Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 86

In the mid-afternoon, Yan Qinglan returned to the estate.

The two white fluffballs immediately surrounded her upon seeing her, but Yan Qinglan didn’t play with or soothe them as she usually did. Instead, she stared ahead, her gaze unfocused.

She had gone out earlier and seen Wen Zhuojin, as well as the Yan Qinyu that Wen Zhuojin had mentioned.

From a distance, without approaching, she saw Wen Zhuojin and Yan Qinyu talking. Wen Zhuojin wore a veil, so her face wasn’t visible, but her tall, slender figure exuded grace, every movement as gentle as a spring breeze.

Yan Qinyu’s face still carried a childlike innocence, tender like the buds of early spring.

The two weren’t doing anything inappropriate—one was sitting, the other standing, engaged in conversation.

And they were both women.

In the past, Yan Qinglan wouldn’t have thought much of it.

But now, just seeing the two standing together made her feel uneasy.

After returning, a flood of emotions overwhelmed her.

To make matters worse, Wen Zhuojin came back later than usual, and Yan Qinglan’s emotions simmered even more intensely.

Yan Qinglan knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t control herself.

“Sister, I’m sorry. Something came up today, and I’m late. Were you waiting long? It’s all my fault.” Wen Zhuojin said as she approached Yan Qinglan, noticing her unusual expression and quickly apologizing.

“What were you doing that made you so late?” Yan Qinglan asked indifferently, her tone flat.

“Sister, after observing those two today, I noticed that Miss Yan Qinyu has a keen sense of smell. She can detect more scents than most people and distinguish between them. She had many questions about incense, so I answered some for her. It turns out she’s also interested in the art of incense. She’s just starting out and is self-taught, so she didn’t know who to ask. We talked for a while, and before I knew it, it got late…” Wen Zhuojin explained.

Once the topic of incense came up, Wen Zhuojin’s words flowed freely, and time seemed to fly by.

“I see. You two really hit it off, like old friends meeting late. Why don’t you move to that estate? It’ll be more convenient for discussing incense. I’ll have the maids pack your things. Take the incense materials and tools you brought with you too, so you don’t have to keep running back and forth.” Yan Qinglan said, her tone seemingly calm. Only she knew how tense her body was, how upset and angry she felt inside.

Yan Qinyu shared Wen Zhuojin’s interest in incense, and they had lost track of time talking?!

That little rascal, so easily distracted.

Such a fresh, young girl, with such beauty—wouldn’t Wen Zhuojin be drawn to her too?

One part of Yan Qinglan’s mind raced with these thoughts, while another part coldly observed, mocking herself.

Was this really worth getting upset over?

Was this really worth feeling so hurt?

Comparing herself to a younger girl from the same clan, a generation below her—how absurd!

Wen Zhuojin was stunned for a moment, processing the meaning behind Yan Qinglan’s words.

Was she being told to leave?!

Was she being kicked out?!

“Sister, are you serious?” Wen Zhuojin asked, moving closer to Yan Qinglan.

“Of course I’m serious. If you enjoy spending time with her, then spend as much time as you want. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine alone in the estate.” Yan Qinglan said, turning her face away, her voice tight.

“Sister, if that’s how you feel, then I won’t hold back. I’ll pack my things and move over there. I might even make it in time to have dinner with her.” Wen Zhuojin said softly, carefully watching Yan Qinglan’s expression. She noticed Yan Qinglan’s lips tremble slightly, and her eyes grow moist.

“Sister, I’ll be going then.” Wen Zhuojin added tentatively. Yan Qinglan’s face remained turned away, so Wen Zhuojin stood up.

As the sound of footsteps echoed, Yan Qinglan’s face flushed, and the mist in her eyes thickened.

That little rascal really was different with that girl!

She was really leaving!

How could she leave?!

“Wen Zhuojin, don’t you dare take another step!” Yan Qinglan grew angrier the more she thought about it, her breathing quickening. Before she could think it through, she turned and spoke, only to find that Wen Zhuojin hadn’t taken a single step—she had just been pacing in place, not actually leaving.

Meeting Wen Zhuojin’s gaze, Yan Qinglan’s expression froze for a moment. Then, Wen Zhuojin pounced, wrapping her arms around her.

“Sister, don’t be angry. I know I was wrong. Yan Qinyu is just a young girl in my eyes. I don’t have any feelings for her. Today was just an accident. The County Lady saw that Yan Qinyu was interested in incense and offered to pay me for answering her questions. It wasn’t for free. I’ll give you the money I earned today, and it won’t happen again…” Wen Zhuojin said softly, holding Yan Qinglan.

Hearing Wen Zhuojin’s explanation and remembering her obsession with earning money, Yan Qinglan immediately believed her.

At the same time, she thought about her earlier emotions and felt as if her thoughts had been constrained by some invisible rule.

How had Wen Zhuojin affected her to this extent?!

Yan Qinglan, annoyed by Wen Zhuojin’s teasing, struggled to break free from her embrace. But Wen Zhuojin held her tightly, leaning in to kiss her lips.

Yan Qinglan’s struggles weakened as the kiss deepened, her body softening in response.

She no longer had the strength to resist, the kiss feeling so good that she momentarily forgot why she had been angry in the first place.

When the kiss ended, and her eyes focused on Wen Zhuojin’s face, Yan Qinglan’s anger flared up again.

