Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 107

The mountain wind blew, carrying a damp, warm breath that brushed against their faces.

Under Wen Zhuojin’s gaze, Yan Qinglan reached out towards her, and Wen Zhuojin instinctively responded, extending her arms to embrace her.

“Ah Zhuo, I’m scared…” Yan Qinglan whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Throughout the journey, Yan Qinglan had been pondering why Wen Zhuojin had come to rescue her. Was it because she didn’t know her true identity, or did she know and still chose to save her?

Even in the face of danger, she had never felt fear, but this question filled her with anxiety and unease.

When Yan Qinglan said she was scared, she truly meant it.

She was afraid of losing Wen Zhuojin.

Just a little more, just a bit more, and she could put an end to all these matters. Once she had control of the situation, she could explain everything to Wen Zhuojin.

Just a little more.

If it weren’t for the fact that the poison in her system hadn’t fully dissipated, leaving her body weak, Yan Qinglan would have wanted to silence Jiangxiao and Xuanzhen’s mouths.

Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s words, Yan Qinglan guessed that Wen Zhuojin probably still didn’t know the truth.

But, with Jiangxiao and Xuanzhen having mentioned names earlier, would Wen Zhuojin dig deeper?

So, Yan Qinglan didn’t dare to respond to Wen Zhuojin’s words. She simply held her tightly, her body trembling as if she had been frightened out of her wits, unable to speak.

“Sister, don’t be afraid. Jiangxiao and Xuanzhen said a lot of nonsense. I won’t believe a single word they said. I only believe in you, sister. You are definitely not the person they described. You are the gentlest, kindest, and the best…” Wen Zhuojin said, her voice carrying warmth along with the damp wind, reaching Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan felt a warmth in her chest, but at the same time, a sense of guilt washed over her.

She wasn’t the person Wen Zhuojin described. She was the ruthless, scheming person Xuanzhen spoke of, never gentle or kind.

She had only hidden her true self, pretending to be someone she wasn’t, fearing to lose everything again.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t like her true self; she only showed her the side she liked.

The feeling of being wholeheartedly cared for was so good that even though she knew it might collapse if the lies were exposed, it was still something she couldn’t bear to let go of.

Her Ah Zhuo said she didn’t believe Jiangxiao and Xuanzhen’s words; she only believed in her.

Who would have thought that someone who ended up in a place like the Fragrance Pavilion was actually the current princess?

Moreover, Wen Zhuojin had seen the “princess” during the Lantern Festival. At that time, she was still bedridden and couldn’t move, so how could she know about Jiangxiao finding a substitute for her? Even Yan Qi didn’t know about it yet.

Yan Qinglan felt a bit more at ease, though she still felt guilty for not being honest with Wen Zhuojin.

Soon, just a little more.

Wen Zhuojin’s arms around Yan Qinglan tightened slightly. She could feel Yan Qinglan’s body trembling, hear her slightly rapid breathing, and see the tears hanging from her eyelashes…

The question she wanted to ask remained unspoken.

Yan Qinglan didn’t want to say it, and asking would only lead to another lie.

Right now, she truly looked scared, pitiful, as if she had been wronged.

But what was she afraid of?

What could someone like her be afraid of?

Wen Zhuojin couldn’t understand. She felt like she still didn’t know her at all.

Just as Wen Zhuojin was about to say something, she sensed something was wrong. The smell of bl00d and iron in the air was growing stronger, coming from the direction she had planned to take Yan Qinglan.

Wen Zhuojin tightened her hold on Yan Qinglan and turned to look down the mountain in the opposite direction of Tianxuan Palace.

Unnoticed, a group of black-armored soldiers was rapidly ascending from the foot of the mountain. They were densely packed, numbering in the thousands.

Wen Zhuojin gasped.

This overwhelming force was more dangerous than approaching from the front of Tianxuan Palace.

These soldiers must have been lying in ambush there, only now making their move, or they would have been discovered earlier.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t know which side these soldiers belonged to, but her instinct was to avoid them.

“Sister, let’s go back and talk later. I’ll take you away first! Someone’s coming this way.” Wen Zhuojin immediately said, picking Yan Qinglan up again.

Yan Qinglan also saw the situation below and knew it was the backup plan she had arranged.

In her plan, if she had to follow Jiangxiao, she had arranged for ambush troops to capture everyone.

Now, these troops had received orders to take over Tianxuan Palace.

At this moment, most of the people in Tianxuan Palace were weakened by the poison, lying helpless on the ground. The arriving troops would easily take control.

Yan Qinglan had already arranged everything, so this situation shouldn’t pose any problems. Since Wen Zhuojin wanted to take her away, she let her.

Both situations were complicated. Wen Zhuojin thought for a moment and decided to avoid the approaching soldiers, taking a different path down the mountain.

The mountain path was rough, so Wen Zhuojin carried Yan Qinglan on her back.

Yan Qinglan could feel Wen Zhuojin’s breathing becoming heavier and wanted to get down and walk on her own, but Wen Zhuojin wouldn’t let her.

In the past, Wen Zhuojin would have done the same, doing her utmost to protect Yan Qinglan.

This time, however, a thought crossed her mind.

At least this time, she had saved someone, so she had some merit, right?

If she behaved well from now on, could she offset her past mistakes if it came to a reckoning?

Would she not have to flee for her life?

After all, she had said, “It can only be Ah Zhuo.”

On this mountain path, there were also ambushes set up to catch any stragglers—some disguised as hunters, others as woodcutters—but Yan Qinglan gestured for them to disperse.

After about an hour, Wen Zhuojin finally reached the foot of the mountain and found a flat path, speeding up a bit. She found the place where she had tied her horse.

