Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 23

“No matter what kind of person I am, you are mine. If you’re disobedient, you will be punished. Remember that?”

Yan Qinglan gasped for fresh air, but the girl’s voice lingered by her ear.

She nearly choked.

How did she end up encountering someone so brazenly despicable?!

Utterly shameless!

If she ever had the chance to return to her former life, she would make sure to repay every insult she had suffered—tenfold!

As Yan Qinglan fumed inwardly, her face was once again wiped with a warm towel.

“Tsk, you really do cry a lot… so delicate…” came a soft sigh.

Yan Qinglan closed her eyes, refusing to respond.

After her vision was damaged, even the slightest stimulus would bring tears, completely beyond her control.

“I’m heading out now. If you need anything, just call for Jinrui. And don’t pull the little tricks you tried yesterday. Your body isn’t yours anymore—it’s mine. If you dare harm it, I promise you’ll be punished,” the girl’s fierce voice sounded again.

Yan Qinglan turned her head away, refusing to engage or reply. Soon, the room fell silent.

The lingering taste of the girl remained in her mouth, leaving her mind sharper than it had been in days.

The pain in her body was noticeable, but what stood out the most was the lingering sensation on her lips.

Normally unshaken by emotional turbulence, she found herself stewing in anger yet again.

Lying there without any trace of drowsiness, Yan Qinglan propped herself up, determined to make use of her clarity to gather more information.

“Jinrui?” she called out tentatively.

Soft rustling sounds quickly followed. The heavy cotton curtain at the door was lifted, and Jinrui entered.

“What does Madam wish to instruct me?” Jinrui asked. Wen Zhuojin had specifically told her to take good care of this person before leaving.

Though she had already met Yan Qinglan several times, Jinrui couldn’t help but feel awestruck each time she saw her.

The person in front of her was indeed good-looking, but Jinrui didn’t have much fondness for her, especially since this person had angered Wen Zhuojin.

When Wen Zhuojin left earlier, her cheeks were puffed up, still angry.

“This is the residence of the Marquis of Jing’an? I’ve been here for several days but haven’t paid my respects to the Marquis and his wife. It seems I’ve been quite rude,” Yan Qinglan asked, her voice calm.

“…This isn’t the Marquis of Jing’an’s residence, it’s the young miss’s private estate,” Jinrui replied after a moment of thought. Wen Zhuojin hadn’t told her not to answer such questions, so it didn’t seem problematic to respond.

“Oh. Where is this private estate? Is it far from the Marquis of Jing’an’s residence?” Yan Qinglan asked again, her face calm, though her heart was not. The little brat had her own private estate, no wonder no one was managing her.

“It’s not far. Madam, are you trying to pry into my words? If you have any questions, you can ask the young miss. She’s been so good to you; she will answer anything,” Jinrui said, unsure if she should answer these kinds of questions, so she just spoke up.

“She’s been good to me? How do you know?” Yan Qinglan’s voice was laced with sarcasm.

“Madam, don’t be ungrateful. The young miss has never served anyone before, but since you arrived, she has been like a personal maid, taking care of everything herself. Your food, clothing, and daily needs are all provided just as she would for herself. Every day, she travels back and forth between the Marquis’s residence and this estate, which is very tiring. In order to understand the poison you’ve been exposed to, she works late into the night, studying more than any scholar preparing for exams. Madam, in your misfortune, you don’t seem to appreciate her efforts, yet you still take every chance to make things difficult for her,” Jinrui replied, her accumulated resentment finally spilling out.

Yan Qinglan froze. Was she heartless now?

She knew full well how the little brat had treated her, all the little details.

But she hadn’t expected that the brat was really studying how to neutralize the poison.

Those poisoned by the fragrance were easily controlled by it. Since the little brat understood the art of fragrance, she certainly knew this.

Yet, she was still going to great lengths to study how to counteract the poison.

“I hope Madam will understand the young miss’s situation. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave,” Jinrui’s voice came.

Yan Qinglan waved her hand, not asking any further questions.

She thought it over again—if the little brat was truly researching how to neutralize the poison, regardless of whether she succeeded, when she returned, kindness would be repaid with kindness, and insults with insults. Everything would be settled.

Meanwhile, Wen Zhuojin, dressed in Jinrui’s clothes and carrying her identity token, with a handkerchief covering half her face, and a wooden food box slung over her arm, had arrived at the Shangren Road, where the Qingji Bakery was located.

