Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 112

Yunjing City, Yongning Gate

As several horse-drawn carriages loaded with goods were being inspected, a few of the horses suddenly became restless, breaking free from their handlers. The horses, still pulling their cargo, charged toward the city gate, crashing through the guards stationed there. The gatekeepers immediately moved to control the situation, but the horses were frantic, neighing and charging forward, causing chaos at the gate.

Yan Qinglan, who had been feeling increasingly despondent after repeated disappointments, suddenly perked up at the sight of the commotion. She focused her gaze on the gate, trying to make out what was happening.

Before she could get a clear view, however, the two horses pulling her own carriage also became restless, attempting to bolt toward the gate. The coachman and guards accompanying Yan Qinglan were skilled members of the Embroidered Envoy, and they quickly managed to bring the horses under control after the carriage had moved only a couple of steps.

“Your Highness, are you alright? It seems like Northern Qiang spies might be causing trouble to create chaos and escape the city.” Qing Chenning said, steadying Yan Qinglan and scanning their surroundings for any threats.

Yan Qinglan didn’t respond, her eyes fixed ahead. She had a strong feeling that Wen Zhuojin was behind this, preparing to make her escape. That little rascal was always clever, and if she planned to leave, she would have a meticulous plan in place. The sudden restlessness of the horses was likely due to a type of incense poison that affected horses—something Wen Zhuojin had studied after learning Northern Qiang’s incense-making techniques.

At that moment, all the horses near the gate became agitated, charging toward the exit as if drawn by something irresistible. While the guards were busy trying to control the horses, Yan Qinglan spotted a single rider charging through the chaos, breaking past the gate.

The rider wore a veil hat, obscuring their face, but Yan Qinglan recognized the horse—it was the same one Wen Zhuojin had ridden when she took her away from Tianxuan Palace.

“Stop her!” Yan Qinglan called out, and several Embroidered Envoy members moved to intercept. However, the situation was too chaotic, and the horse was exceptionally strong, taller than the others by half a head. It barreled through the crowd, creating a path for itself.

“Don’t harm her!” Yan Qinglan shouted, her voice rising as she saw one of the Embroidered Envoy members raise a bow. She couldn’t risk a ranged attack in such a chaotic situation. The guards were already struggling to control the other horses, and the new horse’s charge allowed it to break through the gate.

Yan Qinglan took a deep breath, feeling as though something had been torn away from her as the horse disappeared through the gate.

“Yan Zisang, follow them out of the city! Send Yong Yi and Yong Feng ahead on fast horses to track them and leave markers along the way.” Yan Qinglan ordered immediately, naming two of the most skilled members of the Embroidered Envoy.

“Your Highness, it’s too dangerous to leave the city now! Please don’t act impulsively!” Qing Chenning exclaimed, shocked by Yan Qinglan’s decision. Wen Zhuojin had “rebelled” and Yan Qinglan was furious, but was it really necessary to chase her down so urgently?

“Out of the city!” Yan Qinglan said firmly, her gaze locking onto Qing Chenning.

Even though she trusted the Embroidered Envoy’s abilities, Yan Qinglan wasn’t entirely confident. If she didn’t go out to find Wen Zhuojin herself, the little rascal might never return. If she left now, Yan Qinglan feared she might never see her again. Just the thought of it made her chest ache with pain.

“There are troops stationed outside the city. If someone is truly planning an ambush, using me as bait will draw them out. You stay here and continue investigating the whereabouts of that batch of silver. Clean up the Northern Qiang and Southern Chu spies within the city.” Yan Qinglan added, addressing Qing Chenning.

“As you command.” Qing Chenning replied, choosing not to argue further and obeying the order.

As soon as Qing Chenning stepped out of the carriage, Yan Qinglan’s carriage followed, exiting the city. The horses at the gate, after Wen Zhuojin’s suspected escape, began to calm down slightly.

“Your Highness, it seems the source of the disturbance is outside the city. The horses of the guards outside are also restless, and a few uncontrolled horses have already run off toward the southeast. The rider earlier also headed in that direction. Should we proceed southeast?” Yan Zisang reported to Yan Qinglan once they were outside the city.

Yan Qinglan paused, a thought flashing through her mind. In her panic, she had acted rashly. Upon reflection, if that really had been Wen Zhuojin, riding a horse that Yan Qinglan recognized was a blatant way to attract pursuers. Was she so confident that her horse could outrun the Embroidered Envoy’s mounts? Even if her horse was fast, it would eventually tire, while the Embroidered Envoy rode with two horses each, switching between them.

Or perhaps the entire scene had been a diversion, creating chaos to draw attention while Wen Zhuojin calmly waited in line to exit the city. Moreover, if Wen Zhuojin was truly escorting the fake princess, she wouldn’t have charged out alone.

“Yan Zisang, have a thousand soldiers from the outer city garrison ambush near the city gate. Return to the city now.” Yan Qinglan ordered.

Yan Zisang didn’t understand Yan Qinglan’s reasoning but felt relieved and immediately carried out the order.

Yan Qinglan knew Wen Zhuojin had a keen sense of smell. Even if she used incense to mask her scent, the faint trace of it would still be detectable to someone as cautious as Wen Zhuojin. If Yan Qinglan had left the city in her carriage, Wen Zhuojin would have sensed it. Perhaps she was waiting for Yan Qinglan to leave before making her own escape.

“Yan Zisang, have someone lower a rope. Take me up to the city wall.” Yan Qinglan said as they reached the gate, deciding not to enter the city through the main gate but to climb the wall instead.

Yan Zisang was surprised. At a time when the entire city was under the Princess’s control, why would she choose to scale the wall instead of using the main gate? But he didn’t question her, immediately carrying out the order.

