Mistakenly Treated The Princess As A Concubine - Chapter 90

One moment, the sun was shining brightly, and the next, the sky suddenly darkened. Thunder rumbled, and rain began to pour down fiercely, relentless and overwhelming.

The two little pets, frightened by the thunder, huddled close to Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan gently patted them to soothe their fears, her eyes fixed on the rain outside, filled with worry.

In the end, Wen Zhuojin had been dragged into the fray, becoming the focal point of several powerful factions.

If it were like previous selection processes, arranging for someone within the palace could easily ensure her elimination. However, this time, it was Yan Qi who had decided, and the Tianxuan Palace had sent her name forward. No matter what arrangements were made, it seemed impossible to reverse the decision.

According to Yan Qinglan’s plans, many things were still not fully prepared. This was not the best timing.

But…

“Miss, you’re drenched! Quick, come inside and change your clothes.” a maid’s voice snapped Yan Qinglan out of her thoughts.

“It’s fine, everyone, leave us.” Wen Zhuojin’s voice came through, followed by hurried footsteps.

Yan Qinglan looked up to see Wen Zhuojin pushing the door open, her clothes soaked, her hair dripping, her eyes downcast, looking utterly dejected.

Wen Zhuojin had always been like a little sunflower, vibrant and full of life.

But now, she looked like this.

Yan Qinglan’s heart ached with pity, but another, stronger emotion surged within her—directed at Yan Qi and Jiangxiao.

“Ah Zhuo…” Yan Qinglan called out softly, standing up. Wen Zhuojin looked up, took a few quick steps forward, and without realizing how wet she was, she wrapped her arms around Yan Qinglan, burying her face in the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath.

The cold, damp sensation made Yan Qinglan shiver slightly, but she didn’t mind. She hugged Wen Zhuojin tightly, trying to warm her with her own body heat, hoping to dispel the gloom in her heart.

Gradually, Wen Zhuojin’s mood improved under the soft, warm touch and the familiar scent.

“Sister…” Wen Zhuojin called out, her voice trembling slightly, on the verge of tears.

“What did the Tianxuan Palace say?” Yan Qinglan’s heart clenched as she gently patted Wen Zhuojin’s back.

“Sister, the Tianxuan Palace can’t help at all. They said the Emperor personally ordered me to enter the palace. I can’t defy his command, and they can’t do anything about it. From now on, my shops and all my fragrance formulas will belong to the Emperor. This is clearly a deal between them and the Emperor. They want me to enter the palace to poison the Emperor, compete for the position of Empress, and even bear his children… I…”

Wen Zhuojin couldn’t continue, her voice breaking.

Yan Qinglan’s body trembled, her eyes reddening, tears welling up in anger.

She had expected that the Tianxuan Palace wouldn’t help Wen Zhuojin, but she hadn’t anticipated they would push her to do such things!

Poison? Empress? Children?

They wanted her Ah Zhuo to do these vile deeds? What did they take her for?

How dare the Tianxuan Palace even think of such things!

And Yan Qi, why did he have to set his sights on her Ah Zhuo?

Weren’t there enough concubines in the palace already?

“The Tianxuan Palace also wants me to send you away, claiming it’s for your protection, but in reality, they want to use you as a hostage to ensure I do their bidding. On the way back, the guards told me we were being followed by several skilled fighters, likely sent by the Tianxuan Palace. They’re watching us. Sister, wuwu…” Wen Zhuojin began to sob.

As Yan Qinglan listened, her fingers tightened around Wen Zhuojin, her knuckles turning white. Her tear-filled eyes glinted with a cold light.

Poor Ah Zhuo, driven to such despair, how terrified must she be?

She couldn’t let Wen Zhuojin enter the palace and get caught up in the power struggles between those two factions.

She couldn’t let Yan Qi lay a single finger on her.

“Ah Zhuo, don’t cry, don’t be afraid. You don’t have to enter the palace for the selection. I…” Yan Qinglan quickly thought of her plan, but before she could finish, Wen Zhuojin tightened her embrace.

“Sister, I don’t want to be separated from you, I don’t want to leave you… But given the current situation, we have no choice. In five days, I must enter the palace. Time is running out. I want to send you away first, with the best guards from the estate. On the way, we can send someone to Qing Chenning to gather information. If the rebel forces there are reliable, you can stay with her for a while. If not, the guards will take you to Southern Chu, and Manager Lin will accompany you. His son has already been sent there.” Wen Zhuojin’s voice interrupted Yan Qinglan.

Yan Qinglan was stunned. She thought Wen Zhuojin was crying out of fear, but it was because they would be separated!

Wen Zhuojin was planning to send her away, to face this alone?

Yan Qinglan’s plan was for Wen Zhuojin to leave first, hide where no one could find her, while Yan Qinglan dealt with Yan Qi and the Tianxuan Palace. Their paths were supposed to diverge.

“You’re sending me away, but what about you? Why not leave together? Are you still going to enter the palace?” Yan Qinglan asked.

“Yes, we’re being watched now. If we try to run, more people will come after us, like last time. There are many such people in the court, and we won’t be able to escape. I’ll have someone pretend to be you to confuse them. After all, Jiangxiao and Xuanzhen have never seen your face. As long as I’m still here, you should be able to leave quietly. I still have to enter the palace for the selection. Otherwise, my uncle’s family might suffer because of my escape.” Wen Zhuojin explained.

