Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 18

The incense burned out, but the little girl still hadn’t woken up and was carried away.

“The second young lady of Lady Yi Shu’s family truly has a divine body, to be so favored by the Heavenly Goddess!”

“I heard the second young lady’s health hasn’t been good—she has asthma. After praying for the divine incense at Heavenly Xuan Temple, she gradually recovered. However, she can’t be without the incense. It’s said she has to burn it every few days, or else…”

“Or else what?”

“It’s said she’ll convulse all over, refusing to recognize anyone, and only the divine incense can save her. Don’t tell anyone I told you this—I just heard it.”

Wen Zhuojin overheard the gossip as she stood up and leaned in to catch more of the conversation. Her heart skipped a beat, further confirming her suspicions.

After the incense-sharing ceremony, Lady Yi Shu invited the Daoist priestess to speak about the miraculous properties of the divine incense.

Improving physical constitution, strengthening the lungs, and benefiting the kidneys were merely trivial advantages. Its true power lay in communicating with the divine.

Wen Zhuojin had a distinct feeling that this was nothing more than a sales pitch, persuading those present to purchase the incense.

The supposed matchmaking event for unmarried daughters was likely just a pretext.

Heavenly Xuan Temple was terrifying.

That eldest princess was terrifying!

To amass wealth to such an insane degree!

Wen Zhuojin clenched her fists, then quickly loosened them.

This divine incense, mixed with sacred flowers, cost a thousand taels per piece.

Not everyone could afford it, so the supply was probably limited.

Among those present, there likely weren’t many who would be willing to spend that much.

Wen Zhuojin wanted to buy some to study, but she didn’t have the money.

When the incense presentation ended, the incense in the enclosed space had nearly been absorbed by the attendees.

Wen Zhuojin felt a bit foggy in her mind and quietly sniffed the clearing incense pills she had brought, regaining some clarity.

The others, however, didn’t seem as intent on staying alert as Wen Zhuojin. Some had already begun speaking deliriously.

It was unclear how much time passed before everything finally came to an end.

“Madam Li, would you kindly introduce me to Jinghe Priestess? I deeply admire her,” Wen Zhuojin said softly, suppressing the disgust in her heart as she addressed a titled lady she had previously flattered. At the same time, she slipped a few incense pills from her pouch into Madam Li’s hand.

“Of course. Miss Wen, with your remarkable knowledge of incense craft, you’ll certainly have much to discuss with Jinghe Priestess,” Madam Li replied, smiling broadly.

Following Madam Li to where the Jinghe Priestess stood, Wen Zhuojin was immediately greeted by an even stronger scent of the so-called “divine incense,” making her feel slightly nauseated.

Lady Yi Shu and the Jinghe Priestess both appeared kind and approachable, but Wen Zhuojin couldn’t muster any goodwill toward them. Still, as she needed something from them, she kept a smile on her face, careful not to let any hint of displeasure show.

Adopting a humble demeanor, Wen Zhuojin sought guidance from Jinghe Priestess, bringing up questions she had encountered in her past studies of blended incense. She even shared one or two of her own well-crafted incense recipes.

Jinghe Priestess, having gained entry to the Heavenly Xuan Temple and becoming an incense master, was naturally knowledgeable in the art of incense. In her discussion with Wen Zhuojin, she quickly recognized Wen Zhuojin’s expertise and even managed to learn a few things.

Feigning the airs of a profound mentor, Jinghe Priestess subtly took two incense recipes and some crafting techniques from Wen Zhuojin under the guise of discussion.

During the later banquet and flower appreciation segment, Wen Zhuojin spent all her time conversing with Jinghe Priestess about incense crafting.

“Priestess, I’ve heard that the Heavenly Xuan Temple will be hosting a fragrance competition. I wonder if I might have the honor of participating? If you could help me secure an invitation, I would be eternally grateful and forever indebted to you,” Wen Zhuojin said when the time felt right. She handed over a pouch to Jinghe Priestess. This one contained no incense but was heavy with silver.

“Miss Wen, do you have any thoughts about joining our faith?” Jinghe Priestess paused, discreetly tucking the pouch into her sleeve before asking.

“Of course. The Heavenly Goddess possesses boundless power. I only hope I could be so fortunate,” Wen Zhuojin replied insincerely.

“Miss Wen, as it happens, I have an invitation to the Heavenly Xuan Temple’s fragrance competition. With your exceptional skill in incense craft, if you perform well at the event, you might even be taken on as a named disciple by one of the immortals. Who knows, we might become fellow practitioners in the future,” Jinghe Priestess said with a smile.

As the conversation continued, Jinghe Priestess gradually shed her usual aloofness. She had recognized Wen Zhuojin’s talent and began to see her as a potential ally within their circle.

