Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 47

“Sister, I adore you deeply and have always tried my best to restrain myself. My recklessness earlier was mainly because I was affected by an aphrodisiac incense outside… It clouded my judgment, and I lost control. It’s my fault, I deserve to die! Sister, please don’t be angry. Don’t hurt yourself because of me…”

Wen Zhuojin spoke softly, her voice trembling with caution and guilt.

Though she longed to be intimate with Yan Qinglan, to do the things depicted in those secret illustrations, she didn’t want it to happen under the influence of an aphrodisiac.

At this moment, Wen Zhuojin couldn’t savor the joy of their earlier “union.” Instead, she was overwhelmed by remorse.

Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s explanation, Yan Qinglan recalled the cause of her earlier behavior, and her anger shifted direction.

If it weren’t for that audacious Prince Anqing’s heir, Wen Zhuojin wouldn’t have…

Normally, this little rascal exercised great restraint, even blindfolding herself with black gauze while helping Yan Qinglan bathe.

“Sister, if you’re still angry, you can bite me a few times to vent. Don’t be mad, I know I was wrong…” Wen Zhuojin added, offering her arm for Yan Qinglan to bite.

Yan Qinglan’s lips touched Wen Zhuojin’s skin, and she opened her mouth to bite down.

Though there were extenuating circumstances, the little rascal’s actions were still her own.

She had only allowed her to kiss her lips, but Wen Zhuojin had gone further, pressing her lips against hers while her hands wandered freely.

By the end, Yan Qinglan’s robes were completely disheveled, as were Wen Zhuojin’s.

Their skin pressed together, kneaded, and rubbed.

The coolness of their skin gradually warmed.

Yan Qinglan had never experienced such strange sensations before.

It was as if she had been thrown into a hot spring, being pulled deeper into the water.

She knew it was dangerous, yet some part of her faintly longed for the unseen wonders hidden in those depths.

But the little rascal was like an inexperienced guide, acting solely on instinct.

Before Yan Qinglan could reach those depths, Wen Zhuojin had already finished.

Half of Yan Qinglan’s resentment stemmed from this.

She was angry at herself for wanting Wen Zhuojin to continue, and even angrier for allowing the intimacy in the first place.

Wen Zhuojin must have fought through the effects of the drug, as she had said earlier. Once the influence weakened, she regained her senses.

After releasing Yan Qinglan, she became like a child who had done wrong.

Bold in the moment of transgression, cowardly in the moment of repentance.

A complete contrast to her earlier audacity.

Yan Qinglan’s bite was weak.

She had expended too much energy earlier and had little strength left.

Wen Zhuojin naturally noticed the lack of force.

Seeing that Yan Qinglan had bitten her, she assumed some anger had been vented. She quickly fetched a handkerchief to wipe Yan Qinglan’s face, then moved closer to embrace her and continue speaking.

“Sister, I’m truly terrified. I went to the trading company to buy incense materials, but I had no idea the heir of Prince Anqing had bribed the staff to light aphrodisiac incense. Previously, Prince Anqing’s wife had approached me about jointly opening an incense shop, but I refused. I never imagined they’d stoop so low. When I realized what was happening, I tried to escape, but their guards were stronger than me. I had no choice but to jump out the window—it was the second floor! I fell and hurt my knee. It still hurts…”

Wen Zhuojin spoke in a weak tone.

She knew Yan Qinglan had a soft heart. Though her anger was justified, confessing the truth might earn forgiveness.

Yan Qinglan had initially intended to struggle free, but upon hearing Wen Zhuojin’s words, she stilled.

It seemed Wen Zhuojin’s business was indeed thriving if Prince Anqing’s family would go to such lengths to seize it.

No matter how bold Wen Zhuojin was, she was still a young woman under twenty.

Facing such a situation must have been terrifying.

Jumping from a second-floor window—how dangerous!

If she hadn’t coincidentally run into Yan Qinglan and Yan Zisang, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The targets of Yan Qinglan’s anger expanded.

The entire Prince Anqing household was despicable!

And that trading company had no right to continue existing.

“Sister, that incense was extremely potent. It must have contained hallucinogenic ingredients. I don’t even know how I ended up in Wujiu Alley. My memories of earlier are hazy, but I remember smelling your scent outside and hearing your voice. You saved me!” Wen Zhuojin continued.

Yan Qinglan froze. Earlier, Yan Zisang had said Wen Zhuojin was out of her mind, but it seemed she still retained some memory.

A dog’s nose, to have smelled her scent…

“I never left the house. How could I have saved you?” Yan Qinglan murmured awkwardly after a pause.

