Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 43

“Your Highness, I have brought a hundred embroidered-clad historians with me this time, disguised as a merchant caravan and temporarily staying at a nearby trading house. Let me first escort you away from here, and then we can discuss the rest, alright?”

Yan Zisang’s voice came through.

Yan Qinglan’s expression froze.

When Qing Chenning arrived, Yan Qinglan did not leave with her because she did not fully trust Qing Chenning yet. Moreover, Qing Chenning was merely a civil official with weak influence and could not adequately protect her.

At Wen Zhuojin’s place, she could continue to detoxify and remain temporarily stable.

She had always thought of leaving once Yan Zisang arrived.

Yan Zisang was an incomplete person. As a child, he was bullied in the palace to the point of near death, but Yan Qinglan saved him. He had followed Yan Qinglan since he was very young, and his martial arts skills were also cultivated by her. Over the years, he had saved Yan Qinglan countless times, even nearly dying for her. He was someone Yan Qinglan trusted.

Now, Yan Zisang had truly come to take her away.

Her addiction had not acted up for a long time, and it seemed to have been cured.

Her eyes could vaguely make out colors, and her vision was slowly improving.

Leaving this place and seeking out a renowned doctor might also help with her treatment.

But…

“Yan Zisang, do you know there is still a Grand Princess in the palace?” Yan Qinglan did not immediately answer Yan Zisang’s question but instead asked.

“I know, I have already inquired about it. These days, the palace has been tightly sealed off, and almost no one knows that there has been a change in power. Moreover, the letters and documents sent to the northern frontier are all in Your Highness’s handwriting. If it weren’t for Your Highness’s bl00d letter and Minister Qing’s message, I would have been completely unaware. Jiang Xiao and the Imperial Guards Commander Pang Mo deserve to die. As soon as Your Highness gives the order, I will lead my men to kill them,” Yan Zisang said.

“Do not alert the enemy. With only a hundred embroidered-clad historians and you, there is no need for unnecessary sacrifices. Jiang Xiao and the Imperial Guards are only part of the problem. How could they possibly dominate the situation alone? First, we need to find out who else is involved with them and muddy the waters a bit. The focus should be on the major families, the royal clan, the Prime Minister, and the Ministers of the Six Boards. The Imperial Guards in the capital cannot be mobilized, and the surrounding troops require a military tally to be deployed. My golden fish tally is not with me, so I need to retrieve it first.”

“Also, you will need some silver for your travels. I have some savings that can be withdrawn from the bank.”

“Currently, the palace has not yet moved against people like Qing Chenning, who are openly on my side, possibly waiting for the right moment. We cannot let them seize that opportunity. Have General Li from the northern frontier send an urgent message, stating that the Xiongnu are invading… Additionally…”

Yan Qinglan spoke slowly.

With Yan Zisang’s arrival, they could now undertake significant actions.

The golden fish tally, which represented Yan Qinglan’s identity, was what she most desired to retrieve.

Otherwise, even if she wanted to mobilize troops or persuade a neutral faction to side with her, without the golden fish tally as a symbol of her identity, who would believe that she was truly the Grand Princess of Northern Jin, Yan Qinglan?

Not everyone was as familiar with her as Yan Zisang.

“Minister Qing, please help me find a set of outdoor clothes,” Yan Qinglan said to Qing Chenning after finishing her instructions.

Qing Chenning quickly complied and went to find clothes for Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan’s clothes were all in the wardrobe in her room.

Qing Chenning soon found them.

Upon opening it, she took a slight breath.

Inside were mostly undergarments and intimate wear, with a variety of patterns!

This Wen Zhuojin had some nerve!

How dare she make the Grand Princess wear such inappropriate clothing!

Fortunately, the Grand Princess was now leaving this place.

Wen Zhuojin would just have to wait for her punishment!

Qing Chenning finally managed to find a decent set of outdoor clothes and helped Yan Qinglan change into them.

Meanwhile, as Wen Zhuojin stepped out of the incense shop, she ran into a few people.

