Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 65

Wen Zhuojin brought a box of small gifts to add to Wen Peishu’s dowry and went to see her.

Wen Peishu was already dressed in her bright red wedding attire, adorned with gold and jade, looking radiant and charming.

As Wen Zhuojin looked at her, she couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful that Wen Peishu was marrying someone like Shen Yuque.

However, they weren’t foolish. They had weighed the pros and cons, and the marriage was something they had schemed for themselves. What Wen Zhuojin thought didn’t matter much.

After congratulating Wen Peishu, Wen Zhuojin handed her the box.

Wen Peishu took the box and looked at Wen Zhuojin with a complicated expression.

Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Wen Peishu felt that Wen Zhuojin seemed even more radiant and beautiful than before, exuding confidence and composure, making it hard to look directly at her.

She congratulated her so openly, as if she hadn’t been the one who had snatched the marriage opportunity.

Logically, Wen Peishu should have been happy on her wedding day, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel joy.

In the past, she had thought Wen Zhuojin’s words were just sour grapes.

But now, it seemed that Wen Zhuojin wasn’t that kind of person. She had the ability to strive for something better.

Had everything she said back then been true?

“Peishu, hurry up and thank your sister! Ah Zhuo, it’s rare for you to come today. It’s Peishu’s good fortune.” the Marquess’s wife nudged Wen Peishu and smiled warmly at Wen Zhuojin.

Recently, Wen Zhuojin had been quite “arrogant.” She had rejected the marriage proposal from the Prince of Anqing’s household and turned down collaborations, yet her business was still thriving. It was said that she had opened a shop with Princess Le’an, and the old nanny who had served the late Empress was now by Wen Zhuojin’s side. No matter how high-ranking the officials in Yunjing City were, they had to show her respect. Those who had coveted Wen Zhuojin’s shops no longer dared to make a move.

Tianxuan Palace had also rejected several suitors for Wen Zhuojin. Privately, even the Wen family members believed that Wen Zhuojin was likely being arranged for something even better.

Most likely, it was for the legitimate royal family.

Thus, Wen Zhuojin’s status in the Marquess’s household had become even more special.

No one dared to control her, and when they saw her, they had to be careful to curry favor.

“Thank you, sister.” Wen Peishu quickly said, snapping out of her thoughts.

“No need to be polite. Today is your big day, so it’s only right. Is everything arranged for later?” Wen Zhuojin smiled and asked, glancing at the wedding planner nearby.

The wedding planner quickly responded to Wen Zhuojin.

Wen Zhuojin took the opportunity to ask a few questions, trying to understand the wedding process.

She couldn’t ask too much, just a few things that Nanny Jiang didn’t know, so she stopped after a while.

“Mother, I’d like to have a private word with my sister.” Wen Peishu said hesitantly as Wen Zhuojin was about to leave.

The Marquess’s wife led everyone else out, leaving only the two sisters.

“What is it, sister?” Wen Zhuojin asked, surprised that Wen Peishu had asked to speak with her alone.

“You once said that the young master smells bad. Is that true?” Wen Peishu pursed her lips and asked softly.

“Well… if your nose isn’t sensitive, it’s fine. If you get too close and smell something, it’s not a big deal. If you can’t stand it, you can use the body fragrance pills I put in the dowry box.” Wen Zhuojin said, not expecting Wen Peishu to ask her such a question.

“Thank you for telling me. I was wrong before, I hope you don’t mind.” Wen Peishu said, her expression somewhat awkward.

“I didn’t mind. I have someone else I like, so I should be thanking you.” Wen Zhuojin said frankly.

“…” Wen Peishu looked at Wen Zhuojin’s expression and felt that her and her mother’s scheming, as well as their subsequent glee, now seemed like a joke.

But it was too late to turn back now. Besides, this was the best marriage she and her mother could arrange for themselves.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t say much more to Wen Peishu. The wedding planner outside announced that the auspicious time had arrived, so Wen Zhuojin didn’t want to disturb further and left, returning to Qinfang Pavilion.

“Why are you taking everything? The Marquess’s residence is your home. Even if you marry, you should leave from here.” Nanny Jiang said anxiously as she watched Wen Zhuojin packing up the wedding dress, bridal attire, and jewelry.

“Nanny, I have my reasons. Please wait a few days, and I’ll take you to my big house. That’s our real home. This is just the Marquess’s residence.” Wen Zhuojin said.

