Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 1

In the eighth year of Chengyou in the Northern Jin dynasty, the New Year festivities were not yet over when a sudden snowstorm quietly blanketed the entire city of Yunjing in silver white.

At the first quarter of the hour of the Tiger, not a hint of daylight could be seen. Snow continued to fall softly, accompanied by bone-chilling winds that howled and swirled, sending snowflakes flying through the sky as if it were the coldest depths of winter.

At this early hour, the lamps in the Marquis of Jing’an’s residence were already lit. Servants had started their busy routines, and even the masters, who would usually still be sound asleep, began to rise one after another.

In the southwest corner of the estate, within the Qinfang Pavilion, Nanny Jiang brushed off a thin layer of snow from her clothes before lifting the heavy curtain to enter the main room.

“Qinggui, has the young lady risen yet?” Nanny Jiang asked softly, addressing the little maid who was warming a cotton dress in a shade of lotus-pink on the brazier.

“Nanny, Sister Baitan went in a little while ago, so she’s likely still asleep,” Qinggui replied, looking up. Noticing Nanny Jiang’s expression, she quickly added in a timid, pleading tone, “Nanny, it’s so early today—could we let the young lady sleep a little longer, please?”

“If she sleeps any longer, she’ll miss the right time,” Nanny Jiang replied as she stepped toward the inner room. “By the way, it’s cold today. Take out the new fox fur and brocade cloak made before the New Year for the young lady. Also, make the incense stronger, prepare a few extra handkerchiefs, and don’t forget the scented sachets and clove balm. There will be many people outside, and the young lady is most sensitive to unpleasant odors.”

Frowning slightly, Nanny Jiang gave Qinggui a few more instructions.

Everyone who served in Qinfang Pavilion knew that the eldest young lady of the Marquis’s household, Wen Zhuojin, was highly sensitive to scents and deeply fond of incense. Not a day could pass without it.

Thus, Qinfang Pavilion was not only the cleanest but also the most fragrant place in the entire residence.

Today, they were heading out to burn incense and pray for blessings. With the crowds and the mix of odors outside, it was only natural to make thorough preparations.

Qinggui responded with a soft acknowledgment, and Nanny Jiang said no more, stepping into the inner chamber.

Under the warm candlelight, a Boshan censer emitted a faint, refreshing aroma. By the bedside, a pretty maid leaned over, speaking softly to someone under the covers. The person in bed was wrapped in a brocade quilt, their face entirely hidden except for a few strands of jet-black hair peeking out.

Nanny Jiang wrung out a hot towel from the basin of warm water, approached the bed, and motioned for the young maid to step aside. With practiced ease, she carefully lifted the person under the quilt and placed the hot towel over their porcelain-white, delicate face, which remained peaceful with closed eyes.

Even with the warm towel on her face, Wen Zhuojin’s eyes stayed shut. Her body instinctively leaned back, trying to burrow into the quilt again, but Nanny Jiang, as if expecting this, firmly caught her.

“Young lady, today is the birthday of the Lady Xuan, as well as the Princess Royal’s birthday. It’s the most auspicious day for blessings. At the hour of the Dragon, we must reach Xuan Nü Mountain to burn incense. Please bear with the effort, get ready, and prepare to leave by carriage,” Nanny Jiang said gently as she wiped Wen Zhuojin’s face.

“Blessings aren’t more important than sleep. I was just dreaming…” Wen Zhuojin muttered with a frown, her eyes still shut, puffing her cheeks slightly. Before she could finish, her mouth was promptly covered by Nanny Jiang.

“Young lady, mind your words. If Lady Xuan Nü hears this, she might take offense and punish you. Lady Xuan Nü, please don’t blame her—she’s still young and doesn’t understand the weight of her words. If there’s any offense, please take it out on this old servant instead.” Nanny Jiang spoke earnestly, even glancing upward as if addressing someone invisible, her tone reverent as though she truly believed someone was listening.

