After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 36

When Yan Heng heard this, she was initially confused and puzzled. A moment later, she suddenly realized, her old fox face flushed red: “But, isn’t it just a nap?”

Liang Xiao was amused: “Sleeping in the same bed?”

Yan Heng pretended not to hear, sitting on the bed with a pillow in her arms: “If Your Highness doesn’t mind, naturally you can.”

Liang Xiao lifted her skirt and sat on the edge of the bed, not being coy when she heard the reply: “How could I mind?”

The two lay down on the bed, and Yan Heng found herself unable to sleep.

With a living person lying next to her, no one could remain calm.

She turned over slightly, and when she turned her head, she happened to meet Liang Xiao’s eyes, which were as deep as a quiet pool.

Liang Xiao raised her hand and stroked her face: “Not sleepy anymore?”

Yan Heng shook her head and rubbed against her fingers: “Still a little sleepy.”

Liang Xiao leaned her head closer, and the two exchanged a lingering kiss.

She found Yan Heng’s hand under the quilt, their fingers intertwined, and Liang Xiao whispered: “Sleep.”

She wasn’t actually sleepy; she just wanted to watch Yan Heng like this.

As long as they were quietly together like this, all the worldly complexities were cast aside.

The little fox obediently closed her eyes, her breathing slowly became steady, and she gradually fell into a dream.

Liang Xiao gently stroked Yan Heng’s fingers, not daring to use too much force, afraid of waking her up inadvertently.

Lying like this, she also started to feel a little sleepy, and without knowing when, she too fell asleep.

This nap was not entirely peaceful; she had some strange dreams. Sometimes it was her Imperial Mother’s smiling face, sometimes it turned into her Imperial Father coldly saying, “It was I who killed your mother.”

When Liang Xiao woke up again, the sky outside had long darkened.

She was covered in a cold sweat from the sleep and still felt a bit chilly when she got up.

Yan Heng also groggily opened her eyes, her voice a little hoarse from just waking up: “What time is it?”

Liang Xiao woke herself up a bit and answered her: “It’s not time for dinner yet.”

Yan Heng sat up, rubbed her eyes, and prepared to get out of bed: “I’ll go tell Huazi and the others to bring things for washing up.”

After the two tidied themselves up, Liang Xiao got up, ready to have the meal served.

“Since there are no clues these days, let’s rest well first,” Liang Xiao picked up a piece of fish with the bones removed for Yan Heng and said gently, “When we catch hold of Noble Consort Yu’s weakness in the future, we can discuss the following matters.”

Yan Heng nodded and said to Liang Xiao; “You… don’t worry too much about these things either. Look, you haven’t smiled much recently.”

“Alright.” Hearing this, Liang Xiao raised the corners of her mouth.

The next morning, it snowed outside. Yan Heng excitedly ran out as soon as she finished washing up.

Huazi chased after her: “Mistress, take your hand warmer!”

Yan Heng ignored her, squatting on the ground and scooping up a ball of snow: “Huazi, it’s snow!”

“Crunch, crunch.” Someone stepped on the snow and approached. Before the person appeared, a voice was heard laughing and asking: “You little maid, do you like snow so much?”

Yan Heng quickly collected her expression and stood respectfully to curtsy: “Greetings to Your Majesty.”

After Eunuch Zhao brushed the snow off the stool, Liang Shu sat down: “Rise. Where is Her Highness?”

Yan Heng stood up: “Her Highness is still dressing. May I trouble Your Majesty to wait while I go and invite Her Highness.”

Liang Shu nodded, watching Yan Heng take Huazi and flee like a streak of lightning.

Huazi also wore the same disguise, so Liang Shu and the people in the palace did not recognize them.

When Liang Xiao came out, her Imperial Father had just poured himself a cup of hot tea.

“Greetings to Imperial Father.”

Liang Shu did not look up, blowing on the tea as he asked, “Did you not like the fox fur coat I sent you last time?”

Liang Xiao also sat on the stone bench: “Your daughter just finds it a bit cruel. The fox has no intention to harm others, yet its skin is cruelly peeled off.”

