After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 51

In the twentieth year after Liang Xiao ascended the throne, she abdicated the imperial seat to the child she had adopted from her third royal brother.

Because she and Yan Heng had taken the “Concentric Gu” (a type of magical parasite that binds them), though Liang Xiao had aged, her appearance remained unchanged. Seeing that the four seas were peaceful and the country was well-governed, she had grown tired of being the Emperor.

Coupled with the fact that the adopted Liang Mo had reached the age of majority, was skilled in statecraft, and had been training in the imperial court for two years, the two women decided to leave the palace and travel the world.

The attendants who had served them had all grown old. Although they were confused about Yan Heng and Liang Xiao’s unchanging appearances, it was an affair of the royal family, and no one dared to speak much about it. Before leaving the palace, Liang Xiao settled them comfortably, and then she and Yan Heng left in a carefree manner.

**

“Boss, please warm a pot of wine and bring two small side dishes.”

Yan Heng walked into the shop, greeting the owner while using the handkerchief in her hand to wipe the table, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks clean for Liang Xiao.

Liang Xiao couldn’t help but be amused, and said gently, “It’s not necessary to be so delicate now that we’re out of the palace.”

Yan Heng shook her head, “If the clothes get dirty, they’re hard to wash.”

Liang Xiao was, after all, a princess raised in the deep palace. She had never personally done chores like washing clothes. As a result, when the two first left the palace to travel, they encountered quite a few difficulties.

Fortunately, although Yan Heng had also lived in the palace for many years, she hadn’t forgotten basic survival skills, so she took on all these small tasks.

In any case, neither of them had many clothes, and since Liang Xiao didn’t want her to do all the work alone, they took turns, and didn’t find it too tiring.

It was currently dinner time, and there were quite a few customers in the small shop. Some were quietly waiting, while others were discussing state affairs with great fervor.

“With the abdication of the former Emperor, I wonder if the new Emperor will be as diligent in governing as she was.”

“I think she will be good. After all, she was personally trained by the former Emperor, so she definitely won’t be bad.”

Their voices were not loud, but in the small shop, Yan Heng and Liang Xiao heard everything clearly.

Yan Heng tugged on Liang Xiao’s sleeve, teasing, “A-Xiao, they’re praising you.”

Liang Xiao smiled and shook her head, saying nothing. She then heard the group continue their conversation.

“Although the former Emperor was a woman, I think she was quite capable.”

“Hey, speaking of which, the Empress was also a woman.”

“Truly worthy of being an Emperor, so courageous. If my daughter ran off with a woman, I would definitely break her legs!”

As the few men chatted, they soon moved on to other topics.

Yan Heng rested one hand on the table, propping up her head in contemplation; “Next, let’s go back to Liuyun Mountain, and then to Mobei…”

As she spoke, the waiter brought the food over. Liang Xiao handed her the chopsticks: “I’ll follow your lead in everything.”

The two rode their horses south along the official road and stopped near the Yan River. This was still a day’s journey from Liuyun Mountain, so they planned to rest here for the night.

They found an inn that looked clean and tidy. After paying, the two went upstairs to rest and only came out when it was time for the evening meal.

By this time, the shop had many customers. Everyone’s eyes widened when they saw the two fairy-like figures descend the stairs one after the other.

The two ordered a few dishes. After sitting down, they constantly felt intense gazes being cast upon them.

The waiter brought the food to their table. Yan Heng called him over, looking puzzled: “This isn’t what we ordered.”

The waiter smiled and said, “It’s a gift from those young masters over there to the two ladies.”

Yan Heng and Liang Xiao followed his gaze. Not far away sat three men, dressed elegantly and with dignified manners. They raised their teacups in a distant salute to the women.

Liang Xiao pointed to the dishes: “Return them to those young masters and thank them for their kindness.”

The waiter looked troubled: “This…”

Before he could say more, Yan Heng had already stood up with the plates.

She walked up to the table of men and set the dishes down: “We are strangers to you gentlemen, and cannot accept your kindness for no reason.”