Hearing Nanny Jiang’s words, Wen Zhuojin gradually regained her senses, and her grogginess began to dissipate. She opened her eyes and saw Nanny Jiang’s devout expression, sighed softly, and let the irritation in her features melt away. Her furrowed brow smoothed, and the impatience in her gaze disappeared.

“Young lady, please don’t blame this old woman for nagging. Today is an important day, and nothing can go wrong. Last year, you missed the blessing ceremony. Earlier this year, you hurt your hand, then injured your leg, and after you finally recovered, you fell ill again. This year, you must go and pray to Lady Xuan Nü for a protection charm. There are so many people going to pray. Last year, something happened during the ceremony, and this year, they’ve restricted the number of attendees. Everyone going was personally approved by the Princess Royal—it’s a great honor,” Nanny Jiang explained softly, finally letting go of Wen Zhuojin’s mouth.

“Nanny, I understand,” Wen Zhuojin replied, her lips twitching slightly as if struggling to maintain her expression. After a brief pause, she softened her tone and offered a faint smile. The tips of her small, slightly pointed tiger teeth showed just a little, her black eyes glistening with a clear and innocent look. Combined with her slightly chubby cheeks, she appeared pure and obedient.

Wen Zhuojin’s appearance resembled her late mother, the previous Marchioness.

Her almond-shaped eyes were round and gentle, her delicate nose elegantly straight, and her oval face had soft and smooth lines. Altogether, her features were exceptionally beautiful, exuding a serene and refined demeanor. When her brows and eyes were lowered in obedience, it was easy to associate her with the virtues of gentleness, humility, and respect.

Nanny Jiang looked at Wen Zhuojin, her heart softening with worry, afraid that Wen Zhuojin might be bullied when she went out.

“For today’s incense offering, only one attendant is allowed to accompany you. Let Zirong go with you—her voice is loud, her legs are quick, and she’s strong. Bring along everything prepared for you. Whatever the Second Miss and Third Miss have, you must also have. If the Madam mistreats you on the way, tell Zirong to demand it back. If she can’t, then let everyone here to pray for blessings see what a petty and narrow-minded person the stepmadam is. Don’t worry—with the Earl of Changyuan backing you, and if worse comes to worst, you still have me,” Nanny Jiang said, unable to help herself from giving further instructions.

Hearing this, Wen Zhuojin’s eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement.

Nanny Jiang was Wen Zhuojin’s wet nurse. Ever since Wen Zhuojin’s mother passed away, Nanny Jiang had been constantly worried that the stepmadam would mistreat her, going to great lengths to protect her.

With her uncle, the Earl of Changyuan, present, the stepmadam of the Marquis’s household didn’t dare openly mistreat Wen Zhuojin. Coupled with Nanny Jiang’s meticulous care, Wen Zhuojin didn’t have to lift a finger to live comfortably.

Wen Zhuojin listened obediently as Nanny Jiang carefully cleansed her face and applied a homemade face cream, followed by hand balm. Only then did she call the maids Qinggui and Baitan to help dress and style Wen Zhuojin’s hair, while Nanny Jiang went outside to check on the preparations.

By now, Wen Zhuojin’s earlier grogginess had mostly faded, and her mood had noticeably improved.

Qinggui approached with freshly scented clothing in hand, her large eyes fixed on Wen Zhuojin, watching her closely as she sniffed the fragrance, awaiting her reaction.

“The newly added cassia bark in the fragrance recipe is indeed better. It no longer has that slight bitterness and instead carries a hint of sweetness. It seems Qinggui is truly skilled,” Wen Zhuojin remarked, looking up with smiling eyes.

Qinggui’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes brightened with delight.

“Miss, perhaps a bit of white sandalwood could also be added,” Baitan chimed in from the side, pretending to speak casually but clearly paying attention to Wen Zhuojin’s response.

“Alright, we’ll try adding white sandalwood next time. It might make it even better!” Wen Zhuojin replied with a smile.

Baitan’s lips curled upward slightly before she quickly suppressed her smile and busied herself with preparing Wen Zhuojin’s dressing table.

