Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 133

Yan Qinglan didn’t speak, just smiled and looked at the two of them.

After swallowing a mouthful of sweet sugar water, she coughed lightly, her expression turning serious again as she continued to discuss matters.

Twelve years into her reign, Yan Qinglan’s appearance had changed very little. Time had left no noticeable marks on her face.

If one had to pinpoint any changes, it might be that her eyes were brighter and clearer, her complexion healthier and more radiant, giving her an excellent aura, and her temperament had become more harmonious and well-rounded.

“Chen Yue, during the few days I’m away, I’ll leave these matters in your hands.” Yan Qinglan said, then glanced at the woman standing respectfully before her, listening to her instructions.

“Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty’s trust!” The woman, addressed as Chen Yue, replied respectfully, her expression cold and serious, bearing a striking resemblance to Yan Qinglan, though her features were slightly more youthful.

This woman, Chen Yue, was one of the few selected by Yan Qinglan from the imperial clan to be trained in the palace.

Over a decade had passed, and Yan Qinglan had chosen Chen Yue from among them.

This was a result of Chen Yue’s own abilities.

During the few days Yan Qinglan would be away from the palace, she entrusted both internal and external affairs to Chen Yue.

Although most officials were on holiday during this period, there were still some on duty, and matters to attend to.

Seeing that Yan Qinglan had almost finished her instructions, Wen Zhuojin reached out and placed a hand on Yan Qinglan’s shoulder.

“Alright, if you say any more, Chen Yue will think you’re being too verbose. Didn’t she do well last year? There’s no need to go into such detail. Chen Yue, you may go and rest. If there’s anything urgent, send a message to the retreat palace.” Wen Zhuojin said, handing a cup of tea to Yan Qinglan and feeding her, preventing her from speaking further.

Chen Yue, who had initially appeared very serious and solemn, relaxed a bit upon seeing Wen Zhuojin. When she noticed Wen Zhuojin feeding Yan Qinglan tea, a hint of amusement flashed in her eyes.

“Your Majesty, Empress, if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave.” Chen Yue said, bowing her head to suppress a smile.

“Mm, go and rest.” Yan Qinglan said after swallowing the honey pear syrup, shooting a glare at Wen Zhuojin before turning back to Chen Yue.

Chen Yue bowed and quickly left the council hall.

Once she was gone, Wen Zhuojin moved closer and hugged Yan Qinglan.

“Sister, everything’s ready for the retreat palace. You’re not thinking of backing out, are you? Sister, can’t you spend more time with me and forget about those matters for a while?” Wen Zhuojin said, her voice softening, carrying a hint of coquettishness.

Over the past few years, both Wen Zhuojin and Yan Qinglan had been busy with their respective duties. Compared to Wen Zhuojin, Yan Qinglan’s handling of state affairs was more demanding, consuming a great deal of her energy and mental strength.

Wen Zhuojin helped lighten Yan Qinglan’s burden, but some tasks could only be handled by Yan Qinglan herself.

If Yan Qinglan had been content with merely maintaining the status quo, her life would have been much easier.

But Yan Qinglan was ambitious, wanting to make Northern Jin better, which required her to put in more effort.

When it came to handling official duties, Wen Zhuojin admired Yan Qinglan’s dedication and selflessness.

Wen Zhuojin suspected that if it weren’t for her, Yan Qinglan’s relentless work ethic might have led to overexertion and illness.

Yan Qinglan, being hugged and softly pleaded with by Wen Zhuojin, found it somewhat amusing.

Just moments ago, she had been the epitome of a great ruler in front of Chen Yue, all serious and proper. Now, she was acting like she had over a decade ago.

Her skin was as fair as snow, her demeanor gentle yet dignified.

Another figure, dressed in vibrant, slightly exotic attire, complemented her youthful, spirited face.