“Of course, I know that. It must have been a hallucination. Why would you be outside? I’ll ask the servants later how I returned. But I say you saved me because it’s the truth. If not for your mercy, I don’t know what suffering I’d have endured.”

Wen Zhuojin nuzzled Yan Qinglan’s cheek with her own.

Her earlier memories were already blurred, and her trust in Yan Qinglan made her dismiss them as illusions.

“…This time, there were extenuating circumstances. If there’s a next time, I won’t forgive you,” Yan Qinglan relented slightly, though her expression remained stern.

This little rascal really knew how to sweet-talk.

“Sister, I’ll be more careful when I go out in the future,” Wen Zhuojin said, relieved that Yan Qinglan had forgiven her this time, though she couldn’t help feeling disappointed. Yan Qinglan seemed entirely displeased with what had happened earlier.

No next time?

Wen Zhuojin’s heart sank.

“Sister, those Yans are truly no good, every one of them greedy for wealth. It’s no surprise Prince Anqing’s family would go this far for money. Back then, the Grand Princess did so much to amass silver through the Tianxuan Palace—the exorbitant incense fees, the overpriced, subpar incense products, and now even selling poisonous incense without conscience. And the court monopolizing the trade of salt, copper, iron, and weapons is one thing, but they even control the incense trade! The prices at official shops are over ten times higher than wholesale at trading companies. It’s downright vile!”

Wen Zhuojin’s hatred for Prince Anqing and his ilk flared anew. She vented to Yan Qinglan, aligning herself with her in shared indignation.

Yan Qinglan’s slightly softened expression froze.

She wanted to say that she hadn’t ordered the sale of the poisonous incense.

But her identity was something she wasn’t ready to reveal to Wen Zhuojin, and besides…

Back then, the national treasury was empty, the northern border was in crisis, and the soldiers couldn’t even get enough to eat, let alone defend the country.

The aristocratic families, nurtured by the court, were all rolling in wealth, but when it came to critical moments, they clung tightly to their purses, unwilling to contribute. She had no choice but to find another way.

Aside from the trade of poisonous incense,

other things were indeed done under her orders.

This little brat seemed to have no reverence for her identity at all and even harbored deep resentment.

Daring to refer to the royal family as the “Yan clan” was truly treasonous!

“Sister, I’ve had hot water prepared for you. Would you like to take a bath? You must be uncomfortable after sweating so much.” The maid outside announced that the water was ready, and Wen Zhuojin whispered to Yan Qinglan.

After speaking, Wen Zhuojin looked up at Yan Qinglan and noticed that her expression seemed off.

“Sister, what’s wrong? Are you still angry? Do you want to bite me a few more times…” Wen Zhuojin said.

“I’m all sweaty. I need to bathe. Don’t mess around anymore,” Yan Qinglan replied, pushing away the arm Wen Zhuojin had extended.

Wen Zhuojin quickly agreed, helped Yan Qinglan up, found some clothes for her to wear, and carried her to the bathing room.

Although the two had been intimate earlier, Wen Zhuojin hadn’t seen anything, as she had been too busy kissing Yan Qinglan’s lips.

Now, Wen Zhuojin thought it over and decided to put on a black blindfold.

The effects of the aphrodisiac incense had weakened but hadn’t completely dissipated.

As usual, Yan Qinglan first soaked in a medicinal bath, followed by a floral bath.

When Wen Zhuojin carried her, Yan Qinglan glanced at her and noticed that her fair face was still covered by the black blindfold.

During their earlier intimacy, Yan Qinglan had felt her vision clear up momentarily, but now it was blurry again, though slightly better than before. She could vaguely make out shapes and colors.

Yan Qinglan tried to recall the sensations from when Wen Zhuojin had been close to her, and her face immediately flushed, her cheeks and the area around her eyes growing warm.

By the time Yan Qinglan was placed in the bathtub, her vision had cleared a bit more, allowing her to see Wen Zhuojin’s lips and chin.

Yan Qinglan took a slight breath. This eye condition of hers was really…

“Sister, you soak for a while. I’ll come back when it’s time,” Wen Zhuojin said softly, quickly disappearing from Yan Qinglan’s sight.

The warm water enveloped Yan Qinglan.

She closed her eyes, letting her body relax, and the tension from earlier gradually subsided.

The medicinal and floral baths, with their elaborate routines, were something she hadn’t even had time for in the palace.

They were indeed beneficial for the body and quite soothing.

Yan Qinglan was lifted out, dried off, and placed on freshly changed bedding.

Only then did Wen Zhuojin go out to bathe herself.

Earlier, she had been focused on comforting Yan Qinglan and filled with self-reproach, which had temporarily suppressed the vivid memories of their intimacy during the peak of the aphrodisiac’s effects.