“Miss Wen, you are truly a busy person. We have sent several invitations but never managed to see you. Today, we finally meet,” said a woman in her thirties, her face full of smiles. Standing beside her was Wen Zhuojin’s stepmother, Lady Hou.

Wen Zhuojin looked at the person but couldn’t recall who they were.

“This is the wife of Prince Anqing. Hurry up and pay your respects!” Seeing Wen Zhuojin’s expression, Lady Hou quickly interjected.

Lady Hou was currently feeling quite a headache. This princess consort had approached her, wanting to meet Wen Zhuojin and offering many benefits. She even promised more rewards if she could persuade Wen Zhuojin to meet with the heir of Prince Anqing.

However, Lady Hou had no authority over Wen Zhuojin.

Not to mention that Wen Zhuojin was now a registered disciple of Tianxuan Palace—even before that, she had never had the chance to make decisions for Wen Zhuojin.

She had sent people to Wen Zhuojin’s courtyard to invite her, but Wen Zhuojin was never there. She was either at the shop or paying respects to her master. What could she do?

Wen Zhuojin had a rough idea of why the wife of Prince Anqing was seeking her out.

Out of courtesy, she still paid her respects to both of them.

“Madam, are you here to purchase incense? I can have the shopkeeper assist you in selecting some,” Wen Zhuojin said after paying her respects.

“I would like to have a few words with Miss Wen. Don’t you have a private room here? It will only take the time of a cup of tea. Surely Miss Wen can spare that much time?” the wife of Prince Anqing said with a smile.

With things having reached this point, Wen Zhuojin had no choice but to invite them to the private room.

“I am here today to ask a favor of Miss Wen. I heard that Miss Wen has opened a bookstore. I happen to have some spare silver and would like to open one as well. Could we collaborate? We could open it in the west of the city, so it wouldn’t compete with your current bookstore. I will provide the capital for the shop, and we can source the scented stationery and ink from you. The profits could be split sixty-forty in your favor. How does that sound? Miss Wen, please consider it,” the wife of Prince Anqing said with a smile.

Wen Zhuojin remained silent for a few moments.

Recently, because the shops she had opened were quite profitable, many people had been trying to get a piece of the pie, either openly or covertly.

Previously, they had sent their shopkeepers or stewards to approach her, but Wen Zhuojin had ignored them. She hadn’t expected that the wife of a prince would personally come to discuss such matters.

Some of these noble families might have advantages due to their positions or ancestral wealth, but others had fallen on hard times and could no longer afford their lavish lifestyles. They might appear prestigious, but in reality, they were quite poor.

For example, the family of Prince Anqing.

If they weren’t in desperate need of money, they probably wouldn’t have stooped to approaching an unmarried young girl like Wen Zhuojin to discuss a business partnership.

“Ah-Zhuo, collaborating with the family of Prince Anqing is an opportunity that many would beg for. You’re still young and don’t understand. Your shop has grown so large, and many people are envious. The princess consort is here to help you. In the future, if anything happens, the Prince’s family will be your backing. Do you understand?” Lady Hou chimed in to support the proposal.

Wen Zhuojin naturally understood that it was difficult to stand alone. While she could rely on her master to handle minor issues, when it came to powerful families, that might not be enough.

However, Prince Anqing wasn’t a particularly influential family, and there was no need to collaborate with them, only to share profits and let them take advantage of her.

From the tone of the princess consort, if they were to collaborate, Wen Zhuojin would only end up at a greater disadvantage.

The silver Wen Zhuojin earned was meant for important purposes, and she couldn’t let just anyone take a share.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Princess Consort. I know that the bookstore’s business is insignificant compared to the vast wealth of the Prince’s household. Your offer to collaborate is entirely out of goodwill to support me. I will remember this kindness. However, my master has told me that running the shop is part of my training. Any troubles that arise are also part of that training. For now, I won’t trouble you, Princess Consort. In the future, if my master says that my training is complete and I am allowed to collaborate with others, you will be the first person I approach! How does that sound?” Wen Zhuojin said with a smile, once again invoking her master’s authority.