Wen Zhuojin’s love for incense-making and experimenting with various fragrance recipes wasn’t merely to please Baitan—it was a genuine passion of hers.

Once everything was ready, Wen Zhuojin didn’t ask Qinggui for help and went behind the folding screen to change out of her sleepwear.

Her mind lingered on the adjustments she could make to the fragrance recipe, eager to test it again later.

At seventeen, Wen Zhuojin was tall, towering a full head above Qinggui and half a head above Baitan, who was the same age as her.

As she changed out of her sleepwear, her waist was briefly exposed—slender yet supple and strong. When she raised her arms, the lines of her muscles hinted at strength uncommon for the average noblewoman, who typically appeared frail.

After putting on her inner garments, she struggled slightly with her outer robe and finally called Qinggui for assistance.

“Miss, you haven’t applied the scar balm yet today,” Qinggui reminded her, holding a small porcelain bottle as she stepped in.

Wen Zhuojin frowned slightly at the sight of the bottle but, thinking of the scars on her legs and arms, took it and applied it nonetheless.

The medicinal smell was so strong that it even altered the scent of the clothes that had been infused with incense.

“I need to finish reading the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ as soon as possible and buy some new fragrance materials to test…” Wen Zhuojin muttered after applying the balm. She was determined to find a fragrance material that wouldn’t compromise the medicinal properties while masking the original medicinal scent of the balm.

By the time Wen Zhuojin finished dressing and stepped out, Nanny Jiang had already entered with a food box in hand.

“Why haven’t you done your hair yet? It’s already three quarters past the third watch, and we must leave soon. There’s no time to waste. If we delay your trip to offer prayers, I won’t forgive any of you,” Nanny Jiang said anxiously.

Baitan hurriedly apologized and quickly began arranging Wen Zhuojin’s hair.

Wen Zhuojin cast Baitan a reassuring glance and then turned to Nanny Jiang with a gentle and obedient smile.

“Nanny, don’t worry. I can skip breakfast,” Wen Zhuojin said softly.

“That’s out of the question! Once we get there, who knows when you’ll be able to return? You might not even get a sip of something warm. There’ll be a crowd of people offering prayers today,” Nanny Jiang replied firmly, stepping forward to help Baitan with the hairstyling.

The ‘Morning Clouds Near Fragrance’ bun, currently fashionable among noblewomen, was completed much faster than usual with their combined effort.

After affixing a decorative huadian between Wen Zhuojin’s brows, Nanny Jiang was about to check if anything needed adjustment when she noticed Wen Zhuojin already dozing off with her eyes closed.

“Young lady, it’s time for breakfast!” Nanny Jiang cleared her throat and raised her voice slightly.

Startled, Wen Zhuojin’s eyes shot open. The moisture left behind from her yawning gave her gaze a misty, innocent look, making her appear like a frightened little animal—pitiful and endearing.

Nanny Jiang’s expression stiffened, feeling as if she had committed a grave sin.

“Miss, don’t be afraid. Now’s not the time for sleeping. Once we return from offering prayers, you can have a good rest. Eat more of your breakfast and drink some soup to warm yourself. It’s very cold outside today, and the snow has piled up quite thick,” Nanny Jiang said gently, guiding Wen Zhuojin to the table where the food box had been placed.

“It’s snowing?” Hearing about the snow, a spark of excitement lit up in Wen Zhuojin’s eyes.

“Yes, it’s quite heavy, already about a finger thick, and it’s still falling. Let’s hope the roads are manageable today,” Nanny Jiang replied.

Reaching the table, Wen Zhuojin tapped her fingers lightly on its surface before sitting down. She picked up the soup spoon and began drinking the soup.

This might be the only good news of the day.

The Heavenly Xuan Palace on Xuannü Mountain nurtured a rare Meirenmei plum tree, also called Pink-Faced Shy. It was said to bloom only in the snow, with double-petaled blossoms of a delicate pink hue, resembling a blushing beauty. Its fragrance was faint and elegant, capable of lifting one’s spirits and transcending worldly concerns.

Perhaps today, she might witness the Pink-Faced Shy in full bloom at Heavenly Xuan Palace.

“The Eldest Princess is of pure temperament, and snow fell on her birthday—what an auspicious omen. It’s truly the Heavenly Goddess’s reincarnation. I heard that the Eldest Princess often retreats to the Heavenly Xuan Palace during the holidays to quietly meditate and pray for the people. Perhaps today, we might even be in the Heavenly Xuan Palace with the Princess. That would be an immense blessing.”

Wen Zhuojin was sipping her hot soup with narrowed eyes when she heard Nanny Jiang mention the Princess Royal again.

The smile on Wen Zhuojin’s lips faded.

The Princess Royal of Northern Jin had been the most powerful woman in the entire kingdom ever since she supported the young emperor’s ascension to the throne at the age of fifteen.

Had it not been for her ordaining as a Taoist priestess and proclaiming herself the reincarnation of the Goddess Xuannü, the goddess would not have been so deified, leading to the custom of waking up so early to offer incense and prayers.

Sharing the Heavenly Xuan Palace with the Princess Royal was considered a blessing?

Wen Zhuojin glanced at Nanny Jiang’s devout expression and felt a twinge of helplessness.

Nanny Jiang continued her ramblings. Wen Zhuojin didn’t argue, adjusted her mood, and consoled herself with the thought of Pink-Faced Shy. Her mood lightened slightly.

She had never smelled its fragrance before; perhaps it could become an ingredient in her custom incense blends.

Once Wen Zhuojin finished her meal, there wasn’t much time left.

Wrapped snugly in a fox fur cloak and holding a toasty hand warmer, Wen Zhuojin was carried out in a soft sedan chair prepared by Nanny Jiang, lifted by sturdy servant women. This way, she could avoid the cold and the snow.

Her maid Zirong followed quickly behind, carrying all the prepared items.

Wen Zhuojin thought she had finally escaped Nanny Jiang’s endless chatter, but they hadn’t even exited the covered walkway of Qin Fang Pavilion when Nanny Jiang caught up again.

“I almost forgot! When you go to offer prayers today, if you meet anyone from the Duke of Rong’s household, don’t be timid. Take the initiative to greet them. I heard that the Duchess of Rong has been unwell lately; it wouldn’t hurt to inquire after her health.

The mourning period for the old lady is over, and you’re set to marry into their family this year. Once you’re married, you’ll have to rely on the duchess. Building a good relationship now will make life easier later.

And if you encounter the heir, remember to show the proper courtesies. But don’t let him get too close—it could damage your reputation. Don’t forget, Miss!”

Nanny Jiang leaned close to Wen Zhuojin’s ear and whispered a few more reminders.

“Nanny, I understand. We’re going to run out of time,” Wen Zhuojin replied, prompting Nanny Jiang to wave at the servant women carrying the sedan chair, urging them to move quickly.

As she watched Wen Zhuojin leave, Nanny Jiang couldn’t shake the feeling that she had forgotten to mention something important. After pondering for a moment without recalling it, she sighed, blaming her old age, and slowly made her way back inside.

Seated inside the soft sedan chair, Wen Zhuojin furrowed her brows tightly.

The Duke of Rong’s heir, whom Nanny Jiang had mentioned, was the fiancé her mother had arranged for her before passing.

As the legitimate heir of a noble family, the Duke of Rong’s heir was from an illustrious background, known for his exceptional looks and early achievements. To outsiders, Wen Zhuojin seemed to have married far above her station.

Even her doting uncle and aunt considered the engagement an excellent match.

While Nanny Jiang was preoccupied with ensuring the engagement stayed intact, Wen Zhuojin was busy thinking about how to reasonably and advantageously break it off.

As for the Duke of Rong’s heir, Wen Zhuojin genuinely disliked him. Beyond the faint unpleasant odor he carried, there was just…

In any case, figuring out how to annul the engagement was the priority!