If she were to hold a wedding banquet, Wen Zhuojin wanted her closest people to be there.

She would tell Nanny Jiang when everything was almost ready.

“…” Nanny Jiang wanted to say something, but Wen Zhuojin smiled and moved closer, massaging her shoulders, clearly trying to please her.

“Nanny, the big house is short on people lately. I was thinking of making you the head housekeeper. You need to take care of your health. If your legs aren’t good, you won’t be able to walk far in the big house. Don’t think about other nannies.” Wen Zhuojin said with a smile.

Nanny Jiang knew Wen Zhuojin had her own ideas. Hearing this, she didn’t say more.

Many of the valuable shops and land deeds from Wen Zhuojin’s dowry had been pawned or sold off, and she hadn’t bought them back. However, there were still some things that hadn’t been sold.

For example, the canopy bed specially commissioned from craftsmen, which had taken over a year to make, was still stored in the warehouse.

Wen Zhuojin planned to gradually move everything to the new house.

Wen Zhuojin and Nanny Jiang took stock of the items in her private storeroom at the Marquess’s residence. After Wen Peishu was taken away by the groom’s party, Wen Zhuojin also left.

On the way back to Lanyuan, Wen Zhuojin stopped by the tailor shop to pick out a wedding dress.

Although it would only be worn once, Wen Zhuojin chose the best one.

The phoenix crown and the bridal robe were the finest in the shop.

She even paid extra to have the shop rush the order.

The tailor shop already had the latest measurements for her beautiful sister. With the fabric ready and a few extra seamstresses, it could be done quickly.

After making the arrangements, Wen Zhuojin was in a good mood.

Holding a wedding with her beautiful sister, Wen Zhuojin had other thoughts.

She and her beautiful sister were already very close. Before taking the next step, Wen Zhuojin wanted to have a formal ceremony.

Also, whatever her beautiful sister had with her “ex-husband,” Wen Zhuojin wanted to have with her too.

And even more.

With a wedding, even if it wasn’t registered with the government, after bowing to heaven and earth and exchanging locks of hair, their relationship would be witnessed by heaven, earth, family, and friends. Their bond would be even stronger than before.

Being more intimate would also seem more “proper,” and perhaps her beautiful sister would feel more at ease.

That unreliable scoundrel of an “ex-husband” would also be completely forgotten by her beautiful sister!

Wen Zhuojin was very motivated.

Even her dislike for needlework was set aside.

Although it was just a symbolic gesture, adding a few stitches to make it seem like she had sewn it herself, there were still some details. For example, the colorful phoenix pattern on her set had eyes left for her to sew. It wasn’t much, but it would take some time.

In the afternoon, after returning to Lanyuan and having dinner with Yan Qinglan, Wen Zhuojin brought out the needle and thread to start working.

“Sister, lie here for a while. I’ll be in the outer room, working on something. I’ll have someone read today’s accounts to you.” Wen Zhuojin said, helping Yan Qinglan get comfortable with a soft pillow. She leaned in, kissed her forehead, and left.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t want Yan Qinglan to know about the wedding dress yet. She planned to finish this one first, and when the tailor shop’s dress was ready, she would find an opportunity to tell Yan Qinglan while having her add a few stitches.

“Alright.” Yan Qinglan nodded, letting Wen Zhuojin go about her business.

Yan Qinglan felt a bit strange. Wen Zhuojin had been even more well-behaved lately.

She had been worried that Wen Zhuojin would bring up getting close like before, but instead, Wen Zhuojin not only stopped saying inappropriate things but also kept her hands and feet to herself.

Perhaps she was just too tired during the day. Both of them had been going to bed early.

Yan Qinglan also had other matters to attend to, so she didn’t pay much attention.

The housekeeper came to report the accounts, and Yan Qinglan listened.

The daily expenses for such a small number of people were still quite high, with the majority spent on Yan Qinglan herself.

Even someone of Yan Qinglan’s background felt it was a bit extravagant.

If they could be more frugal, the saved money could be used to support more soldiers…

“One thousand taels of silver sent to Lin’s Bookstore.”

The accounts suddenly included an unusual entry, and Yan Qinglan paused.

“Why was one thousand taels of silver sent to Lin’s Bookstore? Is Lin’s Bookstore owned by Ah Zhuo?” Yan Qinglan asked.