The wife of Prince Anqing looked visibly awkward, a flash of anger passing through her eyes.

Although Wen Zhuojin had tried to save face for her, the outcome was the same: the answer was no. Wen Zhuojin had invoked the authority of her master, Jiang Xiao, leaving the princess consort with no room to argue.

If it weren’t for the extravagant spending and financial deficits of the Prince’s household, the princess consort wouldn’t have stooped to approaching Wen Zhuojin in the first place.

Previously, the wife of Prince Anqing had sent her steward to discuss a collaboration with Wen Zhuojin, but Wen Zhuojin had politely yet firmly refused.

Later, the princess consort had sent a formal proposal to Tianxuan Palace, seeking to arrange a marriage between Wen Zhuojin and the heir of Prince Anqing. The intention was to gain a share of Wen Zhuojin’s profits by bringing her into the family.

However, Tianxuan Palace had not agreed to the proposal.

Left with no other option, the princess consort had swallowed her pride and personally approached Wen Zhuojin to discuss a business partnership.

Yet, she was met with a direct refusal.

“Very well. Miss Wen truly respects her master and is a fine young lady. Whoever marries Miss Wen will be incredibly fortunate,” the princess consort said, forcing a smile as she twisted the handkerchief in her hands.

Lady Hou, who had been watching the exchange, was astonished.

What kind of family or influence was Wen Zhuojin waiting for to form closer ties?

It had been said that as a registered disciple of Tianxuan Palace, Wen Zhuojin might marry into the imperial clan.

Wasn’t the Prince Anqing’s family part of the imperial clan?

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to collaborate and build closer relations?

Lady Hou couldn’t understand Wen Zhuojin’s reasoning, but she didn’t dare to ask.

Wen Zhuojin, not wanting to engage further with them, shifted the conversation to the newly crafted incense.

“This blend is called Qingyuan Xiang. It complements your noble, elegant, and refined demeanor perfectly. When used to scent clothes, the fragrance lasts all day…”

Wen Zhuojin enthusiastically recommended several types of incense to the princess consort.

Having failed to gain any advantage, the princess consort was left with no choice but to purchase two types of incense, spending three hundred taels of silver before leaving in disappointment.

Once outside, the princess consort ignored Lady Hou entirely, not even sparing her a glance. She boarded the Prince’s carriage, and the composed expression she had maintained earlier quickly dissolved into one of anger and frustration.

“Summon the heir from the Fragrance Hall. All he does is indulge in pleasure and never bothers with anything productive!” the princess consort said sharply to a servant outside the carriage. The servant quickly acknowledged the order and hurried off.

Meanwhile, Wen Zhuojin breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to inspect the newly opened incense materials shop.

The permit for trading incense materials had been approved, and the shop was ready to open.

This shop was primarily intended to serve as a warehouse for Wen Zhuojin.

Most of the incense materials she procured would be used in her incense shop, while any leftovers would be sold in the bookstore and powder shop.

The incense materials shop was almost ready, and the appointed shopkeeper had been working on sourcing materials since obtaining the permit.

“Miss, the Oud oil, premium agarwood, and sandalwood you mentioned are in very short supply at the trading company. I heard that a merchant group from the Dashi Kingdom has a large stock of incense materials, but they only deal with familiar customers and don’t speak our language,” the shopkeeper reported, handing Wen Zhuojin a list.

“Don’t worry about the Dashi merchant group. I’ll take someone to check it out,” Wen Zhuojin said with a smile after reviewing the list.

This was a fortunate coincidence.

Odesse was from the Dashi Kingdom.

Wen Zhuojin had learned a bit of the Dashi language and was planning to take Odesse to the Dashi merchant group to see if they had any new incense materials or rare items.

After noting down the missing materials, Wen Zhuojin returned to the incense shop to fetch Odesse, and the two set off for the merchant group together.