Shangren Road is located in the eastern part of Yunjing City, near the Hanlin Academy, a more refined area with a calm and orderly atmosphere.

Upon seeing the large number of scholars on the street, Wen Zhuojin also became aware of the surroundings.

Her anger had subsided somewhat on the way here but was now rising again.

What did the beautiful sister mean?

After being kissed by her, was the phoenix pastry she wanted something her husband, that Hanlin scholar, had bought for her?

Was she going to eat it to reminisce?

Wen Zhuojin’s cheeks involuntarily puffed up, and her eyes reddened.

She didn’t want to buy it anymore.

She had teased the woman for quite a while, her lips swollen from the kiss, and now she couldn’t back out on her promise.

Besides, the woman had finally asked for something.

That said, if Wen Zhuojin bought it, it would be her purchase, so what did it have to do with that Hanlin scholar?

If the woman could eat what she bought, it would be a step forward, and she would be thinking of her in the future.

Wen Zhuojin thought this through, her eyes curling with a smile as she walked toward the Qingji Bakery.

The Qingji Bakery wasn’t large, and the entrance was rather desolate.

Wen Zhuojin entered and looked around; the pastries weren’t many, but they were delicate and clean.

“Shopkeeper, I’d like one order of phoenix pastries,” Wen Zhuojin called out.

“This young lady, what would you like?” The shopkeeper asked again as he approached Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin repeated her order.

“We don’t have phoenix pastries, only pineapple cakes. Did you perhaps mistake it?” The shopkeeper seemed troubled.

“…How long has this shop been open? Is it a new shop?” Wen Zhuojin furrowed her brows.

With the recent unrest, she wondered if there had been a change in ownership.

“The Qingji Bakery has been open for about ten years, always on this street. I’ve been working here the whole time. If you don’t believe me, you can ask around. We’ve never had phoenix pastries; you must be mistaken. Our pineapple cakes are our specialty, made with fresh yellow pears from Nanchu. They’re delicious and sweet…” The shop assistant smiled as he introduced the pastries to Wen Zhuojin.

“Tell your shopkeeper to come,” Wen Zhuojin said, looking at the assistant, who didn’t seem to be lying. To be sure, she wanted to ask the person in charge.

The assistant hurried to call the shopkeeper, who rushed over.

“Really no phoenix pastries? In that case, I’ll take a box of pineapple cakes,” the shopkeeper confirmed there were no phoenix pastries, so Wen Zhuojin didn’t press the issue. It was possible that Yan Qinglan had made a mistake.

“Twenty taels of silver for a box?” When the pastries were packaged and Wen Zhuojin went to pay, she almost choked on her breath.

So expensive! How is it still in business?

Are all these refined people so extravagant?

“Madam, the price of our pineapple cakes has always been this. The yellow pears we use come fresh from Nanchu, and the cost is high. If you think it’s too expensive, we have some cheaper ones. I can tell you about them,” the shopkeeper explained with a smile.

Wen Zhuojin’s lips twitched as she touched her purse and still handed over the silver.

Her pockets were light…

If Yan Qinglan really liked these pastries and wanted to eat them every day, she definitely couldn’t afford it with her current financial situation.

Wen Zhuojin put the packaged pineapple cakes in a wooden box and left the bakery, heading to a nearby government store to check on fragrance materials.

There were still many officials and guards on the streets, and anyone who looked even remotely suspicious was checked.

Dressed as a maid, with her identity token hanging from her waist, Wen Zhuojin didn’t stand out much.

As she walked, she encountered a carriage and stepped aside, catching a glimpse of the word “Qing” on the carriage.

Qing, Qingji? Could it be the same one?

Wen Zhuojin remembered hearing her uncle mention once that there had been a top scholar from the Qing family, and it was rumored that he was extraordinarily handsome, attracting the attention of many young ladies from noble families. Matchmakers were constantly knocking on his door, but he never married.

Later, she heard that he was appointed to the Hanlin Academy, and though he was part of the refined circle, he didn’t get along with the others and preferred to keep to himself. He was also aligned with the princess’s faction.

As the carriage passed by, Wen Zhuojin smelled a faint fragrance, as well as a unique scent that only a young woman would have.

She couldn’t help but curl her lips, her peripheral vision sweeping over the carriage. There were no women outside, just the coachman and a servant, so the scent must have come from inside the carriage.