“Thank you, Priestess! I will never forget your kindness. I didn’t come prepared today, but if you don’t mind, I hope you’ll accept this small token,” Wen Zhuojin said happily, taking off her gilded incense pouch and presenting it to Jinghe Priestess. The pouch alone was worth a hundred taels of silver.

If one became a named disciple of an immortal master, they would likely gain the qualification to supply incense to Heavenly Xuan Temple, granting them closer access to both the temple and its rare incense materials.

This was precisely Wen Zhuojin’s objective in attending this flower appreciation banquet.

The smile on Jinghe Priestess’s face grew even warmer. After accepting Wen Zhuojin’s incense pouch, she retrieved her own pouch from her waist and handed it to Wen Zhuojin.

“This contains a piece of divine incense. When unburned, it can serve as a sachet. Miss Wen, you may try it. Especially when you find yourself stuck in crafting blended incense, it will help clear your mind and inspire new ideas,” Jinghe Priestess said.

Though Wen Zhuojin was deeply repulsed in her heart, she still accepted the item with a smile and expressed her gratitude.

Naturally, she didn’t take Jinghe’s words seriously, but obtaining a piece of divine incense would allow her to study it further.

The incense, already used by Jinghe for some time, continued to emit its scent. Wen Zhuojin had no choice but to endure the smell as she continued her conversation with Jinghe.

The person who poisoned her beautiful older sister with incense likely purchased the so-called “divine incense” from Heavenly Xuan Temple.

However, her sister now suffered from not only addiction but also blindness, damage to her internal organs, and symptoms of aphrodisiac intoxication…

It was unclear whether these symptoms stemmed from different types of incense or prolonged exposure to the same kind.

Wen Zhuojin needed to analyze the incense’s components and effects to develop an antidote and a detoxifying incense remedy.

As Wen Zhuojin chatted with Jinghe Priestess, the way others looked at her shifted again and again.

Wen Peishu grew increasingly frightened the more she observed. Even the Marchioness was deeply unsettled.

The priestesses of Heavenly Xuan Temple were known for their mystique and rarely spoke much to anyone. Yet here they were, Jinghe and Wen Zhuojin, seemingly lost in endless conversation and even exchanging gifts.

“Your eldest daughter truly is gifted—intelligent, skilled in the art of incense, and capable of forming ties with the priestesses of Heavenly Xuan Temple. Quite impressive indeed. Marchioness, you should inform the Marquis of Jing’an that I will soon send an official matchmaker to your household to propose a marriage,” said the lady whose family the Marquis and Marchioness had set their sights on.

The Marchioness joyfully agreed.

No matter what, Wen Zhuojin still had to marry. Whomever she married, the dowry arrangements would be under her control, and her reliance on the Marquis’s household as her natal family would remain. Wen Zhuojin, no matter how capable, would have to behave and obey.

The Marchioness reassured herself and comforted Wen Peishu as well.

Wen Zhuojin, unaware of what others were planning, received the divine incense, chatted with Jinghe for a while longer, and then took her leave. Returning to the group, she followed the Marchioness back to the estate as the flower appreciation banquet concluded.

Both the Marchioness and Wen Peishu noticed the new incense pouch Wen Zhuojin carried, their gazes tinged with envy.

Lost in her thoughts, Wen Zhuojin said little to the Marchioness and Wen Peishu. Once back at the Marquis’s estate, she immediately retreated to Qinfang Pavilion.

It was already late. Wen Zhuojin wanted to check on her beautiful older sister. Skipping dinner, she carefully sealed the incense pouch containing the divine incense inside a box, wrapping it securely in layers. After a quick wash and a change of clothes, she climbed over the estate walls and left.

During the banquet, Wen Zhuojin had forced herself to suppress thoughts of Yan Qinglan, but now that her tension had eased, Yan Qinglan’s image filled her mind.

“Nothing unusual happened today, though she ate very little,” Jinrui reported to Wen Zhuojin upon her arrival at Wujiao Alley.

“Prepare some food and bring it in,” Wen Zhuojin instructed, heading toward the main room where Yan Qinglan rested.

As soon as she lifted the curtain and stepped inside, she caught a faint trace of a cold, delicate fragrance. In the dim candlelight, the beautiful woman reclined on her side, her gem-like eyes, devoid of focus, appearing all the more innocent and vulnerable.

The outside world was so foul and corrupt; only her beautiful sister’s room remained pure, its air sweet and soothing.

“Sister, it’s me, Azhuo. Today, I attended a flower appreciation banquet. Do you know what I saw?” Wen Zhuojin said softly as she approached Yan Qinglan, gently sliding her hand over Yan Qinglan’s shoulder to soothe her and help her lie comfortably.

The whole way here, Wen Zhuojin had thought about getting closer to Yan Qinglan—closer still. Yet, she held onto a shred of reason, afraid of startling her.