Wen Zhuojin’s eyes were still red, filled with reluctance and longing as she gazed at Yan Qinglan.

She had thought it over repeatedly on the way back. Sending Yan Qinglan away first was the best option.

Yan Qinglan looked at Wen Zhuojin, her heart twisting into knots. Even in such a dire situation, Wen Zhuojin was still thinking of protecting her, of sending her away first.

“Sister, you won’t leave immediately. I need to prepare more silver. The accounts from the shops haven’t been settled yet. When you leave, take as much as you can. Don’t worry, I have a plan. After I enter the palace, I’ll handle things for a few days, settle my uncle’s family, and then find a way to escape.” Wen Zhuojin continued, her tone slightly lighter.

“Ah Zhuo, what’s your plan?” Yan Qinglan asked.

“The Emperor and the Tianxuan Palace are at odds. Since they’re pulling me into this, I’ll stir the pot. I’ll pretend to side with the Emperor, leak the Tianxuan Palace’s secrets to him, and then feed the Emperor’s information back to the Tianxuan Palace. If I can make them fight each other, they might be too busy to bother with me, and then I can find a way to escape.” Wen Zhuojin said.

Yan Qinglan took a sharp breath. Wen Zhuojin made it sound easy, but playing both sides was incredibly dangerous. One misstep, and both sides would turn on her.

“Ah Zhuo, this is too risky. What if something goes wrong?” Yan Qinglan asked.

“Sister, are you worried about me?” Wen Zhuojin looked at Yan Qinglan’s expression, her fingers gently wiping away the tears under Yan Qinglan’s eyes.

Yan Qinglan’s emotions were stirred, and tears still fell uncontrollably.

The look in her eyes made Wen Zhuojin’s heart soften, feeling that no matter the risk, it was worth it.

“How can I not worry? If we’re leaving, let’s go together. I don’t want to leave alone.” Yan Qinglan said without hesitation.

If Wen Zhuojin entered the palace, she couldn’t hide. She would have to enter the palace as well.

“Sister, do you love me so much? Will you stand by me, through life and death?” Wen Zhuojin asked softly, a hint of amusement in her eyes, as if she were pleased.

“…” Yan Qinglan didn’t know why Wen Zhuojin was asking such a question at a time like this. She just looked at Wen Zhuojin, unable to speak.

She didn’t want to stand by Wen Zhuojin through thick and thin, she wanted Wen Zhuojin behind her, so she could handle these matters herself.

That would also be risky, and there was no guarantee of success.

Both of them wanted to protect the other.

“Sister, I’ve actually thought of many ways to get myself eliminated. I heard that palace selections require physical examinations. If you have body odor, disabilities, or other issues, you can’t be selected. Body odor is too obvious, and it would ruin my reputation. After all, I sell fragrances. If I had body odor, it would be unreasonable, and my products would be criticized. Disabilities are harder to fake. It would hurt too much, and I’m afraid of pain. What if it doesn’t heal properly?”

Wen Zhuojin spoke calmly, her tone even lighter than before.

A bitter smile escaped Yan Qinglan’s lips.

Physical examinations were for ordinary candidates. Someone as special as Wen Zhuojin would pass regardless.

“However, I thought of one thing that might work. I heard they also check for virginity during the examination. If I’m found to be no longer a virgin, the Emperor probably won’t be interested in me. He’ll just see me as a tool, and I’ll make it clear to him that I love someone else. Sister, would you be willing to help me with this?”

Wen Zhuojin’s voice came again.

Yan Qinglan listened, realizing what Wen Zhuojin meant, her eyes widening slightly.

She wasn’t sure if she had heard correctly.

“Sister, I’m not joking. You’ve been using medicine these past few days, and your nails are well-trimmed. Your fingers are beautiful, slender, white, and smooth, without a single flaw. Unlike mine, even though the scabs have fallen off, they’re still ugly, and the scars haven’t faded…” Wen Zhuojin gently kissed Yan Qinglan’s fingers as she spoke.

Wen Zhuojin had her own plan, but it was risky.

She didn’t know if it would succeed.

Yan Qinglan’s refusal to leave made Wen Zhuojin happy.

But for Yan Qinglan’s safety, Wen Zhuojin still wanted to send her to a secure place, away from the Tianxuan Palace’s watchful eyes.

Yan Qinglan had been imprisoned by Jiangxiao before. If Jiangxiao found out that her wife was the person she was looking for, even if Wen Zhuojin succeeded, she might not return Yan Qinglan to her.

So she had to ensure Yan Qinglan’s safety.

Before sending her away, Wen Zhuojin wanted to deepen their relationship.

In the days they would be apart, she could cherish these memories.

If this separation was permanent, then…

Wen Zhuojin didn’t continue that thought. She just carefully studied Yan Qinglan’s face, wanting to memorize every detail.

Yan Qinglan’s fingertips trembled as Wen Zhuojin’s lips brushed against them.

“Sister, if you don’t know how, I can teach you. I want to become the closest person to you, where you are in me, and I am in you… Sister, is that okay?”

Wen Zhuojin’s soft voice carried a hint of moisture, her rain-soaked body adding a damp warmth to her words.