Now, soaking in the warm water, Wen Zhuojin’s mind was flooded with those earlier scenes.

The sensations of touch and skin contact were amplified.

Especially at the end, when it felt like she had been lifted to the clouds, her mind had gone blank for a long time.

It was a pity that she had been in a hurry and hadn’t taken the time to savor it.

Now, the desire resurfaced.

She wanted to tease the beautiful sister like that again.

Wen Zhuojin was lost in thought for a while, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

But she couldn’t put her finger on it.

She had only read the first few pages of the secret playbook and hadn’t dared to continue.

So, even though her mind had automatically recalled some knowledge from the playbook during the act, it was still quite limited.

Most of it had been instinctual.

Perhaps she should go back and read more.

Now that the two of them had been so intimate, in the future…

Just thinking about it made Wen Zhuojin feel restless again.

She had the maid add some cold water to the bath to cool herself down.

After getting out of the bathtub and changing her clothes, Wen Zhuojin went out to call for dinner and asked a few questions.

The maid recounted how Wen Zhuojin had been helped back by a “kind-hearted person.”

“Did they say who they were?” Wen Zhuojin asked in surprise. Had there really been a kind-hearted person who rescued her when she was being chased by Prince Anqing?!

Weren’t they afraid of the Prince Anqing’s household?

“That person only said they were a hired escort from the trading company. They didn’t say anything else,” the maid replied after thinking.

“Do you remember what they looked like?” Wen Zhuojin asked again.

“Yes, if I see them again, I’ll definitely recognize them,” the maid nodded.

“Good, then I’ll take you to the trading company another day to have a look,” Wen Zhuojin said.

Since that person had brought her back,

she at least owed them some silver as thanks.

If they were implicated and faced trouble from the Prince Anqing’s household, she would also bear some responsibility.

If they happened to have a sense of justice and could be of use to her, that would be even better.

“Miss, you have a low tolerance for alcohol. When you’re out and about without anyone around, you mustn’t drink too much. It’s too dangerous. If you absolutely must, take a sobering pill in time. Dr. Zheng sells them. I’ll get some for you later,” Jin Rui said as she brought in the food box, seeing that Wen Zhuojin was now full of energy, her eyes sparkling, and a hint of joy in her expression. She wasn’t suffering any discomfort, which relieved Jin Rui, though she still felt a bit uneasy.

“I understand. Thank you, Sister Jin Rui, for helping me prepare some. Please don’t tell Nurse Jiang,” Wen Zhuojin knew Jin Rui was worried about her and smiled at her.

“Of course, I’ll prepare them for you, Miss. But I hope you’ll be more careful when you’re out. Things are different now. Perhaps you could hire some escorts. I wonder if there are any female escorts who know martial arts,” Jin Rui said.

“There should be. I’ll look into it,” Wen Zhuojin replied.

After exchanging a few more words with Jin Rui, Wen Zhuojin took the food box and went into the inner room to have dinner with Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan didn’t let Wen Zhuojin feed her and ate with a spoon herself.

Wen Zhuojin ate some as well.

Both of them had expended a lot of energy today, so they ate more than usual.

After the meal, Yan Qinglan washed up and brushed her teeth. Wen Zhuojin lit some fragrant incense and eagerly brought over a floral lotion that was said to be good for the skin, applying it to Yan Qinglan’s face.

“Actually, sister, your natural scent is the best. These floral lotions pale in comparison. But Odesse said that applying floral lotion can improve the skin, and I tried it—it feels quite nice. Do you feel any better?” Wen Zhuojin asked as she applied the lotion to Yan Qinglan’s face.

Previously, Yan Qinglan’s complexion had been pale due to her weak health, lacking color and appearing almost sickly. But after being cared for these past few days, her skin had gained a healthy glow, looking smooth, fair, and incredibly soft to the touch.

“…Can you recognize me by my scent?” Yan Qinglan paused and asked, recalling Wen Zhuojin’s earlier mention of smelling her scent outside.

“Yes. I haven’t told you before, but my sense of smell is very sharp. I can remember the scent of incense materials after just one sniff. I can also detect smells that others can’t. Pleasant scents are fine, but unpleasant ones are a real ordeal. That’s why I love working with fragrances—to mask the bad smells. Everyone has their own unique scent, and sister, yours is the best I’ve ever smelled,” Wen Zhuojin explained enthusiastically when she saw Yan Qinglan’s interest.

Yan Qinglan confirmed that when they were in the alley, she had been wearing a veil, so Wen Zhuojin hadn’t seen her face but had recognized her solely by her scent.

She really did have the nose of a little dog.

