Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 25

Yan Qinglan felt the blanket on her being gently pulled up.

The person in front of her neither left nor spoke, but she could sense her presence—she was still there, and she could hear her breathing.

Yan Qinglan wasn’t entirely sure if the other person would suddenly lean in close again.

Her lips weren’t injured, but they were slightly swollen from the forceful sucking, making them appear fuller and rosier.

Wen Zhuojin stared at her, an intense surge of emotion boiling inside—a desire to draw closer, to tease her, yet restrained by an invisible chain binding her tightly.

“What did you call me just now, sister?” Wen Zhuojin asked in a low voice.

“Ah Zhuo. Was that wrong?” Yan Qinglan replied, softening her tone as much as possible.

That simple “Ah Zhuo” seemed to reinforce the chains, pulling Wen Zhuojin back a little.

“It’s right. Call me that from now on. Sister, rest well. I’ll step out for now. Call me if you need anything,” Wen Zhuojin eventually said softly. She patted Yan Qinglan’s blanket a few times before standing up and leaving.

Yan Qinglan listened to the fading footsteps, followed by the sound of the door closing.

The surroundings grew quiet. Yan Qinglan let out a long breath.

She still didn’t know what Wen Zhuojin looked like, but for some reason, she suddenly associated her with the little dog raised by the beast tamers in the camp.

Fierce, yet so easy to appease.

The little rascal. Hopefully, her approach would make her behave.

As Yan Qinglan was thinking this, Wen Zhuojin had already reached the outer room.

Her mind was still filled with the sound of Yan Qinglan calling her, along with the pitiful expression she’d had earlier, tinged with a pleading look.

Although she hadn’t gotten what she truly wanted, her heart felt inexplicably light and sweet, her lips curving upward despite herself.

The fact that her beautiful sister could call her “Ah Zhuo” and soften her tone when speaking to her was already a major breakthrough.

The day her beautiful sister truly fell for her couldn’t be far off!

“Miss, what’s wrong? Why is your face so red?” Jin Rui was startled when she saw Wen Zhuojin’s appearance.

Wen Zhuojin touched her face—it was burning hot.

“Ahem, it’s nothing. I’m heading to the incense-making room,” Wen Zhuojin cleared her throat, suppressed the curve of her lips, and spoke seriously.

Jin Rui found it odd. Her face was that red, yet she said nothing was wrong? But since Wen Zhuojin carried on as if everything was fine and went back to work, Jin Rui didn’t press further. Instead, she brought over the late-night snack she had prepared for her and observed quietly for a while.

After reading for a bit, Wen Zhuojin’s face returned to normal, which finally made Jin Rui breathe a sigh of relief.

That night, Wen Zhuojin decided not to return to the marquis’ residence. Using the upcoming incense competition as an excuse, she refused visitors and instructed Zi Rong to notify her if there were any urgent matters.

Based on Yan Qinglan’s reaction to the detoxifying incense and medicine earlier, Wen Zhuojin didn’t dare let her test any remedies lightly again.

Even with gentler methods, she needed to ensure that the incense and medicine used were completely harmless to Yan Qinglan.

She was far too fragile to endure any further strain.

Wen Zhuojin glanced at the carefully wrapped divine incense from before.

Yan Qinglan couldn’t bear the strain, but her own body was healthy. If she could test poisons on herself and pair them with antidotes to experiment one by one…

That method would likely require an unimaginable amount of divine incense, which was currently impossible.

After some thought, Wen Zhuojin returned to the book given to her by Zheng Qianqin. She carefully studied the gentler methods for promoting bl00d flow, dispelling evil, and restoring balance. She then reviewed her notes on incense toxins meticulously.

It wasn’t until the fourth watch of the night that Wen Zhuojin finally went to wash up. After checking on Yan Qinglan in the inner room, she lay down on the couch in the outer room to sleep.

—

The next morning, feeding Yan Qinglan food and medicine went smoothly. Yan Qinglan was very compliant, like a beautiful doll, allowing Wen Zhuojin to “handle” her without resistance.

Looking at her, Wen Zhuojin felt another urge to get closer. But the moment Yan Qinglan softly spoke, Wen Zhuojin was forced to restrain herself again.

“Ah Zhuo, you’ve worked hard. I was muddled before, my mind not very clear. I feel a bit better now, but I’m still dizzy and uncomfortable, and my body is terribly weak. Please take pity on me and let me rest a little before thinking about anything else.”

Yan Qinglan’s words melted Wen Zhuojin’s heart into a soft mess, leaving her filled with regret and guilt for her earlier behavior.

She had known that Yan Qinglan was affected by incense toxins, yet she had still gotten upset with her and acted so thoughtlessly.

Truly disgraceful.

If it weren’t for her beautiful sister’s kind heart and forgiving nature, she might not have let it slide.

“Sister, I was wrong too. I shouldn’t have treated you that way. If you’re unwilling, I won’t force anything. Let’s wait until I’ve cured your incense poisoning before discussing anything else.” Without realizing it, Wen Zhuojin’s voice softened, and she even made a promise, hoping to ease Yan Qinglan’s worries.

