After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 33
Yan Heng sighed lightly and gently brushed the wisps of hair that had fallen near Liang Xiao’s ear.
“Now that we have a clue about the Thousand Poisons Box, we must follow it up properly,” Yan Heng frowned. “Even though it was your imperial father’s command, I always feel someone is stirring things up.”
Liang Xiao took a deep breath: “I will never let the mastermind behind this get away.”
Although Liang Shu and Liang Xiao were outwardly reconciled, people in the imperial harem still picked up on some rumors. For a time, rumors like “the princess is no longer favored” were flying everywhere, until Liang Shu sent people to suppress the gossip.
Time flew by, and it was now October.
It was the golden autumn season, and Liang Shu, with a grand gesture, decided to go hunting at the Royal Hunting Ground in the suburbs.
So, a large group set off with great fanfare.
Yan Heng, as usual, disguised herself as a palace maid and followed by Liang Xiao’s side. Although she had changed her appearance, she was still afraid that someone with ill intentions might discover her tracks, so she only dared to stay in the camp tent and did not wander around.
“Why don’t you go out for a walk?” Liang Xiao lifted the tent curtain and came in from outside.
Yan Heng was holding a plate of grapes in her hand, eating as she said, “There’s nothing much to do outside. It’s just a change of location for passing the time.”
Hua Zi handed over a cup of tea and then quietly withdrew.
Liang Xiao patted the spot next to her, signaling Yan Heng to sit down.
Yan Heng, carrying the fruit plate, sat beside her and fed her a grape.
Liang Xiao held the fruit in her mouth, turned Yan Heng’s face, and leaned in.
A sparkling, round grape was delivered into Yan Heng’s mouth with Liang Xiao’s tongue tip.
Yan Heng bit the grape open, her face flushed. The sweet juice filled her mouth. As Yan Heng swallowed the grape, she muttered in her heart that her Royal Highness was becoming increasingly flirtatious.
Yan Heng played with Liang Xiao’s hand, raised her head, and asked her: “Is there any progress on the matter of the Thousand Poisons Box?”
Liang Xiao gently shook her head: “Aside from knowing that a box of that kind was presented by Consort Yu, there are no other clues for now.”
Yan Heng: “Actually, I think it’s a bit strange.”
Liang Xiao raised an eyebrow: “Hmm? Why do you say that?”
Yan Heng said seriously: “Doesn’t Your Highness find it odd? How did the Emperor know that the Empress Mother was a demon?”
Hearing this, Liang Xiao fell into deep thought.
Yan Heng continued: “It’s almost impossible for ordinary people to distinguish a demon with the naked eye. Moreover, the Empress Mother was by the Emperor’s side for so many years and even gave birth to Your Highness. How was she suddenly discovered?”
“In other words,” Liang Xiao mused, “someone might have deliberately harmed Mother Consort, making Imperial Father discover that she was a demon?”
Yan Heng nodded gravely.
Liang Xiao gently patted the back of her hand.
“Imperial Father doesn’t allow me to bring up this matter again. We have to investigate in secret.”
Yan Heng hesitated: “Weren’t our previous movements discovered?”
Liang Xiao continued her thought: “Therefore, we must be even more careful.”
Yan Heng nodded thoughtfully, then thought of something else: “There is still one thing I don’t understand.”
Liang Xiao looked at her: “What is it?”
Yan Heng: “How did the Emperor come to know the State Preceptor?”
Liang Xiao: “Back then, Imperial Father fell ill, and the imperial physicians couldn’t figure it out, so Prince Chen brought the State Preceptor from outside the palace.”
Yan Heng clapped her hands together: “The problem lies here. Since the State Preceptor came to treat an illness, how did he also happen to be a demon-slayer? And how did he also happen to discover that the Empress Mother was a demon?”
These words enlightened Liang Xiao.
When these things were connected, there were too many coincidences.
Apart from Imperial Father, perhaps there was someone else manipulating all this behind the scenes.
Liang Xiao’s eyebrows furrowed: “In A-Heng’s opinion, where should we start the investigation?”
Yan Heng reached up and smoothed her brow, saying: “First, investigate the Emperor’s illness.”
Before Liang Xiao could answer, she continued: “Find out exactly what kind of illness it was that even the imperial physicians couldn’t diagnose.”
Liang Xiao clasped her hand: “Alright.”
Liang Xiao squeezed Yan Heng’s fingers, then continued: “But before that, there are other things we need to do.”
