Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 116

The Imperial Astronomers had chosen an auspicious day for Yan Qinglan’s coronation.

At the hour of Yin, Wen Zhuojin felt the person in her arms stir, signaling that Yan Qinglan was about to rise.

Since it was none of her concern, Wen Zhuojin lay still, pretending to be asleep.

Thinking of the tasks ahead for the day, Wen Zhuojin found herself wide awake, her eyes barely open to a slit.

In her line of sight, Yan Qinglan sat up, her long black hair cascading down both sides.

Without her undergarments on, her pronounced collarbones and slender shoulders were visible, her pale skin marked with dark love bites.

Most of them were fresh, from the previous night.

Yan Qinglan managed to hold herself up for only a few moments before collapsing back onto Wen Zhuojin, breathing heavily, clearly struggling to rise.

Wen Zhuojin knew how forceful she had been the night before and understood how difficult it must be for Yan Qinglan now.

Feeling her shoulder dampen, Wen Zhuojin’s heart trembled; she knew Yan Qinglan was crying.

Despite knowing that Yan Qinglan had an important coronation ceremony to attend today, she had still indulged in their passion, truly wicked.

But thinking of her uncle imprisoned in the dungeon and the vast harem Yan Qinglan would have after her coronation, with countless consorts and royal husbands, Wen Zhuojin felt that she hadn’t been wicked enough, her malice expanding further.

Today might be their last contact if she were to leave.

As Wen Zhuojin pondered this, she felt Yan Qinglan trying to rise again and instead pinned her down, holding her firmly in her arms.

Neither wore sleeping garments, and just this contact made Yan Qinglan moan softly.

Yan Qinglan, already weak, couldn’t rise under Wen Zhuojin’s weight.

“Get up.” Yan Qinglan whispered, pinching Wen Zhuojin’s waist.

“Sister…” Wen Zhuojin murmured two words into Yan Qinglan’s ear.

The long-unheard term stiffened Yan Qinglan’s body, her eyes already misty with tears, momentarily forgetting to push Wen Zhuojin away.

Wen Zhuojin held her close for a while before letting go, lying back and pretending to sleep, as if her actions were just a dream.

Yan Qinglan, panting and unsatisfied, flushed red.

“Your Highness, it’s the third quarter of Yin.” a maid’s voice called from outside.

The coronation ceremony had an auspicious hour that couldn’t be missed.

Yan Qinglan closed her eyes and struggled to rise again.

Once Yan Qinglan left the room and all was quiet, Wen Zhuojin finally got up.

The room still carried Yan Qinglan’s scent.

The bedding and pillows were less fragrant than Wen Zhuojin’s own body.

Wen Zhuojin buried her face in herself, sighed softly, and got up to dress and wash.

The day before, Lady Li had agreed with Wen Zhuojin to meet on the day of Yan Qinglan’s coronation.

With most officials and guards concentrated at the coronation, other areas were less guarded.

Wen Zhuojin had spent two days making incense at Lady Li’s place, using available materials to create some knockout incense.

Although Wen Zhuojin couldn’t bring it to the Zichen Hall, Lady Li’s maids could.

Moreover, Lady Li had a few skilled fighters; Wen Zhuojin only needed to wait at the Zichen Hall.

Before Lady Li’s people arrived, Wen Zhuojin found writing materials and left a letter for Yan Qinglan.

The letter mentioned Lady Li and her spies, along with information from Xuan Zhen and the fake princess, a final help to Yan Qinglan before leaving.

By the time Yan Qinglan’s coronation ended, she should have already left the city.

After finishing the letter, Wen Zhuojin added some blessings.

She wished Yan Qinglan harmony and happiness with her harem after the coronation.

She hoped they could part ways peacefully, without further pursuit.

Unconsciously, Wen Zhuojin’s brief farewell note was filled with a bitter tone.

Not long after finishing the letter, Wen Zhuojin smelled the knockout incense and bl00d.

Lady Li’s people had arrived.

To escape, she had to commit sins, something Wen Zhuojin didn’t want.

Wearing a mask, Wen Zhuojin went out and saw embroidered envoys and Lady Li’s people fighting.

Considering it wasn’t a closed environment, Wen Zhuojin had made the incense stronger; even the skilled embroidered envoys were at a disadvantage.

“Enough, just knock them out, don’t kill. Let’s go!” Wen Zhuojin stepped in to stop Lady Li’s people.

They didn’t take orders from Wen Zhuojin, but since they were here to rescue her, they didn’t defy her, only knocking the envoys out.

After the embroidered envoys were knocked out, Lady Li’s people gave Wen Zhuojin a set of imperial guard uniforms.

Wen Zhuojin donned the light armor, adjusted her hair, wore a leather helmet, and after a quick smudge of her face, completed her disguise.

Among the imperial guards, one leader was Lady Li’s man, who could lead a patrol.