Yan Qinglan felt as if she had touched a thread that connected her to Wen Zhuojin.

As for how much truth there was in Wen Zhuojin’s solemn words, Yan Qinglan didn’t dwell on it. As long as her current actions aligned with her words, that was enough.

“The phoenix pastry I mentioned earlier—Ah Zhuo, don’t misunderstand. It was something my mother bought for me when I was still in the boudoir. I’ve just been feeling unwell these days and craved that taste again. Don’t take it to heart,” Yan Qinglan said, deliberately maintaining the identity Wen Zhuojin currently believed her to have.

Given Wen Zhuojin’s intense hatred for the Eldest Princess, wishing to curse her into the deepest levels of hell, Yan Qinglan suspected that if Wen Zhuojin discovered her true identity, things would only get worse.

Hearing Yan Qinglan’s explanation, Wen Zhuojin’s face reddened even more.

Ugh, she was truly hopeless.

“…Sister, it was my fault. I misunderstood you. Next time I go out, I’ll stop by Qingji to check,” Wen Zhuojin replied softly.

Yan Qinglan’s lips twitched slightly, but she said nothing further.

After being soothed, the little rascal behaved so obediently, she seemed like an entirely different person.

Once Yan Qinglan was settled, Wen Zhuojin went off to the incense-making room to prepare more incense for sale. With enough silver, she could buy any kind of pastry Yan Qinglan desired.

By midday, Yan Qinglan hadn’t shown any signs of her addiction, which Wen Zhuojin counted as a small victory. She recorded the improvement, hoping to observe whether the frequency of episodes would continue to decrease.

Every medicine, food, and incense Yan Qinglan consumed in recent days had been meticulously recorded by Wen Zhuojin.

Now that the episodes seemed to be less frequent, Wen Zhuojin suspected that the medicinal incense she had burned might have been effective.

Still, she didn’t dare test anything further on Yan Qinglan and decided to simply observe for now.

After lunch, Zi Rong arrived to inform her that it was the Lantern Festival, and someone from the Marquis’ residence had sent word requesting Wen Zhuojin to attend the family banquet that evening.

These past few days had been so hectic for Wen Zhuojin that she hadn’t realized how quickly time had passed.

It was a good opportunity to return home briefly and bring back some Lantern Festival treats and trinkets for Yan Qinglan.

Wen Zhuojin went to the inner room to explain her plans to Yan Qinglan before leaving for the Marquis’ residence.

It was only after hearing Wen Zhuojin’s explanation that Yan Qinglan realized the current date.

In previous years, the Lantern Festival was always marked by a palace banquet. She would attend with her imperial brother and celebrate alongside the officials.

What about this year?

After a few days of quiet retreat at Heavenly Xuan Palace, it was time to return to the main palace. Would he come looking for her if he didn’t see her?

Had everyone been deceived?

Yan Qinglan’s questions were finally answered when Wen Zhuojin returned.

“Today, it was very lively outside—lanterns everywhere and fireworks too… On the Fengluan Terrace, His Majesty and the Eldest Princess released sky lanterns with the officials. The entire sky was lit up…”

Wen Zhuojin had returned and was recounting the events outside to Yan Qinglan.

The family banquet had been dull, but Wen Zhuojin didn’t consider it a wasted trip since she managed to get a pouch of silver melon seeds from Wen Heming.

“The Eldest Princess? You saw her?” Yan Qinglan paused and asked.

“I didn’t get close to see, just caught a glimpse from afar. There were a lot of people on the Fengluan Terrace, so it was hard to tell who was who. That Eldest Princess isn’t worth looking at anyway. With such a venomous heart, she wouldn’t be good-looking. I heard she’s been sick these past few days, and today she released the sky lanterns while still unwell. Hopefully, this cold wind will worsen her condition, and she’ll fall ill again. Sister, don’t think about her. Let’s enjoy some osmanthus rice wine tangyuan tonight. I’ll feed you.”

Wen Zhuojin spoke with a hint of disdain and noticed that Yan Qinglan’s expression didn’t seem quite right. She quickly added a few more words, aligning herself with Yan Qinglan in shared contempt.

Wen Zhuojin brought over the tangyuan and fed Yan Qinglan. Yan Qinglan ate little by little but found no flavor in it.

From the current situation, it seemed that there was indeed an “Eldest Princess” in the palace.

Whoever had imprisoned her must have made thorough preparations.

Either the person who appeared was a trained substitute meant to deceive others, or this person was someone everyone already knew, put forth to maintain stability.

Either scenario did not bode well for her.

How many of the remaining officials in court were genuinely deceived, and how many were merely pretending to be?

And what about her imperial brother? Had he been deceived, or…

Unfortunately, the Embroidered Guard she trusted most had been sent to the northern border. The loyal guards closest to her had all been killed. Even the Grand General stationed at the northern frontier was temporarily out of reach.

Without anyone to carry out her plans, Yan Qinglan’s strategies were impossible to implement.

That evening, Yan Qinglan barely ate any of the tangyuan. Wen Zhuojin ended up finishing the rest.

