After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 26

After lunch, Liang Xiao placed the “Thousand Poisons Box” she had previously bought at the demon market on the table, staring at it blankly.

Yan Heng’s words today had reminded her: if the killer didn’t choose the Thousand Poisons Box for the murder, then what exactly was this thing for?

After pondering for a long time without a clue, just as Liang Xiao was about to put it away, Aunt Yang from the Imperial Garment Bureau personally came to the Princess’s Manor to deliver the finished clothes.

One piece was indigo blue, and the other was begonia red. Both were autumn attire, arriving just in time.

Yuehua unfolded the clothes. Liang Xiao took them and examined them closely, nodding in satisfaction.

Aunt Yang said, “I haven’t seen Your Highness wear this begonia red before, but it actually looks very good. It’s just that the measurements Your Highness gave were a bit small.”

Yuehua replied, “The weather has been cold lately, and Her Highness has had a poor appetite, so she has lost some weight.”

Aunt Yang turned to Liang Xiao and said, “Then Your Highness must take good care of herself.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the box on Liang Xiao’s desk and exclaimed in surprise, “Your Highness took this box?”

A flash of shock crossed Liang Xiao’s eyes. She turned her head and asked, “You’ve seen this box?”

Aunt Yang smiled, “I saw one yesterday when I went to the Jewel Treasury to fetch gold thread. I thought the style was unique, so I paid extra attention.”

Liang Xiao concealed the shock on her face: “So that’s it. You may go back now.”

After seeing Aunt Yang off, Yuehua quietly closed the door. Liang Xiao pinched her brow: “This box is suspicious.”

Yuehua suggested, “Why doesn’t Your Highness go to the Jewel Treasury another day to have a look? Maybe you’ll discover something.”

Liang Xiao nodded, her gaze falling on the newly delivered clothes.

Yuehua followed her gaze: “Do you need me to send the clothes to Miss Yan now?”

Liang Xiao waved her hand: “Send them tomorrow.”

Having followed Liang Xiao for so many years, Yuehua understood her with just a look. She knew the begonia red fabric was meant for Yan Heng. That’s why when she went with the people from the Imperial Garment Bureau to report the measurements that day, she specifically said they were a bit small.

Compared to Liang Xiao, Yan Heng’s figure was only slightly more slender, but all other measurements were nearly the same.

The image of Yan Heng seeing the new clothes surfaced in Liang Xiao’s mind, and she unconsciously curved her lips.

Seeing her reaction, Yuehua couldn’t help but tease, “Miss Yan’s personality is indeed very endearing.”

Liang Xiao’s secret thoughts were exposed. She covered her mouth and coughed lightly: “She’s endearing? She’s just a bit foolish.” Her words had a distinct air of protesting too much.

Yuehua didn’t argue, only suppressing her smile and saying, “Yes.”

The next day, Yan Heng looked at the new clothes in Yuehua’s hands, her voice filled with surprise and joy: “These are for me?”

Liang Xiao’s expression was calm: “Mmm, for you.”

Yan Heng wanted to reach out and touch them, but was afraid of damaging the fabric. She sighed with emotion: “The last time I went to Consort Chen’s palace, I heard her mention this Cloud Brocade. She even said only those of Zhaoyi rank or higher could wear it.”

Liang Xiao said, “In the future, you won’t need to become a Zhaoyi to enjoy such fine things.”

Yan Heng couldn’t help but hug Liang Xiao’s arm, her eyes teary: “Is this what it feels like to rely on a Princess?”

Liang Xiao glanced at her, then heard her continue: “No wonder so many people want to marry a princess. If I were a man, I’d want to too.”

Liang Xiao’s face flushed. She subtly changed the subject: “Can we go to the demon market tomorrow?”

Yan Heng nodded eagerly: “Of course we can.”

Her gaze was still lingering on the clothes. Liang Xiao lightly tapped the table: “Go try them on?”

Yan Heng quickly scooped up the clothes and disappeared.

