After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 41

The weather today was quite nice. The sun streamed lazily through the window and onto the small couch, giving a golden edge to the little fox spirit who was dozing there. She had woken up a bit early today and was still sleepy. Just as she was drifting into a hazy dream, she heard footsteps outside, which she figured was Liang Xiao returning.

Yan Heng hurriedly jumped off the couch, got up, opened the door, and welcomed Liang Xiao in.

The two sat facing each other. Liang Xiao placed a box on the small table and took out a fan.

Yan Heng opened the fan with a pa sound, holding it up to the sunlight to examine it carefully.

“The fans from Ronghaizhou are so exquisite, Your Highness. Look, there’s even gold dust sprinkled on the fan’s rib.” Saying this, she handed the fan to Liang Xiao, pointing out the shimmering, scale-like gold dust on the fan screen.

“That’s odd. I’ve never seen this before at the Imperial Uncle’s mansion.” Liang Xiao took the fan and held it in her hand, trying to find the gold dust Yan Heng had mentioned, but she couldn’t find anything.

“That’s strange. Where is the gold dust you spoke of?” She looked at the fan suspiciously.

“It’s right on the fan rib, can’t Your Highness see it?” This time, Yan Heng was also puzzled. She took the fan back again, flipping it over to look at the fan rib.

The warm and gentle sunlight shone on one side of her body, and also happened to illuminate the fan.

Yan Heng suddenly realized: “I understand, Your Highness. It seems this gold dust can only be seen when sunlight shines on it.”

After saying that, she pointed to the area around Liang Xiao: “There is no sunlight shining by Your Highness, so when you held it, you couldn’t see it.”

Hearing this, Liang Xiao got up and sat beside Yan Heng. Now she could see the sunlight, and the gold dust on the fan indeed appeared.

“The first time I saw this fan at the Imperial Uncle’s mansion, it was a clear day, but the sky suddenly clouded over. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t notice this anomaly.”

Yan Heng placed the fan on the table, sighing: “This gold dust doesn’t have any use, it’s just for looks.”

Liang Xiao was about to nod in agreement when something suddenly came to mind.

She stood up and said to Yan Heng: “Wait for me here. I’m going to find a book.”

Although Yan Heng was confused and didn’t understand, she didn’t ask further, assuming it was just something related to the clue.

Liang Xiao was gone for quite a while, only returning near lunchtime.

As soon as she entered the room, she explained: “It took a lot of effort to find this. It was pressed under a box, and I had to rummage through things for quite some time.”

Saying this, Liang Xiao sat next to Yan Heng and handed her the item in her hand.

“This book is the Great Ning Chronicle of Wonders, it records many local customs,” Liang Xiao said, pointing to the book in Yan Heng’s hand.

Yan Heng was full of questions: “What does this have to do with the fan?”

Liang Xiao held her hand and flipped to the part related to Ronghaizhou: “Read this part about Ronghaizhou carefully.”

Yan Heng began to read the book seriously.

A passage in the book caught her attention.

“If the fan is for a woman’s use, it is decorated with gold dust, which is invisible without light.”

She pointed to this passage, her eyes wide, and looked at Liang Xiao in shock.

Liang Xiao nodded and said: “Therefore, the fan in the Imperial Uncle’s hand is very likely Consort Yu’s.”

Yan Heng was so excited she wanted to jump up: “Then don’t we have evidence now to accuse Consort Yu?”

Liang Xiao’s expression darkened slightly, and she shook her head: “No need to rush this matter. I want to figure out everything first.”

Indeed, there was still the matter between Cui Xing and Consort Yu that had not yet been clarified.

“I don’t understand court affairs, but I heard that Consort Yu’s father is highly regarded by the Emperor,” Yan Heng said, holding Liang Xiao’s hand.

“That is true. So, trying to unseat Consort Yu with just a fan is still impossible,” Liang Xiao sighed softly.

Yan Heng propped her head up, suddenly falling silent for a long time.

Liang Xiao looked at the person beside her, who had been motionless for a while, in confusion.

“Consort Yu is currently highly favored. Is there any way to make her lose the Emperor’s favor, so we can curb her arrogance?” Yan Heng said indignantly.

Liang Xiao found it amusing and tapped her on the head: “Have you even learned about palace intrigue?”

Yan Heng rubbed the spot where she was tapped, pouting: “I just can’t stand her arrogant manner. She has done such hateful things, yet she’s still acting tyrannically in the harem.”

Liang Xiao smiled: “Don’t worry, just stay safe in the palace.”

The two then changed the subject and stopped discussing ways to make Consort Yu lose favor.

As the New Year approached, the palace became lively.

Today was already the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month. Hua Zi was using a duster to clean every corner of the palace.

Yan Heng watched her bustling about and asked, puzzled: “Why clean so thoroughly? Isn’t someone sweeping every day?”

Hua Zi looked at him with a strange expression: “Doesn’t the young mistress know that on the twenty-fourth of the twelfth month, you must clean the house? This is a custom passed down by our ancestors.”

Yan Heng was speechless for a moment. She never had so many formalities on Flowing Cloud Mountain. The New Year was just the New Year, and they only made a fuss on New Year’s Eve and the first day of the New Year, and that was it.

Now that she was in the palace, preparations for the New Year had indeed started from the beginning of the twelfth lunar month.

**

Everyone’s faces were full of joy, presumably looking forward to the New Year. Although the Imperial Palace was usually solemn, these past few days it had also begun to be decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, and everything was festive and vibrant.

Liang Shu bestowed a big red jacket upon Liang Xiao, and when she put it on, she looked like a red persimmon, which made Yan Heng laugh so hard she couldn’t straighten up.