As she finished speaking and turned to leave, one of the men stood up and said: “Although we were strangers before, today we would like to make an acquaintance with you two ladies. May we have the pleasure of your company?”

Yan Heng turned her head and chuckled softly, causing the men to stare blankly, as if they had never seen such captivating beauty in the mortal world.

The woman before them slowly parted her crimson lips and said: “I apologize, my wife is prone to jealousy, so gentlemen, please do not pester us.”

With that, Yan Heng gracefully walked back to Liang Xiao, tilted her chin, and kissed her on the side of her face.

Liang Xiao wrapped an arm around her waist and cast a provocative glance toward the other table.

The few men looked as if they had been struck by lightning, all freezing in place.

The man who had been standing sat down, his face numb, unconsciously picking up food and putting it into his mouth, likely unable to taste a thing.

Make an acquaintance, indeed! Turns out the ladies were a couple…

**

Near the Yan River was a mountain where, it was said, a group of bandits was operating, who loved to rob travelers.

This morning, they were, as usual, ambushed along the path, hoping to prey on a wealthy traveler.

They didn’t have to wait long before the sound of horses’ hooves, “thud-thud,” echoed along the small road.

The bandits exchanged glances and silently placed their hands on their dagger handles.

Yan Heng called out, “Halt,” and stopped her horse. Liang Xiao, behind her, also stopped.

The bandits were confused to see the people stop right in front of them, but seeing that the two young women were clearly defenseless, their faces couldn’t help but light up with glee.

Yan Heng seemingly casually glanced towards the bushes where the bandits were hidden, and complained to Liang Xiao in a spoiled tone: “I’m tired from the journey. I want to rest for a bit.”

Liang Xiao dismounted and helped her down. Before the two could steady themselves, a group of people wielding knives rushed out from the surroundings.

Yan Heng pouted and, feigning fright, shrank into Liang Xiao’s embrace: “Oh dear, how scary.”

Liang Xiao’s temples throbbed twice, and she played along: “Please spare us, brothers.”

Seeing how easy they were to manipulate, the bandits became even more delighted, threatening them with fierce looks: “Take your money and come up the mountain with us!”

As they spoke, they approached the two. Yan Heng raised a hand, and the group suddenly stood motionless, frozen in place.

“Are they all under a spell?” Liang Xiao turned her head and asked her.

Yan Heng patted her chest: “When I handle things, you can rest assured.”

The two looked at the group of people, who seemed to be in a meditative state. Yan Heng sighed, “I hope this will make them repent.”

With that, they mounted their horses and headed in the direction of Liuyun Mountain.

After an unknown number of hours, the bandits finally woke up. They cried and hugged each other, one after another shouting that they wanted to “wash their hands in the golden basin and turn over a new leaf” (a common phrase for retiring from a life of crime and correcting one’s ways).

As for what Yan Heng’s illusion made them see, only they themselves knew for certain.

Liuyun Mountain was still the same as before. When Liang Xiao arrived here, she felt immensely close to the place, as if she had grown up there.

Yan Wei and Xia Yin treated her like their own daughter, caring for her even more meticulously than they did for Yan Heng.

“I think Father and Mother like you more. They find fault with me everywhere.”

After nightfall, Yan Heng nestled in Liang Xiao’s arms and quietly complained.

Liang Xiao rubbed her chin against the top of Yan Heng’s head: “What nonsense are you thinking?”

Yan Heng hugged her waist and yawned: “That’s good, too.”

The two stayed on Liuyun Mountain for about half a month, but Yan Heng found home boring, so they set off again.

“Where are you going this time?” Yan Qiu stood in front of the horses, looking up to ask them.

“To the ends of the earth,” Yan Heng pondered for a moment, then asked Liang Xiao, “My beautiful sweetheart, do you want to be my travel companion?”

She smiled at the person next to her, and heard Liang Xiao reply softly: “I’d be delighted.”

Where to go from here? The whole wide world awaits, and they would leave their footprints everywhere.

(The End of the Story)

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