When Liang Xiao saw her again, she even forgot to blink.

The fabric was bright in color, and the brocade pattern was beautiful and brilliant, like clouds in the sky. Worn by Yan Heng, it didn’t look overly gaudy. Instead, it added to her striking beauty.

Liang Xiao’s breath caught. It took her a long while to blink in belated realization.

Her heart suddenly quickened. Something was sprouting forth.

Putting on this expensive dress, Yan Heng appeared much more graceful. She took smaller steps, making her posture more delicate and charming.

She slowly moved in front of Liang Xiao and twirled in a circle, asking expectantly, “Does it look good, Your Highness?”

Liang Xiao took a sip of tea, managing to calm herself: “It looks good.”

Yan Heng lifted her skirt and sat down next to Liang Xiao. The tassels on the hairpin in her hair gently collided, making a crisp sound.

One by one, they tapped on Liang Xiao’s heart.

Yan Heng absolutely adored the clothes she was wearing. After sitting for a while, she got up again and ran to the mirror, admiring herself.

“When the aunt from the Imperial Garment Bureau came to deliver the clothes earlier,” Liang Xiao began slowly, “she mentioned that she had seen a box identical to the Thousand Poisons Box in the Jewel Treasury.”

Hearing Liang Xiao bring up serious matters, Yan Heng put down the mirror: “Exactly the same?”

Liang Xiao: “Precisely.”

Yan Heng pondered: “This box is only sold at the demon market, so it must have been bought by the killer.”

Liang Xiao: “But if it’s a box that contained poison needles, how could it be placed in the Jewel Treasury?”

Yan Heng said, “The attendant mentioned that Yuanxin bought two boxes, one of which was empty. Maybe that was the one in the treasury.”

Liang Xiao agreed: “Indeed, I think so too. After we return from the demon market, I’ll find an excuse to check it out.”

The next morning, the two ate breakfast, changed into light attire, and headed straight for the demon market.

Since the painting was a mechanism, it might be sold at the Lingji Pavilion. Therefore, the two did not linger in other shops and rushed to the Lingji Pavilion.

The attendant had been replaced by a different demon. Seeing two unfamiliar faces, he sat in the hall and asked with a smile, “What would the two young ladies like to buy?”

Yan Heng stepped forward: “Excuse me, we’re looking for information about an item.”

The attendant, a goat demon, stroked his beard and asked, “What item would the lady like to inquire about?”

Liang Xiao described the painting next to her. The two stared at the attendant with expectant eyes, hoping for the answer they wanted to hear.

To their surprise, the attendant shook his head: “This shop has never sold any painting that could hold demon magic.”

These words were like a bolt from the blue, and the two immediately froze in place.

Even the Lingji Pavilion, a shop specializing in selling mechanisms, hadn’t sold it. Where, then, did the painting come from?

“Have you ever seen or heard of this kind of mechanism?” Yan Heng asked with a glimmer of hope.

The attendant regretfully shook his head again: “Never.”

Liang Xiao’s lips pursed into a thin line. Yan Heng wanted to ask more, but Liang Xiao grabbed her wrist and pulled her away.

The two returned to Liang Xiao’s manor in silence. Yuehua was quite surprised: “Your Highness and Miss, why so fast—”

Before she could finish her question, Liang Xiao waved her hand to interrupt her: “You may withdraw for now.”

Yuehua glanced at their expressions and discreetly backed out, closing the door as she left.

Yan Heng quietly comforted her: “Your Highness, there are always other clues.”

Liang Xiao rested one hand on the table, rubbing her temples, her eyes closed and silent.

Yan Heng gently poured her a cup of tea, not daring to offer any more comfort, and just sat quietly to the side.

After a long while, Liang Xiao took a deep breath: “You are right, there will always be other clues.”

She forced a strained smile: “It’s just that the investigation has been too smooth lately, and I haven’t encountered a situation like this before. For a moment, it feels a bit…”

The unspoken words hung in the air, and Yan Heng understood their meaning.

