After Accidentally Marking the Cold and Elegant Eldest Princess - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Intermingling Pheromones

Her long, narrow phoenix eyes slanted slightly upward, her cold expression carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Yan Yunti gasped. She found it completely impossible to reconcile the person from her dream with the indifferent Eldest Princess standing before her.

Yet, the images suddenly surfacing in her mind were far too vivid.

Yan Yunti quickly lowered her head, composed her expression. She didn’t know if the Princess had noticed anything, but she hoped not.

What was going on with that dream?! How could she and the Eldest Princess possibly…

Yan Yunti’s heart was in turmoil. She picked up the wine cup on the table and drained it in one gulp.

A palace attendant serving nearby hurried to remind her: “Eldest Miss Yan, this imperial wine is potent. If you drink too much, I’m afraid you’ll become intoxicated.”

“Thank you for the reminder.” Yan Yunti set the cup down and drank no more.

However, her tolerance was high. No matter how potent the imperial wine was, she wouldn’t collapse from just one small cup.

Once the families finished presenting their gifts and the song and dance performances began, the Eldest Princess seated at the head rose and departed.

Many felt regret at the Princess’s departure. Yan Yunti, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief.

She only wished for this banquet to end quickly; the scene earlier had left her feeling inexplicably flustered. If the Princess ever found out she had such a dream—no, the Princess would never know.

Inside the hall, cups were exchanged and various scents mingled together, making the air increasingly stifling and uncomfortable.

Yan Yunti raised a hand to rub her temples. The attendant by her side asked at the right moment: “Is Eldest Miss Yan feeling unwell? Would you like to go out for some fresh air?”

This was exactly what Yan Yunti wanted. After informing Fang Li and followed by the attendant, she stepped out of the main hall.

The air outside was much fresher. Yan Yunti took a deep breath, yet found herself feeling more lightheaded.

She couldn’t help but touch the back of her neck. Strange—why did the gland at her nape feel like it was burning?

A Zhongyong’s gland was merely decorative with no actual function. Why would it be hot?

Yan Yunti felt that something was very wrong with her today.

Before she could think it through, the attendant said to her: “Eldest Miss Yan’s face is so flushed; the after-effects of the imperial wine are likely kicking in. Why don’t I assist you to a nearby side hall to rest for a while, and fetch you some sobering soup?”

Hearing the attendant say this, Yan Yunti felt as if she truly were a bit drunk; a wave of heat was radiating from within her body.

Touching her increasingly hot gland, Yan Yunti did not refuse: “Then I shall trouble you to lead the way.”

“You are too kind, Eldest Miss Yan.”

The attendant moved to support her, but Yan Yunti shook her head: “I’m fine, I can still walk. Just lead the way.”

“Very well.” The attendant withdrew her hand and walked ahead.

As Yan Yunti walked, she habitually memorized the route.

As the attendant led her through numerous twists and turns, moving further and further away, the sense of oddity in Yan Yunti’s heart grew more pronounced. She couldn’t help but ask: “Is the side hall for resting this far away?”

The attendant glanced at her while walking and replied softly: “Do not worry, Miss, we are almost there.”

Yan Yunti said nothing.

The sense of unease from earlier reached its peak. Could a single small cup of wine really make her collapse this quickly? Even if she were truly drunk, what was with this heat she was feeling?

“Look, it’s that side hall.” The attendant pointed to a side hall not far away and turned to support her again: “Are you tired? Let me help you.”

Yan Yunti narrowed her eyes. A shadow had just flickered past the side hall—it looked somewhat familiar.

Yan Yunti lowered her brows and made a split-second decision. As the attendant reached out to support her, Yan Yunti’s right hand formed a blade and struck forcefully against the attendant’s nape.

The attendant’s body instantly went limp and collapsed.

Almost at the same moment, shouting erupted nearby.

“Quick! You few, search over there. We must find the person! Remember, do not alert anyone else!”

“Yes!”

Yan Yunti: ? She had just knocked someone out, and they were already searching for her?!

