After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 14

The sunlight streamed through the paper-pasted window onto the bed. Liang Xiao flipped over, hot, but her hand touched something.

It was fluffy, feeling like animal fur.

Liang Xiao jolted awake and sat up.

She saw Yan Heng’s large fox tail sticking out, currently wrapped aggressively around Liang Xiao’s leg, and a pair of fox ears had also sprouted on her head, looking incredibly soft.

Liang Xiao’s head was splitting from a night of heavy drinking, and she was actually sleeping in the same bed as Yan Heng.

She didn’t know how she had gotten along so well with this fox, letting down her guard, opening her heart, and even acting so inappropriately.

She suddenly remembered her childhood, when Yan Heng was still in her original form, and they spent every day and night together.

The fox accompanied her to eat, swing, and catch butterflies…

Even though it was only for a very short month, when Liang Xiao thought of it, her heart still felt filled with something.

Thinking about it this way, they had actually slept in the same bed before.

Perhaps it was because they had been so close in childhood that she didn’t put up any defenses against this clumsy fox.

Liang Xiao reached out and nudged Yan Heng: “Get up.”

Yan Heng grumbled, turning over: “Mother, let me sleep a little longer.”

Liang Xiao was speechless. So she was drunk and thought this was her own home.

Nine years. Yan Heng had been away from home for nine years to find her. They still needed to find the whereabouts of Master Guanzhen as soon as possible to remove the Love Silk Lock.

Liang Xiao took Yan Heng’s large tail off her leg, got up and off the bed, tucked the blanket around Yan Heng, and then quietly left.

When Yan Heng woke up, the sun was high in the sky. Hua Zi had urged her several times before she reluctantly got up.

A trace of lotus scent lingered on the pillow, and the memories of last night instantly rushed into her mind.

She remembered… last night, she seemed to have forcefully brought Liang Xiao to her bed, and they slept together…

A hard-to-miss blush crept up to her ears. Although she had slept with her before, this was the first time she was lying on the same bed with her in human form.

She instinctively touched her hair, only to realize that because of the alcohol, her tail and ears were fully exposed.

Thankfully, Hua Zi hadn’t pushed the door open, only calling for her from outside. Otherwise, she would probably have been chased out by now, or locked up and taken away by a demon hunter to have her core extracted.

When Hua Zi was combing her hair, her expression was a little strange.

Yan Heng asked, puzzled: “Why do you look like that? Did you not rest well last night?”

Hua Zi shook her head, stuttering: “I saw this morning, Princess, the Princess came out of your room…”

Yan Heng cleared her throat: “Last night, last night we discussed some poetry and literature.”

Hua Zi: “The Princess saw me this morning and told me not to come in and call you, and to let you rest well.”

Yan Heng looked in the mirror and froze when she heard this.

So Liang Xiao had specifically instructed people not to enter, she was really thoughtful.

Hua Zi finished pinning the hairpin and helped Yan Heng up: “The Princess also instructed me to go to Lan Hua Hall once you woke up.”

Lan Hua Hall was now Liang Xiao’s residence, quite a distance from Yan Heng’s residence, Mi Fang Pavilion. By the time she walked there under the sun, a layer of sweat had formed on her forehead.

As soon as she pushed the door in, she poured a cup of tea and drank a large mouthful: “Your Highness called me over so early, what is the matter?”

“Early?” Liang Xiao scoffed: “It’s already sì shí (9-11 am).”

Yan Heng was quite thick-skinned: “I went to bed late last night, so it’s normal for me to wake up late.”

Liang Xiao didn’t follow up on her comment, instead taking out a painting.

The person in the painting was the State Preceptor Yuan De, whom Liang Xiao had drawn this morning.

Yan Heng took it and looked at it: “This State Preceptor looks like a handsome scholar.”

“The State Preceptor is a cultivator, so it’s normal for his appearance to remain unchanged,” Liang Xiao rolled up the painting. “When can we go to the Demon Market again?”

