Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 115

Wen Zhuojin could see a slender, pale neck bent weakly, the head resting on her shoulder, the weight leaning on her. The soft, delicate waist pressed against her palm without any defense.

There was no one else in the back hall, just the two of them.

Wasn’t she afraid that Wen Zhuojin might take her as a hostage or even snap that slender neck and delicate waist?

Or did she still trust her deeply?

“Aren’t you afraid I might knock you out and run away?” Wen Zhuojin asked in a low voice.

“Don’t even think about it. The Imperial Guards are here, and their arrows never miss.” came the weak but still commanding reply.

Wen Zhuojin smiled self-deprecatingly. It seemed she had overthought things.

Looking at the slender neck before her, she couldn’t help but grit her teeth and leaned down to bite it.

Yan Qinglan let out a soft moan, her body tensing.

“Wen Zhuojin!”

Yan Qinglan called her name, but Wen Zhuojin didn’t stop. The bite wasn’t hard, but the suction left two clear hickeys.

Wen Zhuojin lifted her head to admire her handiwork, then turned to look at Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan’s eyes were already misty, her eyelashes damp, making her look as if she had been wronged.

And indeed, she had been.

Yet she didn’t resist, her wet eyes filled with accusation as she looked at Wen Zhuojin, making Wen Zhuojin’s heart itch to bite her a few more times.

“Wen Zhuojin, if you dare do that again, I’ll have the guards shoot you!” Yan Qinglan frowned, seeing Wen Zhuojin licking her lips as if savoring the moment.

Today, she hadn’t worn a scarf to cover her neck. A few more bites, and the marks would be visible to the subordinates waiting outside.

Little rascal!

“…” Wen Zhuojin looked at Yan Qinglan in silence for a few moments. It seemed she had forgotten again—the identity and true nature of the person before her.

The ambiguous atmosphere was replaced.

Wen Zhuojin no longer felt like teasing her.

“I want to make a deal with you. I’ll help you uncover the Southern Chu spies in the palace, and you agree to one condition of mine.” Wen Zhuojin said, her expression serious.

From what she had heard earlier, based on what Xuan Zhen and the fake princess had said, Wen Zhuojin, given her current status, could likely lure out some spies.

“No need, I can find them myself. You just stay obediently in Zichen Hall.” Yan Qinglan replied. That place was safe, and under the strictest surveillance, making escape impossible.

“…What about money? The border troops and disaster relief both need funds. I still have some money. If you…” Wen Zhuojin paused, then continued.

“No, I’ll find a way to raise the funds myself.” Yan Qinglan said decisively.

To Yan Qinglan, Wen Zhuojin was just trying to create an opportunity to escape.

She wouldn’t allow it.

Besides, Wen Zhuojin didn’t have much money left anyway.

Most of it had already been given to Yan Qinglan.

“…” Wen Zhuojin gritted her teeth, looking at Yan Qinglan.

The slight improvement in her impression from earlier in the Taihe Hall had now soured again.

This woman didn’t want to give her any chance to negotiate, only wanting to lock her up.

Was this revenge for the time when Wen Zhuojin had kept her in the mansion without even an identity token, forcing her to sneak out?

Fine, then let’s see how she plans to solve this.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t say anything more, just pinched the soft waist beneath her hand, making Yan Qinglan let out a soft moan.

“Alright, the people outside are getting impatient.” Wen Zhuojin said, releasing her hand and speaking in a serious tone.

Yan Qinglan pushed Wen Zhuojin away, straightened her clothes, and walked out of the back hall with her back straight.

Wen Zhuojin followed, standing behind Yan Qinglan.

The officials continued their discussions.

“The Imperial Astronomer has chosen an auspicious date five days from now. Please, Your Highness, take a look. A country cannot be without a ruler for even a day. We implore Your Highness to ascend to the throne as soon as possible!”

Wen Zhuojin, who had been slightly distracted, was jolted back to attention by an elderly voice.

