Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 31

Yan Qinglan didn’t hear Wen Zhuojin speak for a moment and didn’t know what the other person was doing.

“Ah Zhuo, have you thought of something?” Yan Qinglan asked.

“Sister, I usually use many kinds of incense, and I’m thinking about which one might have had an effect. If I were to test them all individually, it would take some time. The situation might happen again like last time,” Wen Zhuojin said softly, suppressing her mischievous thoughts for the moment.

When Wen Zhuojin was young, she had poor health and invited Zheng Qianqin to treat her. After using a certain incense pill prescribed by Zheng Qianqin, her health gradually improved, and she began using incense regularly.

Over the years, the scent from the incense had seeped into her skin. Even if she washed it off and didn’t use incense, her skin still had a faint fragrance.

Wen Zhuojin couldn’t say for sure which incense had affected Yan Qinglan’s poison, so she could only start testing from the incense she was currently using.

Yan Qinglan’s health was weak, and she didn’t know if she could withstand the testing of the medicine.

“Ah Zhuo, I’m not afraid. I’ll trouble you,” Yan Qinglan said.

“Sister, you’re too polite. I’ll help you clean up and you can rest,” Wen Zhuojin said.

Seeing Yan Qinglan so fragile yet still trying to endure the medicine trial, Wen Zhuojin’s heart stirred with tenderness.

Yan Qinglan could endure it, but Wen Zhuojin couldn’t bear to see her suffer.

However, Wen Zhuojin had just been hit, apologized, and now, asking to kiss and detoxify—given Wen Zhuojin’s current state, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Wen Zhuojin had the maid bring water to help Yan Qinglan clean up.

Today, Yan Qinglan seemed particularly obedient.

Wen Zhuojin recalled what Yan Qinglan had said earlier, that she didn’t blame her.

Gentle, graceful, tolerant, and with a look that made one feel like they could push her around.

Maybe if Wen Zhuojin really kissed her, would she, with tears in her eyes, say she didn’t blame her?

Wen Zhuojin’s gaze unintentionally lingered on Yan Qinglan’s lips.

They were pinkish white, lacking color, but the lip line was beautiful, like petals. Her lips were full, with a small Cupid’s bow on the upper lip, making them look soft and inviting.

Wen Zhuojin suddenly shook her head, feeling that she hadn’t fully recovered from the effects of the incense poison.

After helping Yan Qinglan settle down to sleep, Wen Zhuojin quickly left the room.

Earlier, she had mainly been hungry, and when she thought about how Yan Qinglan had also been up late, she figured she might be hungry too, so she brought food.

Wen Zhuojin went to the incense-making room and prepared more incense medicine for herself.

She wasn’t sure if her heightened emotions and thoughts had calmed down yet.

Her mind was still full of mischievous thoughts.

However, the effect on her eyes was becoming clearer.

Her eyes, which had previously felt sore and bloodshot, had improved somewhat after using the incense, and her vision had also become much clearer.

At least the incense she had prepared now helped improve her eyes, which was a small step forward.

Wen Zhuojin experimented twice more, adding eye-clearing and bl00d-activating incense ingredients, which made the effects even better.

She was thrilled; she had finally made some breakthroughs.

The beautiful elder sister’s lovely eyes might finally be restored.

Moreover, if this formula worked, she could make money from it in the future.

Divine incense not only induced hallucinations and addiction but could also affect vision.

Anyone who used divine incense for a long period would likely experience similar symptoms.

However, from what she observed so far, even the daughter of the Ying Shuxian Lord hadn’t gone blind.

Wen Zhuojin guessed that it was probably because their incense use wasn’t as intense as hers.

They likely didn’t inhale as much in a confined space, nor did they use it as recklessly as Wen Zhuojin, who kept her eyes open and deliberately let the fragrance affect her.

Wen Zhuojin recalled that when they last used divine incense, many people had closed their eyes to pray, showing great reverence.

That likely delayed the effects for them.