The Hanlin Academy was full of fake gentlemen.

She had already formed a prejudice and had no intention of retracting it.

Wen Zhuojin waited for the carriage to pass, and the scent became faint, eventually disappearing.

She snorted softly. The dignified top scholar could still hide his tenderness.

With more pressing matters to attend to, Wen Zhuojin didn’t linger. She turned and hurried toward the government store.

Inside the carriage behind her, there was a handsome man dressed in a scarlet official robe, frowning deeply, as if lost in thought.

“Sir, we’ve arrived at the pastry shop. Would you like to choose any pastries?” asked the servant outside the carriage.

“Get a box of pineapple cakes, seven in a box, gift-wrapped,” the person inside the carriage replied, his voice slightly trembling.

The servant immediately acknowledged the request.

The man inside the carriage continued to be deep in thought, his fingers unconsciously tapping the carriage wall.

Once the servant had obtained the pineapple cakes, the carriage moved on, but instead of heading toward the Hanlin Academy, it veered off toward the distant palace.

Meanwhile, Wen Zhuojin had arrived at the government store and selected the fragrance materials she needed.

Wen Zhuojin was preparing to make the incense products for the upcoming incense competition and still needed some materials. Although the antidote for the fragrance poison hadn’t been fully formulated, she had some basic antidote recipes noted in her fragrance poison journal. These could alleviate some of the symptoms of the poison, and Wen Zhuojin hoped to experiment with them.

After buying the fragrance materials, her purse was even emptier. She had less than twenty taels of silver, not enough to buy even a box of pineapple cakes.

She realized she wouldn’t be able to afford the medicine for Yan Qinglan in the coming days either.

On her way back, Wen Zhuojin glanced in the direction of the incense-selling shop.

Yan Qinglan had a strong aversion to those who frequented the shop, but for the sake of money, Wen Zhuojin felt it was necessary to make a visit.

The incense she had prepared for the flower appreciation banquet was almost used up, and now she needed to prepare the incense for the upcoming incense competition. The lack of extra incense to sell was becoming a problem.

Once back, she could make more incense and sell it at the shop to earn some silver, which would allow her to buy more materials and still afford Yan Qinglan’s medicine.

On her way home, Wen Zhuojin didn’t spare any money for a carriage and walked instead.

Fortunately, she was familiar with the streets and took shortcuts, moving quickly. She soon arrived.

The cold winter weather left a layer of fine sweat on her forehead. After removing her outer robe and cleaning her face and hands, Wen Zhuojin entered the inner room, holding the box of pineapple cakes.

Yan Qinglan was lying with her eyes closed. The flush on her face had already faded, leaving her skin as pale as fine porcelain, lacking in color and appearing fatigued, which only made her more pitiful.

“Sister, I bought some pastries from Qingji. Try them,” Wen Zhuojin spoke softly. When she noticed Yan Qinglan’s eyelashes flutter, she knew she wasn’t asleep. She took a piece of pastry and brought it to Yan Qinglan’s lips.

Yan Qinglan’s expression shifted. She had thought that Wen Zhuojin would be upset and wouldn’t buy the pastries she wanted, but unexpectedly, she had actually brought them back.

The pastry was brought to her lips, and Yan Qinglan took a small bite before shaking her head, refusing to eat any more.

“This isn’t the phoenix pastry I wanted. Didn’t you get it from Qingji?” Yan Qinglan said, expressing doubt.

“It was indeed from Qingji. I asked the shopkeeper, and they’ve had the same staff and location for the past few years. They’ve never sold phoenix pastries, only pineapple pastries. Could it be that you remembered wrong, sister?” Wen Zhuojin replied.

“I didn’t remember wrong. The phoenix pastry truly comes from Qingji. It’s softer, more fragrant, and the shape has a phoenix pattern. It’s unlike the regular square cakes,” Yan Qinglan said calmly.

As Wen Zhuojin listened to Yan Qinglan’s words, her face gradually turned red, and her eyes followed suit, growing teary.

“Why is it that the pastries I bought aren’t good enough, but those he buys are perfect in every way?” Yan Qinglan waited for a while without hearing Wen Zhuojin speak. When she finally heard her voice, it was trembling, as if she had been wronged.

Yan Qinglan was confused. She had only intended to ask Wen Zhuojin to go back and deepen her impression of the pastry, not expecting such a response from her.

She paused for a moment, then her lips were gently captured again.