Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 42

The touch of cold skin made Wen Zhuojin take a deep breath.

It was even colder than usual.

Tears spilled from the corners of Yan Qinglan’s eyes, her face pale, looking utterly pitiful.

Wen Zhuojin’s inappropriate thoughts were instantly shattered into nothingness.

“It’s just… my period has come…” Yan Qinglan felt Wen Zhuojin’s hands trembling as they held her and whispered.

During her period, she always experienced pain. Several imperial physicians had been consulted for treatment, but nothing had worked. After being poisoned by the incense, it had become even worse.

Now, her entire body was as cold as if she had fallen into an icy cavern, and her lower abdomen felt as if something were churning inside, causing a heavy, aching pain that made Yan Qinglan extremely uncomfortable.

“Sister, hold on for a moment,” Wen Zhuojin said upon hearing that Yan Qinglan’s period might have started. She wrapped Yan Qinglan tightly in a blanket and then hurriedly left.

Wen Zhuojin was aware that Yan Qinglan’s menstrual cycle was irregular.

Zheng Qianqin had been checking Yan Qinglan’s pulse and physical condition every few days.

It had been over two months since Wen Zhuojin brought Yan Qinglan back, and her period had not yet come.

Zheng Qianqin had said that Yan Qinglan suffered from both bl00d and qi deficiency, with a cold uterus and a weak constitution. For her period to return to normal, her body needed to be nourished first.

Now that her period had come, it should be good news.

But seeing Yan Qinglan in such pain, Wen Zhuojin couldn’t feel happy.

“Turn on the floor heating, ask the cook to prepare a bowl of ginger sugar water, and find the hot water bottle…” Wen Zhuojin instructed the maid on night duty.

After the onset of spring, the floor heating had been turned off, leaving only the charcoal brazier. Now, it seemed necessary to turn it back on.

After giving instructions to the maid, Wen Zhuojin found a new menstrual belt and immediately returned to the inner room.

Yan Qinglan was wrapped in a blanket but felt no warmth.

Her body was cold from the inside out.

The pain in her lower abdomen forced her to curl up, her body as if paralyzed.

Wen Zhuojin’s own periods were always regular and not very painful, just a bit troublesome.

She had never seen anyone suffer so much during their period.

Just seeing Yan Qinglan’s condition made Wen Zhuojin’s heart ache.

Wen Zhuojin took off her outer robe, leaving only her soft undergarments, and climbed onto the bed, kneeling beside Yan Qinglan. She prepared to first remove Yan Qinglan’s underwear and replace it with the menstrual belt.

“Sister, let me change your clothes first, bear with it a little longer…” Wen Zhuojin said softly.

“What… what are you doing?” Yan Qinglan didn’t hear Wen Zhuojin clearly and, feeling her waistband being touched, asked with a trembling voice, trying to protect herself but failing.

“Sister, be good… let’s change your clothes, it’ll be quick…” Wen Zhuojin coaxed her, carefully helping Yan Qinglan change.

Yan Qinglan was weak all over, but her mind was clear.

She had never felt ashamed when being bathed or dressed by her maids.

But…

Before Yan Qinglan could say anything, Wen Zhuojin had already finished changing her.

Once she was dry, she was enveloped in a warm embrace.

Yan Qinglan could no longer care about shame; her cold body desperately sought warmth.

Only the most uncomfortable part, her lower abdomen, had not yet touched the heat source.

The person holding her seemed to sense her need and changed positions, embracing her from behind so that her lower back pressed against the other’s waist, immediately feeling warmth.

Two cold hands then wrapped around her abdomen, covering it.

Gently massaging.

Yan Qinglan’s pale face flushed to the roots of her ears.

“Sister, the hot water bottle is still being prepared. Let me warm you first. Does it feel better?” Wen Zhuojin asked, her voice filled with concern.

Yan Qinglan didn’t respond.

Now, it did seem a bit better.

The little brat’s body was like her voice, full of vibrant warmth.

An inexhaustible source of heat.

The heavy, aching pain in her lower abdomen gradually eased under the warmth.

Soon, the maid outside announced that the ginger sugar water was ready, and Wen Zhuojin got up to fetch it.

