The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

The prefectural governor narrowed his sharp eyes, realizing something, and looked at Fu Laoliu, "You said An Xinlian instructed you to frame the Second Miss, but how did you end up in the Fifth Miss's room?"

"I...I've gone to the wrong place," Fu Laoliu said firmly, but the truth of his words is impossible to verify.

"Got the wrong way? It's no wonder you went the wrong way. Who would have thought that a young lady from the An family, even if she was born out of wedlock, would live in the servants' quarters?" Bai Yi raised his handsome eyebrows and said with a half-smile.

After he finished speaking, An Yuefeng's face stiffened, and then a deeper embarrassment appeared on his face. How could he not understand what was happening in front of him?

He originally thought that An Mi was the one who had committed immoral acts first, and that Yu Fangfei and Xinlian were just exposing her. However, he did not expect that all of this was probably planned and arranged by the mother and daughter, who let Fu Laoliu take An Mi's body and then exposed her and made her shameful behavior public. How ruthless!

The prefect's gaze darkened, and he was about to speak when Jin Qiaoyu, unable to contain herself any longer, sneered, "You, An Xinlian, with such a vicious mind! Ha! It seems that heaven is truly benevolent, having mistakenly made the Fifth Miss the scapegoat. Hmph, An Xinlian's scheme to frame the Second Miss, it wasn't just your idea, was it? Tell me, who gave you the idea? Who was your accomplice?"

Yu Fangfei panicked. How could she not understand what Jin Qiaoyu was thinking? Was she trying to kick her while she was down and take this opportunity to bring her down completely?

Yu Fangfei looked at An Xinlian, who was also at a loss. Receiving Yu Fangfei's gaze, An Xinlian was even more startled. Her mother was telling her that she absolutely couldn't be involved. And rightly so. Xinhe had been publicly divorced yesterday, and now this had happened. Her earlier defense had been exposed. Everything had caught them off guard. If her mother were also involved, then the three of them…

“I had no accomplices, no!” An Xinlian said firmly.

"Finally admitted it? That's hilarious! An Xinlian, how could you be so vicious as to personally harm your sister like this? How can you live with yourself?" Jin Qiaoyu laughed loudly, feeling incredibly relieved. She regretted not bringing Xianglan along to watch the show, but it didn't matter. She would definitely tell Xianglan about it later, and she would feel better after hearing it.

An Xinlian and Yu Fangfei's faces turned a deep, unsightly shade of liver, but they didn't know how to refute Jin Qiaoyu's gloating.

Yes, this was originally designed by them to create a peaceful place, but how could they have predicted that it would turn out like this?

Looking at An Xinhe, her eyes were still hazy, and she seemed abnormal. If they had known that Fu Laoliu would harm Xinhe, what would be waiting for Xinhe and for them now?

Thinking of this, a strong sense of unease rapidly surged within An Xinlian's heart. Just then, An Xinhe, who had been standing to the side in a daze, suddenly rushed to Fu Laoliu's side and softly called out, "Husband..."

An Xinlian and Yu Fangfei's expressions tightened, and Yu Fangfei suddenly pulled An Xinhe away, saying, "Xinhe, shut up."

An Xinhe frowned, as if she had been frightened, her face full of grievance.

The prefectural governor glanced at the crowd, pondered for a moment, then his gaze fell on An Mi. He spoke in a deep voice, "Second Miss, has this Fu Lao Liu... defiled you?"

An Mi lowered her brows and met the gaze of the prefectural governor. "An Mi just said that she is innocent. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Excellency."

"As I just said, her body...smells...clean and refreshing!" Bai Yi's eyes flickered, his gaze falling unabashedly on An Mi, speaking with a pointed meaning.

An Mi was slightly taken aback, remembering Bai Yi's actions in the servants' courtyard just now, and frowned.

A strange light flashed across Qinglan's eyes, but it quickly disappeared as if it had never appeared.

The governor and the other servants present noticed the look in the eyes of the Prince of Bohai and thought to themselves, "The rumors circulating outside that the Prince of Bohai has a special affection for Miss An are not untrue!"

Could it be that the King of Bohai is really interested in the Second Miss? Well... if the King of Bohai takes a liking to her, even though An Mi is born out of wedlock, it shouldn't be a problem for her to become a concubine. A concubine of the King of Bohai, if she is favored by him, or if she gives birth to children in the future... that would be much better than a wife from an ordinary family.

As experienced as An Yuefeng was, he realized this as well. He looked at An Mi with a more probing gaze, and then said excitedly, "Thank goodness, thank goodness Mi'er was not harmed. Mi'er is innocent."

This action startled An Mi, and the next moment, a strong sense of irony welled up in her heart. How could she not know what her father was thinking?

Is it a good thing she wasn't hurt? But just now in the servants' courtyard, when she asked him to believe what she said, what was his response?

That cold avoidance was already etched into her heart, and An Yuefeng's actions only made her feel that he was even more hypocritical.

But Bai Yi, is it fun to make people think, intentionally or unintentionally, that their relationship is ambiguous?

An Mi frowned, but after a moment, her brows gradually relaxed. Well, this was not without its benefits for her. Thinking of her plan, the corners of An Mi's mouth subtly turned up a little.

An Yuefeng's actions, when seen by Yu Fangfei and An Xinlian, aroused their resentment and jealousy. However, given the current situation... thinking of the words "sinking into the river," the two women felt a tightness in their hearts.

How could they stand by and watch Xinhe be drowned? No! Absolutely not!

Suddenly, Yu Fangfei seemed to have thought of something, and her eyes lit up. "Your Excellency, things have come to this point, we are willing to betroth Xinhe to Fu Laoliu."

This is better than being dragged to the river and drowned!

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions, seemingly surprised that Yu Fangfei would come up with such a plan.

The governor glanced at Fu Laoliu and said in a deep voice, "Are you willing to marry An Xinhe?"

"I refuse!" Fu Laoliu said firmly, his voice resounding.

As soon as she finished speaking, the people in the room were in an uproar, and Yu Fangfei's face also changed drastically. What was going on? Her Xinhe was, after all, a young lady of the An family. Marrying him, Fu Laoliu, was already considered a bargain for him. However, this man rejected her without hesitation, as if An Xinhe were a disgusting poisonous insect.

"Since they don't want to marry me, what should we do? The reputation and social standing of Rongjin City... sigh..." Bai Yi frowned and sighed.

Before he could finish speaking, the prefectural magistrate immediately ordered, "Guards, drag An Xinhe out of here and take her to the Jin River. According to the rules, drown her!"

The governor of the prefecture has made the final decision, and An Xinhe's fate is sealed.