After meticulously recording the incense formula from that day, Wen Zhuojin yawned several times in a row.

The day before, Wen Zhuojin hadn’t slept, but this night, she couldn’t keep herself awake any longer, so she went to wash up.

Lying in the outer room of the inner chamber where Yan Qinglan was, Wen Zhuojin still felt pain in the back of her head, and her head was slightly swollen and dizzy. She could only lie on her side, a position she wasn’t accustomed to.

As her mind started to relax, memories from earlier that day surfaced automatically, particularly the feeling of kissing Yan Qinglan’s earlobe and moving down to her neck.

So the earlobe was indeed delicious.

Her neck was sweet as well.

The beautiful elder sister didn’t have a single flaw on her body.

But her heart was indeed cruel.

Her head still hurt.

Wen Zhuojin pouted, feeling wronged, and closed her eyes, falling asleep out of exhaustion.

Her body was tired, but once asleep, her consciousness remained active, and she had a vivid dream.

In the dream, a woman wearing loose sleepwear was being teased by Wen Zhuojin, softly sobbing.

Wen Zhuojin was overwhelmed with excitement, shamelessly biting, licking, and sucking. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of her head, jolting her awake.

It turned out that lying on her side had shifted into her usual habit of lying flat, causing the injury at the back of her head to be pressed, causing pain.

Wen Zhuojin sat up and rubbed her burning cheeks vigorously.

After being beaten like this, she was still thinking about teasing others.

Had the beating been in vain?

Wen Zhuojin didn’t know what was wrong with her; it felt like she had been affected by an aphrodisiac-like incense.

As she got up from the bed, planning to wash her face in the washroom to clear her mind, she heard a faint sound coming from the inner room.

Not bothering to put on her clothes, Wen Zhuojin hurried into the inner room.

On the bed, Yan Qinglan curled up like a cat, biting her lip, and a soft moan still escaped from her.

It was her addiction acting up again, and she had been enduring it on her own for quite a while.

“Sister, it’s me, Ah Zhuo.”

Wen Zhuojin stepped forward and gently picked Yan Qinglan up. Yan Qinglan automatically pressed close to her, rubbing against the exposed skin of Wen Zhuojin’s neck.

Earlier, Wen Zhuojin had thought that Yan Qinglan was experiencing a hallucination, but now she understood—it was because the scent of Wen Zhuojin would make her feel better.

The skin on her neck reddened where Yan Qinglan rubbed, and the thoughts that had formed in her sleep intensified.

Wen Zhuojin admitted she had been beaten for nothing.

But she couldn’t break her word.

Moreover, even though she wasn’t afraid of being hit again, the back of her head couldn’t withstand a second blow.

It still hurt, and if she were hit again, she would lose consciousness before the kiss could last.

“Sister, be good, don’t move.” Wen Zhuojin cupped Yan Qinglan’s face and softly coaxed her.

Yan Qinglan furrowed her brows and let out a low hum.

Her previous addiction was fake, but this time it was real.

She didn’t call anyone for help; after struggling for a while, her consciousness grew more and more blurry.

Her heart stirred with familiar longing.

She knew that Wen Zhuojin was close, and couldn’t help but move toward her.

But Wen Zhuojin was disobedient and pushed her away.

“Ah Zhuo, I’m not feeling well. Please let go, okay?” Yan Qinglan whispered, her voice pitiful.

“Sister, do you remember how your addiction only flared up after a long while last time? I suspect that it was because I kissed here. If you kiss here this time, maybe it’ll work?” Wen Zhuojin coaxed in a low voice, pressing her hand against Yan Qinglan’s lips, then grabbing Yan Qinglan’s hand and pressing it against her own lips.

Yan Qinglan was a bit dazed, but not completely unconscious.

Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s words, her face burned.

You little brat, what kind of cure is this?

Can’t do it yourself, so you’re having her do it?