“Sister, I remember that on the day of the Mystic Lady’s birthday, when I was wandering around the Tianxuan Palace, I thought I caught your scent. Did you go to offer incense that day too?” Wen Zhuojin suddenly recalled something and asked Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan’s expression stiffened.

That day, she had indeed still been in the Tianxuan Palace.

It was also the day she had taken advantage of the crowds during the Mystic Lady’s birthday celebrations to escape.

She hadn’t expected to nearly run into Wen Zhuojin that day.

“Yes, I went.” Yan Qinglan replied after a moment’s thought.

“That’s strange. If you believe in the Mystic Lady, why were you implicated in the rebellion case along with those scholars?” Wen Zhuojin felt a sense of dissonance.

“Perhaps it wasn’t just the scholars this time, but also some from other factions. I don’t really understand. Let’s not talk about this anymore,” Yan Qinglan said somewhat stiffly.

“Alright, alright, I won’t bring it up again. Sister, let me apply some lotion to your hands,” Wen Zhuojin quickly changed the subject, guessing that she might have touched on a painful memory for Yan Qinglan.

The truth behind those events was likely only known to those in high positions.

Wen Zhuojin busied herself applying lotion to Yan Qinglan’s hands, trimming her nails, and applying ointment to fade blemishes. By the time she finished, Yan Qinglan was already feeling drowsy.

Wen Zhuojin wanted to get closer but couldn’t bear to disturb Yan Qinglan’s sleep, so she tucked her in.

“You’ve had a long day, sister. Sleep well.”

Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s voice, Yan Qinglan’s eyelids fluttered slightly.

Today had indeed been exhausting. Going out had already taken a lot out of her, and then she had been put through all that.

Little brat, I’ll settle the score with you tomorrow.

Yan Qinglan soon fell into a deep sleep.

Wen Zhuojin kissed Yan Qinglan’s forehead and took in her scent once more before leaving.

“Wenwen, you finally have some free time! I remembered part of the recipe for making soft incense with storax oil. We can start as soon as we have the storax oil! But today, because you were drunk, we didn’t manage to buy any incense materials,” Odesse said, approaching Wen Zhuojin as she came out.

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll be able to get it, don’t worry. Go rest for now. I’m going to check the incense workshop,” Wen Zhuojin said.

Without letting Odesse follow, Wen Zhuojin went to the incense workshop and closed the door behind her.

The lingering effects of the aphrodisiac incense made it hard for her to calm down.

She decided to take out the secret playbook and study it again.

Last time, she had been too embarrassed and only glanced at a few pages before putting it away.

This time, Wen Zhuojin wanted to examine it carefully, approaching it with a studious mindset. She noticed that, in addition to the illustrations, there were also written explanations.

The few pages she had read earlier were only about foreplay, referred to as “extending intimacy.”

They hadn’t even gotten to the main event!

Wen Zhuojin’s eyes widened in realization. So, what they had done earlier wasn’t the actual act of “clouds and rain”!

And yet, it had already made her feel…

If that was just the beginning, then what would the real thing be like…?

Wen Zhuojin’s face flushed, and her heart raced as she read a few more pages, gaining even more knowledge.

Reflecting on what had felt off earlier, Wen Zhuojin finally understood where she had gone wrong.

She had only focused on her own pleasure, neglecting her beautiful sister. It had been a one-sided act of indulgence.

No wonder her sister hadn’t enjoyed it and had said there wouldn’t be a next time.

If her sister could feel the same pleasure she did, she definitely wouldn’t think that way.

Wen Zhuojin thought this as she carefully studied a few more pages.

After a long while, Wen Zhuojin put away the scroll of the secret playbook and drank a pot of cold tea to calm herself down.

The future was indeed something to look forward to, but she needed to handle the present properly.

If she lost her life, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy anything.

She needed to quickly assemble her own guard, perhaps hiring escorts as a temporary measure.

Additionally, she hadn’t managed to buy the incense materials today and had instead openly made an enemy of the Prince Anqing’s household.

If the Prince Anqing’s son refused to let it go, who knew what other despicable things he might do? It seemed it was time to find a partner and not delay any further.

The question was, who should she approach?

Wen Zhuojin listed out a few noble families in the capital, considering who to test the waters with first.

Now that she had made an enemy of the Prince Anqing’s household, she wondered who would dare to collaborate with her.

After some thought, Wen Zhuojin had a plan in mind.

Before she knew it, it was midnight. Wen Zhuojin stood up, stretched, washed up, and returned to the inner room to sleep, holding Yan Qinglan close.

The next morning, after having breakfast with Yan Qinglan, Wen Zhuojin went out.

Not long after, Qing Chenning and Yan Zisang arrived together. With Qing Chenning’s help, Yan Qinglan got dressed and went out with them.