After Becoming a Concubine, I Took Down the Princess - Chapter 6

On the second day, the new palace maids were sent into the imperial palace. They were first settled in one place and taught the court etiquette and rules for several days. After several unintelligent ones were weeded out, the masters of the various palaces were invited to send people to select them.

Yan Heng stood in the crowd, secretly rubbing her sore wrist.

In the past two days, she had learned many rules about serving tea, pouring water, and how to act and speak. It had really stifled her. As a fox, she was used to running wild outside, and this was the first time she had been restrained like this, to the point where even the number of bites she took while eating was controlled.

She secretly glanced at the steward aunts from the various palaces who were selecting palace maids, but she couldn’t tell by instinct which one was related to Liang Xiao.

Forget it. As long as she entered the imperial palace, she would have a chance to meet the famous princess. Would she still worry about not being able to take off the ‘Love Silk Knot’ then? She was inwardly chuckling happily when she was suddenly called out by name.

“You, come out and follow our family.” The person who called her was not a palace maid but a eunuch holding a whisk. He looked somewhat kind, and the material of his clothes was clearly better than those around him. She didn’t know his identity.

Yan Heng obediently stepped out of the crowd and stood behind the eunuch, waiting for him to select more people.

After selecting two or three more, the eunuch exchanged a few pleasantries with the nearby wet nurse, then shook his whisk and told Yan Heng and the others to quickly follow.

The eunuch led the way and said to the young maids behind him, “You are all new to the palace and don’t know me. Just call me Eunuch Gao on weekdays. Our family sees that you are all fair-skinned and intelligent, which is why we selected you to serve the most noble person.”

Eunuch Gao stopped, turned his head, and sternly said to them, “From now on, you are people of the Qianze Hall. Be quick-witted in your speech and actions. If you offend the Emperor, several of your heads won’t be enough to chop off!”

Yan Heng understood. It turned out she was chosen by someone close to the Emperor! This was even better. Didn’t those officials say that the Emperor doted on Liang Xiao extraordinarily? Presumably, the father-daughter relationship must be very deep. Would she still have to worry about not seeing Liang Xiao then?

As long as she took off the ‘Love Silk Knot,’ she could immediately go back to her free and easy fox life!

Thinking of this, Yan Heng couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Eunuch Gao turned around and glared at her. Yan Heng immediately stopped and lowered her head, but her lips couldn’t help but curl up.

Eunuch Gao sighed helplessly when he saw her reaction. He had a private reason for selecting this maid. Recently, His Majesty had been troubled and overworked by state affairs and had not entered the Harem for nearly a month. Eunuch Gao speculated that sending a few pretty and fresh faces to His Majesty’s side might delight the Emperor, and perhaps a few more newcomers could be added to the Harem to help the royal family produce more heirs.

After entering the Qianze Hall, Eunuch Gao did not immediately arrange for Yan Heng to serve by the Emperor’s side. Instead, he made her do some sweeping and rough chores first, so she could get familiar with the palace.

After a day’s work, Yan Heng massaged her shoulder and yawned as she walked back to her room, collapsing onto the bed. The other young palace maid sharing the room with her couldn’t help but complain, “If I had known entering the palace was this hard, I wouldn’t have been greedy for this money. I might as well have done something else.”

Yan Heng lay sprawling on the bed without any image, turned to look at her, and asked, “You entered the palace for money? Will it give a lot of money?”

The young palace maid tilted her head and asked in confusion, “Isn’t everyone here for the money? And you can leave the palace at the age of twenty-five, which makes it easier to find a husband.”

“I’m not,” Yan Heng rolled over on the bed. “I entered the palace to find someone.” She lay face down on the bed, burying her face in the quilt, her voice sounding muffled.

“I know,” the young palace maid clapped her hands. “Your beloved is also working in the palace, right? He must be a guard. When you leave the palace later…” She began to fantasize about Yan Heng’s beautiful future life.

The three words “beloved” choked Yan Heng, but she didn’t refute, as she couldn’t explain the ‘Love Silk Knot’ to others.

After working in the Qianze Hall for four or five days, Yan Heng hadn’t seen a trace of Liang Xiao. She couldn’t help but squat on the ground in despair, wondering when this hardship would end…

The managing wet nurse noticed Yan Heng standing still with a rag and immediately walked over and lightly kicked her, saying, “No slacking off! Hurry up and clean this floor!”

Yan Heng angrily threw the rag on the floor, stood up suddenly, and stared menacingly at the wet nurse, saying, “The water is dirty! I’m going to change the water!”

Wet Nurse: “…Hurry up and scram.”

Yan Heng quickly took the basin and left.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she left the hall door, she was grabbed by the hurriedly approaching Eunuch Gao. Eunuch Gao snatched the basin from her hand and pulled Yan Heng, saying, “Don’t work here anymore. Follow our family.”

Yan Heng: No way, am I being chased away just for slacking off for a moment? She anxiously tried to pull Eunuch Gao’s hand away. Before she could explain, she was pushed into a side hall by Eunuch Gao and handed over to several wet nurses.

“Dress her up properly. She will be serving before His Majesty in a little while,” Eunuch Gao instructed.

The wet nurses accepted the order and turned to surround Yan Heng.

Yan Heng: …So, so oppressive.

Several wet nurses worked together, some taking off her clothes, some pulling her hair, and some wiping off her original light makeup. In short, none were idle.

