Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 24

Wen Zhuojin stayed busy in the incense-making room until dinnertime, her entire body carrying various scents of spices and fragrances. Overwhelmed by the overload of smells, her head felt a little swollen.

After cleaning up and changing into fresh clothes, Wen Zhuojin carried dinner into the inner chamber where Yan Qinglan was resting.

The scent here was simple, mostly Yan Qinglan’s own fragrance—fresh and pleasant, which made Wen Zhuojin feel much more at ease.

Wen Zhuojin set down the tray, reached out, and helped Yan Qinglan sit up against the headboard.

“Dinnertime. Be good and open your mouth. If you don’t eat, you’ll be the one starving—and the one punished, too.” Her voice was calm but firm. Yan Qinglan closed her eyes and opened her mouth, accepting the food.

Yan Qinglan seemed to understand now. The little rascal by her side had a dog-like temper.

One moment she was fine, and Yan Qinglan had even thought she might be a pure-hearted and kind young woman.

But ever since they argued over “going back to see him,” she had been provoked, unleashing her “dog-like temper.”

You couldn’t use reverse psychology on her—she’d do the opposite out of spite. If she got angry, she’d bite back. If you inadvertently showed any attachment to the past, she’d overthink it, get upset, and then bite again.

Right now, the only “usable” person around her was this little rascal. If this rebellious streak continued, refusing to follow instructions, things would only worsen.

Yan Qinglan recalled the advice of the beast trainer back at the camp: to get a puppy to obey, you had to use the right methods.

Guidance and reward systems seemed to be the best approach for now.

As for outright coercion or forceful measures, they required a balance and should be used sparingly.

Targeted training methods would yield twice the results with half the effort.

However, how to execute this properly was something Yan Qinglan had never tried before.

“Good girl, the meal is finished. Now drink your medicine.”

The voice came, and Yan Qinglan reluctantly drank the medicine, only to be rewarded with some brown sugar afterward.

As long as she was “obedient,” the little rascal really wouldn’t lash out.

Wen Zhuojin noticed that the woman had become much more compliant—was she truly afraid of being kissed again?

After all, who would enjoy being kissed by someone they didn’t like?

Wen Zhuojin was pleased with Yan Qinglan’s obedience, though she couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable inside.

“Sister, I made a type of incense today that purifies and wards off evil. I’ll light it to test it out. If you feel anything, please tell me so I can make adjustments. Don’t keep it to yourself.” After tidying up, Wen Zhuojin spoke to Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan’s expression froze—was the little rascal really researching a way to neutralize the incense poison? For her?

“The promise I made before to help you detoxify the incense still holds. And it’s not entirely for you. These days, many noblewomen and ladies might also be affected by incense poison. If I can develop a cure, it would benefit everyone, don’t you think?” Wen Zhuojin added quickly, worried Yan Qinglan wouldn’t cooperate.

Her words seemed to hit right at the thoughts lingering in Yan Qinglan’s heart.

Hearing this, Yan Qinglan softly murmured her agreement, signaling her cooperation.

It wasn’t entirely selfless—she was doing it for the potential benefits down the line. That explanation made sense.

Wen Zhuojin lit the incense and placed it in the burner, then turned back to observe Yan Qinglan’s reaction.

After a while, tears welled up in Yan Qinglan’s watery eyes, spilling over as her body trembled and her brows furrowed deeply.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Wen Zhuojin asked hurriedly, a hint of panic in her voice.

“My eyes sting… My head feels dizzy… and… and I feel nauseous…” Yan Qinglan whispered, her eyes closing as crystalline tears were forced out and slid down her cheeks.

Wen Zhuojin’s heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, she quickly extinguished the incense, removed the burner from the room, and opened the windows to let in fresh air.

Returning to Yan Qinglan’s side, Wen Zhuojin checked her condition. Yan Qinglan’s eyes were red and swollen from irritation, her body curled up in discomfort, her expression pained.

Wen Zhuojin couldn’t help but worry—had the incense she just made worsened Yan Qinglan’s condition?

When she smelled it herself, she didn’t feel anything wrong; in fact, it seemed to refresh and clear her mind.

“Was it all unpleasant? No other sensations?” Wen Zhuojin asked softly.

