The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 51

Exotic Fragrance

After seeing Qi Mian off, Zhou Jin immediately embraced Shen Lingyan. Of course, she knew what this silly girl, Shen Lingyan, was thinking.

Shen Lingyan lay motionlessly in Zhou Jin’s arms. After suppressing a cough, she cautiously tugged at Zhou Jin’s sleeve: “Please don’t go, I know I’m being selfish…”

How could Shen Lingyan not want the support of the Jun’an Kingdom? But she also didn’t want Zhou Jin to go there. Heaven knows how aggressive the people of that so-called Jun’an Kingdom are; what if they kept Zhou Jin there?

Even though she currently lacked strength, Shen Lingyan held tightly to Zhou Jin’s sleeve, and Zhou Jin sensed her grip. She tightened her embrace around Shen Lingyan, took the cloak Dai Sulan handed over, and slowly draped it over Shen Lingyan. Although she didn’t say anything, Shen Lingyan felt much more at ease.

The palanquin carried the two to the Chaohui Palace. Yun Zhu was already waiting at the entrance, holding a bowl of bitter medicine. The bitter smell of the herbal medicine permeated the long palace walkway. Shen Lingyan could smell that despairing odor even while sitting in the sedan chair. She had been taking this kind of medicine for an unknown period, but it hadn’t shown the slightest effect.

Now that Zhou Jin had been holding her for a while, Shen Lingyan’s urge to act spoiled surged up again. She rubbed against Zhou Jin’s neck; her voice playful: “Zhou Jin… I don’t want to drink the herbal medicine anymore… It’s really bitter, and it’s not working…”

Zhou Jin was not looking at Shen Lingyan. Instead, she stared intently at the medicine in Yun Zhu’s hand, pondering seriously, and recalled the exotic fragrance that An Wanran carried…

“No, Yan yan, be good, you have to take your medicine properly.” Zhou Jin was somewhat distracted. If the medicine was effective for Shen Lingyan’s illness, then should she agree for Shen Lingyan’s sake…? Everything depended on the report when Qi Mian returned.

Shen Lingyan guessed that Zhou Jin wouldn’t agree to her stopping the medicine, so she nodded obediently. Zhou Jin lifted her down. Yun Zhu followed them into the room with the medicine. Pushing open the exquisite wooden door, the sleeping chambers, permeated by the scent of strong medicine for many days, were inseparable from the medicinal smell.

Shen Lingyan had also transformed from a healthy, proactive Emperor into a mere invalid who couldn’t be without medicine all day.

After entering the room, Zhou Jin first carefully placed Shen Lingyan on the bed, set aside the cloak wrapped around her, pulled over the exquisite silk quilt, and tucked Shen Lingyan in securely. Only then did she feel comfortable enough to turn around and pick up the bowl of bitter medicine that had been placed by the bedside.

Shen Lingyan, however, refused to cooperate. Yun Zhu coaxed her for a long time, but it was useless. Seeing this, a smile curved on Zhou Jin’s lips. She first dismissed Yun Zhu and Dai Sulan, and then, wearing that smile, slowly took a large sip of the herbal medicine.

To Shen Lingyan’s utter confusion, she leaned down, and Zhou Jin’s red lips pressed tightly against Shen Lingyan’s. As Shen Lingyan’s lips slightly parted, she slowly poured the bitter herbal medicine into Shen Lingyan, drop by drop, feeling the softness of the other person’s lips and teeth amidst the liquid medicine. Shen Lingyan’s tongue seemed to lose control, frantically trying to take all the medicine from Zhou Jin’s mouth.

Zhou Jin was very pleased. When Shen Lingyan tried to take more, she moved her red lips away, endured the bitterness, and poured the rest of the medicine down. Then, she continued to kiss Shen Lingyan’s mouth, greedily savoring that warmth…

After finishing the medicine, driven by the desire for a reward, Shen Lingyan and Zhou Jin passionately embraced and kissed for a long time, until Zhou Jin’s throat became dry and a low heat rose in her abdomen. Only then did she reluctantly pull away from Shen Lingyan’s red lips…

Soon after taking the herbal medicine, Shen Lingyan started feeling drowsy, but she was afraid that Zhou Jin would leave, so she kept forcing herself to stay awake in Zhou Jin’s arms until her voice grew weaker and weaker. Zhou Jin then slowly lowered her head, observing Shen Lingyan’s almost shut eyes.

“Don’t worry, I will always be here.” Zhou Jin’s words were like a reassuring pill. Shen Lingyan nodded after hearing them, wrapped her arms around Zhou Jin’s neck, rested her head on her shoulder, and fell asleep.

Zhou Jin didn’t dare to move, afraid of waking Shen Lingyan. Only after confirming that she was fast asleep did she slowly place her on the bed and cover her with the silk quilt.

Meanwhile, Qi Mian had already followed An Wanran’s carriage out of the palace. Although An Wanran claimed to have found a random place to stay, it was actually an inn in the imperial city, second only to the palace in grandeur.

The inn had many servants, and various delicacies and dishes were abundant. An Wanran even wished to stay here for a few more days to keep the people in the palace guessing.

The carriage slowly stopped in front of the inn. The guards around An Wanran rushed over, welcoming the two princesses of their country down from the carriage.

An Wanran wore an arrogant expression and showed no sign of feeling dependent. She had already let go of An Ji xi’s arm; the pretense she put on in the palace had been completely dropped.

