Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 51

When Yan Qinglan stepped out of the carriage again, the surroundings had grown much quieter.

The colors that greeted her eyes were vibrant—red flowers and green willows. She could distinctly smell the fresh fragrance of flowers and grass, and her vision felt open and expansive.

“Sister, don’t be afraid. This isn’t the outside; it’s our new home, a newly bought estate.” Wen Zhuojin’s voice sounded in her ear.

Hearing the word “home” so suddenly felt unfamiliar to Yan Qinglan.

Home?

“Is this where the 9,000 taels of silver went? What kind of estate costs 9,000 taels?” Yan Qinglan asked softly.

“Sister, this estate has seven courtyards and is located on Vermilion Bird Street, very close to the imperial city. It has a live water system with lotus ponds and fish pools, and the gardens are exquisitely designed. The surrounding area is filled with the mansions of noble families, so the security is excellent. It’s also much closer to the West Market where I run my shops compared to the Wujiu Lane, so I can leave later and come back earlier in the future.” Wen Zhuojin explained in Yan Qinglan’s ear.

“A seven-courtyard estate near the imperial city?” Yan Qinglan asked, a sense of foreboding creeping over her.

“Yes, that’s right. I heard this estate was originally gifted to a certain princess for her to build a princess’s residence after her marriage. However, that princess never married and has always lived in the palace, so this place was left abandoned. I’m not sure why it was put up for sale, but I heard about it from a eunuch official at the government store. I used some connections and bought it for 9,000 taels, which is actually quite a bargain. To move in sooner, I only renovated the areas we’ll be living in for now. If you feel other parts need work in the future, we can discuss it.” Wen Zhuojin said as she led Yan Qinglan inside.

Yan Qinglan’s expression grew complex as she listened to Wen Zhuojin.

She never expected that her own estate would be sold!

And even more unexpectedly, it was Wen Zhuojin who had bought it!

This estate was originally named “Lan Garden,” chosen by her younger brother, the emperor, for her to use as her princess’s residence after her marriage.

She still remembered his words: “That estate is close to the palace, and the Dragon Canal flows from the palace into the lotus pond. In the summer, if I miss my elder sister, I can swim along the canal to visit you…”

The youthful, almost childish voice still echoed in her ears.

But she had never married and never had the time to manage the estate.

By a twist of fate, she had ended up living here after all.

Since this estate had been sold, it was likely that other assets under her name had also been converted into silver.

Were those people in urgent need of funds to rebuild their army?

If her younger brother wasn’t involved, how bold of them to do this!

But if he was involved…

Yan Qinglan felt her breath hitch slightly.

“Sister, although your ankle has healed, there are still some lingering effects, so you shouldn’t walk too much. Try sitting here. This is a custom-made wheelchair for you. You can move around freely in this courtyard, as all the steps have been leveled.”

Yan Qinglan was pulled back to the present by Wen Zhuojin’s voice and found herself sitting on a cushioned chair.

“It’s fine.” Yan Qinglan replied, feeling the chair move as the colors in her vision shifted.

“When I’m here, I’ll take you out to enjoy the flowers. If I’m not around, you can call a maid to push you out,” Wen Zhuojin continued.

Wen Zhuojin had made some modifications to the main courtyard, removing steps and thresholds to allow easy access to the inner chambers.

“I also bought two melodious orioles and placed them in the courtyard. Can you hear them, Sister? Do they sound nice?” Wen Zhuojin asked.

“They do.” Yan Qinglan replied after listening.

“Sister, guess what this is?” Wen Zhuojin said with enthusiasm, taking a small white bundle from a maid and guiding Yan Qinglan’s hand to touch it.

“Meow…”

A soft, delicate sound came from the bundle—a white kitten.

Yan Qinglan had never kept any pets before, as she never had the leisure time.

But she did like small animals.

The tiny, soft creature lay still in her palm, letting out small meows.

“It’s a cat…” Yan Qinglan said, stroking the kitten’s head.