“Hmm… today, I guess. Your Highness, wait for me to go back and find the key.”

Liang Xiao nodded: “Go at night. If you don’t show up all day during the daytime, it’s easy to arouse suspicion.”

Yan Heng said: “Your Highness is right. My illusion can only be maintained indoors. Everyone in the inner palace is suspicious, we shouldn’t let anyone catch us.”

Liang Xiao got up and took something else from her dressing table, handing it to Yan Heng: “Is the price of the puzzle box covered by this?”

Yan Heng took the object, a pair of crystal-clear, smooth Eastern Pearl earrings.

Yan Heng held the earrings in her hand: “I don’t have pierced ears. Won’t this be a waste if Your Highness gives it to me?”

“I gave it to you precisely because you don’t have pierced ears. Otherwise, if you wore them out, you would definitely be condemned,” Liang Xiao’s tone was indifferent. “Eastern Pearls are precious. Only the Empress and the Empress Dowager are allowed to wear them. Father-Emperor thought of me, so he also had a pair made for me.”

“Then I’ll keep it, but what if someone finds out?” Yan Heng asked curiously.

“Keep it with me for now. After we remove the Love Silk Lock and leave the palace, you can take this with you,” Liang Xiao held her teacup, blowing on the foam.

Yan Heng clapped her hands: “That’s a good idea.”

Liang Xiao slightly nodded: “Go back. I will look for you again tonight.”

When night fell, the two sat on a stone stool. Yan Heng again transformed Liang Xiao into a fox demon like herself, and then the two entered the Demon Market.

This time their goal was clear, and they headed straight for the “Ling Ji Pavilion.”

The attendant’s memory was indeed good; he greeted them proactively when he saw them enter the shop.

“What can I get for you two customers today?”

Liang Xiao handed him the painting: “Do you recognize this person? Can you remember if he bought two Thousand Venom Boxes eleven years ago?”

The attendant took the painting, opened it, examined it for a moment, and slowly said: “It is him.”

“That customer bought two Thousand Venom Boxes that day, so I have a slight impression, but I couldn’t recall his specific appearance. Now that you bring the painting, I remember him as soon as I see the mole under his lip.”

Yan Heng was delighted: “It really is him?”

“It is him, no mistake,” the attendant affirmed.

The two exchanged glances, both reading joy in the other’s eyes.

Liang Xiao put away the painting and handed the attendant a bag of silver: “Thank you. Please don’t mention this to anyone else.”

The attendant smiled and weighed the money bag in his hand: “Rest assured, customers, we have our rules for doing business, and we absolutely won’t tell anyone.”

Yan Heng and Liang Xiao descended the steps and stopped at the entrance of the shop. Yan Heng asked: “Although we have the attendant’s testimony now, we have no way to prove that the State Preceptor’s box was used to harm the Empress.”

Liang Xiao had this concern. She frowned: “True, we need to find other clues.”

Yan Heng nodded: “Since this matter is settled, Your Highness, would you like to stroll around the Demon Market with me?”

Liang Xiao was hesitating when suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder.

“Hey beauty, how about a drink?” A hoarse, unpleasant, and drunken male voice came from behind.

Before Liang Xiao could turn around, Yan Heng had already delivered a kick: “Pfft! Don’t you look at what kind of trash you are, daring to touch my girl?”

The drunkard staggered and sat on the ground. Evidently angered by Yan Heng’s action, he sat up indignantly. Before he could retaliate, he was kicked down again from behind.

“Thinking of laying a hand on my people, you’ve got some nerve.”

The figure became clearer. Yan Heng excitedly pounced on him, nearly knocking Yan Qiu to the ground.

“Old fox, why are you here!”

Yan Qiu pulled her off him: “Cousin wanted to stroll around today, so I came. I didn’t expect to see you two from afar. And this is—”

“This is the owner of the Love Silk Lock.” Yan Heng pulled Liang Xiao in front of Yan Qiu to introduce her. “This is my older brother, Yan Qiu.”