The horse, which had cost over ten thousand taels of silver, was calmly grazing. Wen Zhuojin helped Yan Qinglan onto the horse and then mounted it herself.

Riding wasn’t very comfortable, so Wen Zhuojin headed to a manor outside the city.

“Sister, shall we stay at the manor for the night?” Wen Zhuojin asked, seeing that it was getting late.

“Ah Zhuo, I want to go home.” Yan Qinglan said softly.

This was a critical time, and she couldn’t stay at the manor; she needed to return to Yunjing City.

“Alright, let’s go back.” Wen Zhuojin didn’t try to persuade her further and agreed to take her home.

While Wen Zhuojin arranged for a carriage, a messenger from the manor reported the situation to Yan Qinglan, and she gave a few instructions.

Once Wen Zhuojin had the carriage ready, they set off together.

The journey was a bit bumpy, and Yan Qinglan leaned against Wen Zhuojin and fell asleep.

Wen Zhuojin gazed at Yan Qinglan’s sleeping face, lost in thought for a while.

She was feeling somewhat lost now.

What was real, and what was false?

Her actions were driven purely by instinct.

Only upon closer reflection did she feel a sense of inexplicable panic.

“It can only be Ah Zhuo.”

This phrase kept echoing in Wen Zhuojin’s mind, almost like a spell.

It was as if with this phrase, even descending into hell would be bearable.

Perhaps everything wasn’t as she had anticipated, and there was still a chance for things to turn around.

Unless this phrase was a lie.

The carriage arrived at Yunjing City just before the city gates closed. As the carriage passed through the gates, the sound of the gates closing behind them echoed.

All the events outside the city were now shut out.

Wen Zhuojin took Yan Qinglan back to Lanyuan.

This was their home.

Without Jiangxiao and Xuanzhen around, they could return openly.

When the carriage arrived at the gate, and Wen Zhuojin saw the characters “Lanyuan.” it suddenly dawned on her where the name came from.

Liu Suniang, Ye Yuanniang—all fake.

Her real name was Yan Qinglan.

This name, which had always felt so distant, still didn’t quite match the person sleeping peacefully before her.

That name used to represent cold ruthlessness, decisive killing, and a malicious mind…

“Sister?” Upon arriving at Lanyuan, Wen Zhuojin called out softly to Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan responded with a faint hum, her body leaning limply against Wen Zhuojin, showing no signs of waking.

She looked utterly defenseless, like a tiny kitten exposing its belly, trusting and vulnerable.

Wen Zhuojin carried her out of the carriage and into the room, where they ate a quick meal.

The journey had been long and exhausting, and Wen Zhuojin’s clothes were covered in dust and traces of poison, making them unfit to wear any longer.

After eating, Wen Zhuojin took Yan Qinglan to the washroom.

Yan Qinglan allowed Wen Zhuojin to undress her, only wincing slightly when her socks were removed, revealing a few bl00d blisters on her feet.

She hadn’t walked a single step with Wen Zhuojin—these blisters were from the long trek she had taken earlier with Jiangxiao, from the Scripture Platform to the Tianxuan Palace.

Wen Zhuojin’s heart ached at the sight. She kissed away the tears that had welled up in Yan Qinglan’s eyes from the pain, soothing her gently.

She really was so fragile.

Perhaps this fragility was her true nature.

Wen Zhuojin couldn’t resist such a pitiful sight.

Carefully avoiding the broken blisters, Wen Zhuojin bathed Yan Qinglan.

Once they were done, Yan Qinglan proactively handed a pill to Wen Zhuojin.

“Ah Zhuo, help me…” Yan Qinglan whispered into Wen Zhuojin’s ear, her voice as seductive as an enchantress’s.

Yan Qinglan knew what Wen Zhuojin liked. She pushed aside her usual shyness, hoping to ease her own guilt and comfort the person she had kept in the dark.

Wen Zhuojin watched as Yan Qinglan swallowed hard, telling herself that saving someone today would make up for past mistakes.

But the woman before her, fresh from the bath, was intoxicating. Her skin was soft and flushed, her hair fragrant, and her breath warm against Wen Zhuojin’s ear—every word, every sigh, was a temptation.

Wen Zhuojin couldn’t resist.

Her mind clouded, she took the pill and placed it inside Yan Qinglan, only to end up making her cry again…

Exhaustion soon took over. The long journey had drained them both, and after just one round, Wen Zhuojin was breathless and unable to continue. After a quick cleanup, they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

The next morning, Wen Zhuojin woke to find Yan Qinglan still lying beside her. Her scalp tingled as she noticed a few new marks around the fading bruises.

Wen Zhuojin got up numbly, her mind racing about what to do next, when a eunuch arrived, urging her to hurry to the Fragrance Pavilion. Several important guests had arrived, all in need of treatment.

Back in Yunjing City, Wen Zhuojin had no choice but to attend to these duties.

It was a good thing she had work to keep her busy, something to pull her away. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure what reckless things she might do.

Yan Qinglan hadn’t woken yet. Wen Zhuojin murmured a quick goodbye before leaving.

At the Fragrance Pavilion, as she treated patients for incense poisoning, Wen Zhuojin’s thoughts kept drifting back to Yan Qinglan.

By the afternoon, she was eager to return home, but a few troublesome clients delayed her. Just as she was about to leave, a group of soldiers stormed in, their presence aggressive and imposing.

Martial law has been declared, and no one is allowed to move about on the streets. Wen Zhuojin tried to use silver to smooth things over, but they were utterly impartial.

Wen Zhuojin sensed that something was amiss; it seemed like a major event had occurred in Yunjing City!