Yan Qinglan shook her head. She was starting to suspect that Wen Zhuojin wasn’t trying to detoxify her but rather to torment her.

“I’m sorry. I’ll make adjustments,” Wen Zhuojin said, her tone filled with guilt and tenderness.

Seeing Yan Qinglan so unwell, Wen Zhuojin didn’t know how to ease her discomfort. After some thought, she stepped out to call someone and asked them to bring Zheng Qianqin over.

When Zheng Qianqin arrived, her face was long, and her tone was curt toward Wen Zhuojin.

“What is it now, in the middle of the night?” Zheng Qianqin asked, clearly annoyed. Wen Zhuojin quickly explained the situation and handed over the recipe she had used for the cleansing incense.

“Her body is too frail, and she’s already been poisoned. The cleansing incense is too strong and doesn’t match her condition. To her, it could act as another form of incense poison, possibly worsening her state. At the beginning, you need to detoxify her slowly and gently—don’t rush it. Strengthening her body is also a crucial step in preparing for detoxification,” Zheng Qianqin explained after her examination.

“Thank you, Aunt Zheng. I understand now,” Wen Zhuojin said with a sudden realization. She had chosen the gentlest formula she could think of, intending to ease Yan Qinglan’s discomfort, but she hadn’t anticipated that Yan Qinglan’s body was too weak to handle even that.

After tending to Yan Qinglan and making her feel slightly better, Zheng Qianqin turned to Wen Zhuojin and sighed.

She had initially thought Wen Zhuojin would give up after a few days, but to her surprise, she was still holding on.

Judging by the woman’s pulse, it was clear she had been taking nourishing medicinal tonics in recent days, and they were all high-quality, well-aged ingredients—not cheap by any means.

“What kind of incense have you been making lately? Give me a few pieces as consultation fees, and I’ll trade you some medicinal herbs,” Zheng Qianqin said as she prepared to leave.

“Aunt Zheng, come with me to the incense-making room. I’ve made a few varieties of incense—you can pick whatever you like. Oh, by the way, I’ve been thinking about participating in the Incense Competition. How much do you know about it?” Wen Zhuojin asked with a smile, linking arms with Zheng Qianqin and pulling her toward the incense-making room.

Zheng Qianqin was taken aback; she hadn’t expected Wen Zhuojin to consider participating in the Incense Competition.

“Aunt Zheng, my uncle is no longer around to oversee me. Joining Heavenly Xuan Palace isn’t a bad idea—it helps avoid marriage proposals and allows me to earn silver through the incense craft,” Wen Zhuojin explained, noticing Zheng Qianqin’s surprise.

“You’re oversimplifying things. Do you know why unmarried women in Heavenly Xuan Palace have their marriages arranged by the palace? It’s all to forge alliances and consolidate power. Women matched through the palace are subject to its influence, and even in their husband’s family, they must strategize to ensure their family aligns with the palace’s interests. With your personality, can you handle that?”

Zheng Qianqin shook her head as she spoke.

Wen Zhuojin paused, surprised that the seemingly unassuming older woman understood the intricacies of the system.

“Aunt Zheng, I understand. But delaying for a few years is better than nothing. If I really join Heavenly Xuan Palace, I’ll work harder on my incense craft. As long as I’m useful, they probably won’t rush to marry me off. Aren’t there still a few priestesses in the palace over thirty who remain unmarried?” Wen Zhuojin reasoned.

“Fine, it’s up to you. I’m just sharing what I know—you can take it or leave it. With your talent in incense-making, getting into Heavenly Xuan Palace won’t be hard. The challenge lies in finding a reliable mentor,” Zheng Qianqin replied.

“The most authoritative figure in the Heavenly Xuan Palace is undoubtedly the reincarnation of the Xuan Goddess, the Eldest Princess. She doesn’t take disciples, so don’t even think about it. Next is the Palace Master of Heavenly Xuan Palace, and then there are the four great masters, who are…”

“If you could become a disciple of the Mysterious Immortal, that would also be quite good. She is relatively gentle and friendly. As for others, like the Pure Void Master, you must be more cautious…”
Zheng Qianqin shared everything she knew in detail.

Wen Zhuojin quickly took note of all the information.

