After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 38

The affairs concerning Cui Xing were similarly entrusted to Yue Ying and Yue Heng to handle, but this time it took longer, and there was no news for five consecutive days.

Yan Heng, on the other hand, began to pore over the spell books detailing how to restore memory, determined not to give up until she had mastered them.

Even when Liang Xiao came to see her, she still held those books in her hand.

“You mustn’t overwork yourself,” Liang Xiao said, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, feeling a pang of heartache.

Yan Heng shook her head: “It’s nothing.”

“Still saying it’s nothing? Look at your complexion, how many days have you not slept properly?” Liang Xiao saw her stubbornness, reached for the mirror on the table, and handed it to Yan Heng.

Yan Heng hadn’t paid attention to her appearance while reading during her morning ablutions these past few days, and was truly startled by what she saw now.

The person in the mirror looked haggard, as if she hadn’t rested for three days and three nights.

She threw the book down and stood up abruptly: “It’s over! How did I become so ugly? His Highness won’t like me anymore.”

Saying this, she covered her face and turned away: “Hua Zi, quickly bring me my jade-face cream.”

She originally disliked applying such things, always feeling they were greasy and uncomfortable on her face, but now she was clutching at straws.

Liang Xiao shook her head helplessly, signaled Hua Zi to hand her the jade-face cream, and grabbed Yan Heng’s hand to pull her closer.

Hua Zi closed the door and left, glancing at Liang Xiao comforting Yan Heng before she went, muttering to herself: “His Highness is too good to our lady, if he were a man, he would probably be…”

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but shiver and quickly fled.

“When have I ever been such a shallow person in your heart?” Liang Xiao asked the person standing before her while rubbing the jade-face cream with her fingertips.

Yan Heng lowered her head: “Not originally, but now that we are closer, I’ve become a little anxious about gain and loss.”

As she spoke, she moved to sit beside Liang Xiao, closing her eyes and waiting for Liang Xiao to apply the cream to her face.

Unexpectedly, what touched her face first was not the smooth cream, but warm lips.

Yan Heng kept her eyes closed, her eyelashes fluttering twice, but she didn’t open them.

From the space between her brows to the corner of her eyes, then to the tip of her nose, and finally resting on her lips.

Liang Xiao’s movements were exceedingly gentle, as if treating a fragile treasure.

After a long time, the two slowly separated. Liang Xiao pinched her face: “I am a very devoted person.”

Yan Heng nodded: “I know.” Then, in a (ingratiating) manner, she leaned forward, touched Liang Xiao’s nose with hers, and rubbed affectionately.

Liang Xiao pressed down on her shoulder with one hand, moved back slightly, and applied the melted cream to Yan Heng’s face: “I have better skincare cream, not oily. I’ll have someone send it over to you later.”

Yan Heng was letting herself be pampered and dared not move, only letting out an “Mm” from her throat.

Before long, Liang Xiao had applied the cream all over her face. Yan Heng felt uncomfortable and was about to touch her face with her hand when it was slapped away.

Liang Xiao closed the lid of the jade-face cream: “Endure it, it will be fine after a while.”

Yan Heng sheepishly retracted her hand and picked up a book from the side: “I’ve learned a lot these past few days. It won’t take long for my spells to definitely improve.”

Liang Xiao played with the sash tied around Yan Heng’s waist: “Mm, I’m waiting for you.”

It was nearing mid-November, and it had snowed several times, leaving a thick layer of snow in the courtyard.

Inside the bedchamber of Jingning Palace.

Yan Heng looked distressed: “Are you ready, Your Highness? It will be even more painful than last time.”

Liang Xiao nodded: “It’s alright.”

Yan Heng was right. This time it was indeed several times more painful. Liang Xiao’s hands suddenly gripped the corner of her clothes tightly, her brows furrowed.

Her Imperial Mother’s spell was too powerful; it had sealed her memories with two layers of magic.