“Do you like it, Sister? If I’m not around, the kitten can keep you company.” Wen Zhuojin said.

“I do. Could we also get a puppy?” Yan Qinglan asked after a pause.

“Of course. Do you like puppies too? What color would you like?” Wen Zhuojin asked.

“Same color as this cat.” Yan Qinglan replied.

“Alright, I’ll send someone to find one right away.” Wen Zhuojin said, calling Jin Rui to give instructions.

“We haven’t named the kitten or the puppy yet, nor have we named this courtyard. Sister, could you help me think of some names? There’s no rush; you can take a few days.” Wen Zhuojin asked after speaking with Jin Rui.

Yan Qinglan felt as though she and Wen Zhuojin were truly building a home together.

“Alright.” Yan Qinglan agreed, starting to think of possible names.

Wen Zhuojin held Yan Qinglan’s hand as they fed the kitten, its tiny tongue licking Yan Qinglan’s palm, causing a slight tickle.

After being fed, the kitten grew closer to Yan Qinglan, its meows becoming even more delicate.

Wen Zhuojin watched with sparkling eyes.

Compared to the kitten, her beautiful sister was just as gentle and endearing.

“A’Zhuo, is the staff sufficient for such a large estate?” Yan Qinglan asked as the kitten curled up in her hand to sleep.

A seven-courtyard estate was no small matter.

“Besides the people from the Wujiu Lane estate, I brought some from my family’s mansion and arranged them here. When my uncle’s family was raided, many of their loyal servants were sold off. After I had the means, I managed to retrieve their contracts and brought them here. But you’re right; the estate is indeed too large, and we’re still short on staff. Buying new servants from the market requires careful selection, and they can’t be put to use immediately. But don’t worry, Sister, our courtyard has enough people. It’s just that with more people, management becomes harder. If you take on the responsibility of managing the household, it might be tiring. Are you still willing to do it?” Wen Zhuojin asked.

“Helping you is no trouble.” Yan Qinglan said, only to be immediately embraced by Wen Zhuojin.

“Sister, you’re so kind!” Wen Zhuojin whispered.

Yan Qinglan could sense Wen Zhuojin’s emotions from her voice.

It seemed that even the slightest response from her would make Wen Zhuojin incredibly excited and happy.

“Sister, can you stay? Can you treat this place as your home? If you’re here, I’ll protect you. I’ve already hired some guards from a security agency, and I’ll buy more people for them to train. This estate will be as secure as a fortress…” Wen Zhuojin’s voice continued.

Yan Qinglan recalled that Wen Zhuojin had once promised to let her go if she ever wanted to leave.

She still remembered that promise and had been worried about Yan Qinglan leaving ever since.

Yan Qinglan wanted to say something but found herself at a loss for words.

What could she promise?

To stay and be with Wen Zhuojin forever? Was that even possible?

If she were discovered too early and lost in this power struggle, her life would be in jeopardy. How could she make promises then?

Even if she succeeded by some miracle, would Wen Zhuojin still like her true identity?

Or perhaps, even as she was now, she might soon be cast aside.

What kind of affection could truly last?

Yan Qinglan’s mood gradually sank.

Seeing Yan Qinglan’s hesitation and uncertain expression, Wen Zhuojin regretted her earlier words. In a moment of excitement, she had pushed too hard and asked too soon.

“Sister, there are many bad people outside, and they’re all terrifying. Someone as beautiful and delicate as you could easily be taken advantage of. Do you remember the people from the Fragrance House?” Wen Zhuojin said softly.

Hearing this, Yan Qinglan snapped out of her thoughts and couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.

This little brat really knew how to scare people.

“I’m sorry for bringing up painful memories, Sister. Don’t be afraid; I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Wen Zhuojin quickly added, hugging Yan Qinglan and patting her back.

She needed to continue being good to her beautiful sister, making her reliant on her so she wouldn’t leave.

With this thought, Wen Zhuojin felt reinvigorated.

“A’Zhuo, how are the staff arranged in the new estate? How many managers are there? Who is the head steward?” Yan Qinglan changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the previous topic.