But as soon as she left, Yan Qinglan felt the pain intensify again.

Wen Zhuojin brought in the hot water bottle and the ginger sugar water prepared by the maid.

She placed the hot water bottle in Yan Qinglan’s arms and tried to help her sit up, but Yan Qinglan’s lower back was still uncomfortable, and her body just wanted to curl up, unable to lean against the soft pillow.

Wen Zhuojin went over and lifted Yan Qinglan, letting her use her own body as a pillow, leaning against her chest, warming her back, which made her feel slightly better.

Feeding her the ginger sugar water was a bit awkward, but they had to manage for now.

Yan Qinglan could eat brown sugar, but the added ginger made it a bit spicy. After just one sip, tears fell from her eyes.

Wen Zhuojin took a sip herself and didn’t find the taste too strong, but seeing Yan Qinglan’s state still pained her. She reached for the preserved fruits she had prepared for Yan Qinglan in the bedside drawer and fed her one.

“Sister, this will warm your body. Have a few more sips, be good, it will warm you up…” Wen Zhuojin coaxed softly, feeding her a sip of ginger sugar water followed by a preserved fruit, managing to get her to drink half a bowl.

When Yan Qinglan really couldn’t drink anymore, Wen Zhuojin set the bowl aside.

The floor heating was turned on, raising the temperature in the room and on the bed.

But Yan Qinglan still looked uncomfortable, so Wen Zhuojin continued to hold her as before.

In the past, every time her period came, Yan Qinglan would drink some warm uterine tonic, but the effect was never good. Each time was a struggle, and she often couldn’t sleep well for the first two days.

“Sister, be good, sleep for a while. Tomorrow, I’ll ask Auntie Zheng to come and see if there’s any medicine you can take,” Wen Zhuojin comforted her softly.

Wrapped in warmth, Yan Qinglan’s pain slowly subsided, and sleepiness gradually overtook her.

Seeing Yan Qinglan fall asleep, Wen Zhuojin breathed a sigh of relief, only then noticing the sensation of holding her in her arms.

So soft.

Wen Zhuojin’s body stiffened slightly, wanting to move her hand away.

But as soon as she moved, Yan Qinglan, already asleep, let out a soft moan and pressed Wen Zhuojin’s hand back to her lower abdomen.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t move.

When her thoughts began to wander, she immediately thought of Yan Qinglan’s suffering, reciting the “Compendium of Materia Medica” in her mind, recalling the specific effects of each herb and spice, and considering what could provide relief.

She didn’t know what Yan Qinglan had been through to be in such poor health.

If the purpose of the incense poison was to control and treat her as a plaything, then why the bl00d and qi deficiency, the cold uterus, and weak constitution? Was it a side effect, or had she suffered other abuses?

Such a soft and delicate beauty, why couldn’t she be cared for properly?

Thinking this, Wen Zhuojin gritted her teeth in anger.

If that person hadn’t been exiled and was still in front of her, she would have beaten him severely and made him suffer twice what Yan Qinglan had endured.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t sleep much but couldn’t get up either.

Yan Qinglan was very “clingy” at the moment and couldn’t bear to be apart from Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin acted as a human heater until dawn when Yan Qinglan woke up needing to relieve herself.

Wen Zhuojin got up to fetch the chamber pot.

Having been warmed all night, Yan Qinglan felt slightly better, but as soon as Wen Zhuojin left, she felt as if she had returned to her previous state.

However, Yan Qinglan didn’t want Wen Zhuojin’s help with such matters and struggled to get up.

“No, don’t look…” Yan Qinglan said as Wen Zhuojin helped her down to the floor.

“Alright, sister, be careful,” Wen Zhuojin, knowing Yan Qinglan’s embarrassment, didn’t insist on helping.

After Yan Qinglan finished, Wen Zhuojin carried her back to bed and then went to clean the chamber pot.

Soon, Wen Zhuojin brought hot water and used a warm towel to wipe Yan Qinglan’s hands.

After taking the things out, Wen Zhuojin returned to be Yan Qinglan’s heater.

Yan Qinglan, embraced by Wen Zhuojin again, blinked.

