Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 62

The nightgown Wen Zhuojin brought was a cross-collar style, ordinary in design but extremely vibrant in color—a rich, pinkish-red embroidered with gold. At first glance, it looked like a cluster of flowers, luxurious and decadent. The upper part of the chest was made of a sheer, transparent fabric, while the undergarments were minimal, with only a few straps visible.

In the past, Yan Qinglan couldn’t see clearly and had no idea the clothes she wore were so provocative.

“Sister, are you sleepy? Hold on a little longer, let me help you put on the nightgown. Be good…” Wen Zhuojin spoke as usual, coaxing her like a child, but her actions were anything but child-appropriate.

Yan Qinglan’s usual style of clothing was simple and understated. She had never worn anything so bold or unconventional.

Yan Qinglan felt a bit resistant.

But before she could react, Wen Zhuojin had already started dressing her.

The towel was removed, and the undergarments were put on first.

The undergarments had a strap around the neck, two or three on the sides, and one around the waist, but there was almost no fabric covering her body.

The nightgown was slightly more modest, looking like a cluster of flowers, but it was extremely soft and didn’t irritate her skin at all.

However, once it was on, it added a certain allure.

Yan Qinglan wanted to say something, but when she saw Wen Zhuojin staring at her with burning eyes, her gaze infatuated, and even swallowing a few times, the words got stuck in her throat.

Why does this little rascal look like that? As if she’s craving something?!

This was the first time Wen Zhuojin had dressed Yan Qinglan in such a nightgown.

She hadn’t expected it to have such an effect.

It made Yan Qinglan’s skin appear even fairer, while also accentuating her figure—her slender waist and the curves of her chest.

The desire Wen Zhuojin had just suppressed rose again.

Feeling restless, Wen Zhuojin couldn’t help but lean in to kiss Yan Qinglan’s eyebrows, cheeks, and then, with restraint, she stopped and lifted her head.

“Sister, you’re so beautiful… No matter what color, it suits you!” Wen Zhuojin whispered.

“……” Yan Qinglan saw the infatuated look in Wen Zhuojin’s eyes as she spoke.

In the past, she would have thought it was just sweet talk, but now she had to admit that the little rascal was sincere.

She really liked her appearance.

At this thought, Yan Qinglan remembered the person in the palace.

Although she hadn’t seen her in person when she entered the palace, both Yan Zisang and Qing Chenning had seen her and said she looked almost identical to Yan Qinglan, indistinguishable.

Even after she entered the palace, the concubines, including Yan Qi, hadn’t noticed the switch.

Her appearance wasn’t unique.

When Wen Zhuojin first met her, it was only a brief encounter, and they hadn’t had any deep connection.

The fact that Wen Zhuojin had gone to such lengths for her, spending so much effort, was all because of her somewhat pleasing appearance.

When Jiangxiao and the others had imprisoned her using the fragrant poison, someone had once said that if she weren’t a princess, she could have lived well by relying on her looks.

Those words had turned out to be prophetic.

Wasn’t she now relying on her looks to get by?

If Wen Zhuojin had met that person back then, would she have treated her the same way?

This thought made Yan Qinglan’s mood sink.

Wen Zhuojin’s face was flushed, and she didn’t notice Yan Qinglan’s change in mood. She put on her own nightgown, then turned back to Yan Qinglan, picked her up, and placed her on the inner side of the bed, covering her with a thin blanket.

“Sister, be good, it’s time to sleep. You’ve had a long day today. Don’t think about anything, don’t worry about anything, just sleep.” Wen Zhuojin gently patted Yan Qinglan, coaxing her to sleep.

Under Wen Zhuojin’s soft lulling, Yan Qinglan closed her eyes.

The bond of sharing joys and sorrows, of being connected by bl00d, could still deteriorate in the face of power and interests. Would the feelings of the girl beside her also change?

If they were to change, Yan Qinglan didn’t want to hold onto them.

But…

Could she really let go?

Yan Qinglan’s hands clenched, then relaxed.

She had lived for over twenty years, but she still couldn’t understand people’s hearts.

After this ordeal, she could no longer be certain of anything. She found herself becoming anxious and insecure about Wen Zhuojin.

No matter what, only by being strong enough could she maintain what she wanted.