Although Yan Qinglan had never managed a large estate before, her experience overseeing the three departments and six ministries might prove useful.

Regardless of what the future held, since she was now living in Wen Zhuojin’s estate, she would help manage it well, select capable stewards, and have the Imperial Secret Service train more guards to ensure Wen Zhuojin’s safety. She would do as much as she could for her.

Hearing Yan Qinglan bring up household management, Wen Zhuojin’s heart swelled with joy.

“There are currently five managers. One of them is…” Wen Zhuojin began.

“Have them all come today. They’ve been here for a few days now. I’d like to hear what they’ve been doing.” Yan Qinglan said after some thought.

“Sister, are you going to be this busy today? I’ve prepared some fragrant tea and asked Miss Qin to prepare a few musical pieces. I was planning to enjoy the tea and music while blending some incense for you.” Wen Zhuojin said.

She had set aside the day specifically for moving and spending some leisurely time with Yan Qinglan during the day.

But it seemed Yan Qinglan was even more eager to get to work than she was.

It looked like she was truly treating this place as her home.

“It’s fine. We can spare half an hour for tea and music.” Yan Qinglan said, patting Wen Zhuojin.

“Alright, then I’ll stay with you.” Wen Zhuojin said with a smile.

She had already reviewed the staff, so going through them again with Yan Qinglan would be beneficial.

Wen Zhuojin arranged for the staff to come in groups and report to Yan Qinglan.

When Yan Qinglan met them, she wore a veil, not revealing her face.

The managers needed capable assistants to step in if anything happened to them. The staff should be assigned tasks based on their strengths, with appropriate wages—not too much, not too little. There should be rewards as well as punishments.

This was Yan Qinglan’s basic philosophy of management.

After listening to the reports, Yan Qinglan memorized each person’s voice, name, and responsibilities.

Wen Zhuojin’s arrangements were generally good, and Yan Qinglan only made minor adjustments.

“Wang Wu is reliable. As a martial arts instructor, have him help you select and train people from the market.”

“The kitchen manager and the procurement staff should be separate to prevent embezzlement.”

“The estate is new, and the appointed managers lack experience. Give them a probation period, and replace them if they don’t perform well.”

“Performance should be measured against clear standards, such as…”

“…”

Yan Qinglan offered several suggestions, and Wen Zhuojin noted them all down, whether they made sense or not.

Her delicate and gentle sister had also learned household management and spoke with authority.

Even if her sister knew nothing, Wen Zhuojin would still love her.

But since she did know and was willing to help, Wen Zhuojin loved her even more.

After reorganizing the staff and arranging tasks, they discussed future purchases from the market, how to assign these new people, and how to train them before putting them to work.

Wen Zhuojin already had a rough idea of these matters.

Previously, she had planned everything alone, and buying the estate had been an impulsive decision made without consultation.

Discussing these matters with Yan Qinglan filled Wen Zhuojin with a different kind of joy.

It wasn’t the same as the joy she felt when being intimate with Yan Qinglan.

Wen Zhuojin couldn’t quite explain it, but her heart was filled with happiness.

By the time they had dinner, they finally had some time to enjoy tea and music.

The setting was a pavilion in the middle of the lotus pond.

Qin Yuerou was called over, and Aodaisi also joined, making the atmosphere lively.

Wen Zhuojin brewed fragrant tea, adding rose dew, which gave it a beautiful color.

The tea had a floral aroma with a sweet aftertaste, leaving a lingering fragrance on the palate.

The incense Wen Zhuojin had prepared today was made using a method similar to creating floral dew, blending agarwood with other floral scents.

After everyone left, Wen Zhuojin and Yan Qinglan had dinner together before returning to their chambers.

Yan Qinglan’s nose and mouth were still filled with the floral fragrance.

“Sister, can you kiss me today?” Wen Zhuojin asked softly as they entered the room, her tone pleading.

Yan Qinglan felt as though she were intoxicated by the floral scent.