An hour later, the completely transformed Yan Heng was led by Eunuch Gao towards the Qianze Hall.

“When you see His Majesty in a while, be extremely cautious in your speech and actions. A single slip-up could mean—”

“—could mean losing my head,” Yan Heng finished the rest of his sentence for him.

Eunuch Gao rolled his eyes at her and continued, “If you serve well, perhaps you will rise to prominence today and become a mistress in the palace from now on. If you don’t serve well, a few lives won’t be enough!”

Mistress? Yan Heng caught these two words. If she became a mistress, wouldn’t she be able to see anyone she wanted? Would she still need to wait here bitterly for Liang Xiao?

Of course not!

So, she happily entered the Qianze Hall, took the tea handed to her by a young palace maid, and gently said to the Emperor, Liang Shu, “Your Majesty, please have some tea.”

Liang Shu had just finished arguing with his ministers and was feeling very frustrated. When he turned his head and saw someone approaching foolishly, he was about to get angry, but his gaze couldn’t help but linger on the face of the palace maid offering tea.

This girl was truly beautiful, her features seemingly mixed with some Western Region descent, with eyes deeper set than those of Central Plains people. As she lowered her eyes now, her vibrant appearance looked somewhat gentle.

He made Yan Heng lift her chin and asked, “Are you new?”

Yan Heng felt his wolfish gaze, suppressed her revulsion, and said, “Yes, this servant just entered the palace. I was selected by Eunuch Gao not long ago to serve Your Majesty.”

Liang Shu listened, told her to put down the item in her hand, and pulled her closer: “Hmph, that fellow is full of tricks. Oh, well. It is time to add new people to the palace. It’s just that those ministers won’t allow a selection of women, and coincidentally I find you suitable. Why don’t I grant you the title of ‘Beauty’ and bestow upon you the Jingning Palace as your residence.”

Yan Heng felt uncomfortable from his touching, suppressed the urge to bite through Liang Shu’s throat, and forced a smile: “Thank you for your Imperial Grace, Your Majesty.”

Patience is a virtue! As long as she saw Liang Xiao and took off the ‘Love Silk Knot,’ she would definitely run away that very night!

Inside the Liuyang Palace, Liang Xiao had just finished washing up and was being served by Yue Zhou, who was combing her hair.

“Your Highness, it seems you haven’t gone to pay respects to His Majesty for a few days. Are you going to the Qianze Hall today?” Yue Zhou put a hair ornament in her hair and asked Liang Xiao in the mirror.

“I’ll go see. It has been several days,” Liang Xiao touched her hair bun and replied casually.

After dressing up, Liang Xiao had a palace attendant hold an umbrella for her and walked lazily towards the Qianze Hall. Yue Zhou walked beside her, telling her the freshest news in the palace to relieve her boredom.

“I heard that His Majesty granted a title to a palace maid as a ‘Beauty’ yesterday, and she served him on the very same night.”

“It’s been several years since a selection of women. It’s time for Father to have some new people around him,” Liang Xiao wiped the sweat from her temples with a handkerchief. “We can’t just wait like this. You should go find a few respectable commoner girls and send them to the palace, and try to arrange for them to go to the Qianze Hall.”

Liang Xiao thought that the new ‘Beauty’ must have someone backing her. Now that the court was full of intrigues and the Emperor had not yet named an heir, everyone was eagerly eyeing that “big piece of meat.” She also had to make preparations early.

The custom for establishing an heir in the Great Ning Dynasty was different from the previous dynasties; in this dynasty, men and women were equal and could inherit the throne. Although Liang Xiao did not consider herself a talent for governing the country, she had to at least contend for it.

She was pondering how to whisper sweet nothings into her father’s ear when she unexpectedly found herself already walking into the Qianze Hall. Just one glance inside made her freeze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

Who can tell her why that strange woman from the Xiyuan Tower is here!?

Liang Shu saw her enter, gently wrapped his arm around Yan Heng beside him, and said, “This is the ‘Beauty’ I newly granted a title to yesterday. Xiao’er, come quickly and get to know her.”

Liang Xiao: Get to know my…

She had only seen this person a few days ago at the Xiyuan Tower, and at that time, she had shamelessly thrown herself onto her! How could such a loose woman enter the palace to become a concubine? What was her motive for entering the palace? The person who sent her into the palace was simply sinister! Not only did they want to investigate Liang Xiao’s secret, but now they were even targeting her father!

Although Liang Xiao trusted her skill in disguising herself as a man, it was better to be safe than sorry. What if Yan Heng recognized her and told her father?

Absolutely not! This woman must not be allowed to stay!

Yan Heng was standing beside the Emperor with a fake smile, her eyes fixed on Liang Xiao.

The girl had shed her men’s clothing. Her face was exquisite, hairpins clinked in her hair, and her clothes were made of the finest material, clearly indicating a pampered upbringing.

The strong fragrance of lotus in her nostrils clearly told her that Liang Xiao was the ‘Xiao Xiao’ from back then!

So, Yan Heng hypocritically stepped forward and curtsied gracefully: “This concubine greets Your Royal Highness the Princess.”

Liang Xiao neither accepted her bow nor told her to rise but bypassed her directly and said to Liang Shu, “I don’t like her. Father, send her out of the palace.”

Princess Yong’an lost her mother at a young age, so she was deeply beloved by the Emperor, spoiled and willful. Liang Shu would agree to almost any request she made.

However, she still underestimated Yan Heng’s charm and her father’s concern for appearances.

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