Once they arrived, Wen Zhuojin was integrated into the team; her height didn’t stand out.

After patrolling for a while, she followed the group out of the palace.

Last time, Wen Zhuojin had escaped by force, without connections, and was caught despite her disguise.

This time, just changing clothes allowed her to pass smoothly.

This made Wen Zhuojin realize the palace guards had many loopholes, not as tight as a drum.

She wondered if Yan Qinglan knew.

This thought vanished as she left the palace, with others coming to meet her.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t change clothes, continuing as an imperial guard with another group transporting supplies.

According to Lady Li, the guards would deliver food to the troops outside the city.

Following this group would get her out of the city.

The guards weren’t checked individually; the leader gave a pass, and the rest showed their tokens to pass.

It should go smoothly.

However, Wen Zhuojin noticed an unusual smell among the transport group.

The smell of oil and gunpowder.

Having bought these for self-defense at her estate, Wen Zhuojin was familiar with these scents.

The sale of oil and gunpowder was restricted to the general public; Wen Zhuojin had bought limited quantities through connections.

Now, almost every cart carried that smell.

Perhaps covered with oilcloth, others didn’t notice, but to Wen Zhuojin, the smell was strong.

The smell of food was minimal.

If several carts were filled with oil and gunpowder, igniting them could cause serious damage.

When Lady Li said she valued Wen Zhuojin’s talents and would expose her spies to help her escape, Wen Zhuojin didn’t fully believe it, suspecting other intentions.

Now, she understood.

They planned to cause chaos on Yan Qinglan’s coronation day, targeting the troops outside the city?

Was rescuing her just a bonus?

That didn’t seem right.

Regardless, Wen Zhuojin didn’t want to see this happen.

So much oil and gunpowder could kill many innocents.

Perhaps she could ignite them on a less crowded road after leaving the city.

But what if they ignited within the city?

Wen Zhuojin worried, hoping Yan Qinglan wouldn’t come.

Checking the time, past Chen, Yan Qinglan should be at the coronation, too busy to come.

Just as this thought arose, Wen Zhuojin heard rapid hoofbeats approaching.

Soon, a dark mass of imperial guards surrounded Wen Zhuojin’s group, quickly controlling the disguised spies.

Wen Zhuojin immediately spotted Yan Qinglan on a white horse, wearing the imperial yellow robe.

Fresh from the coronation, she hadn’t even changed, coming straight here!

That delicate person had ridden a horse to chase her.

The rider, cold and fierce, held an ornate longsword.

The sword dripped bl00d, having just slit a spy’s throat.

Wen Zhuojin shivered.

Caught so quickly!

Looking at Yan Qinglan’s eyes, Wen Zhuojin felt she might be struck down any moment.

Caught again, was this the end?

“Run again, and I won’t be lenient.” Yan Qinglan’s icy voice seemed to echo.

Wen Zhuojin felt her throat constrict, swallowing hard.

Soon, the horse brought Yan Qinglan right before Wen Zhuojin.

Yan Qinglan dismounted and walked towards Wen Zhuojin with the sword.

In two steps, she was before Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin wanted to speak, but Yan Qinglan’s imposing presence silenced her.

“Ah Zhuo, where are you going?”

As Wen Zhuojin heard Yan Qinglan’s voice, she felt her collar tugged, then was embraced.

“Ah Zhuo, if you leave, who will be my queen?”

Wen Zhuojin heard the whisper, weak and pitiful.

Her mind stalled for a few seconds.

What, what queen?

Before Wen Zhuojin could ask, she smelled a firestarter.

“Careful, the carts have oil!”

Yan Qinglan panicked, calling Wen Zhuojin, patting her cheeks.

Wen Zhuojin remained unresponsive.

Yan Qinglan, trembling, cradled Wen Zhuojin’s head, calling her name.

Yan Zisang brought embroidered envoys to surround Yan Qinglan.

“Yan Zisang, quick, check on her!” Yan Qinglan urged upon seeing Yan Zisang.

“Your Majesty, we must retreat quickly. She’s just fainted, she’ll be fine!” Yan Zisang quickly checked and assured Yan Qinglan, having embroidered envoys lift Wen Zhuojin and help Yan Qinglan up.

Though Yan Zisang said she was fine, seeing Wen Zhuojin unresponsive and bleeding from the mouth, Yan Qinglan was terrified, trembling and crying uncontrollably.

Wen Zhuojin, unconscious, had no sense of time, feeling as if only a moment had passed when she blinked awake.

“Ah Zhuo, don’t scare me, wake up, please.”

“Ah Zhuo, as long as you wake up safe, you can go wherever you want.”

The trembling, tearful voice reached Wen Zhuojin, her cheek wet.

Wen Zhuojin’s eyes opened slightly to see Yan Qinglan.

Her fair face smudged with soot, hair disheveled, eyes tearful, fragile as if she might shatter at a touch.