After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 49

In the autumn of the twenty-fourth year of Shunping in Daling, the Emperor passed away.

The seventh daughter, Liang Xiao, succeeded to the throne, changing the era name to Yongan.

In the winter month of the same year, the Empress, against all opposition, decreed a woman as her Empress, and the wedding was set for the following spring.

**

Hua Zi lightly tapped the table, waking the drowsy Yan Heng: “Your Highness, His Majesty has arrived.”

It was easy to feel sleepy in winter, especially when the room was warm. Yan Heng felt drowsy after sitting for less than an hour.

Moreover, Liang Xiao, in her early twenties, was full of energy, and she inevitably kept Yan Heng busy at night, causing her body to feel more and more fatigued each day.

Liang Xiao strolled in slowly, holding a hand warmer, and motioned for everyone around to leave.

Yan Heng snuggled into her arms, rubbing her cheek against Liang Xiao’s neck.

Liang Xiao laughed and patted her back: “Clearly a fox, yet acting like a cat.”

Yan Heng mumbled: “A fox that’s afraid of the cold.”

They embraced and sat for a while before the tailor from the Imperial Clothing Bureau arrived.

“The wedding date is approaching, this old servant is here to measure His Majesty and Your Highness for their clothes.”

Although the enthronement ceremony had not yet been held, the master residing in the Kunyuan Palace was already the tacit Empress.

Back then, in order to install her as Empress, Liang Xiao engaged in a battle of wits with the entire court, finally managing to persuade those old conservatives with her sheer eloquence.

Yan Heng lazily stood up, allowing the tailor from the Imperial Clothing Bureau to take her measurements.

Liang Xiao sat nearby, reminding her: “Please take extra care with the wedding attire.”

The tailor from the Imperial Clothing Bureau nodded repeatedly: “Your Majesty, rest assured.”

Everyone in the palace who had seen the new Empress inevitably discussed it with others in private.

“Don’t you think Her Majesty the Empress looks a lot like the late Concubine Yan of the former Emperor?” Palace Maid A asked nervously.

When Yan Heng faked her death, Liang Shu posthumously granted her the title of Imperial Concubine, hence the palace staff always referred to her with this honorific.

Palace Maid B agreed: “I saw her from afar last time; it’s more than just a resemblance, they look exactly the same.”

“Could she be some kind of twin sister of Concubine Yan?” Palace Maid C speculated.

“Even if she is a twin sister, why would His Majesty… be attracted to her?” Palace Maid A was completely baffled.

When these words reached Liang Xiao’s ears, she merely raised an eyebrow and asked with confusion: “When did the former Emperor have a Concubine Yan? Why don’t I know about it?”

Consequently, a person went missing from the Archives Department’s records. “Concubine Yan” also became a taboo in the palace.

Spring arrived early in the first year of Yongan, and thus the wedding date was set early, on the third day of the third month.

For this grand ceremony, Yan Heng had to listen to the instruction matrons during the day, learning about various etiquette to avoid making mistakes, and then had to attend to the ferocious Majesty at night. The entire fox was utterly exhausted.

Liang Xiao knew she had been too demanding, and for days she tried to please her: “I want to invite your uncle and aunt, and also Young Master Yan Qiu, to come to Yandu for the ceremony.”

Yan Heng lay listlessly on the bed: “I will ask them carefully.”

Liang Xiao leaned in and kissed her lips: “You should rest well. I’ll go to the Imperial Study to review the memorials.”

Yan Heng held onto her neck and wouldn’t let go: “No, stay with me.”

Liang Xiao was helpless, finally ordering Aunt Yuehua to bring the memorials over. She allowed Yan Heng to lie on her lap and act spoiled while she read the ministers’ submissions.

Yan Wei and Xia Yin were hesitant about whether to accept Liang Xiao’s invitation to the ceremony, fearing that their presence as country folk would be an embarrassment.

In the end, after much persuasion from Yan Heng, they finally agreed to come.

The day of the ceremony was extremely bright. Yan Heng walked up the flight of steps, holding the hand of the person beside her, and as she stood at the highest point looking down, a complex emotion flashed in her heart.

The Lovers’ Knot was still on her wrist. If not for this little thing, how could she have ever met such a wonderful Liang Xiao in this life?

Liang Xiao gently squeezed her fingertips and said to her in a voice no one else could hear: “I love you.”

No amount of words could be as moving as those three words.

**

Xiu Ji Temple was dismantled shortly after Liang Xiao ascended the throne. Yuande vanished without a trace, and all the practitioners there departed.

She cleared her mother’s name, concealed the matters related to the demon race, and made the truth public.

Everything was put back on track and kept improving.

The summer in Yandu this year was as hot as ever. Liang Xiao had a swing installed in Kunyuan Palace, and Yan Heng liked to linger on it in the evenings.

The gentle breeze at dusk dispelled the heat.

Yan Heng sat on the swing, swaying lightly. She heard Liang Xiao calling her name from behind.

She turned to look. Liang Xiao was standing by the corridor, holding her favorite chestnut shortbread.

Yan Heng jumped off the swing and ran towards her, bathed in the soft moonlight that rose after the sunset.

The heavens may not grow old, but their love will not break; for ten years, a hundred years, they will always be together.

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