“Sister, be good, don’t be afraid… Just think of me as the antidote. Once you take the antidote, you won’t feel uncomfortable anymore,” Wen Zhuojin murmured as she leaned closer to Yan Qinglan’s face, her lips almost brushing against Yan Qinglan’s.

Yan Qinglan could feel Wen Zhuojin’s breath, and with the coaxing words, it stirred something inside her.

How foolish of her to think that the little brat was just a little dog that could be tamed!

Yan Qinglan closed her eyes. The hand she had on Wen Zhuojin’s face moved away, her head dropping down, her lips landing softly on another pair of warm lips.

Yan Qinglan could more clearly taste Wen Zhuojin’s scent now.

Before, her feelings were overwhelmed by the shock and anger of being bitten, but now that the addiction had taken over, she felt something different.

It was better than simply rubbing against Wen Zhuojin’s neck.

Yan Qinglan kept her lips pressed gently, not moving, but Wen Zhuojin could hold back no longer.

She stuck out her tongue, tracing the cold lips before sucking on the lip bead.

Breaths tangled together in the confined space, growing hotter.

The icy crystal flower was warmed, slowly melting, becoming softer.

Yan Qinglan, her mind still muddled, started to wake up from Wen Zhuojin’s actions, only to be pulled back into further confusion.

Little brat!

Should she have gone with Qing Chenning? Maybe she shouldn’t have stayed?

Just as Yan Qinglan thought this, Wen Zhuojin’s tongue tangled with hers, disrupting her thoughts.

Wen Zhuojin was like an invader, pushing Yan Qinglan’s tongue deeper into her mouth, retreating slowly.

Yan Qinglan let out a soft moan, tears welling up in her eyes, slipping into the space between their tightly pressed lips.

It was only after tasting the salty tears that Wen Zhuojin came to her senses for a moment.

The deliciousness was already in her mouth, and she was reluctant to pull away, but the salty taste finally made Wen Zhuojin release her lips.

Even the smallest emotions, the slightest external stimuli, could make Yan Qinglan’s eyes tear up.

At this moment, with tears in her eyes, she appeared even more pitiful.

Wen Zhuojin silently inhaled, using her lips like a handkerchief to wipe away Yan Qinglan’s tears.

“Sister, if you’re unhappy, you can hit me…” Wen Zhuojin whispered, having tasted the sweetness of deceiving her, yet feeling guilty. She genuinely wanted to take another punishment.

Yan Qinglan’s body was still trembling. Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s words, she really wanted to hit her but had no strength left.

“Sister, just this once. If it doesn’t work, I’ll think of another way. Are you still feeling uncomfortable?”

Wen Zhuojin whispered, coaxing like one would a child, her hand trailing over Yan Qinglan’s spine.

Yan Qinglan closed her eyes, ignoring Wen Zhuojin.

After the kiss, Yan Qinglan wasn’t sure if it was just a distraction, but the feeling of addiction seemed to fade significantly.

Her focus was now on her lips, which seemed to have swollen slightly.

After a while, Yan Qinglan’s breathing became steady, and she realized the addiction had ended.

It was really over.

Did it actually work?

“Sister, be good, sleep a little longer. I won’t kiss you again, just hold you…” Wen Zhuojin noticed the change and whispered to Yan Qinglan, pulling the blanket over them both.

Without the torment of addiction, Yan Qinglan felt sleepy, but she hadn’t expected that Wen Zhuojin wouldn’t leave, still holding her!

Both of them were dressed in sleepwear. How inappropriate was it to stay like this?

Yan Qinglan thought about it, but couldn’t resist the sleepiness. With Wen Zhuojin’s rhythmic light patting, her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it, she fell asleep.

Wen Zhuojin noticed Yan Qinglan’s breathing had steadied, no longer moving. She looked down and saw Yan Qinglan sleeping soundly in her arms, curled up, though her brows were furrowed and her eyelashes held tears, making her look so pitiful.

Wen Zhuojin bent down and kissed Yan Qinglan’s eyelids, wiping away the tears.