She leaned in and kissed Wen Zhuojin.

As their lips met, it felt different from before—less about shame and more about something else.

Soon, the familiar warmth returned, heating her cheeks and eyes.

Yan Qinglan felt that she might be able to see clearly again.

She wanted to see what Wen Zhuojin looked like and gently patted her.

But Wen Zhuojin, deeply engrossed in the kiss, showed no intention of letting go. A low hum escaped her throat, as if begging Yan Qinglan to let her continue.

Alright, Yan Qinglan stopped moving, even letting her hand slide down Wen Zhuojin’s back.

Wen Zhuojin seemed even more excited, holding Yan Qinglan tighter.

Yan Qinglan was kissed into a daze, her vision blurred by tears, and she could no longer see clearly.

She felt that perhaps she shouldn’t have made any extra movements.

After a while, Wen Zhuojin stopped, breathing heavily in Yan Qinglan’s ear.

“Sister, I’ll go get the incense medicine…” Wen Zhuojin’s voice came, and Yan Qinglan could sense the restraint in it.

Something was stirring in her heart, but it was suppressed by certain factors.

In the end, they did nothing more. As usual, they applied the medicine, washed up, and went to sleep.

It wasn’t much different from the Wujiu Lane estate, just larger.

Wen Zhuojin’s incense-making room now occupied an entire courtyard, with several maids assisting. Aodaisi also had her own incense-making room.

Wen Zhuojin continued experimenting with lotus fragrance, striving to perfect it.

The next day, after having breakfast with Yan Qinglan, Wen Zhuojin left. Many matters at the shops still required her attention, and she also had to attend gatherings hosted by noble families.

After Wen Zhuojin left, Qing Chenning and Yan Zisang arrived.

“Some of the properties and shops under Your Highness’s name have indeed been sold. After the urgent military report from the northern border was delivered, Your Highness’s assets began to be sold off under the pretext of raising funds for border provisions. However, the silver was not actually used for that purpose.”

“After Wen Zhuojin sold her incense to the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Music Bureau, the eunuch, whose body odor had disappeared, was promoted and transferred back to the palace. Wen Zhuojin’s incense became popular in the palace, and through that eunuch, she made connections with some palace officials, which allowed her to purchase Your Highness’s estate.”

Yan Zisang explained when Yan Qinglan asked.

“Be careful when you come here in the future. Buy some incense to mask your scent. A… Wen Zhuojin has a keen sense of smell. Yesterday, she detected both of your scents. Qing Chenning, do you always use the same scented ointment? She noticed that too. Change your ointment or buy more incense to cover your scent.” Yan Qinglan said after a pause.

“…” The two quickly agreed, surprised by Wen Zhuojin’s sharp sense of smell.

“Wen Zhuojin will be buying more servants from the market. Arrange for a few more Imperial Secret Service agents to join. Most importantly, help her train more people. If it’s inconvenient in the capital, train them outside the city. If they can raise new troops, so can we.” Yan Qinglan said.

Raising troops under the guise of a merchant convoy’s guards was a good option.

“How are things in the palace? How is His Majesty… recently?” Yan Qinglan hesitated before asking.

Initially, she had wanted to contact her younger brother as soon as possible, but the events that followed planted seeds of doubt in her heart. Even after contacting Qing Chenning, she hadn’t reached out to him, instead relying on palace rumors to gauge the situation.

“Consort Shu is still under house arrest. His Majesty has taken in a few new concubines and promoted some. Two of them have been found to be pregnant. The Imperial Hospital reports that His Majesty is in good health. Consort Xian has been quiet, but Consort Feng seems anxious and has been making small moves…” Yan Zisang relayed the news.

“Has the princess in the palace been seen? Is she still claiming to be ill?” Yan Qinglan asked.

“Her illness seems to have improved recently, but she says she still needs rest. I’ve seen her twice, and she looks almost identical to Your Highness, with a very similar demeanor…” Qing Chenning said.