Now, with Yan Heng’s help, the scenes of the past gradually surfaced.

It was a very ordinary autumn afternoon, near the time for winter to set in, but it wasn’t too cold outside yet.

Consort Lian held Liang Xiao’s hand, accompanied by a palace maid whom Liang Xiao didn’t recognize well, and was sitting in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, enjoying the cool air.

From a distance, Consort Yu approached with Liang Shu. The two also stopped in front of the pavilion, as if they were about to enter together.

Consort Yu was followed by a serving maid, and Liang Shu only brought Eunuch Xia.

The group entered the pavilion and sat opposite Consort Lian and Liang Xiao.

At that time, Consort Yu had fallen out of favor and been demoted to Consort Xu.

She waved her hand and called the palace maid’s name: “Cui Xing.” Signaling her to come forward.

The palace maid was one Liang Xiao had never seen before. She was carrying a tray with a wooden box on it.

Consort Yu pointed to the wooden box: “This is a pair of precious pearls that concubine’s family brought from Ronghai Prefecture, symbolizing the deep affection between a loving couple. Concubine thought they would be perfect to present to His Majesty and the Lady.”

Cui Xing carried the tray, walked forward, and stood in front of Liang Xiao and Consort Lian.

Liang Shu coughed a few times, nodded, and said: “Consort Xu has a good heart, open it up and let’s see.”

He raised his chin. The palace maid understood, positioned the box facing Liang Xiao, reached out, and with a “patta” sound, opened the lock.

Almost simultaneously, Consort Lian suddenly turned sideways and shielded Liang Xiao in her arms.

A ball of white light emanated from around them. Liang Xiao widened her eyes in her mother’s embrace.

And the reason why her Imperial Mother shielded her was because from inside that box, countless silver needles were flying towards her.

All those needles were blocked by her Imperial Mother and fell to the ground with a crackling sound.

Liang Shu stood up abruptly, pointing at Consort Lian: “You… you really are—”

Consort Yu got up in terror and blocked in front of Liang Shu: “Demoness!”

Consort Lian quickly knelt down: “Conc-ubine had no intention of hiding it, but alas—”

Liang Shu violently interrupted her: “Enough!”

These words scared Liang Xiao, and she burst into tears: “Imperial Father, don’t be mean to Imperial Mother!”

Liang Shu paid her no mind, turning his head to glance at the servants around them.

Cui Xing, holding the wooden box, stood trembling at the side. Liang Shu looked at her: “Attempting to murder the Princess, interrogate her first, then execute.”

Eunuch Xia was so terrified by Consort Lian that he slumped to the ground, already passed out.

The palace maid who served Consort Lian knelt on the ground with her mistress. Liang Shu gave her a look: “Kill her.”

With that, he looked at Consort Yu. The woman immediately understood and knelt down, saying: “Concubine promises absolutely not to reveal what she has seen today. Should even a single detail leak out, concubine will take her own life to apologize!”

Liang Shu flicked his sleeve: “My love, take care of yourself.”

Then, he led Consort Yu away.

Consort Lian instantly went limp, pulling Liang Xiao, who was still crying, into her arms: “Xiao Xiao, don’t be afraid, Mother is here.”

Later, her mother was killed by a painting.

The memory ended here. Liang Xiao had already recalled the rest earlier.

She opened her eyes, her gaze somewhat vacant.

Yan Heng held her in her arms: “Your Highness?”

Liang Xiao slowly shook her head: “It’s nothing. Let me rest for a moment, and I’ll tell you everything.”

Yan Heng wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, then got up and called Hua Zi into the room to stoke the charcoal fire hotter.

After about half an hour, Liang Xiao finally took a deep breath and began to recount the events of that year.

Yan Heng wrung her handkerchief, listening with bated breath.

“Cui Xing was Consort Yu’s person, so the Thousand Poisons Box is proof of her collusion with Yuan De!” Yan Heng angrily slapped the table.