Before this, Wen Zhuojin had already tried to gather some information. She had learned quite a bit from Jinghe, and with the additional insights from Zheng Qianqin, she felt much more confident.

“Oh, by the way, I’ve been reading some ancient texts these past few days. This one might be useful—take a look. Since her body is weak and she’s already taking medicine, the incense should be gentle. Combining it with external treatments like massage might yield better results,” Zheng Qianqin said before leaving, handing Wen Zhuojin a worn, old booklet.

Wen Zhuojin thanked Zheng Qianqin and had someone use a soft sedan chair to escort her back.

After standing outside for a moment, Wen Zhuojin returned to the incense-making room and skimmed through the book Zheng Qianqin had given her.

It mainly described massage and acupuncture techniques.

After browsing for a while, Wen Zhuojin went back to Yan Qinglan’s room.

Yan Qinglan was still lying down, clearly unwell. Her eyes were closed, with traces of dried tears staining her cheeks.

Wen Zhuojin approached her and gently held her in an embrace.

“It might not have been the right formula. I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful,” Wen Zhuojin murmured softly.

Yan Qinglan could hear the guilt in the young girl’s voice, but she didn’t mind.

However, her hope of ever detoxifying the incense poison diminished further.

The cleansing incense from earlier hadn’t helped her as much as Wen Zhuojin’s natural scent, which was far more comforting.

Now, being held like this, she gradually began to feel a bit better.

Just as Yan Qinglan started to relax, she felt her earlobe being pinched. A warm hand began to massage and knead the sensitive area.

Yan Qinglan froze for a moment, a blush spreading from her ear down to her neck.

What was this little troublemaker up to now?

Yan Qinglan tried to dodge, but Wen Zhuojin held her down, stubbornly continuing to massage her earlobe.

“Sister, I learned a massage technique today that can help with eye issues. I’m pressing the eye acupoint on your ear. Be good, don’t move…” Wen Zhuojin explained.

Yan Qinglan’s face turned red in response.

She wasn’t sure if this so-called “eye acupoint” was real, but the sensation was strange, leaving her body feeling slightly weak.

“It’s uncomfortable, stop pressing,” Yan Qinglan said softly.

“Discomfort often means the point is blocked. If it hurts, it might be the right spot. Just bear with it for a moment, okay?” Wen Zhuojin replied.

As Wen Zhuojin watched Yan Qinglan’s plump, soft earlobe turn from a pale pink to a translucent, jade-like red, she couldn’t help but think it looked oddly delicious.

Still, feeling guilty, she held back any mischievous thoughts and stayed focused on trying to alleviate Yan Qinglan’s discomfort through the massage.

Hearing Wen Zhuojin insist on “bearing with it,” Yan Qinglan felt a flicker of irritation.

How could she be like this?!

Yan Qinglan swallowed her frustration—not the sensation on her ear, but her rising temper.

“Ah Zhuo, could you not press today? I’m tired,” Yan Qinglan said as gently as she could, softening her tone.

For this rebellious little pup, perhaps gentleness could work better than force.

Wen Zhuojin froze mid-action, taken aback by Yan Qinglan’s soft and sweet voice, tinged with a pitiful tremble. But most importantly, she had called her “Ah Zhuo!”

“Alright, alright, I won’t press anymore. I’m sorry, I’ve troubled you too much today. Next time, I’ll be fully prepared. If you’re tired, I’ll go get your things ready for washing up,” Wen Zhuojin replied, her voice unconsciously softening.

As Wen Zhuojin released her earlobe, Yan Qinglan’s body relaxed slightly. Listening to Wen Zhuojin’s tone, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

What a pup!

Wen Zhuojin helped Yan Qinglan wash up, covering her eyes with a black veil before wiping her body. Yan Qinglan remained obedient and cooperative throughout.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t find an opportunity to steal a kiss.

After tucking her into the warm blankets, Wen Zhuojin licked her lips and leaned in closer. Just as she was about to do something, Yan Qinglan stopped her with her bandaged hand.

“Ah Zhuo, my lips still hurt today. Can you wait until they’re better before biting again?” Yan Qinglan spoke softly, her voice gentle and sweet, her moist, innocent eyes making her look utterly pitiful.

Wen Zhuojin froze. Ugh, she really wasn’t human!