The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Those who went today were all wealthy customers, but they still made a fuss when they heard the price. The female manager, however, just smiled slightly and immediately instructed the shop assistants to tidy up the items that everyone was admiring. She said unhurriedly, "Everyone, the price was set by my Miss Yan. She said that not a single tael of silver could be less. Also, only items personally embroidered by Miss Yan are priced like this. If you think it's too expensive or you can't afford it, then take a look at the others. For the same price, you can only buy better items at Shengshi Lieyan. Oh, by the way, Miss Yan's embroidery is only offered in ten pieces this time. She probably won't have time recently, and I don't know when she will personally embroider again. Everyone, put your hands down now, or you'll regret it."

After saying that, the female manager went upstairs by herself, as if to say, "Take it or leave it," leaving only the shop assistants to serve these distinguished customers.

Upon hearing this, those who had been picky and complained about the price immediately paid, as if they were afraid someone would steal their things.

When the King of Donglin thought of that scene, the coldness in his eyes turned into a smile. After what happened at the Liu residence yesterday, those people had come with the intention of getting good products. When they heard that the quantity was limited, how could they not feel the pain of spending money?

That tranquility must have figured out what these people are thinking!

And he... stroking the handkerchief in his hand, seemed to have become one of those people as well.

When Yu Ling'er saw the handkerchief in the hand of the King of Donglin, a hint of displeasure rose in her heart. How could she forget that besides An Mi, there was also Miss Yan!

I just came out in a carriage with my brother-in-law, but he went to that Shengshi Lieyan first and spent a hundred taels of silver to buy this embroidered handkerchief. Humph, is that Shengshi Lieyan trying to rob us of our money?

What on earth happened in Rongjincheng? My brother-in-law usually doesn't even bother to look at women, but how come he's suddenly seeing Anmi and that brat Yan girl in Rongjincheng?

A surge of jealousy welled up inside her, but it quickly subsided, and she maintained a gentle smile. "Brother-in-law, we've only been here a short time. Rongjin City is your territory, and so is Jinhe. Brother-in-law, why don't you take a good look at the beautiful scenery of your own territory? Wouldn't that be wonderful? Brother-in-law, would you like to sit with Ling'er a little longer?"

Noon? At this hour, it's almost noon!

The show she was waiting for hadn't even started yet, so how could she allow her brother-in-law to leave like this? Her goal today was to let her brother-in-law see the despicable tranquility with his own eyes, and to extinguish even the slightest interest or thought in him.

King Donglin frowned. Just then, the crowd outside the pavilion seemed to stir, as if they were all rushing in a certain direction. King Donglin had no interest in paying attention. He had no interest in the Jinhe River or the Jinting Pavilion. Rather than staying here, he would rather go and visit the Prosperous Flames again. Perhaps he could gain a better understanding of that tranquil place.

He really wanted to see what kind of abilities this woman, who had piqued the interest of both the eldest and third brothers, possessed!

However, Yu Ling'er was closely watching the movements outside the pavilion. Although she couldn't hear any sounds, seeing the unusual activity there made her happy. Her intuition told her that the main character of the day must have arrived.

Thinking of this, excitement lit up her face. Yu Ling'er didn't want to wait any longer and hurriedly said, "Brother-in-law, shall we go and see what they're doing over there?"

The King of Donglin said nothing, letting Yu Ling'er gently take his arm as they walked out of the brocade pavilion and headed towards the crowd...

The closer I got to the crowd, the less I heard the wind and water, and the clearer the voices of people talking became.

"I heard it was caught red-handed; it's truly appalling."

"I heard that the governor has spoken, saying that the woman is so shameless that a river-drowning ceremony will be held today."

The mention of the river-drowning ceremony caused a complex mix of emotions in the crowd: awe, fear, and even a touch of excitement. Rongjincheng hadn't held a river-drowning ceremony for many years, and some had even forgotten its existence. However, the mention of it today stirred a sense of anticipation within them.

Yu Ling'er listened to the conversation of the crowd, but frowned slightly. Didn't she just hear that it was about sinking into the river? How did it become a river-sinking festival?

But what is the River Drowning Ceremony?

Yu Ling'er frowned, glanced at the tall man beside her, her eyes flickered slightly, and tentatively asked, "Brother-in-law, what is the River Sinking Ceremony?"

The King of Donglin's eyes were cold. A river-drowning ceremony? Looking at the scene, he wondered why so many people had gathered around the Jin River. It turned out that Rong Jincheng was going to hold a river-drowning ceremony.

Whose woman committed such a heinous crime that warrants a sacrificial ceremony?

King Donglin frowned and looked towards the street. He saw a woman on a prison cart with her hair disheveled and covering her face. Her features were obscured. Not only was her hair disheveled, but her thin clothes were also covered in dirt, eggs, and rotten vegetables thrown by people on both sides of the street. She looked utterly wretched!

“That slut…she should be drowned in the river. We can’t let someone like her ruin the reputation of Rongjin City.”

"Yes, let her soul be imprisoned at the bottom of the river, never to be reborn."

"Shenhe...Shenhe..."

The crowd's emotions seemed to be stirred up, and some people even picked up stones from the ground and threw them hard at the woman in the prison cart whose face they couldn't see.

The woman simply endured it; her body was already stained with blood in many places.

Yu Ling'er naturally witnessed this scene, and her schadenfreude surged. She glanced at the man beside her, her eyes flashing, "Brother-in-law, that Miss An from the An family actually had an affair. Brother-in-law, such a person should not be let off lightly, don't you think?"

"Is that Miss An from the An family?" Prince Donglin frowned, his gaze still fixed on the prison cart. The An family? Isn't that the family An Mi belongs to? And the people in that cart…

“Brother-in-law, I heard it’s a young lady from the An family, I think she’s the second young lady…” Yu Ling’er carefully observed the expression of the Prince of Donglin, her gaze fixed on him, as if she wanted to see his reaction clearly. Yes, she wanted to see clearly that her brother-in-law had given up any thoughts or interest in An Mi, no matter how much interest he had, she wanted to uproot it completely, leaving not a trace of it.

As soon as Yu Ling'er finished speaking, his already slightly furrowed brows furrowed even more, and he turned to look at Yu Ling'er, "Who did you say it was?"

Second Miss?

Yu Ling'er was stunned. The reaction of the King of Donglin clearly displeased her. Hmph, is her brother-in-law really that unbelievable? No, he probably just doesn't want to believe it!