The sound of footsteps drew closer. Yan Yunti didn’t have time to think and immediately hid in the opposite direction of the voices.

However, there were more people searching in the shadows than she had imagined. Yan Yunti dodged about, frequently touching the burning gland at her nape.

It was too hot. There was definitely something wrong with that imperial wine. Her whole body was burning, her cheeks were flushed, and her head was spinning. Fortunately, her physical strength wasn’t heavily affected.

But as the drug in the wine took full effect, would her condition worsen?

Even if she remembered the way, she couldn’t return the way she came. Those trying to plot against her would surely have people stationed near the main hall, waiting for her to walk into their trap.

If only she could find a place to rest temporarily…

Yan Yunti avoided another group of searchers. While her mind was racing, her nose suddenly caught a faint floral scent—like… magnolia?

Was magnolia planted in Yaohua Hall?

Drawn by the fragrance, Yan Yunti instinctively followed it into a rockery. The faint magnolia scent grew stronger. She couldn’t see any magnolia trees nearby.

Confused, Yan Yunti’s instincts suddenly sensed a threat from behind. She spun around quickly, grabbing the person’s wrist just in time. A silver needle gleaming with a cold light grazed her neck.

Yan Yunti looked at the person behind her, the wariness in her eyes turning to shock. In her daze, she uttered: “Eldest Princess?”

The girl’s slightly widened peach-blossom eyes were filled with disbelief.

This was the second time Yuan Jingxue had seen such an expression on her. She was breathing slightly heavily, her expression still guarded, her voice icy: “Let go.”

Yan Yunti immediately released her and explained rapidly: “Your Highness, it’s a misunderstanding! I was drugged and plotted against. I thought those people had caught up. I truly had no intention of offending Your Highness!”

It was obvious that the Eldest Princess’s condition was also very wrong—

Her breath was ragged, her face flushed crimson, and the corners of her upturned eyes were stained with an unnatural bright red. Even her neck was tinted with a faint pink.

An image—clear and unmistakable—flashed inappropriately across Yan Yunti’s mind.

Now, it seemed they were overlapping.

Yan Yunti hurriedly banished the image from her mind.

She seemed to understand now. No wonder those people arrived so quickly; they weren’t searching for her at all, but… looking for the Eldest Princess.

In this Yaohua Hall, someone actually dared to boldly plot against the Eldest Princess?

Yuan Jingxue did not respond. Yan Yunti didn’t dare move recklessly either. The magnolia scent seemed to have grown stronger again.

There were no magnolia trees nearby. Was this the Princess’s perfume?

After a moment of silence, Yan Yunti was the first to hear movement outside the rockery.

“Your Highness, someone is chasing us,” Yan Yunti whispered a reminder. Looking around and momentarily ignoring etiquette, she grabbed Yuan Jingxue’s hand and pulled her into a narrow crevice within the rockery.

The crevice was small, barely accommodating the two of them.

Being so close, Yan Yunti’s nose twitched; more magnolia scent flooded her senses. The gland at her nape burned even more fiercely, even faintly throbbing twice.

Yan Yunti’s gaze drifted down, accidentally landing on the woman’s vermillion lips. They were full and looked exceptionally soft. There was a row of teeth marks on her lower lip, likely bitten to keep herself conscious.

She remembered the dream-self biting right there… Yan Yunti pinched her palm. How could she still be thinking about this at a time like this?

It must be the effect of the drug in the wine.

Yan Yunti didn’t dare look at Yuan Jingxue again, concentrating instead on the sounds outside.

The area around the rockery was filled with many disorganized footsteps. Yan Yunti listened intently, ready to act at any moment.

Simultaneously, Yuan Jingxue was also scrutinizing Yan Yunti. The girl’s face and neck were red, her breathing slightly hurried; she didn’t look much better off than she was.

Back in the hall, the shock in the girl’s eyes had been truly strange. She had asked her attendants and learned she was the only daughter of the Jingning Marquis, Yan Yunti. The Jingning Marquis held military power; it didn’t surprise her that someone would plot against her.

