After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 47

Xia Yin knocked over the teacup in her hand, her voice trembling as she asked in disbelief, “What did you say?”

Liang Xiao quickly spoke before Yan Heng could, “Uncle and Aunt, please don’t blame A-Heng, I was the one who intended it first.”

Yan Wei looked at them, opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.

It was one thing for a woman to fall in love with a woman, but they were one human and one demon—this was truly the greatest wonder, ancient and modern!

Yan Qiu suddenly spoke, “Dad, Mom, there are many strange things in this world—”

“Simply preposterous!” Yan Wei cut him off, then turned his head to look at Yan Heng: “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely,” Yan Heng remained kneeling. Several times, Liang Xiao wanted to kneel with her, but Yan Heng stopped her.

Xia Yin’s eyes were red, “Heng’er…”

Yan Heng’s words were forceful and clear: “I am a woman, and I never wanted to shoulder the mission of continuing the family line. Whether it’s a man or a woman, isn’t it enough as long as there is true affection?”

Yan Wei still seemed unable to accept it. He looked at Liang Xiao: “Miss Liang, tell me, are you two truly serious?”

“Truly serious,” Saying this, Liang Xiao finally ignored Yan Heng’s protest, swept her skirt, and knelt down. “I promise the two of you, if A-Heng suffers the slightest grievance with me, I will be struck by heaven’s thun—”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Yan Heng covered her mouth with her hand, “Even if Dad and Mom don’t agree, I’m devoted to you.”

Yan Qiu had long seen through the feelings between the two. In past chuanyin (telepathic communication), three out of five of Yan Heng’s sentences were about Liang Xiao. As her full-blooded brother, he had actually noticed something amiss long ago.

His younger sister was, after all, his own flesh and blood, so he definitely had to protect her.

“As Heng’er said, she just needs to find someone who truly treats her well. It doesn’t matter if that person is male or female, human or demon,” Yan Qiu spoke again, helping Yan Heng plead her case.

Yan Wei listened to his words and fell silent along with his wife.

Yan Heng gave Yan Qiu a look of gratitude, and he tossed back a look that said, “How about that? Isn’t your brother awesome?”

“We’ll discuss this with your mother before making a decision,” After a long while, Yan Wei slowly opened his mouth and said this.

Hearing this, it seemed the couple’s attitude was softening, and Yan Heng was instantly overjoyed.

“Please rest assured, the name Liang Xiao is never associated with being fickle or heartless,” Saying this, Liang Xiao actually bowed, intending to kowtow to the two of them. Yan Heng quickly helped her up.

“Your Highness is a princess, you don’t need to treat commoners like us…” Before Yan Heng could finish, Liang Xiao cut her off.

Her back was straight: “I am only a human princess. Now, in the Demon Tribe’s village, I am just an ordinary person. I am not bowing to commoners; I am bowing to the parents of the one I love.”

Yan Heng bit her lip, and her nose stung with emotion.

“Miss Liang, please rise. My wife and I will consider your matter,” Yan Wei sighed deeply, his eyes signaling Yan Heng to help Liang Xiao up.

“Thank you, Dad and Mom,” Yan Heng sighed in relief and smiled at the two.

The two women curtsied slightly and left the room.

Yan Heng led the person back to her room, pushed her to sit on the bed, and lifted Liang Xiao’s skirt.

Yan Heng reached out to lift Liang Xiao’s pant leg again, but was stopped by Liang Xiao, whose face was flushed: “What are you doing?”

Yan Heng said softly, “Your Highness knelt so sincerely just now, your knees must be red, right?”

It was only when Yan Heng mentioned it that Liang Xiao truly felt a faint ache in her knees.

She maintained a calm demeanor: “You’re talking about me, but you were the one who knelt faster than anyone else.”

Yan Heng said carelessly, “It’s fine, those are my parents. There’s no loss in kneeling to them.”

Liang Xiao held her hand and pulled her to sit on the bed: “It’s understandable that the two elders can’t accept this right away.”

Yan Heng nodded: “But judging by the looks of Dad and Mom, they have already softened their stance.”

She then felt a bit puzzled: “Yan Qiu actually helped us speak up. I didn’t expect that.”

Liang Xiao patted her hand: “Thankfully, things went more smoothly than I thought.”

Yan Heng rested her forehead against Liang Xiao’s, affectionately rubbing it: “Dad and Mom will definitely agree.”

**

Yan Qiu was sitting outside studying his newly bought book on mechanisms, but he was struck by Yan Heng from behind.

“Old fox, confess now!”

Yan Qiu said helplessly: “My dear sister, what do you want to hear?”

Yan Heng sat across from him, rubbing her chin: “Why did you speak in our favor today?”

Yan Qiu looked disdainful: “Only Dad and Mom couldn’t tell the strong affection between you and that princess, could they?”

Yan Heng said angrily: “You, you, you shouldn’t talk nonsense!”

Yan Qiu imitated her: “I, I, I am actually not talking nonsense.”

Then he said seriously: “I always heard you mention her when we used chuanyin in the past, so I paid extra attention. I didn’t expect your relationship to be truly out of the ordinary.”

As he spoke, he gave Yan Heng a thumbs-up.

Yan Heng had a proud look: “My Highness is someone better than anyone else in the heavens and on earth, in all four seas and eight directions.”

Yan Qiu “Tsk tsk-ed” a few times: “A silly fox blinded by love.”

Yan Heng made a move to hit him, but was called out to from behind.

Liang Xiao walked over and smiled at Yan Qiu: “Thank you for your help today, Brother.”

Yan Qiu waved his hand: “Don’t mention it, don’t mention it.”

He paused, then asked with three parts curiosity, three parts disdain, and four parts confusion: “Miss Liang, how did you come to fancy my cheap little sister?”