Yan Heng stood beside Liang Xiao, and hearing them mention this, her heart felt as if it were pierced by needles, a dense layer of pain welling up. Wasn’t Consort Lian the same? She clearly hadn’t harmed her husband, but in the end…

“I didn’t expect you to be so soft-hearted,” Liang Shu smiled, seemingly not catching the hidden meaning in Liang Xiao’s words. He waved and beckoned the person behind him forward, “Keep this long padded jacket to wear for the winter.”

The long padded jacket was light cyan and embroidered with bamboo branch patterns, looking quite refined.

Liang Xiao stood up and thanked Liang Shu, then continued: “It’s cold outside, Imperial Father, please come inside and sit.”

The two entered the room one after the other. Liang Shu was twirling the jade beads and slowly said, “Counting your age, Xiao’er, it’s time for you to marry.”

Hearing this, Yan Heng’s heart leaped, and a hint of panic appeared in her expression.

Liang Shu did not notice her unusual reaction and continued to speak to Liang Xiao: “I came today to ask for your opinion. If you have a talented young man you like, I will bestow a marriage upon you.”

“It’s still early for that. Your daughter doesn’t want to leave Imperial Father and marry so soon,” Liang Xiao smiled calmly, “How about letting your daughter stay in the palace to accompany Imperial Father for a few more years.”

Liang Shu did not reply, only nodded, not knowing what he was thinking.

After seeing Liang Shu off, Liang Xiao turned and pulled Yan Heng to sit down. Yan Heng was biting her lip, likely still nervous about the “bestowal of marriage” that Liang Shu had casually mentioned.

“What are you afraid of? Just firmly refuse when the time comes. Can Imperial Father force me?” Liang Xiao amusedly squeezed Yan Heng’s fingers.

Yan Heng: “But, but how should Your Highness refuse? I only know that if the Emperor has the intention to bestow a marriage…”

“Don’t worry, it will be fine as long as I don’t agree.” Liang Xiao scooted closer to her, turned her face, and left a light kiss on her lips.

“I’m here, I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t marry anyone.”

Yan Heng felt a little calmer. Liang Xiao changed the topic: “It was cloudy on the way here, it might snow again. Do you want to go out and see?”

Yan Heng instantly brightened up: “It’s snowing again?”

The two held hands and walked outside. Sure enough, snow was fluttering down, covering the sky.

The palace servants had all retreated inside to avoid the snow, leaving only the two of them outside.

“Winter in Shangnan isn’t considered cold; it’s almost like spring and never snows.” Yan Heng turned her head to look at Liang Xiao.

Liang Xiao tilted her head and pondered: “Hmm… then don’t you miss out on a lot of fun?”

Yan Heng was a little confused: “Fun? Besides looking at it, what other fun is there in snow?”

Liang Xiao released her hand, stepped back a few paces, squatted down to gather a ball of snow, and stood up while kneading it, saying: “There’s a lot of fun, for example—”

“—A snowball fight!” She suddenly hurled the snowball in her hand at Yan Heng, then ran further away and shouted at her.

Yan Heng was stunned by the hit, and it wasn’t until the second snowball hit her that she finally reacted: “Oh, Your Highness, you ambushed me!”

With that, she also packed a large snowball, aimed at Liang Xiao, and threw it at her.

It hit the bullseye, and the snowball burst open on Liang Xiao.

The two traded blows, covered in white in the heavy snow, their laughter startling the palace servants inside the room.

“Oh, my dear masters, what are you two doing?” Huazi hastily grabbed a large cloak to drape over Yan Heng. Before she could reach her, she was hit squarely by a snowball.

“Join us, Huazi!” Yan Heng laughed and called out.

Liang Xiao was not far from her: “Don’t be formal today, there’s no distinction between master and servant.”

With that, she threw another snowball at Yan Heng, which landed right on her neck.

The broken snow slid down her collar, making Yan Heng grimace from the cold. Her hand was not polite either, sending a large snowball right at Liang Xiao.

“Since the Princess has spoken—” Huazi, Yuezhou, and Eunuch Qian exchanged glances, and the three immediately scattered.