Yan Heng looked at her suspiciously: “What things?”
Liang Xiao poked Yan Heng’s face: “Doesn’t A-Heng want to know who tried to assassinate me during the last hunt?”
“Oh, it was that matter,” Yan Heng suddenly realized. “If Your Highness hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten.”
This matter had actually only happened a few months ago, but too many things had happened recently, and the two of them hadn’t focused their attention on it.
Liang Xiao smiled helplessly: “Only you have such a short memory.”
Yan Heng coughed to cover up: “Does Your Highness have any clue about this matter?”
Liang Xiao shook her head mysteriously: “Lure him out.”
Yan Heng gave a confused “Ah,” and was pulled by the hand by Liang Xiao from the stool.
“Let’s go for a walk outside and see where the person we’re looking for is.” After saying that, she also pointed to Yan Heng’s nose: “Watch for my cue.”
Yan Heng, completely bewildered, followed behind Liang Xiao and walked out of the tent.
Although it was already late autumn in October, the sunlight was still bright, and the palace maids and eunuchs were bustling outside; it was quite lively.
Liang Shu had gone to the forest to hunt with the other princes, so only the imperial concubines were sitting here at the moment.
Yan Heng rarely saw Consort Yu.
That person fanned herself with a gold-flecked fan, lightly glanced at her, and did not notice anything unusual about Yan Heng. In Consort Yu’s eyes, she was just an ordinary-looking little palace maid.
The fan was exceedingly beautiful, and Yan Heng couldn’t help but look at it a couple more times. It was painted with a flower Yan Heng couldn’t name and bordered with gold thread.
Liang Xiao led her to sit beside the Empress.
The young Ninth Prince, Liang Mu, scurried over and hugged Liang Xiao’s arm, acting spoiled.
“Seventh Imperial Sister, I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Liang Xiao pinched his face: “Did you miss Imperial Sister?”
The child said clearly and crisply: “Yes.”
Yan Heng looked at the little dumpling and suddenly remembered Liang Xiao from nine years ago.
The little girl was also soft and tender, looking like she could be pinched and produce water.
Her lips curled up unconsciously.
Liang Mu hadn’t seen her before, and turned his head to ask Liang Xiao: “Who is this big sister?”
Yan Heng stood up and curtsied: “This servant is Her Royal Highness the Princess’s maid, greetings to Your Highness the Ninth Prince.”
Liang Mu reached out his arms for a hug, but Consort Yu stopped him, speaking out: “Mu’er, mind your status, come back to Mother Consort.”
The little fellow had no choice but to stop, pouting, and went back.
Yan Heng’s hand that was extended froze in mid-air, and she withdrew it awkwardly.
Liang Xiao squeezed her fingertips under the wide sleeve, and spoke to Consort Yu: “Mother Consort truly loves the Ninth Brother.”
Consort Yu chuckled: “Naturally.”
She held Liang Mu in her arms and continued proudly: “Not only does this consort love him, but the Emperor also favors our A-Mu tremendously. One day, perhaps he will be able to—”
“Whoa—” A prince rode his horse back, stopping right next to them, interrupting Consort Yu’s words.
It was an unfamiliar face that Yan Heng had not seen before.
The Empress smiled sweetly: “A-Yan is back so soon?”
Liang Yan cupped his hands in a salute: “This son is not skilled in this activity. I only circled a few times and couldn’t shoot any prey.”
As he spoke, he subtly glanced at Liang Mu, whom Consort Yu was holding, and then gave Liang Xiao a sidelong look.
However, his disguise was excellent, and apart from the sharp-eyed Liang Xiao and Yan Heng, no one else noticed anything.
The Fourth Prince, Liang Yan, was the son of Consort Shu, who had passed away from illness eleven years ago. After that, he was raised by Consort Dowager Zhao.
However, Consort Dowager Zhao was quite old and also passed away two years ago. Since Liang Yan was over twenty, he simply established a manor outside the palace and started his own family.
The two returned to their tent, and Liang Xiao briefly recounted the details about Liang Yan.
She tilted her head and looked at Yan Heng, adding: “Aunt Yuehua told me that Consort Shu died by hanging herself.”
Yan Heng was astonished: “Hanging?”
Liang Xiao tapped the table with her index finger: “That’s right.”
She continued: “Consort Shu had already passed away before Mother Consort died. But Aunt Yuehua doesn’t know what happened back then; the news was all suppressed.”