Instead of being at the mercy of others, letting others decide her fate, or caring about how others would treat her…

As Yan Qinglan thought this, drowsiness overtook her, and she soon fell into a hazy sleep.

Wen Zhuojin, while coaxing her, also grew tired. She lay on her side, one arm resting on Yan Qinglan’s waist, and closed her eyes to sleep.

While the two were asleep, in a palace within the imperial city, the lights were still bright.

“I… I don’t know. After praying and inhaling the divine incense, I don’t remember anything…” A woman who looked almost identical to Yan Qinglan said timidly, her expression nervous, her posture hunched, showing extreme fear.

“Wasting such a face, you’re completely useless. Trash!” The virtuous consort, her face dark with anger, had a layer of cold sweat on her forehead.

“Today… could it really be her?” The virtuous consort asked, her voice trembling, turning to another person.

This person was none other than Xuan Zhen, Wen Zhuojin’s familiar senior sister.

“After inhaling the divine incense, it’s possible to see deities or be possessed for a period of time. If she doesn’t remember, there’s no need to ask further. If it really was her, why would she come to the palace just to wander around and then leave? What would be the purpose of such a dangerous trip? Moreover, her eyes are completely blind, and her pulse shows extreme weakness. Without antidote, she won’t live long.” Xuan Zhen glanced at the visibly panicked virtuous consort and spoke calmly.

“I just feel uneasy. What if she used her body to enter the palace? Wouldn’t she know about me…” The virtuous consort said again, her expression fearful.

“Assuming she really did come? What would she be here for? Could it be to retrieve the golden fish talisman?” Xuan Zhen didn’t quite believe it but went along with the conversation.

“Yes, the golden fish talisman! She didn’t have it on her at the time, so it must be hidden somewhere. Today, she visited several palaces—she must have been looking for the golden fish talisman! I don’t know if she found it, but if she did…” The virtuous consort grew even more frightened as she spoke.

“Calm down! Whether she found it or not, the plans to buy horses, weapons, and recruit soldiers must continue. You need to grow stronger quickly, or else when the time comes, the imperial guards alone won’t be enough to protect you. I’ll also report this to Master as soon as possible.” Xuan Zhen said.

The virtuous consort was still extremely anxious and fearful. Xuan Zhen glanced at her but didn’t say more. She thought about the possibilities they had discussed and bid farewell to the virtuous consort, planning to return early and inform Jiangxiao about the situation.

Yan Qinglan was unaware of the events in the palace.

The next morning, when Yan Qinglan woke up, she opened her eyes to see Wen Zhuojin’s face.

Wen Zhuojin was lying on the bed, gently pecking her face, as if sucking something—sucking once, then moving to another spot.

In Yan Qinglan’s sight, Wen Zhuojin’s eyelashes fluttered lightly.

“…”

Yan Qinglan was speechless. What kind of behavior was this, kissing all over first thing in the morning?!

Wait, she could still see!

Yan Qinglan realized this, her eyes widening slightly.

Without thinking about the shameful things, without her face heating up, she could still see.

When Wen Zhuojin lifted her head, Yan Qinglan saw her full face.

Her eyes were sparkling, her cheeks flushed, and the corners of her eyes were red, like ripe fruit in summer.

So the little rascal could blush too.

“Sister, did you like what happened yesterday?” Wen Zhuojin asked softly when she saw Yan Qinglan wake up.

Yesterday had been too exhausting, and she hadn’t had time to think about it.

But this morning, as soon as she woke up, Wen Zhuojin thought about it and felt like she was floating.

What happened yesterday was the most intimate thing, taking their relationship to a new level.

“…Don’t talk about it. What time is it? Aren’t you going to the shop?” Yan Qinglan said with a stern face.

Wen Zhuojin smiled and didn’t ask further. She answered Yan Qinglan, helped her wash up, and then they had breakfast together.

After breakfast, Wen Zhuojin went to change into her outdoor clothes.

Without any hesitation, she changed right in front of Yan Qinglan, making Yan Qinglan’s face heat up.

Yan Qinglan turned her face away, but then she remembered how Wen Zhuojin had pitifully mentioned how swollen and painful she was yesterday.

“Didn’t you say you were hurt? Doesn’t it still hurt?” Yan Qinglan asked.

