Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 121

Wen Zhuojin grabbed Yan Qinglan’s wrists and pressed them above her head, pinning her down.

“Sister, calm down, let’s talk properly…” Wen Zhuojin panted as she spoke, but before she could finish, she herself lost composure.

Yan Qinglan’s arms were raised and pinned above her head, making her appear even more helpless and pitiful.

Moreover, Yan Qinglan’s sash had come undone, and as she struggled slightly, her fair, soft bosom was exposed, pressed against Wen Zhuojin, leaving a visible line.

“Ah Zhuo, kiss me…” The pitiful woman, with tearful eyes, parted her red lips and let out a pleading, sobbing voice, her low moans wrapping around Wen Zhuojin like silk threads.

Wen Zhuojin’s eyes reddened involuntarily.

Talk properly?

How could they talk properly now?

Forget it, let’s calm her down first.

Wen Zhuojin leaned in to kiss Yan Qinglan’s already swollen red lips, soothing her trembling, tender tongue. Yan Qinglan tilted her head, responding fervently.

Her soft body pressed tightly against Wen Zhuojin.

The loosened sash and soft fabric were surprisingly cooperative, simply brushing aside to clear the way.

They intertwined, grinding against each other.

After a few breaths, both were gasping, unable to control themselves.

Wen Zhuojin felt that Yan Qinglan seemed to know exactly how to make her lose control.

Yan Qinglan didn’t suppress her voice; every sound she made was what Wen Zhuojin wanted to hear, each one sending her soul soaring.

Like a fish swaying in water.

Sucking rhythmically.

Clenching tightly when they parted slightly, as if to hold her back.

Thus, Wen Zhuojin, who hadn’t had her fill in the carriage, quickly reached her climax.

Yan Qinglan hadn’t yet.

Wen Zhuojin took a moment to recover, then looked at Yan Qinglan, remembering that she had wanted to talk to her.

Yan Qinglan’s expression was dazed, her lashes wet with tears, looking both alluring and pitiful, making Wen Zhuojin want to continue teasing her.

“Sister, do you like it?” Wen Zhuojin whispered, pressing against Yan Qinglan’s core.

“I like Ah Zhuo…” Yan Qinglan replied instinctively.

“Why did you agree to let me come and go freely, yet send so many people to monitor me, restrict where I can go, and have the entire city searched if I’m gone for just a moment?” Wen Zhuojin asked again.

“…” Yan Qinglan remained silent, letting out low, needy moans, her hips moving, but Wen Zhuojin held her down with her other hand.

“Sister, be good, tell me, I want to hear it. If you tell me, I’ll continue. It’s okay, I can accept anything you say.” Wen Zhuojin coaxed, as if dangling candy in front of her to get her to speak the truth.

Yan Qinglan’s tear-filled eyes looked at Wen Zhuojin, who encouraged her with her gaze.

“…I’m afraid, I’m afraid Ah Zhuo will disappear again… The more Ah Zhuo sees of me, the less she’ll like me, and then she can leave anytime… I don’t want Ah Zhuo to leave… Everything has changed, everyone has left, can Ah Zhuo please not leave?”

Yan Qinglan moved her lips and finally spoke, her words growing more pitiful and aggrieved.

Wen Zhuojin’s heart ached as she listened to Yan Qinglan’s words.

She remembered the “bad things” she had said about Yan Qinglan before.

Such a powerful, imposing person, holding the highest authority in Northern Jin, was actually insecure, afraid that Wen Zhuojin would stop liking her and leave.

The freedom Wen Zhuojin wanted was simply to be unconstrained, but Yan Qinglan took it as a promise to leave, so she was afraid.

Afraid in secret, so much so that if she didn’t see Wen Zhuojin for just a moment, she thought she had run away again, hence the intense reaction.

Perhaps the lingering poison also played a role, making Yan Qinglan highly emotional from the moment they met until now.

“Sister, the more I see, the more I like you. The freedom I want isn’t to leave you, I won’t leave, don’t be afraid…” Wen Zhuojin said hoarsely, releasing her hold on Yan Qinglan and fully devoting herself to pleasing her.

“Ah Zhuo, say it again?” Yan Qinglan trembled as she endured, unsure if she hadn’t heard clearly or just wanted to hear it again.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t hold back, whispering it several times into Yan Qinglan’s ear.

After a while, Wen Zhuojin felt Yan Qinglan tense up and then relax, her spirit seemingly drifting into another world, her eyes vacant and helpless.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t leave Yan Qinglan, just gently massaged her and held her, kissing her softly.