Yan Qinglan had not experienced any episodes of addiction that day, but her body felt uncomfortable, and her heart was restless. Unconsciously, she kept thinking about Wen Zhuojin. It seemed that as long as Wen Zhuojin was by her side, talking, her discomfort would ease.

At this moment, Yan Qinglan was at the peak of her agitation. As Wen Zhuojin drew near and began speaking, her soothing presence calmed Yan Qinglan considerably.

With great interest, Wen Zhuojin recounted the day’s events to Yan Qinglan.

As she listened, Yan Qinglan grew both shocked and furious.

Those people had been using Heavenly Xuan Temple to sell poisonous incense!

Does she not know?

Or perhaps she has also fallen victim to the incense poison?

“Sister, what is called ‘communicating with the gods’ is actually the effect of the incense poison, causing hysteria. The Eldest Princess uses this method to amass wealth, which is utterly unjust. If there were really gods, the first ones to be cast into the eighteenth level of hell would be her. It’s pitiful that those people still think that the divine incense is something beneficial.”

Wen Zhuojin did not conceal her thoughts in front of Yan Qinglan.

It was all because of that Eldest Princess that the beautiful sister had fallen to such a place, a brothel. The beautiful sister must have many grievances toward the Eldest Princess and the court.

Speaking out to vent her frustrations might help ease her heart and also bring them closer.

Yan Qinglan’s thoughts were shifted by Wen Zhuojin’s words.

“Eighteenth level of hell?!”

Yan Qinglan was filled with doubt and hesitation.

If she really wanted to earn her trust, would she say such a thing?

Could it be that this girl truly knows nothing about her own identity and merely ran into her by chance?

“Sister, do you remember whether your family has ever bought divine incense? Can you recall what the incense in your house looked like, what scent it had?”

“Is it this kind of scent? This is the incense that the female Taoist sent me.” Wen Zhuojin asked again, wanting to know whether Yan Qinglan had used the divine incense as well. She took out a tightly wrapped incense pouch and let Yan Qinglan smell it.

Yan Qinglan had indeed bought it. She smelled a familiar scent, and a familiar longing rose in her heart.

“Just as I thought. Sister, don’t be afraid, I will find a way to uncover the antidote to the incense poison,” Wen Zhuojin said, angrily, sealing the item back up.

“Is there really an antidote?” Yan Qinglan asked, suppressing her discomfort.

“Every medicine in this world has its complementary counterpart. As long as we search, we will definitely find it,” Wen Zhuojin replied.

Just the tone of her voice made Yan Qinglan feel the strength and determination of the girl.

If the girl could truly find the antidote, then not just her, but all those who had been poisoned by the incense would be saved.

But if all of this was just a coincidence, why was the girl being so kind to her?

Could truly pure and kind-hearted people exist?

Before Yan Qinglan could think further, Jin Rui arrived with a late-night snack.

Wen Zhuojin gently coaxed Yan Qinglan to eat some.

While feeding her, Wen Zhuojin watched Yan Qinglan hold the spoon, and her emotions, which had been somewhat stable, began to stir once more.

She even felt a twinge of jealousy toward the unremarkable spoon.

After the feeding was done, Wen Zhuojin cleaned Yan Qinglan’s teeth. Yan Qinglan obediently opened her mouth without any defense.

Wen Zhuojin’s gaze became slightly reddened, her eyes full of suppressed emotions.

Today seemed harder to bear than usual.

Once she was done, Wen Zhuojin had Jin Rui take the items away.

Wen Zhuojin intended to return to the incense-making room, but after a moment’s thought, she moved closer to Yan Qinglan.

“Sister, now that you know the truth, do you still want to go back and see him?” Wen Zhuojin asked softly.

Yan Qinglan’s thoughts were in turmoil, and when she heard Wen Zhuojin’s question, she instinctively thought of him—the one she had been thinking of.

“I do,” Yan Qinglan replied without hesitation.

Of course, she wanted to return.

She needed to see him, to know how he was now, whether he, too, had fallen into a predicament like hers.

That mess needed to be cleaned up.

That bl00d-soaked grudge required repayment in kind.

The things she had buried deep within her heart were stirred up, and Yan Qinglan’s breathing became a bit heavier.

But before she could think further, a hand gripped her waist, pulling her closer and holding her in place.

“You can’t go back! Haven’t I been good to you, sister? Why would you leave me for him? What’s so good about him? He’s trash, a bad person! He made you fall victim to the incense poison, trying to control you. He must have known it was incense poison!”

This time, the girl’s voice was even closer, almost as if she were speaking directly to her face.

Her voice trembled, filled with anger and an extreme sense of grievance.

“He isn’t, it’s not him!” Yan Qinglan blurted out. He was the brother she had raised herself, her flesh and bl00d; how could it be him who caused this?

Yan Qinglan still wanted to say something, but before she could, her lips were captured by something soft and warm, silencing her.