After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 25
Liang Xiao sat in the courtyard, suddenly feeling a little bored.
She didn’t know how many pages of the book in her hand she had flipped, but she hadn’t absorbed a single word.
Yue Hua saw her preoccupied and said softly, “It is indeed quieter without Miss Yan here to talk.”
Her thoughts exposed with a single sentence, Liang Xiao was quite annoyed and gently threw the book onto the table: “Who misses her.”
Yue Hua smiled without a word, and Liang Xiao realized she had revealed a major flaw.
Aunt Yue Hua hadn’t said the word “miss” at all; she had inadvertently given herself away first.
Liang Xiao silently picked up the book from the table: “Auntie, please find me some more poetry from past eras.”
Yue Hua softly replied, “Yes,” and quietly withdrew.
After sending Yue Hua away, Liang Xiao put the book down again. The opened pages fluttered in the breeze, making a whish-whish sound.
Five days had passed since Yan Heng left.
Liang Xiao’s right hand slipped into her sleeve, unconsciously rubbing the jade bangle on her wrist.
When she had returned a few days ago, Yue Hua had been curious, asking when she acquired such an inexpensive trinket.
Though the price wasn’t high, it held some indescribable meaning, making it particularly precious.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
“Dad, Mom!” As soon as she arrived at Flowing Cloud Mountain, Yan Heng excitedly pushed the door open, startling the two elders who were eating inside.
Yan Heng’s mother, Xia Yin, silently picked up the chopsticks that had fallen to the floor and said to her father, “Am I having an illusion?”
Yan Heng’s father, Yan Wei, put down his bowl, stood up, walked to Yan Heng, and pinched her.
“Ow, ow, ow! Dad, what are you doing?” Yan Heng angrily pulled his hand away.
Yan Wei turned to his wife and said, “It hurts, it’s not an illusion.”
Yan Heng turned to leave immediately.
Yan Wei questioned, “What are you doing?”
Yan Heng: “Running away from home.”
Xia Yin immediately pulled her back: “Why are you back now? Has the Love Silk Knot been undone?”
Yan Heng shook her head: “No, I came back to ask Dad something.”
Yan Wei sat back at the table: “Come, Heng’er, eat something first.”
Yan Heng waved her hand: “It’s urgent.”
Yan Heng described the manner of Noble Consort Lian and A’Lin’s deaths to her father. Yan Wei frowned and pondered for a while, finally uttering two words.
“Flower Bloom.”
“Flower Bloom?” Yan Heng rested her head in her hand, “The name is quite unique.”
“Precisely, it is Flower Bloom.” Yan Wei picked up his chopsticks, wanting to eat a few more bites, but Yan Heng’s earlier description of the deceased was too vivid, and now he couldn’t eat.
“This sorcery is extremely sinister. Ordinary demons wouldn’t dare practice it; one wrong move and they’ll become possessed. The reason the victims’ eyes remain open is so they must watch the red spots on their bodies bloom like flowers, calling it ‘flower appreciation’.”
Yan Heng quietly swallowed.
Xia Yin also lost her appetite and pulled Yan Heng closer, asking, “Why are you asking about this?”
Yan Heng then briefly explained the situation in the palace.
The three sat outside. Yan Wei said, “The palace is full of dangers. You must be careful every day.”
Yan Heng: “Don’t worry, I’m no longer in the palace. A noble person found me a place to live.”
At this, the image of Liang Xiao surfaced in her mind.
Having been busy these past few days, she hadn’t had time to think of her, but now she was overwhelmed by a surging tide of longing.
She looked at the yellowing autumn leaves around her, feeling that something was missing by her side.
Sooner or later, she had to bring Liang Xiao back so she could also see the unique scenery of Flowing Cloud Mountain.
Xia Yin sighed softly: “It will be better once the Love Silk Knot is undone.”
Yan Heng patted her hand reassuringly: “Don’t worry, Mom.”
She stayed on the mountain for one night and hurried back to the palace early the next morning.
“Your Highness, the weather is getting cold as autumn sets in. You should go back inside,” Yue Hua said, placing a cloak over Liang Xiao’s shoulders and urging her.
Liang Xiao shook her head, remaining silent and focusing on her book.
She sat in the courtyard every day so she could see Yan Heng the moment she returned.
A seed named “longing” had taken root in her heart and was growing wildly.
Yue Zhou trotted in and said to Liang Xiao: “Your Highness, the Empress Mother has just received a new batch of cloud brocade. She invites you to the palace to choose colors.”
Liang Xiao put down the book in her hand: “Let’s go take a look.”
The Empress leaned on the couch, listening to a young eunuch next to her praise this year’s cloud brocade.
“Mother, have you been waiting long?” Liang Xiao lifted the curtain and entered, a smile on her face.
The Empress quickly rose to greet her: “Xiao Xiao, you’re here? Quick, see if there’s anything you like.”
Liang Xiao glanced over the fabrics, about to choose the indigo she usually wore, when she suddenly noticed the begonia red next to it.
Most of Yan Heng’s clothes were begonia red. She didn’t like fabrics with overly dull colors, especially this begonia red, which she wore year-round.
Liang Xiao changed her mind at the last minute, pointing to the begonia red fabric: “I’ll take this one and the bolt of indigo.”
The Empress was quite surprised: “Xiao’er, why do you like this begonia red?”
Liang Xiao turned and sat on the small couch: “A change once in a while, to avoid monotony.”
The Empress looked at the begonia red and pondered for a moment, then said, “This Palace remembers Consort Yan used to love wearing this color. What a pity, to be so young and just… gone.”
Hearing the Empress mention Yan Heng, Liang Xiao felt a slight guilt, and couldn’t help but cough lightly behind her hand: “Your Daughter has given Consort Yan a proper and grand burial. Your Mother’s grief and regret, the Consort will surely know of it in the netherworld.”