“Sister, it’s a long story. My uncle was demoted to a remote, harsh region. My cousin and two younger cousins are in the capital. My cousin is preparing for the imperial exams and usually earns some money by copying books. I’ve sent them some money before and had my cousin send some to my uncle. But every month when I send money, my cousin returns it to me, which is really frustrating. Not only that, but he also sends me some of the money he earns from copying books. So, I thought of giving the money to Lin’s Bookstore, where my cousin copies books, and having them commission him to create calligraphy, paintings, and stories. This way, he can earn more money. However, this also benefits Lin’s Bookstore.” Wen Zhuojin explained.

Thinking about the past few months and her cousin Wu Yuanheng’s situation, Wen Zhuojin felt helpless.

Wu Yuanheng and his family had always felt the need to take care of her and refused to accept her money. Even the money she had spent for her uncle, Wu Yuanheng insisted on earning it back bit by bit to return to Wen Zhuojin, telling her to save it for her dowry so that she wouldn’t be looked down upon by her future in-laws.

Wen Zhuojin had no choice but to take a roundabout approach.

Yan Qinglan knew that Wen Zhuojin had a very close relationship with her uncle’s family. Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s explanation, she deeply felt Wen Zhuojin’s good intentions. The Wu family were upright people who wouldn’t take advantage of Wen Zhuojin’s wealth.

“By the way, sister, this month I need to take out another five thousand taels of silver to help my cousin with some arrangements. He’s taking the imperial exams this year. Is that alright?” Wen Zhuojin asked.

“Of course, Ah Zhuo’s money is Ah Zhuo’s to spend as she pleases. But why do you need so much money for arrangements? Cheating isn’t good, is it?” Yan Qinglan asked, pausing.

“No, it’s not like that. Sister, you know my uncle’s family has been suppressed by the court because of their clean reputation. I’m just worried that even if my cousin does well, he might not be treated fairly. I just want to spend some money to minimize the impact on him.” Wen Zhuojin explained.

If Wu Yuanheng could pass the exams and secure an official position, it would not only mean that the court was no longer suppressing them but also that their situation would improve, and their lives would be better.

“Ah Zhuo, you’ve thought this through well.” Yan Qinglan said softly.

Wen Zhuojin was indeed very thoughtful toward her cousin.

Their relationship must be very close.

Yan Qinglan remembered Wen Zhuojin mentioning that she had learned to ride horses with her cousin from the Wu family and that he had taught her how to play polo. When she first started learning, she would often sneak out to play polo with him…

They had grown up together.

Thinking about this, Yan Qinglan’s eyes darkened, and her mood inexplicably sank.

The housekeeper continued reading the other accounts, and Yan Qinglan didn’t say anything more.

After the housekeeper left, Wen Zhuojin didn’t come back in.

As Yan Qinglan was lost in thought, she heard Wen Zhuojin’s soft hiss from outside. She snapped out of her reverie and got out of bed, her feet touching the floor.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Qinglan asked, walking a few steps toward the outer room. She was barefoot, so her steps were silent. When she reached the curtain, she heard Wen Zhuojin’s voice.

“It’s nothing, sister. Don’t worry.” Wen Zhuojin said.

Yan Qinglan pushed the curtain aside and looked.

On the soft couch outside, Wen Zhuojin had a large red garment embroidered with gold thread spread out in front of her. She held a needle and thread connected to the garment in one hand, while the other hand’s finger was in her mouth, her brows furrowed as if in pain.

Had she pricked herself with the needle?

Why would Wen Zhuojin want to make her own clothes?

That garment… it didn’t look like everyday wear. It seemed like a wedding dress.

Yan Qinglan’s hand, which had been holding the curtain, withdrew.

She had heard that in some folk traditions, brides who were skilled in needlework would sew their own wedding dresses. Even if they didn’t make the entire dress, they would at least add the final stitches under the guidance of a seamstress, symbolizing that the bride had personally worked on the dress.

Yan Qinglan retreated to the bed, her expression momentarily dazed.

She seemed to have forgotten something.

Wen Zhuojin was the legitimate daughter of the Marquess’s household, and now she also had the status of a registered disciple of Tianxuan Palace. She would eventually have to marry.

Previously, she had been delaying it, but as she grew older, what would happen then? It was likely beyond her control.

And how much longer could Yan Qinglan stay by Wen Zhuojin’s side?

Even if Wen Zhuojin’s feelings for her didn’t change in the short term, they couldn’t withstand societal pressures.