The pain from yesterday had been overshadowed by her closeness with Yan Qinglan.

But when Yan Qinglan brought it up, Wen Zhuojin’s lips curled up, and she pounced over to Yan Qinglan.

“Sister, it still hurts. Can you blow on it for me? And let me kiss you…”

Yan Qinglan heard Wen Zhuojin’s pitiful voice but saw the corners of her mouth almost reaching her ears, her eyes curved in a smile.

Yan Qinglan gritted her teeth.

This little rascal!

“Bring the medicine, I’ll apply it for you.” Yan Qinglan said, pressing her hand against Wen Zhuojin’s face.

Wen Zhuojin had only been acting spoiled, but she was happy to have Yan Qinglan apply the medicine for her.

She quickly went to get the medicinal oil.

Wen Zhuojin poured the oil onto Yan Qinglan’s hand and had her rub it onto her shoulder.

Pushing aside Wen Zhuojin’s hair, Yan Qinglan saw the large bruise on her shoulder and felt a pang in her heart.

The injury wasn’t minor. It must have been painful, yet Wen Zhuojin had carried her around yesterday.

And she could still smile.

Yan Qinglan applied the medicinal oil to Wen Zhuojin’s shoulder, rubbing it in repeatedly until it was absorbed.

“Since it still hurts, take the day off. You don’t need to go to the shop today.” Yan Qinglan said, seeing Wen Zhuojin still putting on her outdoor clothes.

“Sister, if I don’t go to the shop today, can we do what we did yesterday? If so, I won’t go.” Wen Zhuojin said, leaning close to Yan Qinglan.

“You should go to the shop.” Yan Qinglan said, exasperated.

What was going on in her head?!

There were things to do today, and new clothes to pick up. Wen Zhuojin had to go out.

She had only been joking.

But seeing Yan Qinglan’s flustered expression, Wen Zhuojin found it adorable and leaned in to kiss her a few times.

After Wen Zhuojin left Lanyuan for the shop, Yan Zisang and Qing Chenning arrived.

Now that Yan Qinglan could see, she changed her clothes in advance and waited for them. As for what had happened when they visited before, Yan Qinglan could only brace herself and pretend not to know.

When the two arrived, they took Yan Qinglan out, and on the way, they reported the situation to her.

Yan Qinglan learned about the events in the palace and Tianxuan Palace.

Although they had done their best to keep the other “her” in a state of loss of consciousness, making it impossible for her to explain what had happened, if someone investigated carefully, they might still find some clues.

The fact that the imperial guards were still trying to capture her showed they hadn’t given up.

Letting the people in the palace know or suspect that she had appeared would only disrupt the situation further.

Retrieving the golden fish talisman had settled one of Yan Qinglan’s worries. While it confirmed she could mobilize the northern army, it also brought up another issue.

She needed to find a way to provide provisions for the northern army.

The court was making things difficult for the northern army, and at this critical moment, she needed to stabilize them.

Otherwise, even if the northern army wanted to march south, without provisions and military pay, they wouldn’t be able to move forward, and morale would easily waver, leading to disobedience.

“The previous Dashi Kingdom trading company, find a way to hand it over to Wen Zhuojin to manage. Also, secure a imperial merchant quota for her from the Ministry of Revenue, and allocate more profitable businesses to her.”

Yan Qinglan gave a few instructions to Yan Zisang.

Several major imperial merchants had already had their silver reserves seized, so even if Yan Qinglan wanted to borrow money, there was no one to borrow from.

Now, seeing Wen Zhuojin’s ability to make money, it might be best to place the burden on her.

Give her more support so she can earn even more silver.

Currently, Wen Zhuojin had handed over all matters in Lanyuan to Yan Qinglan to manage, and the accounts of several shops were also reported to Yan Qinglan, making it convenient to use the silver when needed.

“Your Highness, after Wen Zhuojin’s performance in the polo match yesterday, His Majesty not only rewarded her with the prizes but also wanted to give additional rewards. Wen Zhuojin didn’t ask for anything else but requested a imperial merchant quota to supply fragrant products to the palace.” Yan Zisang reported to Yan Qinglan.

Hearing this, Yan Qinglan couldn’t help but laugh. This little rascal, aside from her nonsense, knew how to seize opportunities to make money.