After Yan Heng faked her death, Liang Shu grieved for her for a while. In the end, he posthumously conferred upon her the title of Consort, under the pretense of rewarding her for contributing to the royal family’s proliferation—though the ‘proliferated branch’ never actually came to fruition.
Liang Xiao exchanged a few more pleasantries with the Empress. The female official from the Imperial Garment Bureau came to collect the fabric Liang Xiao had chosen. Yue Hua followed her to report the measurements.
Liang Xiao chatted with the Empress for a little longer. Seeing the sun slowly setting obliquely, she rose to return to the Princess’s residence.
It had been more than ten days. Based on the time, Yan Heng should be returning soon.
In the dead of night, Yan Heng sneaked back into the Princess’s residence. It wasn’t that she felt guilty like a thief, but she figured it was late and Liang Xiao must have gone to bed, so she didn’t want to wake her up.
Hua Zi had been brought along by Liang Xiao to serve Yan Heng. The next morning, she discovered someone in the bed and let out a startled cry. Yan Heng jumped up and covered her mouth, saying, “My dear sister, you scared me to death with your sudden shrieks!”
Hua Zi blinked her eyes and made some muffled sounds. Yan Heng released her and Hua Zi whispered, “Why did Mistress return in the middle of the night?”
Yan Heng waved her hand: “Just made it in time. Let me sleep a bit more.”
Having returned too late last night, Yan Heng didn’t go directly to Liu Yang Palace. Exhausted from the journey, her head hit the pillow and she immediately fell asleep.
Although Hua Zi had startled her now, she was still very sleepy, so much so that she didn’t even hear Hua Zi’s remark, “This servant will go and inform Her Royal Highness the Princess.”
She was now able to coexist peacefully with Liang Xiao in her dreams. Not only that, sometimes she would dream of strange things.
However, having dreamt so much, Yan Heng was now capable of waking up the next day without changing her expression or showing any sign of surprise, as if she hadn’t had a “spring dream” the night before.
Upon receiving the message from Hua Zi, Liang Xiao rushed into Yan Heng’s room, nearly tripping over her skirt. Yue Hua, with quick reflexes, helped her steady herself.
Yan Heng was still sound asleep in bed. Liang Xiao waved her hand to dismiss the servants and walked to the bed, sitting down alone.
Yan Heng’s sleeping posture was anything but graceful. She was lying on her side, the quilt tangled around her body. She hadn’t changed her clothes; her collar was a bit messy, revealing a section of her collarbone and pale skin.
Impulsively, Liang Xiao folded her sleeves, extended her hand, and stroked Yan Heng’s face.
From the mole at the corner of her eye, to her high nose bridge, and then to the soft-to-the-touch cheek.
Liang Xiao couldn’t help but swallow. Her heart suddenly raced, and her gaze landed on those soft lips.
Not knowing what she dreamt of, Yan Heng suddenly smacked her lips, startling Liang Xiao.
She quickly withdrew her hand, her face flushed, as if she had done something indecent and guilt-ridden.
Perhaps sensing a vague shadow nearby, Yan Heng groggily opened her eyes: “Your Highness?”
Liang Xiao took a deep breath and calmed herself: “Awake?”
Yan Heng rubbed her eyes as she sat up: “When did Your Highness arrive? Why didn’t you wake me?”
Liang Xiao: “You’ve been traveling for days. It’s good to rest.”
Yan Heng smiled faintly: “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I’ll go wash up first.”
Liang Xiao stood up and walked to the table, pouring herself a large cup of cold tea. The heat in her heart finally subsided.
Although she was very reluctant to admit it, she seemed to genuinely harbor other thoughts about Yan Heng.
She quietly exhaled and sat down on the small couch, rubbing her temples.
Yan Heng was indeed the most unique person in this deep palace, which was why she was so drawn to her.
Before long, the little fox came over, humming a tune. Hua Zi followed behind her, refilled the teapot with new tea for the two of them, and then quietly withdrew.
“I asked my dad; this kind of sorcery does exist,” Yan Heng said, picking up a osmanthus cake and eating it, her stomach empty after just waking up.
“Then the culprit behind the scenes presented this painting to my Imperial Mother, and then took the opportunity to kill her and A’Lin,” Liang Xiao furrowed her brow slightly.
Yan Heng still had some questions: “Then what was the Thousand Poisons Box bought for? Why did Eunuch Xia mention it back then?”
Liang Xiao contemplated for a moment: “As long as we catch the culprit who sent the painting to Imperial Mother, perhaps all questions will be answered.”
Yan Heng rested her head in her hand: “Since this painting can be used for sorcery, it must have been bought from the demon market. Why don’t we go and ask again?”
Liang Xiao: “That makes sense.”
She looked at the dark circles under Yan Heng’s eyes and considered: “You… rest for a few more days.”
Yan Heng said carelessly: “No need, I can go tonight—”
Before she could finish, Liang Xiao raised her hand and tapped her on the head: “Look at your complexion.”
Yan Heng quickly jumped off the couch, grabbed the mirror from the dressing table, looked left and right, and let out a wail: “This is too ugly!”
Liang Xiao chuckled softly, stood up, and walked behind her, taking the mirror from her hand: “We’ll go to the demon market in two days. You should rest well these few days, and I’ll ask the imperial physician to come and take a look at you.”
Yan Heng nodded with a long face, the stray hairs across her forehead falling down and swaying in front of her eyes with her movements.
Liang Xiao comforted her: “I have some jade cream in my residence. I’ll have someone send it over later.”
The two sat in the courtyard for a while, listening to Yan Heng recount what she had seen and heard on her journey.
Liang Xiao looked at her eyes and eyebrows, and her heart gently wavered.
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