The previous clues seemed to have been arranged, the investigation was too easy, so much so that they had forgotten that this was a cold case that had been sealed for eleven years.

There were always clues that would be buried in the passing years, slowly fading away until no trace could be found.

Liang Xiao closed her eyes and rubbed her temples: “As long as the killer is still around, they will definitely reveal a flaw.”

When she opened her eyes, a ball of fluff appeared on the table.

A ball of fluff… that was moving.

The fluff ball had been magically turned into the shape of a fox, wagging its tail as it bounced towards Liang Xiao.

Liang Xiao’s originally tired expression was replaced by surprise and delight. She carefully cupped the fox fluff ball in her hands. The ball was smaller than a person’s palm, and it melted her heart.

Yan Heng propped her head up and chuckled: “Isn’t it cute?”

Only then did Liang Xiao realize her expression had been overly unguarded. She quickly composed herself and teased, “A little cuter than a certain clumsy fox.”

Hearing this, Yan Heng immediately bristled: “This was made to look like me! And it’s even made from the fur of my tail!” Her words were full of grievance.

Liang Xiao was in a good mood: “This little fluff ball is so well-behaved, unlike a certain fox who is all shouty.”

Yan Heng snorted softly, turning her head away to ignore her.

Seeing the little fox get angry, Liang Xiao cleared her throat and said, “Miss Yan… are you angry?”

Yan Heng squeezed out two words: “Dare not.”

Finally, she added, “Your Highness should just play with that fluff ball fox from now on.”

Liang Xiao gave a light laugh: “Jealous of a little fluff ball?”

Yan Heng was instantly mortified: “I am not!” Her face turned bright red, and she stood up and ran away like a flash of light.

Liang Xiao scratched the fox fluff ball in her hand. Unfortunately, the person who cast the spell had run off, and the magic on the fox had also worn off, so it stopped moving.

But the gloom in Liang Xiao’s heart was completely swept away. She placed the little fox in her vanity box on the bedside table, locked the clasp, and then put it back in the cabinet as if it were a treasure.

Yuezhao rushed in at that moment, her skirt rustling, panting heavily: “Your Highness, Master Guanzhen has been found!”

Yan Heng picked a handful of wildflowers from the courtyard and angrily pulled off the petals.

Jealous? A joke! How could she be jealous!

But that sour feeling surged up in waves, making it difficult for her to ignore.

Could it be… that she really was jealous of that fox fluff ball?

The torn petals fell miserably to the ground. Huazi came in, saw the scene, and couldn’t help but ask in surprise, “Is something bothering the lady?”

Yan Heng sighed: “It’s nothing.”

If Huazi knew she was jealous of a fluff ball, wouldn’t that be utterly embarrassing all the way back to Liuyun Mountain?

Hearing this, Huazi could only nod and go attend to other tasks.

As night fell, Yan Qiu uncharacteristically initiated a mental transmission to Yan Heng. The moment he spoke, he asked her mysteriously, “Guess what I went to the northern desert for?”

Yan Heng silently rolled her eyes: “How should I know.”

Yan Qiu spoke with a tone of disappointment: “You little girl, you don’t know your dear brother at all.”

Yan Heng rolled her eyes again: “So what did you go and do?”

Yan Qiu chuckled: “Look for pigments.”

“Pigments? What do you need those for?” This was strange. Although Yan Qiu could paint, he was an impatient person who rarely finished a painting.

Yan Qiu continued: “Do you remember I put a book in your Qiankun bag?”

“I remember. That book of yours helped me a lot.” The book Yan Qiu mentioned was the one that recorded all sorts of strange and intricate mechanisms in the world.

“You read it?” Now it was Yan Qiu’s turn to be surprised. Yan Heng was also restless and had never liked reading those obscure and difficult books since childhood.

Yan Heng said lazily: “I flipped through it once.”

Yan Qiu: “Then do you know, it records a type of mechanism, which is a painting, one that can conceal demon magic.”

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