Her beautiful sister really was too soft and easy to bully.

As for herself…

She wasn’t human at all.

The beautiful sister had actively pressed her lips to hers just now. Although it was due to the temptation of the “antidote,” if it had been in the past, she would have stubbornly resisted. But now, since the beautiful sister could get close to her, it must mean that she was starting to like her a little.

She wanted to make the beautiful sister more and more used to her, to like her, and to completely forget that scumbag.

With the warm, soft beauty in her arms, Wen Zhuojin didn’t want to leave the bed.

Holding Yan Qinglan, she closed her eyes as well.

Perhaps it was because she was holding someone and had been sleeping on her side, but this sleep was peaceful.

It wasn’t until the early morning hours, when the maidservants were up and about, that Wen Zhuojin finally woke up.

Jin Rui got up and went looking for Wen Zhuojin, but couldn’t find her.

The previous day, Wen Zhuojin had said she would get up early to be busy today.

If Wen Zhuojin was going back to the Marquis’s mansion, she would have told Jin Rui.

“Jin Rui, the young lady is staying inside tonight,” Jin Rui found the maid on night duty at the main room and asked. The maid blushed and pointed toward the inner room.

Jin Rui froze for a moment.

She had been busy going to the shop during the day and hadn’t kept watch at night. She hadn’t expected that Wen Zhuojin would go into the inner room.

“Don’t think or say anything foolish. I’ll go call the young lady,” Jin Rui told the maid and went to the door of the inner room to call for Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin woke up, cleared her head, and felt the warmth in her arms. She looked down and saw Yan Qinglan still asleep.

Wen Zhuojin bent down and kissed Yan Qinglan’s forehead. Since she hadn’t woken up, Wen Zhuojin didn’t disturb her further.

She quietly got up and went out to wash up.

Jin Rui assisted Wen Zhuojin with washing up but didn’t ask anything. She just observed Wen Zhuojin more closely, noticing that Wen Zhuojin seemed particularly energetic today.

“Jin Rui, we don’t have enough manpower. You need to go to the Marquis’s mansion and bring back ZiRong and Qinggui. Leave only Nanny Jiang and a few of the maids to guard the Qinfang Pavilion. The rest should go to the courtyard behind the shop to make incense, and follow the list I made yesterday. We need to make more incense products,” Wen Zhuojin said after finishing washing up.

“Yes, I’ll go right away. Where are you going today, young lady? Do you need me to accompany you?” Jin Rui asked.

“Today I’m going to the bookstore. You don’t need to come with me. Just keep an eye on the incense shop. I’ll come back after I finish at the bookstore,” Wen Zhuojin replied.

Jin Rui nodded in agreement. She watched Wen Zhuojin tidy up and then return to the inner room.

Today, Yan Qinglan slept deeper than usual and hadn’t woken up yet.

Wen Zhuojin went to Yan Qinglan’s side and gently hugged her.

“Sister, I’m leaving now. I’ll be back at noon,” Wen Zhuojin whispered. Yan Qinglan didn’t move. Wen Zhuojin was reluctant to leave but had to make money, so she quickly got up and left.

The incense materials at the shop had already been prepared by Wen Zhuojin the previous day—ground into powder and mixed into incense paste, so the remaining work was much simpler.

Wen Zhuojin wanted to earn more money, and a single shop wasn’t enough.

So, she was thinking of opening another shop.

Having made some silver the previous day, Wen Zhuojin was planning to invest in another shop.

This new shop wouldn’t sell incense, but instead, it would sell brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

The shop would be different from others.

Everything sold there would incorporate fragrance.

Wen Zhuojin had previously experimented with infusing clothes with fragrance, and also tried adding incense materials to Xuan paper and ink, so that the paper and ink would have a fragrance, and the writing would carry that scent.

Opening such a shop might not yield the high prices of incense, but it could make up for it in volume.

Wen Zhuojin wasn’t afraid of exposing her identity now. When she went out, she wore women’s clothing and carried the identity token of a registered disciple, making sure that no one would miss the fact that she was the head disciple of the newly established Incense Club.