Liang Xiao was momentarily speechless, and Yan Heng had already jumped up to hit him.

She stood watching the two roughhouse and suddenly burst into laughter.

A feeling like this—that’s what you could call “family,” perhaps.

The deep palace, with its red walls and green tiles, was too cold and lacked this moving color.

The two wrestled for a long time, stopping only when the sun began to set.

Yan Heng, panting heavily, pointed at Yan Qiu and said, “I’ll have a great battle with you again tomorrow, three hundred rounds.”

Yan Qiu laughed heartily: “You? Wait another hundred years!”

Yan Heng was about to curse him out again, when she was suddenly stunned by a certain word.

She slapped her head. She had almost forgotten the most important thing!

She stopped bickering with Yan Qiu and rushed back to her room, leading Liang Xiao out.

Judging by the time, Grandma hadn’t gone to sleep yet. This was the perfect time to go.

Liang Xiao was pulled along, completely bewildered. Seeing Yan Heng’s hurried expression, she thought something major had happened, and worriedly asked behind her, “What are you rushing about?”

Yan Heng didn’t look back: “To find Grandma.”

This jogged a name from the corners of Liang Xiao’s memory. She suddenly remembered that it seemed related to extending her lifespan.

She looked at Yan Heng’s back, her emotions complicated.

For so long, the two had intentionally avoided this issue, as if the chasm between human and demon didn’t exist as long as no one brought it up.

She bit her lip and quickened her pace to follow Yan Heng.

Grandma’s room was still beneath that gigantic old tree. It didn’t take them long to arrive.

The old woman was holding a staff in one hand, leaning against the tree and dozing off.

“Grandma? Grandma?” Yan Heng approached and called her name softly a couple of times.

Grandma opened her eyes, slowly shifted her gaze, and after a moment, recognized the visitors. She broke into a smile: “It’s been a long time, A-Heng!”

Yan Heng sat beside her and linked arms with her: “Grandma, look, this is the person I love.”

Grandma looked up at Liang Xiao, her face still wearing a kind smile: “What a beautiful girl. Our A-Heng is truly blessed.”

Yan Heng chuckled: “It took a lot of effort to trick her into coming back with me.”

Liang Xiao crouched down and said to Grandma: “I’m the one clinging to A-Heng.”

Grandma laughed happily at that, then slowly shook her head: “A-Heng’s beloved, she doesn’t look like she’s of our clan.”

Yan Heng took a soft breath: “We really can’t hide anything from your eyes, Grandma. A-Xiao is indeed human.”

She continued: “We came to see you today because we wanted to ask, do you know of any method to extend a human’s lifespan?”

Grandma remained silent, pondering for a long time. Just as Yan Heng’s face crumpled, thinking even Grandma had no solution, she suddenly spoke, her voice old and hoarse: “This method is rather sinister. Are you two willing to try it?”

Both of their eyes lit up. They exchanged a look and nodded in unison.

Grandma got up, preparing to go back inside, signaling for them to follow.

The two quickly followed Grandma and entered her room.

Grandma’s room furnishings were very simple, likely because the family worried that having too many things would make it difficult for the elderly woman to walk without stumbling.

She slowly moved to the bookshelf, her gaze scanning a pile of ancient and worn books, finally settling on one of them.

Yan Heng helped Grandma pull the book out. It was heavily worn, the cover was tattered, and the internal pages were precarious, showing the owner had consulted it many times.

Grandma held the book very close, trembling as she flipped through it for a long time, then stopped on a certain page and pushed the book toward the two women.

Yan Heng held the book with Liang Xiao, reading the contents word for word: “In ancient times, there was the ‘Same-Heart Gu.’ Those who take it will share the same lifespan and perish together, never to be separated.”

These words gave Yan Heng and Liang Xiao immense hope. They put the book down, and Yan Heng asked: “Grandma, do you know where we can find this Same-Heart Gu?”

Grandma thought for a moment: “This thing is rare. I suggest you go to the Demon Market and ask around among the vendors in the hidden corners; you might find a clue.”

Yan Heng rushed forward and hugged Grandma tightly: “Thank you!”

Grandma chuckled, “Haha, silly child.”

By nightfall, Mount Liuyun was a bit cold. Everyone was extremely quiet during dinner, and the atmosphere was so silent it made Yan Heng uncomfortable.

Yan Wei pondered for a long time and finally spoke with difficulty: “Your matter…”

Yan Heng immediately put down her chopsticks and looked at him with burning intensity.

Xia Yin picked up the thread: “Your father and I are not opposed, but this path is too difficult. You two must think it through carefully.”

After saying that one sentence, her eyes turned red. Who wouldn’t wish for their daughter to have a smooth and peaceful life, a thoughtful husband, and a stable existence. But ever since Yan Heng got entangled with that Love Knot, she has never been at peace, and now she’s in love with a woman. How could she, as a mother, not feel distressed?

Yan Heng held her hands: “Please don’t worry, Dad and Mom.”

Liang Xiao said: “If I ever let A-Heng down, I will surely—”

Yan Heng quickly interrupted her: “Does Your Highness want to make a poisonous vow again?”

Liang Xiao gave an embarrassed cough: “I only wanted to set Uncle and Aunt’s minds at ease.”

Xia Yin said: “Miss Liang is more steady than our Heng’er. Please bear with her in the future.”

Yan Wei followed: “She is too willful. If you can’t tolerate her, just send her back.”

Liang Xiao pursed her lips and smiled softly: “A-Heng is very good.”

Yan Qiu saw the atmosphere getting increasingly strange. He gestured: “Now that we’re a family, can we please eat? I’m starving to death.”

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere instantly became harmonious.

Here, with just a few lights glowing, it was simply an ordinary family.

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