That wedding dress looked extremely exquisite. It couldn’t have been made in just a day or two. How long had Wen Zhuojin been preparing it?

Was Wen Zhuojin avoiding her to sew the final stitches because she already had a target in mind and was making preparations?

Yan Qinglan leaned back on the soft pillow, staring blankly at the ceiling. After a moment, her eyes grew cold and calm.

Wen Zhuojin had only sewn half of a phoenix’s eye before pricking herself twice. Seeing that time was running out, she packed up and returned to the inner room to take Yan Qinglan to wash up.

“Sister, are you feeling unwell?” Wen Zhuojin asked, noticing that Yan Qinglan’s expression seemed off.

“Perhaps I’m just a bit tired.” Yan Qinglan replied, lowering her eyes.

“Then let’s rest early tonight.” Wen Zhuojin said, gently stroking Yan Qinglan’s eyebrows.

Yan Qinglan lay down and closed her eyes. Wen Zhuojin watched her for a while before going out to attend to some household matters.

New people had been brought into the household. Qinggui and Baitan, who had come from the Marquess’s residence, were busy training the newcomers, while Jinrui and Zirong took care of Yan Qinglan.

The housekeeper had been replaced, and several maids and nannies around them had also been changed. Those who seemed suspicious were being interrogated in another courtyard.

So far, there were no leads.

“Today, Jurui said that one noon, when she called for Madam Liu outside, no one answered. She knew she shouldn’t enter Madam Liu’s room without permission, but she peeked inside. She said… there was no one in Madam Liu’s inner room.”

Jinrui came to report to Wen Zhuojin, who had asked her to interrogate those people.

Wen Zhuojin frowned. Where could her beautiful sister have gone? It was impossible for there to be no one.

Wen Zhuojin followed Jinrui to see the little maid.

Wen Zhuojin had noticed that the little maid was attentive and had assigned her to take turns with other maids to serve in the outer room. Her beautiful sister could call for her if she needed anything.

Wen Zhuojin questioned the maid again. The little maid knelt down, looking timid, but her words matched what Jinrui had said.

“I know I was wrong. I didn’t mean to. I was just curious about Madam’s room, but…” The little maid’s voice trembled as she spoke.

Wen Zhuojin didn’t say anything, leaving the courtyard.

The little maid didn’t seem to be lying.

Perhaps her beautiful sister had been in the washroom or somewhere inside, blocked from view.

Wen Zhuojin thought this, but she still felt uneasy.

The next day, Wen Zhuojin and Yan Qinglan had breakfast as usual, and Wen Zhuojin left afterward. Yan Qinglan waited for Qing Chenning to arrive and continued to go out with him to attend to her own matters.

Since she had guessed that Yan Qi and Tianxuan Palace were hiding things from each other, Yan Qinglan could take the opportunity to stir up and expand the conflicts between them.

In the following days, Wen Zhuojin returned every day and continued to work on the wedding dress. Wen Zhuojin wanted to keep it a secret, so Yan Qinglan didn’t ask much. However, she instructed Qing Chenning to look into matters related to Wu Yuanheng and to contact him to gather more information.

“Wu Yuanheng is indeed the son of Censor Wu. His talent and learning are excellent, and his character is upright. He did well in the recent imperial exams. After the results were posted, I saw that he was among the top candidates. It depends on how he performs in the palace examination.”

“As for his marriage, no one proposed to him before the results were posted, but after the results came out, there were some proposals. However, he rejected them all. I deliberately went to drink with him and chat. When I mentioned arranging a marriage for him, before I could even say who it was, he refused. He said he already had someone in mind and would wait until the palace examination results were out. If he ranked in the top three, he would propose to… his cousin. This matter isn’t settled yet, so he asked me not to spread it. If he is selected by His Majesty in the palace examination and ranks in the top three, it means his family’s case likely won’t affect him anymore, and he won’t have to worry as much as before.”

After Yan Qinglan gave the order, Qing Chenning carefully investigated and even interacted with Wu Yuanheng, reporting what he had learned to Yan Qinglan.

Qing Chenning naturally knew who Wu Yuanheng’s cousin was.

He didn’t dare to look at Yan Qinglan’s expression.

A noble princess being kept hidden by a woman was one thing, but if that woman were to marry, what would that make her?

Yan Qinglan didn’t ask Qing Chenning anything more. Her expression darkened for a moment before returning to normal. When the palace examination was about to take place, she also had matters to attend to in the palace.