“Every year in mid-March, during His Majesty’s birthday celebration, envoys from various countries come to offer congratulations. There will be banquets and competitions. That will be an opportunity. On that day, I will return to the palace. Yan Zisang, make the necessary preparations.” Yan Qinglan said.

“…Your Highness, returning to the palace now is too dangerous. If you trust me with the golden fish talisman, I am willing to risk my life to retrieve it for you.” Yan Zisang said after a pause.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the golden fish talisman is with His Majesty. You won’t be able to get it. I’ll go. Since the impostor in the palace looks so much like me, it will be easier.” Yan Qinglan said.

Retrieving the golden fish talisman would allow her to do more, and returning to the palace would also help her verify her suspicions.

“But Your Highness, your eyesight is still impaired. Wouldn’t that be inconvenient?” Qing Chenning interjected.

“Sometimes I can see clearly, so it’s not a problem. I’ll call for you when the time comes.” Yan Qinglan assured.

Hearing this, Qing Chenning said no more.

After discussing a few other matters, Yan Qinglan left the residence with Qing Chenning and the others to meet a few more people.

Meanwhile, Wen Zhuojin attended a literary gathering hosted by the third daughter of the Prime Minister, where she introduced her newly developed, elegant blend of incense, accompanied by a poem by Min Xiwen. The young ladies at the gathering were quite fond of it.

Wen Zhuojin used the opportunity to befriend several noblewomen and their daughters.

“Ah Zhuojin, have you heard about the affairs of the Prince of Anqing’s household?” one of the married women whispered to Wen Zhuojin, her expression tinged with gossip.

“I haven’t heard. What’s happened? Please tell me.” Wen Zhuojin responded, showing keen interest.

“My sister-in-law’s brother-in-law works in the Imperial Medical Bureau. He said that the prince’s son, for some unknown reason, was castrated a few days ago… the method was extremely brutal, and he almost didn’t survive. He’s been bedridden these past few days, and his life is likely ruined. I heard that the Prince of Anqing’s family had proposed to marry you, so I’m reminding you not to fall into this pit.” the woman whispered vividly.

“…” Wen Zhuojin’s eyes widened slightly, almost wanting to clap in approval, but soon a cold sweat broke out on her back.

That scoundrel being castrated was a good thing, but she hoped it wouldn’t be blamed on her!

“Do you know who did it? How bold!” Wen Zhuojin whispered.

“That’s unclear. I heard that after he was castrated, he was thrown naked into their courtyard. Tsk tsk, it’s terrifying. But that prince’s son, with his history of bullying men and harassing women, probably has many enemies.” the woman said.

Wen Zhuojin took a deep breath. Who knew if they would vent their anger on her? She needed to find a powerful ally quickly.

On her way back that day, Wen Zhuojin first stopped by her incense shop. She packed a set of the elegant fragrance she had developed and added some lotus-scented incense she had made earlier. Carrying the gifts, she went to the residence of Princess Le’an and submitted a visiting card. Originally, she had planned to test the lotus fragrance further, but given the current situation, she decided to try her luck now. If she couldn’t meet the princess this time, she would come again. If she still couldn’t meet her, she would find another way to contact someone else.

“Your Highness, the eldest daughter of the Marquis’s family, Wen Zhuojin, has sent a visiting card requesting an audience. Will you see her?”

Just as Yan Qinglan was accompanying Yan Zisang to visit Princess Le’an, a servant came in to report.

“No, send her away!” Princess Le’an, who was in the middle of a conversation with Yan Qinglan, replied without hesitation.

She usually kept to herself and had only returned from outside the city because she received a letter from Yan Qinglan delivered by Yan Zisang.

“Wait.” Yan Qinglan spoke up.

She had come to Princess Le’an’s residence partly to bring up the matter of Wen Zhuojin.

She wanted to ensure that Wen Zhuojin wouldn’t be turned away without a meeting, but she hadn’t expected Wen Zhuojin to arrive so quickly.

Had Wen Zhuojin taken her advice and come to seek cooperation with Princess Le’an?!