Yan Qiu bowed slightly: “Greetings, Miss.”

Yan Heng had already told Yan Qiu the reason why the Love Silk Lock couldn’t be removed, so he was not surprised to see Liang Xiao.

“Greetings to you, sir,” Liang Xiao nodded. Suddenly, the corner of her robe was grasped by a little girl.

“Pretty Jie Jie (older sister)!”

It was a little girl who looked about seven or eight years old, bearing some resemblance to Yan Heng, but much cuter.

“This is my cousin, Luo Xin.” Yan Heng stroked Luo Xin’s hair.

The drunkard on the ground who had been ignored: I feel so disrespected.

He stumbled to his feet, seemingly still wanting to cause trouble. Yan Qiu cracked his knuckles, and the drunkard immediately bolted.

Yan Qiu draped his arm over his sister: “Let’s go, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Yan Heng struggled to get out from under his arm: “We’ve already eaten tonight—”

Liang Xiao interrupted her: “Then let’s have a meal.”

Yan Heng turned her head in surprise and asked: “Miss Liang, you didn’t eat enough tonight?”

A lukewarm “Mm,” drifted past her ear.

Yan Qiu found the most popular restaurant and immediately ordered several signature dishes, which made Yan Heng’s heart ache.

That’s all money…

She poked Yan Qiu: “Order a few non-spicy ones.”

Yan Qiu understood.

“How is your time in the palace? Has anyone been bothering you recently?” Yan Qiu asked while pouring tea for the four of them.

“No, no. With Miss Liang helping me, who would dare to bully me?”

This was true. The news that Liang Xiao had saved Yan Heng from Consort Yu spread throughout the inner palace the next day. No one dared to provoke her anymore. Who knew if her backer was truly Princess Yong’an? If they truly angered the Princess, they wouldn’t know how they died.

Yan Qiu was relieved upon hearing this. He tapped Yan Heng on the head and smiled at Liang Xiao: “Thank you for taking care of my sister. She doesn’t have many other virtues, and her brain here,” he pointed at his temple, “is not very functional.”

And with that, he was kicked over by Yan Heng.

Back in the palace, Yan Heng was humming a tune, clearly in a very good mood.

“So happy?” Liang Xiao asked casually as the two sat at the small stone table in Yan Heng’s hall.

Yan Heng: “Of course. The last time I saw my unlucky brother was during the New Year.”

Liang Xiao nodded without speaking. She guessed that Yan Heng missed her family, which was why she agreed to the casual meal with Yan Qiu.

Yan Heng’s mind naturally couldn’t guess that Liang Xiao wanted to alleviate her homesickness. At the moment, she was still immersed in joy.

“What should we do with the clues next? We can’t just take the box and confront the State Preceptor, can we?” Yan Heng collected her thoughts and started worrying about the major issue.

“I’ll look for other clues first. You just rest well in the palace,” Liang Xiao said.

Yan Heng nodded: “Whatever I can help with, Your Highness, just tell me.”

If Consort Lian was indeed a half-demon, then she was of the same clan as her. She absolutely had to help with this matter. She couldn’t let someone from her own clan suffer injustice.

It was only right for a demon to help a demon.

Yan Heng announced that she was well, so Consort Chen and a few others came to chat with her again. These concubines felt stifled in the palace and were glad to find a few intimate friends they could talk to.

“Did you hear? The Emperor wants to go hunting in the forest outside the temporary palace,” Lady Wan said, holding a handful of melon seeds.

“Doesn’t he have the autumn hunt still?” Lady Zhou chimed in.

Lady Zhou had been ill initially, so Yan Heng hadn’t seen her, but later she also came to the temporary palace and joined their “small group.”

“Who knows. Hunting is physical labor, it has nothing to do with us. It’ll be nice to go and have some fun, though.” Lady Zhang Shuyi said, pinching a pastry.

“Beauty Yan, are you going then?” Consort Chen turned her head, met Yan Heng’s sparkling eyes, and felt the question was unnecessary.

“Yes!”

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