The little brat had thoroughly taken over the maid’s duties.

She really didn’t mind at all.

“Be good, sleep a little longer…” Wen Zhuojin patted Yan Qinglan gently.

Yan Qinglan closed her eyes.

At dawn, when Wen Zhuojin got up, Yan Qinglan was still asleep. Wen Zhuojin warmed Yan Qinglan’s abdomen with the hot water bottle, wrapped her back in the blanket, and carefully got up.

Yan Qinglan frowned, so Wen Zhuojin found another hot water bottle to place behind her, which helped a bit.

Early in the morning, Zheng Qianqin was summoned by Wen Zhuojin.

After checking Yan Qinglan’s pulse, Zheng Qianqin shook her head, and Wen Zhuojin took her outside to talk.

“Bl00d and qi deficiency, cold and damp stagnation, the same issues as before. Continue with the previous prescription, slowly nourishing her. It can’t be rushed. Pay attention to her diet these days…” Zheng Qianqin explained to Wen Zhuojin.

“Auntie Zheng, could it be due to some medication or abuse? Otherwise, why would it be so severe?” Wen Zhuojin asked.

“I’m not sure. It could be congenital or caused by neglect later on. You’d need to ask about her past experiences. Regardless, with her constitution, she might have difficulty conceiving. But since you’re a woman, it doesn’t matter whether she can or not,” Zheng Qianqin said.

“Auntie Zheng, please don’t joke. Can we only slowly nourish her like this? Is there a complete cure or medicine that would stop the pain each time?” Wen Zhuojin continued to ask.

“I don’t know about that. I’m not specialized in these conditions. However, I know of a woman who was a palace physician from the previous dynasty, specializing in such ailments for palace women. She might know more secret remedies. You have the means now; perhaps you could try to bring her here and see if she can help improve Yan Qinglan’s health faster,” Zheng Qianqin suggested.

“Please tell me who she is!” Wen Zhuojin eagerly asked.

Zheng Qianqin provided the name and address.

Wen Zhuojin thanked Zheng Qianqin, gave her double the consultation fee, and saw her off.

The female physician Zheng Qianqin mentioned was not in Yunjing City. Wen Zhuojin thought for a moment and sent someone to invite her.

For now, they would use the prescription provided by Zheng Qianqin.

Yan Qinglan’s discomfort lasted for two days.

During these two days, Wen Zhuojin didn’t go to the shop, taking care of Yan Qinglan the entire time, acting as her heater.

Yan Qinglan had never spent her period so “comfortably” before.

In the past, those who attended to her were also meticulous, but no one dared to “cling” to her like this.

Yan Qinglan hadn’t expected that with Wen Zhuojin around, her period would pass like this.

Over these two days, Yan Qinglan drank a lot of medicine, and her meals were all warm, uterine-nourishing, bl00d-enriching types, making her feel like she had gained a bit of weight.

After the third day, Yan Qinglan didn’t let Wen Zhuojin stay with her anymore, telling her to attend to her own business.

While asleep, she clung to Wen Zhuojin’s warmth. When awake, even if Yan Qinglan didn’t show much need, she didn’t refuse either. Only she knew in her heart that she was becoming increasingly dependent on Wen Zhuojin’s close embrace and her warmth.

This was not good!

Wen Zhuojin naturally wished to stay with Yan Qinglan all the time, but she couldn’t neglect the shop either. Moreover, she had plans to open more shops for incense and spices, many of which required her personal attention and inspection.

After confirming that Yan Qinglan was feeling better, Wen Zhuojin went out, but she returned early every day and left later in the morning, accompanying Yan Qinglan to eat and take her medicine before leaving.

A few days later, Yan Qinglan’s period completely ended, and she was clean again, finally having time to think and contact Qing Chenning.

Qing Chenning soon came during the day when Wen Zhuojin was away, bringing an extra person with him.

This person did not enter the inner room where Yan Qinglan was but knelt and kowtowed outside the curtain.

“Your Highness, your subordinate Yan Zisang is late to rescue you!!”

Yan Qinglan’s vision was blurry, and she couldn’t see clearly, but she knew from the voice that the person she had been waiting for had arrived.