Now, with a strange drug in her system and her body in turmoil, she couldn’t even control the release of her pheromones. If they delayed any longer, she didn’t know if she would lose her mind.

They had to find a place to hide first.

Yan Yunti was a Zhongyong and wouldn’t be affected by her pheromones. She also seemed skilled; she should be able to help.

Yuan Jingxue made a decision within seconds. She placed the silver needle into Yan Yunti’s fingers, her voice low and soft: “Take this. It has a sedative on it.”

The woman’s fingertips were soft. Yan Yunti froze for a moment then took the needle. Clearly, the Princess had chosen to trust her.

The footsteps outside drew closer. Yan Yunti could already see the corner of an attendant’s robe; the needle in her fingers was ready.

“Quick, go! Someone else is coming!” The robe corner vanished instantly.

It seemed a second group of people had arrived. The two parties collided, and after some unknown occurrence, the noise near the rockery faded.

Yan Yunti listened carefully. Once certain no one was outside, she immediately pulled away from the Princess. “They’ve left for now. What do we do next?”

The Eldest Princess had lived in Yaohua Hall after all; she would surely know where to go better than her.

Yuan Jingxue leaned against the rockery wall, gasping for breath as she gathered her strength. she pointed deep into the rockery: “Go straight ahead, pass through these rocks and then a bamboo grove. There will be a Buddhist hall. There is a secret room inside that others don’t know about.”

It was currently the best place to hide.

Yan Yunti understood and nodded immediately: “Very well.”

Yuan Jingxue looked like she lacked strength. Yan Yunti wanted to support her but thought better of it, crouching down in front of her instead. “Get on, Your Highness. I still have some strength left. It will be faster if I carry you.”

If they went too slowly and were caught, it would be fatal.

Yuan Jingxue frowned slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she did not refuse. However, she found it strange—didn’t the drug they gave Yan Yunti drain her strength? Why did she seem so energetic?

Despite carrying someone, Yan Yunti ran quickly. She stayed alert, carefully avoiding a group of people. Once through the bamboo grove and seeing the Buddhist hall, she quickened her pace.

The hall was unlocked. Entering a clean inner room, Yan Yunti set Yuan Jingxue down.

Yuan Jingxue stepped forward and turned a statue in the Buddhist niche. The wall on the right, hanging with a landscape painting, rotated counter-clockwise, revealing a secret room.

The two entered, and the wall closed.

There was a low couch in the room. Yuan Jingxue sat there, while Yan Yunti sat on a cushion opposite her, touching the throbbing gland at her nape.

Perhaps due to the drug’s peak effect, her whole body was getting hotter. The secret room was unventilated and lacked water; Yan Yunti felt dyingly thirsty.

And that magnolia scent was becoming even stronger.

Yan Yunti unconsciously looked at the woman opposite her. Her long, snow-white neck was slightly curved, and beneath her collar, the rose-colored gland was partially exposed.

Yan Yunti pressed her tongue against her canines. She clearly remembered the feeling of biting a Kunze’s gland in her dream. Piercing the gland was like drinking sweet nectar—it could alleviate even the deepest thirst…

Yuan Jingxue sat sideways on the couch, her fingertips digging into her palms, her teeth biting hard on her lower lip in an attempt to keep her mind clear. If not for Yan Yunti’s help, she might truly have failed to escape today.

The drug those people used was too vicious. She had already taken the remaining two Cold Fragrance Pills, but she still couldn’t control her pheromones. Now her vision was distorting, an indescribable desire was rising within her, and the gland at her nape was becoming burning hot.

Thirsty. So thirsty.

If even the Cold Fragrance Pills were useless, what should she do?

Inside the secret room, without either of them noticing, a very faint, cool fragrance began to diffuse extremely slowly. It collided with the dense magnolia scent in the room, then blended together with perfect harmony.

At a certain moment, Yan Yunti felt her thirst seem to subside. Then, an even stronger craving emerged from her very bones.