These two, upon seeing Yan Qinglan and Wen Zhuojin, bowed respectfully. When they looked up, their faces bore similar smiles, their eyes showing familiarity, though one smiled with restraint, the other with brightness.

These two were none other than Chen Yue and Wen Zhuojin’s disciple, Yan Bi.

“Chen Yue, Yan Bi has just returned and isn’t entirely familiar with things yet. Look after her. Yan Bi, you can assist Chen Yue. Alright, I won’t ramble anymore. It’s cold, so go back. No need to see us off.” Wen Zhuojin said, helping Yan Qinglan into the carriage before waving to the two.

“Teacher, don’t worry. Unless it’s something of utmost importance, we won’t disturb you.” Yan Bi said softly, her expression extremely respectful.

Wen Zhuojin smiled at Yan Bi before bending to enter the carriage.

“Farewell, Your Majesty, Empress.” the two outside bowed and watched as the carriage departed.

Inside the carriage, Wen Zhuojin opened her cloak, pulled Yan Qinglan onto her lap, and wrapped the cloak around both of them.

Knowing Yan Qinglan was sensitive to the cold, Wen Zhuojin had prepared a charcoal brazier in advance. The carriage was warm, and with hand warmers and foot warmers, it was almost as cozy as a palace with underfloor heating.

Despite this, Wen Zhuojin still worried Yan Qinglan might feel cold.

Yan Qinglan smiled and hugged Wen Zhuojin, extending her hand for Wen Zhuojin to check, pressing her cheek against Wen Zhuojin’s to let her feel the temperature.

“Warm?” Yan Qinglan asked softly.

“Warm and fragrant… Why does the same floral water smell so much better on your skin?” Wen Zhuojin murmured, resting her head in the crook of Yan Qinglan’s neck, inhaling deeply.

In the perfume business, one often needed to innovate to keep products fresh and avoid stagnation.

To remain passionate about a particular scent for over a decade was rare, but Wen Zhuojin was one of those few.

Yan Qinglan, too, never tired of Wen Zhuojin’s scent, finding it as comforting as ever.

Over a decade ago, during a period of uncertainty, Yan Qinglan had wondered what would happen if their scents became unpleasant to each other.

Now, the thought seemed laughable.

Perhaps it was true, but in reality, their scents were just one of many things that bound them together, and those bonds only grew stronger.

As the carriage passed through bustling streets, the sounds and smells of the lively market outside filtered in. Wen Zhuojin and Yan Qinglan looked out through the carriage window.

With the New Year approaching, people were busy shopping for the festivities, and the streets were vibrant.

Noticing Yan Qinglan’s gaze lingering on a vendor for a moment, Wen Zhuojin chuckled softly.

“Sister, wait a moment.” Wen Zhuojin said, wrapping Yan Qinglan in the cloak before bending down and jumping out of the carriage. She quickly walked over to the vendor and bought two roasted sweet potatoes and a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts.

Soon, Wen Zhuojin returned to the carriage, bringing with her a rich, fragrant aroma.

“Sister, ten copper coins for two bags. It’s a good deal, soft and sweet…” Wen Zhuojin said, taking a bite herself before blowing on it and feeding it to Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan leaned in, allowing Wen Zhuojin to feed her.

The carriage continued on its way, the warmth inside contrasting with the cold winter outside.

As they traveled, Wen Zhuojin couldn’t help but tease Yan Qinglan.

“Sister, can we play in the snow tomorrow morning?”

“If you can get up, you can go play by yourself.”

“Hmm, then I’ll sleep with Sister.”

“A Zhuo, are you planning to sleep all day?”

“Cough, if Sister can handle it, I can sleep all day… Just kidding, don’t pinch me, it hurts…”

“Little rascal, go to sleep!”

“Alright, sleep… Oh, Sister, let’s stay a few extra days in Jiangnan during this year’s southern tour. The new flower garden there has many blooms.”

“Mm…”

……

Everything grew quiet, the world outside silent and still.