What?

Wen Zhuojin listened more carefully.

Several court officials were urging Yan Qinglan to ascend the throne as soon as possible?!

After not paying attention to the outside world for several days, Yan Qinglan was about to become emperor herself?

Wen Zhuojin looked at Yan Qinglan, who was sitting upright with a commanding presence despite her discomfort, and took a deep breath.

She knew Yan Qinglan had imprisoned the emperor and might install a puppet ruler, but she hadn’t expected Yan Qinglan to take the throne herself.

In Northern Jin’s history, no woman had ever been emperor. The only female emperor in history was hundreds of years ago.

For a woman to become emperor was extremely difficult.

Yan Qinglan had made many preparations, but the timing wasn’t quite ripe.

Yet Yan Qinglan couldn’t wait any longer.

Acting without a legitimate title, always in the role of regent, was inconvenient.

After some symbolic refusals, Yan Qinglan accepted, and the discussion turned to matters related to the coronation.

Hearing that Yan Qinglan was about to become emperor, Wen Zhuojin felt a bit dazed.

It felt as if Yan Qinglan had moved even further away from her.

Suddenly, Wen Zhuojin realized something—wouldn’t she then become part of the imperial harem?

Trapped in the deep palace, losing her freedom forever?

The thought sent a chill down her spine.

She didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the discussions.

After the meeting, Yan Qinglan reached out for Wen Zhuojin to support her as they went to the back hall. Two eunuchs brought in a large stack of memorials, and Yan Qinglan began reviewing them without a moment’s rest.

Wen Zhuojin sat nearby, watching Yan Qinglan work, stepping in to warm her when she became too uncomfortable to continue.

It wasn’t until the palace maids brought dinner that Yan Qinglan finally stopped.

“Serve the dishes.” Yan Qinglan said, glancing at Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin silently served her.

After dinner, Yan Qinglan went back to reviewing memorials.

Wen Zhuojin peeked at a few of them.

[The major imperial merchants have no titles. I suggest allowing them to donate money in exchange for titles.]

[For disaster relief, we could send an imperial merchant to assist, granting them an official position to alleviate the strain on the national treasury.]

[After Your Highness ascends the throne, the top priority should be selecting an imperial consort.]

[If the eldest son of the Fan family becomes the imperial consort, the Fan family is willing to donate 500,000 taels of silver.]

Wen Zhuojin noticed these contents, her heart growing colder.

Being locked up by Yan Qinglan, able to be intimate with her every day, Wen Zhuojin could have “enjoyed” it…

But if Yan Qinglan were to take an imperial consort, she couldn’t bear it.

The only female emperor in history had many consorts and male favorites.

In the face of such grand matters, perhaps she was just a diversion for Yan Qinglan, a little tool to warm her bed. In the future, Yan Qinglan would have many more.

Perhaps she could use the gold she had moved for Jiang Xiao as leverage to secure a better position, but that would change the nature of things, and it wasn’t what she wanted.

Unless that gold could buy her freedom.

That night, they returned to Zichen Hall.

Yan Qinglan was on her period, so they didn’t get too intimate. She just clung to Wen Zhuojin for warmth.

The next day, Yan Qinglan felt better. Wen Zhuojin didn’t ask to follow her out, and Yan Qinglan didn’t insist, leaving Zichen Hall with her entourage.

Wen Zhuojin wandered around Zichen Hall, looking for an opportunity.

The current Zichen Hall was no longer like before. Guards were everywhere, and no matter where she went, Wen Zhuojin could smell different scents.

Wen Zhuojin looked around, still wanting to find a way out for herself.

If she searched, she might find one.

But before she could act, an old matron arrived at Zichen Hall the next morning.

“Your Highness, the Dowager Consort has been suffering from headaches these past few days. She heard that Miss Wen is here and would like to borrow her to make some incense.” the old matron said after bowing to Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan looked at Wen Zhuojin, hesitating.