To avoid drawing attention during the day, Yan Zisang found a large black cloak to conceal Yan Qinglan before helping her up the wall.

Soon, Yan Qinglan stood atop the city wall, over ten meters high.

“Find me a telescope.” Yan Qinglan said, realizing that from this height, it would be difficult to distinguish individuals without assistance.

Yan Zisang quickly handed her a monocular telescope.

Yan Qinglan adjusted the telescope and looked down. After the earlier commotion, the area below the gate had just been cleared.

Wen Zhuojin was currently sitting in a carriage belonging to a Dashi Country merchant caravan, waiting in line to exit the city. As Yan Qinglan had guessed, the earlier disturbance had indeed been orchestrated by Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin knew that after escaping from the palace, she would be pursued. When exiting the city, the guards would likely have her portrait. The maid from the Dashi Country caravan, skilled in makeup, had transformed Wen Zhuojin’s appearance into that of a well-known dancer from the caravan, complete with the appropriate clothing and accessories. The dancer was quite famous in the area, and the guards at the gate recognized her.

As Wen Zhuojin approached the gate, she caught a familiar scent—a mix of cold incense and a faint ointment—emanating from a double-horse carriage that had stopped near the gate without exiting or moving elsewhere.

Seeing this, Wen Zhuojin knew she was in trouble. Yan Qinglan was here to capture her personally.

Uncertain about her disguise, Wen Zhuojin had spent a considerable amount of silver to orchestrate a diversion, even sending out her prized horse with a rider.

Watching Yan Qinglan’s carriage leave the city, Wen Zhuojin finally relaxed. If she could just get through this checkpoint, she would be free.

Soon, it was the merchant caravan’s turn.

“Everyone in the carriage, step out. Remove your veils and hold your identity tokens ready…” the inspecting officer instructed.

Wen Zhuojin took a deep breath, calming herself. She couldn’t detect the cold incense scent nearby, and with her current appearance, she should be able to pass unnoticed.

Wen Zhuojin stepped out of the carriage with the others.

From atop the city wall, Yan Qinglan peered through the telescope at the group of women dressed as Western dancers stepping out of the carriage. It was already summer, and the dancers wore revealing outfits, typical of the open-minded Western regions. Even with long veils and intricately embroidered tops and skirts, their midriffs were exposed.

Their wrists and ankles were adorned with delicate jade or gold chains, and their waists were similarly decorated, creating a pleasant jingling sound when they danced.

Yan Qinglan observed the dancers through the telescope, her gaze immediately drawn to one particularly slender and toned waist. It wasn’t just flat; there were subtle indentations and well-defined muscle lines.

Looking further up at the figure and face, Yan Qinglan felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. The flamboyant attire was completely different, but the way the woman carried herself was unmistakable.

The heavily made-up face was unfamiliar, but the curve of her smile was all too familiar. The entire person seemed both foreign and intimately known.

It was the little rascal!

To avoid her, Wen Zhuojin had gone to such lengths!

Without delay, Yan Qinglan descended the city wall and ordered Yan Zisang to have soldiers from both inside and outside the city surround the area.

Below the gate, Wen Zhuojin awkwardly twisted her waist, following the caravan’s instructions that this was how the dancers behaved when exiting the city. Not doing so would raise suspicions, so she had to play along.

“Alright, cleared. Next!” the inspecting officer said, and Wen Zhuojin felt her tension ease.

Dressed like this, who could possibly recognize her?

She was finally about to leave!

As Wen Zhuojin and the others prepared to board their carriages and exit the city, she suddenly heard the sound of marching footsteps and the overwhelming scent of people closing in.

Wen Zhuojin’s eyes widened as she looked around. Hundreds of armored soldiers poured out from both inside and outside the city, swiftly surrounding the merchant caravan.

Had she been discovered?!

How was that possible?

They were about to let her through!

Why had they suddenly surrounded them?

Was there something wrong with someone else?

As Wen Zhuojin pondered this, a faint, familiar cold incense scent reached her nose, growing stronger by the moment.

Wen Zhuojin froze.

Had Yan Qinglan not left? Or had she returned?

Even like this, she had been recognized?!

Wen Zhuojin wished she could disappear into the ground.

It was over.

Perhaps she should have waited a few more days before trying to leave.

As the familiar scent grew closer, Wen Zhuojin’s anxiety intensified. She didn’t dare look, but a secret part of her longed to catch a glimpse of the person she hadn’t seen in days.

How pathetic, she thought, to still have such feelings even when facing certain doom.

A soft cough broke the silence, and Wen Zhuojin couldn’t help but glance up, her body trembling slightly.

Yan Qinglan, dressed in a deep, understated purple gown, walked with an imposing air. The soldiers automatically made way for her as she approached Wen Zhuojin directly.

The woman, her face partially obscured by a veil, revealed only a pair of peach-blossom eyes. Her gaze was like shards of ice, sharp and piercing, directed straight at Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin felt suffocated, the same panic she had felt when she saw Yan Qinglan in the palace that night, her lips moving as she decided life and death. It felt as though, at any moment, Yan Qinglan would order her execution.

“Ah Zhuo…” Instead of a cold command, Wen Zhuojin heard a slightly hoarse voice calling her name.

Hearing this, Wen Zhuojin’s heart clenched. Then she saw the woman before her extend her hand.

Was she asking for a hug? Or was she about to slap her?

Before Wen Zhuojin could decide, she heard a thud.

Someone from the caravan had knelt and crawled toward her, quickly wrapping their arms around her legs before anyone could react.

“I’m scared…” a trembling voice said.

Wen Zhuojin looked down in shock.

The person clinging to her legs was none other than the fake princess.