Liang Xiao rubbed her temples: “I need the deposition from when Imperial Father interrogated Cui Xing that year.”

Yan Heng: “The deposition?”

Liang Xiao nodded: “That’s right. Otherwise, given Imperial Father’s character, if Cui Xing was truly instigated by Consort Yu, how could Consort Yu still be alive today? There must be more to this.”

With that, silence fell between the two.

One matter was stuck in Liang Xiao’s heart.

If Imperial Father knew her mother was a demon in late autumn/early winter, did her mother know that the painting had been tampered with when she was killed?

She only knew that her mother deeply loved her Imperial Father. Even when her identity was exposed, and even when she was subsequently neglected because of it, she never resented him.

She was truly a woman devoted to love.

Liang Xiao tightened her grip on the corner of the table.

Her mother must have known her Imperial Father harbored murderous intent, so she was not murdered; rather, she willingly walked to her death.

Otherwise, with her abilities, she would never have been harmed by a demon painting.

Liang Xiao gave a wry smile, startling Yan Heng.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?” She turned her head, carefully asking Liang Xiao.

“I just feel that my mother’s genuine affection was completely misplaced.”

If you have an afterlife, I hope you find an ordinary family, a life together, with just one devoted partner.

The task of finding Cui Xing’s deposition was given to Yue Heng. With a lead to the investigation, the search was not as arduous.

A few days later, Yue Heng presented a paper deposition.

After reading the black characters on the white paper, Liang Xiao’s brows furrowed again.

Yan Heng noticed she had been frowning frequently lately and felt a pang of sympathy, tugging at Liang Xiao’s sleeve: “What does the deposition say?”

The deposition was brief. It stated that Cui Xing was originally a palace maid of Consort Shu, a consort who was exiled to the Cold Palace. Consort Shu had been put in the Cold Palace for framing Consort Lian and thus held a grudge.

She had instructed the palace maid to find this intricate mechanism outside, originally planning to take revenge on Consort Lian and Liang Xiao, but by accident, it allowed Liang Shu to discover Consort Lian’s true identity.

On the day Cui Xing was executed, Consort Shu was discovered to have hanged herself in the Cold Palace, and the charge of “suicide to avoid punishment” was fully established. The case of plotting to harm the Princess was thus closed.

“The matter of Consort Shu framing my mother was cleared up after her suicide, as it was the work of another person framing her,” Liang Xiao sighed regretfully.

Yan Heng: “There are no obvious flaws in this deposition, except for the Thousand Poisons Box—how did that palace maid get hold of it? Is there a connection between her and the Imperial Advisor?”

The situation suddenly became confusing, and with too many threads, it was momentarily unclear where to start the investigation.

Liang Xiao shook her head wordlessly: “Let me organize my thoughts.”

Yan Heng got up and stood in front of her, reaching out to rub her temples: “Your Highness has been troubled by this matter lately and is too fatigued.”

Liang Xiao closed her eyes: “I just want to get justice for my mother.”

After Yan Heng had massaged her for a while, Liang Xiao took her hands down, pulled her closer, and then reached out to embrace her.

Liang Xiao buried her face in Yan Heng’s abdomen, feeling the rise and fall of the person’s breathing in her arms, which brought her a sense of peace.

Her voice came muffled from Yan Heng’s embrace: “Imperial Father has also been assigning me more and more state affairs. Perhaps I’ll be expected to attend court after the New Year.”

This was the custom in Da Ning. Not only were there female officials, but princes and princesses of appropriate age were also required to attend court to observe and learn about governance.

“Then will Your Highness be moving to live outside the palace?” Yan Heng gently patted Liang Xiao’s back to comfort her.

“Mm, after some time, we will move out.” Liang Xiao tightened her arms around Yan Heng’s waist, holding her even closer.

The two said nothing more, simply remaining quietly together.

If not for the external worldly complications, this could truly be considered a period of peace and tranquility.

Support After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess