Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 105

When the cold blade pressed against Jiangxiao’s neck, she didn’t show any fear. Instead, she tilted her head back and laughed.

“My life was saved by Your Highness, and I can return it to you at any time. If I die by your hand, I will die content.” Jiangxiao said softly, her eyes even showing a hint of amusement as she looked at Yan Qinglan.

“…” Yan Qinglan knew Jiangxiao was crazy, but she hadn’t expected her to be this insane.

Using a dagger to threaten her not only failed to intimidate her but seemed to excite her instead.

“Why do you insist on this? I just want to know where the silver is. If you tell me now, the Embroidered Uniform Guards won’t stop you. You can leave freely.” Yan Qinglan said.

“What do you want with that silver? To save people? Or to save this crumbling Northern Jin? It’s just delaying the inevitable. I won’t let you go back and tell Yan Qi. Come with me, and I’ll tell you. With that silver, we’ll never have to live like we did in the cold palace again. In this world, there’s nothing we can’t buy.” Jiangxiao said, reaching out to grab the dagger in Yan Qinglan’s hand. Bl00d immediately flowed from her palm.

Yan Qinglan tried to pull the dagger back, but Jiangxiao tightened her grip.

“Your few Embroidered Uniform Guards aren’t enough. I have more people—Northern Qiang, Southern Chu—they all want the silver. Don’t you always care for your subordinates? How can you bear to let them die in vain?” Jiangxiao continued.

Yan Qinglan glanced below. Sure enough, more people were rushing toward them from the direction of Tianxuan Palace, including Northern Qiang soldiers in foreign attire who had passed through the thick smoke.

Below the Lecture Platform, some of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, who had only covered their mouths and noses without the corresponding antidote pills, were already weakened. Some were clearly poisoned and losing strength.

Unless Yan Qinglan called all the hidden Embroidered Uniform Guards, the situation would not improve.

But to pass through the poison smoke would likely result in heavy losses.

Switching to a backup plan to preserve the Embroidered Uniform Guards meant she would have to take a risk herself.

“Fine, I’ll go with you. Have your people spare the Embroidered Uniform Guards below and let them leave.” Yan Qinglan quickly made her decision, looking at Jiangxiao.

“As you command, Your Highness! Your Highness is still the same as ever. Perhaps this is what I admire about you.” Jiangxiao said, her eyes lighting up with a renewed vitality.

Yan Qinglan frowned at Jiangxiao’s words. While Wen Zhuojin’s sweet talk made her blush, Jiangxiao’s words only made her uncomfortable.

Jiangxiao ordered her people to stop, and the fighting below ceased.

“Embroidered Uniform Guards, retreat at once!” Yan Qinglan raised her voice from the Lecture Platform.

The few Embroidered Uniform Guards tasked with protecting Yan Qinglan were fiercely loyal. Hearing her command, they knew she was sacrificing herself to save them. They looked up at Yan Qinglan, their eyes filled with anguish.

“Leave now! Disobeying orders will be severely punished!” Yan Qinglan coldly snapped as she saw the guards hesitating.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards obeyed, kneeling in respect before helping each other leave. None of them looked relieved to have survived; their expressions were heavy.

Without the Embroidered Uniform Guards to stop them, Jiangxiao’s people quickly ascended the Lecture Platform.

“Master! Are you alright?” The first to rush up was Xuan Zhen, her voice hoarse.

She had come through the poison smoke from the outskirts, her face half-covered, her body covered in dust and bl00d. She knelt before Jiangxiao.

“Good child, I’m fine. Let’s go down and leave this place.” Jiangxiao said, her eyes softening as she patted Xuan Zhen’s head.

Xuan Zhen crouched to carry Jiangxiao on her back, but as she stood, she glared at Yan Qinglan.

“I can walk on my own.” Yan Qinglan said, holding the dagger in front of her as someone tried to grab her.

“Don’t touch her.” Jiangxiao said, knowing Yan Qinglan’s aversion to being touched by unfamiliar people.

The group descended the Lecture Platform and headed toward Tianxuan Palace, moving in the opposite direction of the spreading poison smoke.

Yan Qinglan covered her nose and mouth but still felt discomfort from her nose to her throat. She had already inhaled some of the poison smoke, and her weak body made each breath painful.

Gritting her teeth, Yan Qinglan followed the group on foot back to Tianxuan Palace.

Inside Tianxuan Palace, the poison smoke was thinner, blending with the mountain mist. Aside from the pungent smell, it was no different from usual, even carrying a hint of summer flowers that seemed to dilute the acrid scent.

It remained a tranquil, undisturbed sanctuary.

“Palace Master Jiangxiao, we came to rescue you. Why are we back in Tianxuan Palace? Is the silver here?” someone asked Jiangxiao, their accent strange. Though dressed in Northern Jin attire, their features were foreign.

“Some of it is here. There’s also a lot of divine incense. You can take as much as you want when we leave.” Jiangxiao replied with a smile.

“Is that so? Hahaha, excellent!” the man laughed.

Yan Qinglan glanced at Jiangxiao, sensing that she had some plan.

Just moments ago, Jiangxiao had spoken of spending the silver with her. How could she now offer it to these people?

The people she had summoned to rescue her were no saints—they were wolves in sheep’s clothing.

If they truly found the silver in Tianxuan Palace, why would they leave any for Jiangxiao?

As Yan Qinglan pondered this, the group entered the Hall of Blessings.

The main doors of the Hall of Blessings were opened, revealing incense burning in the censers. The golden statue of the Celestial Goddess stood at the far end, her flowing robes and divine aura as majestic as ever.

Beneath the statue of the Celestial Goddess, about a hundred people sat. Upon seeing Jiangxiao, they stood and bowed.

“Palace Master, there are still many Black Armor Guards outside. We haven’t driven them back yet. Please rest for a while.” a female Taoist priest in robes said to Jiangxiao as they entered the hall.

“Very well. Close the doors to keep out the poison smoke. Everyone, take a rest.” Jiangxiao said, ordering food and water to be brought.

The people who had followed Jiangxiao, including the Northern Qiang and Southern Chu soldiers, all entered the Hall of Blessings.

Jiangxiao had the Tianxuan Palace disciples tend to them.

“Palace Master Jiangxiao, why rest now? Don’t forget what you promised earlier! Once we find the silver, we’ll charge through and get you out safely!” the Northern Qiang man who had spoken to Jiangxiao earlier said, stepping forward.

“Don’t rush. Look at this golden statue. When it was cast, the exterior was covered in gold, and some of the bricks inside are also made of gold.” Jiangxiao said.

“Is this statue really made of gold?” the Northern Qiang man said, no longer interested in talking to Jiangxiao. He rushed toward the statue.

Yan Qinglan watched as many people gathered around the statue, examining whether it was truly gold.

The statue was about four to five meters tall, taller than even the tallest person present.

Others might not know, but Yan Qinglan did.

This golden statue had taken seven or eight years to complete. Only a small portion at the base was covered in gold, added later when funds allowed. The rest was imitation gold, and the interior was solid brick.

“It really is gold! The people of Northern Jin are truly extravagant, using real gold for a statue!” someone exclaimed. More people, no longer interested in talking, began chiseling away at the statue with various tools.

Inside the Hall of Blessings, the golden statue of the Celestial Goddess, worshipped by the people of Northern Jin for years, began to lose its form.

As the Northern Qiang and Southern Chu soldiers busied themselves, Xuan Zhen helped Jiangxiao sit down and brought her food and water, ignoring the others.

Jiangxiao poured a cup of water and handed it to Yan Qinglan, along with a pill.

“This is an antidote. Take it.”

Jiangxiao spoke softly to Yan Qinglan.

“No need.” Yan Qinglan glanced at the pill in Jiangxiao’s hand and declined.

“Your Highness has already come with me. Why would I poison you now? Don’t you trust me? Then consider it poison. You must take this water and pill. Or would you prefer I have someone force it down your throat?” Jiangxiao said, seeing Yan Qinglan’s reluctance.

Yan Qinglan was wary of anything entering her mouth. Hearing Jiangxiao’s words, she frowned and took the pill.

Yan Qinglan had no intention of taking the pill and planned to hide it in her sleeve. But as she pulled down the scarf covering her mouth and nose, before she could even pretend to take the pill, her wrist was grabbed.

Jiangxiao stared at the exposed section of Yan Qinglan’s pale neck.

On the side of her neck were several dark marks, like plum blossoms on white paper.

“What are those marks on your neck?” Jiangxiao asked, her gaze fixed on Yan Qinglan’s neck, her expression agitated.

“…” Yan Qinglan paused, remembering the marks.

They were from Wen Zhuojin’s kisses.

That was why she had worn a scarf around her neck, even in the summer heat.

“Nothing.” Yan Qinglan didn’t want to discuss it with Jiangxiao.

“Master, I know! Those are love bites! You can make them by sucking on the skin. And on the neck like that, it’s definitely not something Your Highness did to herself. So, Your Highness isn’t as aloof as she seems. Master, I told you she must have someone behind her. Who would give her silver without getting something in return? I think…” Xuan Zhen interjected, her tone almost excited.

“Enough!” Jiangxiao shot Xuan Zhen a look, silencing her, then turned back to Yan Qinglan.

“Who was it? Was it Wei Chengyi? Has he returned from the northern border?!” Jiangxiao tightened her grip on Yan Qinglan’s wrist.

“Who it was is none of your concern.” Yan Qinglan said.

Wei Chengyi was a general stationed at the northern border and one of Yan Qinglan’s trusted aides.

Now that the marks on her neck had been seen, Yan Qinglan no longer hid them. But she had no intention of revealing who had left them.

Hearing Yan Qinglan’s cold words, Jiangxiao’s calm demeanor shattered, crumbling from within.

“Master, I think it’s probably him. If it weren’t for someone so powerful helping her, how could she have accomplished so much? Wei Chengyi isn’t allowed to return to the capital without a summons. Coming back secretly is an act of treason. He must care deeply for Your Highness!” Xuan Zhen added, seeing Jiangxiao’s expression. She quickly shut her mouth and stepped back.

This might be the only good news today.

Although Master had captured the Princess, she had discovered that the Princess had already been intimate with someone else!

Master would surely despise her now!

Xuan Zhen watched with glee, ready to support Jiangxiao if needed.

Jiangxiao’s body trembled slightly.

“None of my concern? You say it’s none of my concern? Hah… In the end, you gave in… The person who saved you, it was only because…” Jiangxiao stared at Yan Qinglan, but before she could finish, a cry of alarm interrupted her.

The people eagerly chiseling at the golden statue had begun collapsing to the ground.

“Something’s wrong! That woman Jiangxiao poisoned us!” someone shouted. A few Northern Qiang men who realized what was happening drew their swords and charged at Jiangxiao.

The Taoist priests and priestesses who had been sitting drew their swords and blocked the attackers.

Jiangxiao understood the concept of inviting a wolf into your home. She had used these people to help her, borrowed their strength, and then lit incense laced with poison in the Hall of Blessings beforehand. By delaying, she ensured they would be poisoned, allowing her to eliminate them.

She had anticipated this and showed no reaction.

Her gaze remained fixed on Yan Qinglan, her heart aching.

She had stripped Yan Qinglan of everything, making herself Yan Qinglan’s sole reliance, ensuring Yan Qinglan would depend on and care for her alone. But Yan Qinglan had escaped, and after more than a decade of living a celibate life, she had now formed such an intimate relationship with someone else!

Everything Jiangxiao had done seemed to have paved the way for someone else.

“Master is truly brilliant! I was wondering… Wait, no… Master, why do I feel so weak too? This incense… Didn’t we all take the antidote? Why isn’t it working?” Xuan Zhen stood to shield Jiangxiao but found her legs giving way, collapsing to her knees.

Jiangxiao’s gaze shifted to the surroundings, her expression changing.

The Tianxuan Palace disciples fighting the Northern Qiang soldiers also began to weaken, retreating step by step.

The Northern Qiang soldiers weren’t faring much better. Though their robust physiques kept them from collapsing, they were clearly unsteady on their feet, unable to continue fighting.

Yan Qinglan felt her head spinning, her limbs weak. She couldn’t even sit up straight and had to lean against a pillar for support.

Looking around, not only were Jiangxiao’s enemies affected, but even the Tianxuan Palace disciples had collapsed in large numbers.

“Who is it? Who else is here?” Xuan Zhen struggled to her feet, scanning the room and shouting. Her voice echoed through the hall.

Yan Qinglan also carefully observed her surroundings, trying to identify who, besides those present, could be behind this.

They didn’t have to wait long. From behind the massive incense burner in the Hall of Blessings, a slender figure emerged.

The person wore a plain Taoist robe common in Tianxuan Palace, with a jade hairpin holding their hair in place and a veil covering their face.

Yan Qinglan recognized the figure instantly, her eyes widening in shock, followed by a wave of panic.

The person was none other than Wen Zhuojin.

“Ah Zhuo!” Xuan Zhen, who had been on guard, relaxed slightly upon seeing Wen Zhuojin.

“Ah Zhuo, Master already used poison. Why did you use more? Everyone’s affected. Your poison is potent. Hurry up and give us the antidote…” Xuan Zhen said to Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin walked past Xuan Zhen without stopping, heading straight for Jiangxiao and Yan Qinglan.

“Wen Zhuojin, what are you doing? Don’t forget, your wife is still in my hands.” Jiangxiao said, sensing something amiss. Unlike Xuan Zhen, she wasn’t naive and instinctively felt something was wrong.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t respond. She simply reached out, pried Jiangxiao’s hand off Yan Qinglan’s wrist, and shoved it aside. Then, with one arm, she pulled the weakened Yan Qinglan to her feet, and with the other, she fed her a pill.