When there was no one else in the room, Liang Xiao suddenly said, out of the blue: “This red would look exceptionally good on Imperial Concubine.”

When Yan Heng first heard these two words from Liang Xiao’s mouth, she thought Liang Xiao was referring to Concubine Lian. But the person’s sly gaze was fixed on her, and she suddenly realized: “You, you, what did you call me?”

Liang Xiao stood up, straightened the collar of Yan Heng’s clothes, and slowly said: “Imperial Concubine.”

Yan Heng immediately reached out to cover her mouth: “I’m not your Imperial Father’s concubine anymore. You, you, please don’t call me that again. It’s too strange.”

Liang Xiao laughed: “How is it strange? After your presumed death, Imperial Father posthumously elevated you to the rank of Concubine, so you deserve this address of ‘Imperial Concubine’ from me.”

Yan Heng complained: “When you call me that, it feels like we are doing something illicit.”

Liang Xiao bent down and whispered in her ear: “Imperial Concubine and I… are secretly in love behind Imperial Father’s back.”

Yan Heng’s face flushed, and she lightly thumped her.

Liang Xiao laughed and grasped her hand: “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I won’t call you that again in the future.”

Then, she lowered her head and left a kiss on Yan Heng’s lips.

“Today is New Year’s Eve, and there will be a palace banquet tonight. I imagine it will be livelier than on Flowing Cloud Mountain,” Liang Xiao said softly, leading her to a seat.

She thought for a moment, then continued: “They will also set off fireworks tonight. They are truly beautiful.”

Yan Heng had seen many fireworks outside the palace, but she figured the ones in the Imperial Palace would certainly have more varieties.

At the palace banquet, there were all kinds of exquisite delicacies. Liang Xiao thought of a certain gluttonous little fox and wanted her to have a taste as well, so she ordered the chef in her own palace to prepare an identical portion for Yan Heng.

“It’s not proper to bring you to the front for the banquet tonight. Otherwise, you’d only be able to stand aside and watch, and you wouldn’t get to eat any of the fine dishes,” Liang Xiao said to Yan Heng, holding her hand and smiling, as she was about to leave.

“I know. Your Highness, please go. I’ll be here with Hua Zi and the others, waiting for your return,” Yan Heng nodded, leaning in to kiss Liang Xiao’s cheek.

Since it was the Lunar New Year’s Eve, Liang Shu was also in a much better mood. He even raised his cup to drink with Liang Xiao at the banquet: “After the New Year, Xiao’er should start attending court and handling government affairs.”

Liang Xiao replied: “Your Imperial Father is too kind. I’m not good at this, and I’m afraid I’ll become a laughingstock.”

Liang Shu laughed heartily: “You are My daughter, who would dare to laugh at you? Just be confident in court. After you adapt, I will give you an official position.”

Liang Xiao rose to thank him and drank the wine in her cup in one gulp.

After the palace banquet, a group of people left the feast. Liang Xiao ordered Yue Hua to go to the palace to fetch Yan Heng. The two followed behind Liang Shu and the concubines, whispering to each other.

“Did you enjoy your dinner? My palace chef is not as good as the Imperial Kitchen’s, I was worried it might not be to your taste,” Liang Xiao whispered.

“The taste was excellent,” Yan Heng laughed.

In the distance, they saw eunuchs setting off firecrackers and fireworks in an open space. Everyone stood on the steps, waiting to watch the fireworks show.

Taking advantage of everyone’s gaze being directed forward, Liang Xiao lowered her arm and squeezed Yan Heng’s fingers through the sleeves.

Yan Heng raised her hand and pulled up her sleeve to cover their clasped hands.

From a distance, it just looked like the two of them had lowered their hands at the same time, with nothing unusual visible.

The palace servant lit the fuse, and a brilliant light shot into the sky, bursting into a dazzling firework.

They exchanged a look, their eyes holding a depth of feeling that others could not comprehend.

Through the years, this love is all that matters.

**

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month had passed, and Liang Xiao was to attend court the next day.

Since she was entering officialdom, she could no longer live in the palace. Yan Heng was happy about this for several days—she always found the palace too stuffy, and now they could finally return to the Princess’s residence.

Early this morning, the madam from the Imperial Garment Bureau delivered her official robes. Since Liang Xiao did not yet have an official rank, the dress code was not strict, and she was given a light scarlet color.

After changing, Yan Heng circled Liang Xiao again and again, clicking her tongue in admiration.

“I’ve never seen Your Highness wear such a vibrant color; it truly looks splendid,” she touched the fabric of the clothes and sighed with feeling.

Yue Hua stood behind Liang Xiao, tying up her long hair.

Since she was entering court as an official, she had to wear an official hat, so her hair could no longer be worn loose.

Liang Xiao’s features were already delicate and refined, and with this new attire, she was even more enchanting. Yan Heng felt a flutter in her heart, her pulse racing, and she stared intently.

The clothes fit perfectly. Liang Xiao looked at herself in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.

“Court affairs are complicated. Your Highness will be busier from now on, won’t you?” Yan Heng asked.

“I will be a little busier, but I will definitely always be thinking of you.” Yue Hua had left after helping Liang Xiao change, so she spoke without any reservations.

Yan Heng felt a warmth in her heart, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed her on the cheek.

Liang Xiao took her hand: “The court is not like the harem. The harem’s struggles are mostly overt, while the court is often full of hidden currents and cold arrows that are hard to guard against.”

Yan Heng asked curiously: “Now that Your Highness has entered court, if you do well, will the Emperor let you inherit the throne?”

Liang Xiao shook her head: “Probably not. After all, there are older brothers. They have deep experience, which I cannot compare with.”

“However, some things must still be fought for.”

If she were to truly attain the throne one day, she would certainly clear her birth mother’s name.

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