“Little Qianzi, you’re too shameless!” Huazheng’s waist was attacked, and she immediately bent down to prepare a counterattack.

So, the two-person snowball fight turned into a five-person melee.

Aunt Yuehua, worried about their health, only stood under the covered walkway, watching them with a smile.

“Huazi, why aren’t you hitting the Princess?” Yan Heng dodged their snowballs in a panic, covering her head and fleeing like a rat.

This was her first time playing this novel game, and she couldn’t beat these “repeat offenders,” so she became the target of a “group attack.”

Huazi explained while kneading a snowball: “We don’t dare, Mistress.”

Yan Heng was about to cry. Liang Xiao ran over and, while the other three were attacking each other, whispered in Yan Heng’s ear: “Give me some favor, and I’ll help you counterattack.”

Yan Heng shivered instantly: “What favor does Your Highness want?”

Liang Xiao brought her face close to hers: “Kiss me.”

Yan Heng’s face instantly flushed: “This, this, they’re all here. Can we put it off?”

Liang Xiao nodded: “Of course, but I’ll demand double later.”

With that, she put her arm around Yan Heng and guided her hand to pack a large snowball, whispering: “Now you have a backer.”

After playing all afternoon, everyone finally felt tired. Their hands and feet were numb with cold. A roomful of people squatted by the charcoal stove to warm up.

Yuehua had long prepared warming hot soup and handed a bowl to everyone as soon as they entered the room.

“That was so fun.” Yan Heng was wrapped in a quilt, sipping the soup little by little.

“I’ll take you to play something else in a few days.” Liang Xiao cupped the soup bowl, feeling warm all over.

Yan Heng nodded quickly: “Your Highness is so good.”

Liang Xiao placed the empty bowl on the table: “Soak your feet in hot water tonight, be careful not to catch a cold.”

Yan Heng obediently nodded.

After dinner, the two returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Yan Heng lay on her back on the bed, idly playing with the love-knot on her arm. Now that the two were of one heart, her dreams would no longer be affected by the love-knot.

Although she no longer dreamed of Liang Xiao every day, Yan Heng actually missed the dreams from before.

After all, having the beloved person in her dreams whether her eyes were open or closed made her extremely happy.

“It’s been snowing recently, and you’ve all been cooped up inside, which is a bit boring.”

The next morning, when Liang Xiao went to pay her respects to the Empress, she said leisurely.

Noble Consort Yu laughed: “Does Your Majesty have a way to cheer us ladies up?”

The Empress put down her teacup: “I discussed it with His Majesty. We will invite an opera troupe to the palace tomorrow to perform a few shows.”

Liang Xiao nodded and agreed, thinking that she would bring Yan Heng along then too, to let her go out and relax.

When she returned to her palace, the little fox was holding an embroidery hoop, doing something.

Liang Xiao walked up to her and took the item from her hand, first lifting Yan Heng’s chin to claim a quick, light kiss.

After the kiss, Yan Heng suddenly remembered what Liang Xiao had said during the snowball fight the day before.

She asked curiously: “Your Highness said you would demand double before. How exactly will you demand it?”

Liang Xiao: “Why did you think of that?”

“I suddenly wanted to play in the snow again, so it popped into my mind,” Yan Heng said, leaning against her.

Liang Xiao embraced her: “It’s a secret for now. You’ll know in the future.”

This completely piqued Yan Heng’s curiosity, but Liang Xiao was too tight-lipped, and she couldn’t coax the answer out of her.

Liang Xiao pinched the soft flesh around her waist and changed the subject: “I’ll bring you along to the opera.”

The weather the next day was not good. Only a few rays of sunlight penetrated the clouds, dimly shining down. It was a bit stuffy during the day.

After the consorts paid their respects, the group walked over the snow to the imperial opera house.

Yan Heng stood beside Liang Xiao, with dried fruits that Liang Xiao had handed her in her arms, eating and observing the people in the room.

Noble Consort Yu sat on Liang Xiao’s left, wearing a blue brocade jacket with gold embroidery, looking extremely warm.

After everyone was seated, a gong sounded on the stage, and the opera began.

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