Yan Heng was full of doubts: “Since she was already made a Consort, why would she commit suicide?”
After thinking hard for a long time and failing to find a logical explanation, they both gave up on the matter.
“Speaking of which, after your trip out just now, do you have any clue about the assassin?” Yan Heng propped her head up and looked at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao softly uttered two words: “Liang Yan.”
To this day, Liang Shu has not yet named an heir, and many people are eyeing that position.
And Liang Yan has practically exposed his ambition to everyone.
Liang Xiao had always been indifferent to political affairs, content to be an idle princess in the imperial harem, but Liang Shu also had her help handle some important state matters, which led to quite a bit of criticism in the court.
Liang Xiao narrowed her eyes: “You saw it just now. His eyes don’t lie.”
Yan Heng said: “He probably happened to hear what Consort Yu said when he returned.”
Liang Xiao said lazily: “Fourth Imperial Brother is talented and resourceful. If he truly gains Imperial Father’s favor, it’s not impossible for him to inherit the throne.”
After that, she added: “As long as you and I are safe in the end, that’s all that matters.”
Yan Heng was thinking about something and did not reply to her.
Liang Xiao saw that she had been quiet for a long time and didn’t speak either, so the two of them just sat quietly.
After about half an hour, Yan Heng suddenly spoke: “Is the assassin Your Highness’s guess?”
Liang Xiao nodded: “Yes. Although I can’t be certain, it’s about eighty or ninety percent likely.”
Apart from Liang Yan, the other princes naturally also had ambitions, but he was the first one that Liang Xiao could clearly see through.
Having one’s intentions too exposed is not a good thing.
This autumn hunt lasted for three days. Liang Shu originally intended to stay for a few more days, but the weather suddenly turned cold, so they had no choice but to set off back to the palace.
After returning from the hunting ground, Liang Shu fell ill. He coughed daily, and the medicine didn’t seem to help much. His summons for nightly attendance also became much less frequent.
On this day at noon, the sun was unusually bright.
A young eunuch from the Archives Office was dozing in his chair, his eyes half-closed.
His duties were usually light, and hardly anyone ever came here.
Liang Xiao strode in and cleared her throat.
The young eunuch woke up with a start, scrambled to his feet, and knelt down to salute Liang Xiao: “This servant greets Her Royal Highness the Princess.”
Liang Xiao waved her hand, signaling him to rise, and slowly asked: “Do you have the records of Imperial Father summoning imperial physicians over the past ten or so years?”
The young eunuch hurriedly said: “Yes, yes, Your Highness, please wait a moment.”
Liang Xiao sat down on a nearby chair, and Yuehua poured a cup of tea and brought it over.
The young eunuch was the same one as before, quick and efficient in his work. Before long, he came back with the ledger.
The young eunuch looked at Liang Xiao’s expression: “Forgive this servant for asking, but Your Highness is looking for this to…”
Liang Xiao said calmly: “Imperial Father’s health has not been good for many years. I’m seeing if I can find the root of the illness for a permanent cure.”
The young eunuch nodded and stood to the side without speaking again.
The ledger was meticulously detailed. Liang Xiao appeared to be flipping through it casually, but she was actually going straight for the records from eleven years ago.
What kind of illness could it have been that even the imperial physicians couldn’t diagnose?
After about an hour, just as the young eunuch was starting to feel drowsy, Liang Xiao finally found what she was looking for.
The record for that year was still in the autumn.
Yan Heng held a needle, embroidering a sachet by the dim light of the lamp.
She had heard from Hua Zi that women in Da Ning would give a sachet to the person they loved as a sign of affection.
However, she had never done such delicate work before. After only embroidering a single jasmine leaf, she gave up.
When Liang Xiao lifted the curtain and entered, she frantically stuffed the sachet into her cosmetic box, tidied her hair, and happily went to meet her.
She hugged Liang Xiao’s arm: “Your Highness is back? Why didn’t you go eat first?”
Liang Xiao smiled with indulgence: “I was thinking of you. I missed you terribly after a day apart.”
Yan Heng cupped her face and gave her a quick kiss. Her face, flushed crimson by Liang Xiao’s words in the candlelight, looked incredibly tempting.
Liang Xiao took her hand, sat down on the small couch, and said gently: “I found the record of Imperial Father’s illness from eleven years ago at the Archives Office.”
Yan Heng: “What were the results?”
Liang Xiao shook her head: “No particularly special findings.”
“However… there is indeed one strange thing.”
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