There were ice basins around, but the summer heat still left both women drenched in sweat, their clothes and the bedding beneath them damp and sticky.

Yet, they still couldn’t bear to part.

When Yan Qinglan’s eyes regained clarity, they lingered together a bit longer before finally going to bathe.

The Zichen Hall had a large enough bathhouse. After bathing and changing into dry clothes, drying their hair, and waiting for the maids to bring food, Yan Qinglan still clung to Wen Zhuojin, wanting to be held.

Though much of what had just happened was too embarrassing to recall in detail.

But Wen Zhuojin’s words had already calmed Yan Qinglan’s extreme emotions.

“Sister, that fake princess who looks like you, did you really kill her?” Wen Zhuojin asked, recalling the familiar scent she had noticed at the incense shop.

“Really, she’s dead!” Yan Qinglan, who had just relaxed, tensed up again and immediately replied.

“She’s clearly not dead, she’s still being treated at the incense shop. Sister, why did you say she’s dead? Be good, I want to hear the truth.” Wen Zhuojin said.

Yan Qinglan met Wen Zhuojin’s gaze, her lips downturned.

“…She’s dead, so there’s only one person in this world who looks like me. Ah Zhuo, you can only like me… Are you still thinking of her? Then I’ll have her killed for real!” Yan Qinglan said, her voice pitiful at first, then turning fierce.

Wen Zhuojin looked closely at Yan Qinglan, and combined with what she had said earlier, her heart swelled with emotion.

It was as if the thorns Wen Zhuojin had thought would pierce her were actually flesh and bl00d. Only when she touched them did she realize they were soft, alive.

“Sister, how could I think of her? You may look similar, but you’re not the same person. I only like you.” Wen Zhuojin said softly, reaching out to gently pinch Yan Qinglan’s cheek.

The fierceness on Yan Qinglan’s face melted under Wen Zhuojin’s touch.

“If I were with you and still thought of someone else, then I wouldn’t deserve your love. You shouldn’t shed a single tear for me. You should kick me away, beat me up, and drive me off without a second glance or any lingering attachment!” Wen Zhuojin added.

With so many worries in her heart, yet still treating her this way, Wen Zhuojin was genuinely concerned for her beautiful sister.

How could she be so naive when it came to love?

“No, I’ll make sure Ah Zhuo only thinks of me.” Yan Qinglan said.

How Wen Zhuojin treated her, Yan Qinglan naturally knew. That sincerity and devotion were something she would never let go of.

Hearing Yan Qinglan’s words, Wen Zhuojin hugged her tightly, deciding not to continue the topic.

All she needed to do was love this person wholeheartedly and continue to treat her with unwavering devotion.

After they ate, Wen Zhuojin applied medicine to Yan Qinglan.

Having ridden a horse earlier, her skin was already chafed and red. After their intense entanglement, Wen Zhuojin noticed the area was slightly swollen, making her heart ache again.

Though it hurt, Yan Qinglan was in good spirits. That night, she held Wen Zhuojin and slept soundly, free from nightmares.

The next morning at Yin hour (3-5 am), Yan Qinglan got up to attend the morning court.

Even though she hadn’t had nightmares, waking up so early was still a struggle, but it was necessary.

So, she got up with great difficulty.

“Ah Zhuo, come to court with me, okay?” Yan Qinglan said softly, leaning on Wen Zhuojin as she got up, her voice tender and pitiful.

“Okay.” Wen Zhuojin naturally agreed.

“Sister, being the emperor is so hard and so pitiful. Do you still want to be one?” Wen Zhuojin asked the question that had been on her mind for days but hadn’t been voiced.

To Wen Zhuojin, the emperor had power, but it was also incredibly taxing. Compared to that, relinquishing that power and living a comfortable life, letting others bear the burden, seemed better.

“…Ah Zhuo, back in the cold palace, I learned that only with power can one survive, live well, and do what one wants. Compared to that, this hardship is nothing.” Yan Qinglan thought for a moment and replied.

The heart-to-heart from the previous day had gradually opened Yan Qinglan up.

Wen Zhuojin looked at Yan Qinglan and understood a little. Though she couldn’t fully grasp the significance of power to Yan Qinglan, she knew that being the emperor was something Yan Qinglan was willing to endure hardships for, so she would support her.

“Sister, you’ve worked hard.” Wen Zhuojin hugged Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan went to the morning court, while Wen Zhuojin stayed behind.

Wen Zhuojin wrote down some incense recipes she wanted to experiment with, read a book on incense, and listened to Yan Qinglan’s court session.

There were many matters discussed daily, but today there was an urgent issue.