Wen Zhuojin found a bookstore near the desired location and purchased it along with the masters who specialized in ink-making and paper-making.

“Miss Wen, could you… could you please rescue our young lady? She knows how to write and paint, and she’s a talented woman in the capital. Please, Miss Wen, save our young lady!” After Wen Zhuojin had received the deed for the shop and the deeds for the other people, she was about to arrange things when the former shopkeeper of this bookstore knelt in front of her.

“Your young lady?” Wen Zhuojin asked, surprised.

“It’s like this, this bookstore originally belonged to Lord Min, the head of the National University. However, Lord Min committed a crime and was exiled, and his female relatives were sent to the Imperial Music Bureau. My young lady is Lord Min’s precious daughter, Miss Min Xiwen. Poor young lady…,” the shopkeeper said, wiping away his tears with his sleeve.

Wen Zhuojin paused. There had indeed been much turmoil in the capital recently, and such things were unfortunately common.

She had heard of this Miss Min Xiwen before.

She had heard about her from her aunt, and it was true that she was a talented woman.

This shopkeeper, even though he had been bought and sold as a lowly servant, still cared for his young lady. Wen Zhuojin thought that the young lady must indeed be quite remarkable.

“If your young lady is in the Imperial Music Bureau, it will be difficult to redeem her. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try. I hope you’ll be diligent in helping me with my matters,” Wen Zhuojin said after thinking for a moment.

The shopkeeper hurriedly bowed multiple times.

Wen Zhuojin told him to get up and began giving instructions on the tasks to be done.

The shop needed to be renovated. The ink and paper-making masters had to change their process to include the incense materials Wen Zhuojin had specified, and a new batch needed to be made. The completed ones had to be processed with incense and mixed with different scents. There was still much to do.

The shopkeeper, having received Wen Zhuojin’s promise, worked even more diligently. Wen Zhuojin stayed for a while longer, then left.

She had originally planned to return to the incense shop and then go back to Wujiao Alley, but now, with the shopkeeper’s request, Wen Zhuojin decided to head to the Imperial Music Bureau first to see if the person was still there.

Inside the Imperial Music Bureau at that moment, Qing Chenning was speaking with one of the officers in charge.

“The Imperial Music Bureau is indeed overcrowded, but we can’t just take anyone away. These are the families of criminals, and they are supposed to be punished. As for the person you mentioned, Lord Qing, she can’t be saved. She has already been assigned. If Lord Qing still wishes, he can come back in a few days. Those people are all prepared for the dignitaries, aren’t they?” the officer said, smiling. His voice was shrill, and he was a eunuch appointed by the palace.

Qing Chenning’s expression darkened.

The day before, Yan Qinglan had told her that she could try to find a way to rescue the female relatives sent to the Imperial Music Bureau. This was something Qing Chenning had already wanted to do.

However, Qing Chenning was not a straightforward person; she had to protect herself, so she couldn’t come publicly. She had been secretly finding someone to handle the matter, and breaking through the barriers at the Imperial Music Bureau was difficult.

Today, she came in person mainly because one of the women she knew was about to “serve guests.”

Several wealthy gentlemen were already waiting to have this woman attend to them.

The female relatives of officials who had committed crimes were usually the highborn daughters of noble families. Once they were sent to the Imperial Music Bureau, they became subjects of humiliation and abuse. They were especially sought after by wealthy but lower-ranking gentlemen, who threw large amounts of silver just to have the once-highborn ladies serve them and enjoy the pleasure of dominating someone.

Qing Chenning could only use the pretense of lustful desires and could not press too much. When it became difficult to handle, a small eunuch reported from outside.

“Miss Wen Zhuojin, the named disciple of Master Jiang Xiao, has come to visit the Imperial Music Bureau’s officer.”

Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s name, Qing Chenning immediately choked, coughing a few times.

What is she here for?!