“Sister, be good, don’t be angry. I understand how you feel. It’s like when I saw you with Qing Chenning, sharing secrets with him. When you care so much, you’re afraid of being replaced, afraid of losing what you have, right? There’s no shame in that. I’m the same way—my feelings are even stronger than yours. But I still need to apologize for making you feel this way. I promise you, I won’t be taken away, and I won’t like anyone else. Because I only have eyes for you, sister. I like you the most!”

Wen Zhuojin gently stroked Yan Qinglan’s back as she spoke.

As someone who had been through similar emotions, Wen Zhuojin felt a strange sense of joy when she saw Yan Qinglan’s anger, sadness, and the moisture in her eyes.

Her beautiful sister must really like her too!

Yan Qinglan felt the warmth of Wen Zhuojin’s breath against her ear, each word carrying a heat that seeped into her mind.

She did seem to understand Wen Zhuojin’s attitude toward Qing Chenning now.

Did that little rascal really only like her?

“Sister, you don’t have to hide your emotions. Whatever you’re feeling, whatever you want to vent, you can direct it all at me. Don’t keep it bottled up.” Wen Zhuojin added.

Yan Qinglan was still processing the previous statement when she heard these words.

It was as if she had always been trapped in a cocoon, suppressing her emotions, never showing them to anyone.

Wen Zhuojin was the first person to say such things to her.

Her gaze was pure, her voice sincere.

Yan Qinglan’s heart softened, and all the knots inside her seemed to unravel.

“Sister, if you’re still concerned, why don’t you come with me to the other estate tomorrow to check on those two? They’re paying for the treatment of incense poisoning. If you think the twenty thousand taels aren’t important, we can turn them away and just provide the incense medicine, letting them treat themselves?” Wen Zhuojin suggested.

“No need. Let’s continue the treatment. Just… don’t talk to Yan Qinyu about anything unrelated.” Yan Qinglan said quietly.

“Alright, alright!” Wen Zhuojin said, a smile tugging at her lips.

Wen Zhuojin had already returned late, and after their little episode, dinner was served later than usual.

After dinner and washing up, when the two grew intimate, Wen Zhuojin, worried that Yan Qinglan might still be bothered by the day’s events and feeling insecure, repeatedly whispered her affection into Yan Qinglan’s ear.

“Sister, I only like someone as soft and full as you. You don’t have to worry. Someone with your natural gifts is rare!”

“Sister, your waist is so slender and soft, no one can compare.”

“Sister, your scent is unique. It’s my favorite.”

“Sister, look, when we’re together like this, it’s just perfect…”

As Wen Zhuojin whispered these words, Yan Qinglan covered her mouth with her hand.

There was no need to say such things!

The next day, Yan Qinglan woke up later than usual. After the previous night’s antics, she was exhausted and didn’t have the energy to go out with Wen Zhuojin, so she let her go alone.

As Wen Zhuojin left, she ran into Manager Lin, who was in a hurry.

“Miss, there’s news about that place we discussed earlier. The bandit stronghold that’s been gathering refugees—it turns out they’re rebels. They’ve been training for who knows how long and have already started moving north toward Yunjing City. I’m not sure if the news is accurate, but if it’s true, trade routes to the south might be affected. If they really reach Yunjing City, what will we do?” Manager Lin reported, his expression grave.

Wen Zhuojin was shocked by the news.

She had heard about a rebel uprising over a decade ago, but she had been too young to remember much. The Marquis’s estate hadn’t been involved, but the nobility in Yunjing City had been purged, and it was around that time that the new emperor, Yan Qi, had ascended the throne.

She hadn’t expected another rebellion so soon.

Rebellions could mean a change of dynasty.

If rebels really came, what would happen to the business she had worked so hard to build?

Some ventures had just received investments and hadn’t even started turning a profit yet!

“Do we know who the rebel leaders are?” Wen Zhuojin asked after a moment of thought.

“The messenger said it seems to be a coalition of people exiled during the Qingliu case. A Hanlin Academy scholar is serving as their strategist, and they’ve taken over the original bandit group. They claim the court is corrupt, persecuting the loyal and innocent, and they’re rising up to overthrow the tyranny. But the details aren’t clear yet…” Manager Lin recalled the information from their spies who had infiltrated the “rebels.”

Wen Zhuojin took a sharp breath, a bad feeling settling in her chest.

The Qingliu case had wronged many scholars. If some of those exiled had turned rebellious, they could rally a large following. Those scholars weren’t just bookworms—they had influence.

Wen Zhuojin thought of the families of Qingliu victims she had taken in and wondered what to do with them.

The news might have already reached Yunjing City, and the court might conscript those under Wen Zhuojin’s care to use as leverage against the rebels.

With the outcome still uncertain, those people could also serve as Wen Zhuojin’s protection.

After all, Wen Zhuojin had saved them. Like Min Xiwen, whom Wen Zhuojin had hired to help with business, paying her a monthly salary. Min Xiwen had done well and was satisfied with her current life.

Wen Zhuojin thought for a moment, then made up her mind.

With the possibility of a falling out with Tianxuan Palace at any moment, and the need to be ready to flee, it was better to prepare more escape routes.

She quickly made arrangements to secretly move the women from the Qingliu case out of Yunjing City.