“Southern Chu has repeatedly violated our southern border. This time, they’ve besieged one of our fortress cities. What strategies do my ministers have?” Yan Qinglan asked, holding the latest urgent report.

“Your Majesty, Southern Chu’s actions demand a strong military response to show them that Northern Jin is not to be trifled with!”

“Your Majesty, we must not act rashly. With the Northern Qiang eyeing us from the north and recent floods and natural disasters depleting the treasury, we cannot afford another war. We should send a skilled diplomat to negotiate a truce with Southern Chu, buying time to recover.”

The war faction and the peace faction began to argue.

Given Northern Jin’s current situation, war was not advisable.

Perhaps Southern Chu had anticipated this and deliberately provoked the conflict.

After much debate, it was decided to send an envoy to negotiate, buying time while preparing for the worst-case scenario of war.

Resisting Southern Chu would require troops and military funds, bringing the discussion back to how to replenish the treasury.

Yan Qinglan had already hinted that positions in the harem could be filled by capable individuals, leading to some self-recommendations or recommendations of others.

“These are just drops in the bucket. My harem is not so easily entered. Without two million taels, don’t bring it up again.” Yan Qinglan declared.

The court session continued with discussions on various matters, but Wen Zhuojin’s mind was elsewhere.

After the court session, Yan Qinglan returned, looking exhausted.

Wen Zhuojin went over and hugged her, gently massaging her temples.

“Southern Chu has sent many spies and likely knows our situation well. With their new emperor being ambitious and covetous of Northern Jin, this border siege is unlikely to end peacefully. Negotiations will be tough, and war is something we can’t afford.” Yan Qinglan sighed.

“Then, as you said, we can stall for time. Release news of the silver from Jiangxiao, letting Southern Chu know that Northern Jin has the strength to fight if necessary. If Southern Chu makes unreasonable demands or refuses to negotiate, we’ll mobilize our troops and spend whatever it takes to make them fear us.” Wen Zhuojin suggested.

Wen Zhuojin’s words aligned with Yan Qinglan’s thoughts.

Let’s hope everything goes smoothly.

After much preparation, it was time to elevate Wen Zhuojin.

They spoke a few more words, but Yan Qinglan didn’t continue discussing those matters. Instead, she rested her head on Wen Zhuojin’s shoulder, inhaling her scent, quietly clearing her mind of the chaos.

That day, Wen Zhuojin stayed with Yan Qinglan, adjusting her incense recipes to help her relax and continuing to work on clearing the remaining poison from her body.

The next morning, as Yan Qinglan prepared to attend court again, Wen Zhuojin stopped her.

“Sister, can I go to the incense shop today?” Wen Zhuojin asked, looking at Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan’s expression wavered.

Though Wen Zhuojin had already explained, Yan Qinglan still couldn’t completely let go.

“Sister, don’t be afraid. Try to let go a little. I won’t leave, and I won’t see that fake princess. I want to achieve more. Only by becoming the empress can I earn the respect of those people. I can’t let you work alone. I want to prepare some incense materials. Besides the detox incense pills, I want to develop some new recipes. Also, the flower dew we used before, the shop needs to develop some new products.” Wen Zhuojin said earnestly.

Yan Qinglan was moved by Wen Zhuojin’s words.

She knew Wen Zhuojin was talented, and keeping her confined was a waste of her abilities.

“Alright, but Ah Zhuo must come back early.” Yan Qinglan took a deep breath, deciding to trust Wen Zhuojin in action, even if it was difficult.

“Okay, I’ll try to return before your court session ends.” Wen Zhuojin said.

Yan Qinglan watched Wen Zhuojin leave the palace with her entourage, her heart aching with reluctance. It wasn’t until she went to court that she managed to suppress it.

Wen Zhuojin left the palace early in the morning, heading to the incense shop and summoning several shopkeepers to report.

Wen Zhuojin hadn’t paid much attention to the shops in a while, and upon checking the accounts, she found that their income hadn’t been substantial.

After reviewing the account books and questioning the shopkeepers, Wen Zhuojin realized that whenever new incense products were released, many people would come to buy.

However, since some incenses could last over a month, customers wouldn’t return until they ran out, leading to slower business in between.

The number of people in Yunjing City who could afford Wen Zhuojin’s incense was limited.

New products were mostly bought by the same group of people, cycling through them repeatedly.

Unless a new product was exceptionally novel and exquisite, something the nobility urgently needed, sales would be relatively low.

Moreover, after the Jiangxiao Divine Incense incident, the nobility had become more cautious about using incense.

This gave Wen Zhuojin a headache.