She gently straightened her skirt and led the way into the inn. Qi Mian only dared to secretly sneak into the inn after seeing all the guards disperse.

The inn’s furnishings were indeed luxurious. Qi Mian disguised himself as a regular waiter delivering food from a restaurant and went to An Wanran and Ji xi’s room on the third floor.

As expected of a princess of the Jun’an Kingdom, even when staying in this heavily guarded inn, many guards were still assigned to watch the doors.

It would be difficult for Qi Mian to glean any information. Just as he hesitated outside the door, unsure how to proceed, An Wanran’s door was opened by the guards, who knowingly said to him: “Go in, the Princess has been waiting for you for a long time.”

As Qi Mian was completely baffled, he saw Ji xi—the outwardly gentle but internally proud woman.

Jixi sat beside An Wanran, seemingly at her mercy, looking at him with empty eyes.

Many exquisite pastries were laid out on the table. Jixi didn’t touch them, but An Wanran was happily eating.

Seeing Qi Mian arrive, An Wanran reluctantly paused her hand reaching for a pastry, took a handkerchief handed to her by a maid, gently wiped the corner of her mouth, and finally looked at Qi Mian directly: “How was the feeling of following me all the way? Even if you have something to ask, what does it matter if I tell you? Why follow me like this? I don’t like it.”

Qi Mian was never flustered. Even though his martial arts were completely useless now, he stood unassumingly in the middle of the room.

“Your subordinate is here by order to ask the Princess a few questions.” Qi Mian perfectly avoided the topic of tracking An Wanran and got straight to the point.

An Wanran seemed to appreciate this directness. A smile curled on her lips. She leaned back against the chair, her eyes full of playfulness: “Oh? Then let me guess. Is it for the exotic fragrance, or is it for the candidate to go to the Jun’an Kingdom? Oh! It must be both.”

An Wanran was right; these were the two most pressing issues.

Qi Mian nodded. Since the other person was straightforward, he didn’t need to beat around the bush: “The Princess is exceptionally intelligent. Your subordinate indeed has these two matters to inquire about.”

Hearing this, An Wanran regretfully shook her head: “The exotic fragrance is a special creation of our Jun’an Kingdom’s divine doctor. It can detoxify and cure all diseases. As for the person to go to our Jun’an Kingdom, this Princess insists it must be the Regent.” She paused, as if remembering something. She took Jixi’s hand: “My sister here has feelings for you. I hope you can stay at the inn and keep her company these days.”

An Wanran pressed her advantage, not only refusing to budge but also making an even more excessive demand.

Before Qi Mian could protest, he was knocked unconscious by the guards who rushed in. Jixi finally reacted. She hastily got up, wanting to rush over, but An Wanran forcefully threw her onto the ground.

An Wanran’s expression turned vicious, and just as she was about to lash out at Jixi, she was restrained by two people who burst into the room.

Zhou Jin, her demeanor icy, slowly walked into the room. Looking at An Wanran, who was now completely controlled, she had no patience left: “Did you just say that the exotic fragrance can indeed cure Her Majesty the Empress’s hemoptysis?”

An Wanran was initially panicking when she saw Zhou Jin, but hearing her question, she relaxed her brow. It turned out that even a hero could not escape the lure of a beauty; even Zhou Jin hadn’t escaped.

“That is natural. Why would this Princess lie to you? As long as you are willing to follow me back to the Jun’an Kingdom and stay for a few years, I will immediately hand over the incense.” An Wanran spoke in a slow, enticing manner, and the last line of defense in Zhou Jin’s heart was about to collapse.

Watching her beloved die in her arms or sacrificing a few years of her own freedom for her beloved’s life.

Between these two choices, the decision was not difficult.

The same was true for Zhou Jin.

She waved her hand, and Dai Sulan and a few others released their grip, helping An Wanran stand up. Everyone’s expression was heavy, only An Wanran was smiling as brightly as a flower.

“Well, since it’s settled, the Regent must not go back on her word.” An Wanran was not afraid and even went over to provoke Zhou Jin because she knew Zhou Jin could no longer do anything to her.

Zhou Jin didn’t want to stay here any longer. She turned to leave with her retinue and Dai Sulan, but Dai Sulan stopped her.

“I want to stay and enter the palace with Princess A tomorrow.”

Zhou Jin frowned, turning around and avoiding An Wanran’s scrutiny: “This person is very dangerous. If anything happens to you, how will I explain it?”

Dai Sulan shook her head, her eyes resolute.

“I will send someone to guard you.” Zhou Jin was in a bad mood and could only agree.

“Tomorrow, this Princess will personally go to the Imperial Palace to welcome you…”

An Wanran said this as she watched Zhou Jin leave. It was just a mystery why Dai Sulan insisted on staying.

An Wanran returned to the room, looked at Dai Sulan, who insisted on staying, and was truly puzzled, unable to offer a pleasant expression.

“The Regent has already agreed to the arrangement of the candidate. Why are you still staying here? Don’t you all have anything to eat?”

“You simply don’t understand.” Dai Sulan’s voice was cold, completely out of character with her gentle image.

An Wanran was utterly confused. She sat down with interest, pouring tea: “No matter what it is, wouldn’t I understand if you, miss, told me?”

“Can I go to your Jun’an Kingdom instead?” Dai Sulan hesitated for a long time before asking this difficult question.

“What?” An Wanran never expected this sentence.