Letting Wen Zhuojin leave Zichen Hall made her uneasy, especially since contact with incense materials could be dangerous.

“Your Highness, I won’t bring back any other incense. Besides, my uncle and his family are in your hands. How could I run? If you keep imprisoning me like this, not letting me go anywhere, you might as well execute me now.” Wen Zhuojin said, seeing Yan Qinglan’s hesitation.

Yan Qinglan’s expression faltered, sensing that the life had drained from Wen Zhuojin.

That wasn’t her intention.

“If the Dowager Consort wants you to make incense, I won’t refuse. You may go, but return by afternoon.” Yan Qinglan said, allowing Wen Zhuojin to leave Zichen Hall.

Wen Zhuojin wasn’t particularly happy about being allowed to leave. She was accompanied by six Imperial Guards disguised as palace maids, following the old matron to the Dowager Consort’s residence, Shoukang Palace.

Inside Shoukang Palace was a small incense-making room. Wen Zhuojin was led inside, with the guards waiting outside.

As Wen Zhuojin was thinking about the incense materials available and what she could make, she caught a familiar scent.

Looking up, she saw the Dowager Consort Li.

The Dowager Consort smiled kindly at Wen Zhuojin and gestured for her to come closer.

Wen Zhuojin took a few steps forward.

“Miss Wen, would you like to leave the capital? I can help you.” the Dowager Consort asked softly.

Hearing this, Wen Zhuojin’s eyes widened.

Could the deeply hidden Southern Chu spy be the Dowager Consort herself?

Surely Yan Qinglan wouldn’t use her to test Wen Zhuojin?

“Why does the Dowager Consort ask this?” Wen Zhuojin inquired.

“You are a genius in incense-making, and your creations are exceptional. I know your last attempt to escape failed and you were captured. If you wish to try again, I can arrange it for you.” the Dowager Consort said.

“…” Wen Zhuojin was silent.

“From what I know, your uncle’s family has returned to the capital, but they were all imprisoned the day they arrived, including your cousin in the capital. They were involved in a petition related to Prime Minister Li’s case. If you don’t believe me, take a look at this letter your uncle wrote for Prime Minister Li.” the Dowager Consort said, handing Wen Zhuojin a scroll.

Wen Zhuojin opened it and saw her uncle’s handwriting.

Her uncle had just returned and was already caught up in Prime Minister Li’s affairs.

Her uncle regarded Prime Minister Li as a mentor and trusted his character deeply, so it wasn’t surprising he would do such a thing.

When Wen Zhuojin had followed Yan Qinglan to the Taihe Hall, she knew how Yan Qinglan handled such people—arresting them all, regardless of their numbers, without hesitation.

But why arrest everyone? Wasn’t that too targeted?

She had willingly allowed herself to be imprisoned, promising not to escape, to avoid implicating her uncle and his family. Yet they had already been arrested!

And Yan Qinglan hadn’t mentioned a word of it to her!

“What does the Dowager Consort mean? Do you have a way to save them?” Wen Zhuojin asked, looking up at the Dowager Consort.

“Yes. I am from Southern Chu. I can mobilize all the Southern Chu agents hidden in Northern Jin to help rescue your uncle from the prison and send you all to Southern Chu. Our master greatly admires your talent and is willing to expose these long-hidden agents, including myself, for your sake.” the Dowager Consort said earnestly.

“…” Wen Zhuojin was stunned. She didn’t consider herself particularly talented, certainly not enough for Southern Chu to go to such lengths.

But she did want to leave.

If she could have both, why not try?

Once she was out, she wouldn’t be at the mercy of the Southern Chu people.

Exposing Southern Chu’s deep-cover agents to rescue her would also benefit Yan Qinglan.

“What’s your plan? I need to know if it’s feasible. Otherwise, I won’t take the risk.” Wen Zhuojin asked after some thought.