Yan Qinglan didn’t experience any symptoms of her addiction that night. After taking her medicine and washing up, she quietly lay down with her eyes closed.

Even under a thick quilt, her figure appeared frail and thin, like just a single delicate layer.

The pale complexion, with a few stray strands of hair, was gently brushed aside by Wen Zhuojin. Her gaze, as if involuntarily, lingered on Yan Qinglan’s lips.

The swelling had subsided significantly, and the color had faded, making Wen Zhuojin want to stain them with a rosy hue once more.

But she had already made a promise.

And Yan Qinglan was still so frail.

These impure, shameful thoughts of hers would have to rot in her own mind for now.

Wen Zhuojin refocused on her work. The next day was the Incense Gathering.

Wen Zhuojin got up at the hour of Yin (around 3-5 a.m.). Yan Qinglan was still asleep, and she seemed to be in a stable condition. After giving a few instructions to Jin Rui, Wen Zhuojin hurriedly took the prepared incense products and returned to the Marquis’ residence.

The Incense Gathering hosted by the Heavenly Xuan Palace was not held in the palace itself but in the residence of a lay disciple with lineage from the Heavenly Xuan Palace.

Because Wen Zhuojin was participating, the entire household of the Marquis’ residence was eligible to attend as observers.

In the current climate, becoming a registered disciple of an immortal master from the Heavenly Xuan Palace was an enormous honor. One’s status would rise significantly, garnering respect even from titled nobles such as county princesses, duchesses, and high-ranking court ladies. This also meant completely breaking free from the influence of Wen Zhuojin’s uncle, as having an immortal master as a backer would ensure she could secure a high-status marriage.

Wen Heming, however, didn’t seem overly concerned about whether Wen Zhuojin would be selected. Even if she wasn’t, he already had someone in mind for her.

But others didn’t share his indifference.

Wen Peishu looked at Wen Zhuojin with a mix of fear and hostility.

Wen Peishu had always feared that Wen Zhuojin would compete with her for a marriage match. Now, she was even more afraid.

If Wen Zhuojin truly did try to compete with her, Wen Peishu was ready to fight her to the end.

“May the Goddess Xuannü protect me! Let her fail! She’s never been devout in her prayers—Goddess Xuannü sees all and will not favor her!” Wen Peishu silently prayed with desperation.

Wen Peishu clutched her handkerchief tightly, silently praying in her heart.

Wen Zhuojin, however, paid no attention to anyone else. Though she appeared distracted, her mind was entirely occupied with thoughts of her beautiful elder sister.

Would she manage to eat breakfast properly without her help? Would she experience withdrawal symptoms during the day?

It was only when they arrived at the destination that Wen Zhuojin snapped back to reality.

After stepping off the carriage, she presented the invitation and entered with the others.

The number of participants in the Incense competition wasn’t large, but the audience was significant. Some had received invitations, while others had paid a hefty fee to watch.

As Wen Zhuojin entered the estate, she was reminded of the bustling scenes on the streets during the Lantern Festival the day before.

Nearly everyone present wore some form of scented accessory, making the air thick with a complex mix of fragrances.

Covering her nose with a handkerchief, Wen Zhuojin followed the maid leading the way.

“This side is for male guests, separated by curtains, and this side is for female guests. Please follow me,” the maid instructed.

Glancing toward the area for male guests, Wen Zhuojin noticed a tall figure stepping out from behind the curtain.

Though she couldn’t make out their features, the fluttering hem of their robe revealed a faint whiff of a delicate, feminine fragrance mixed with scented balm.

It smelled remarkably similar to what she had noticed a few days ago near a carriage marked with the word “Qing.”

Wen Zhuojin cast another glance but quickly moved on, dismissing the thought.

Meanwhile, the figure Wen Zhuojin had noticed hurriedly left and took several turns before stopping behind a rock garden.

Behind the rock garden stood a young Taoist nun in plain white robes.

“In a place like this, calling me out for a private meeting—how impatient are you?” the nun teased with a soft laugh.

“Don’t joke. Did you notice anything unusual about Her Highness at the Heavenly Xuan Palace?” the person asked in a low voice.

“What’s unusual? Every day she’s immersed in cultivation, more ascetic than even those from the bitterest sects. Why?” the nun replied.

“I sent her seven pineapple cakes the other day, saying they were her favorite pastries. Not only did she accept them, but she even rewarded me with something,” the person explained.

“And what’s the issue? She’s always thought of you as a talent and wants your loyalty. A small reward isn’t out of the ordinary. Besides, with the leverage she holds over you, of course, you’d obey her,” the nun said dismissively.

“That’s just it. Her Highness dislikes pineapple cakes. She only enjoys the improved version, Phoenix Cakes, that I made for her. And the number seven—she despises it. Seeing such an arrangement of pineapple cakes would normally infuriate her; only the number nine is acceptable to her. Ugh, you wouldn’t understand even if I explained. Let me ask you a few more questions—answer them carefully,” the person said, frowning deeply, as if faced with a particularly tricky situation.