness?” Yan Heng’s voice was very soft, but it made Liang Xiao’s face flush slightly upon hearing it.

She was indeed fond of cleanliness, and she hadn’t expected Yan Heng to be so thoughtful, just like Aunt Yue Hua. She had truly wronged the fox when she previously called her a “stupid fox.”

Liang Xiao silently sat down.

The two were silent opposite each other for a long while. Then, Yan Heng rested her chin on her hand and asked, “What if… we don’t find the box today?”

Liang Xiao held a cup of tea and said lightly, “There will always be other clues.”

Yan Heng asked again, “When I ran into you at the Xi-Yuan Tower that day, were you also investigating Imperial Concubine’s case?”

Liang Xiao didn’t reply, and Yan Heng thought she had said something wrong, cautiously observing Liang Xiao’s expression.

“Imperial Mother’s death was… suspicious. I have doubts in my heart. Investigating might reveal something,” Liang Xiao finally said.

Yan Heng nodded thoughtfully, then said, “If you need anything from me, you can just command me, and also—”

“There’s no news about the Eldest Disciple’s matter.” Liang Xiao guessed what she was about to say, her gaze falling on Yan Heng’s wrist as she spoke.

The bracelet suited her very well. Her looks were already beautiful, and the addition of such a luxurious bracelet only enhanced her appearance.

Upon hearing this, Yan Heng lowered her head in disappointment, her pointed ears drooping as well.

She looked rather endearing like this.

Liang Xiao suddenly felt an urge to reach out and touch those ears to find out how they felt. Remembering that she had a pair of her own, she took advantage of Yan Heng not having looked up yet and touched the ears Yan Heng had conjured for her.

They were fluffy and very soft. A light touch of the finger caused them to tremble involuntarily. These ears were currently used for hearing, so they felt exactly like a real fox’s ears.

Did Yan Heng’s ears feel like this, too?

Suddenly, a rich aroma of food wafted into her nostrils, interrupting her wandering thoughts. The hungry spirits in Liang Xiao’s stomach were instantly awakened. She raised her hand to cover her mouth, silently swallowing her saliva.

The steaming noodles were placed in front of them, truly appetizing.

Yan Heng first wiped a pair of chopsticks clean and handed them to Liang Xiao, then began to devour her own bowl.

In comparison, Liang Xiao was much more refined. She didn’t make any slurping sounds, only took small bites, and chewed very subtly.

Yan Heng thought that this royal etiquette was excessive. Eating like this, she’d be full after just a few bites.

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