The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

"Yes, you're mistaken. Who can I hide from?" An Mi tugged at the corners of her mouth, her face instantly burning hot. Even the veil couldn't completely conceal the blush on her face.

Cheng Ying observed this, her gaze shifting slightly, but she wasn't about to let An Mi off the hook. "I heard from the coachman that you didn't return to your residence last night, and this morning you came out of the Prince of Bohai's residence again. I wonder what happened last night..."

"Cheng Ying, you still have time to ask the coachman about my whereabouts? It seems you have a lot of free time!" An Mi straightened her expression, using seriousness to cover up her increasingly intense embarrassment, but in her heart she was secretly blaming Bai Yi.

If he hadn't used Liu'er to disturb her heart last night, and hadn't followed her like this today, Cheng Ying wouldn't be laughing at her like this now!

Cheng Ying chuckled and fell silent. She listened as An Mi instructed the driver to set off, her mind racing. The young lady seemed to understand the Prince of Bohai's feelings, yet she was rejecting them. In her eyes, the Prince of Bohai was undoubtedly a perfect match. Leaving aside his noble status, just looking at his devotion to the young lady, she also hoped that the young lady could become his wife. However… the young lady's rejection and avoidance…

It seems that the King of Bohai will have to put in some effort and time to win the girl's heart!

The two remained silent in the carriage. Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Liu residence was even more eerie. At the gate, Liu Xuan's face was already ashen. In the distance, the sound of suona horns could be heard. Madam Liu bit her lip, her face pale. "Master, what should we do now? Zhan'er's wedding procession is almost here, but there isn't a single guest in the manor. What will happen if the Mei family sees this? What's going on? The steward has been gone for so long, and he hasn't come back to report anything!"

As Madam Liu spoke, she paced anxiously, her face filled with worry. She never imagined that despite her meticulous attention to every possible scenario, things would still go wrong in the end.

The eldest son of the prestigious Liu family was getting married, yet there wasn't a single guest. No wonder the Mei family was furious!

Liu Xuan's brow furrowed even more, his heart filled with even greater frustration. "What to do, what to do? How am I supposed to know what to do? It's like we've been cursed. Tell me, tell me, has anything gone smoothly for our Liu family lately?"

Madam Liu bit her lip, her gaze narrowing, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes. "Things aren't going well. Could it be because someone who shouldn't be staying in the manor has moved in? We've never had so many troubles before. I knew it, Yunniang..."

"Shut up! You keep bringing up Yunniang. She's much more well-behaved than you and never gives me any trouble. On the contrary, aren't all these problems in our household caused by you and your son? Humph!" Liu Xuan shouted sharply, showing no respect for Madam Liu.

Madam Liu's face stiffened, her anger rising, but hearing the increasingly close knocking sound, she had no mind to argue anymore. What should she do now? Where exactly did she go wrong?

Madam Liu looked anxious, while Liu Zhan's wedding procession had already reached the street corner. On a tall horse, Liu Zhan, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, was in high spirits and very pleased with himself. He glanced back at the bridal sedan chair and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

This time, when he went to Jicheng to fetch his bride, his father-in-law was extremely pleased. He even promised him that after he and Yingxue got married, he would do his best to help him gain control of the Liu family. Once he became the head of the Liu family, Liu Zhan would be a completely different person.

This time, he bet everything on the Mei family; this time, he was determined not to fail!

With a determined look in his eyes, Liu Zhan ordered loudly, "Everyone, hurry up, don't miss the auspicious time for the wedding ceremony."

The group quickened their pace and soon arrived at the gate of the Liu residence.

"Zhan'er..." Madam Liu immediately went to greet him, but Liu Zhan, who was on horseback, frowned when he saw the deserted gate of the Liu residence, but then his brows relaxed and he said loudly, "Mother, have the guests all gone in? Then we won't delay any longer. Someone, take good care of the guests from Jicheng!"

Today, accompanying the wedding procession are several uncles from the collateral branches of the Mei family, as well as the eldest son of the Mei family. No one from the Mei family should be neglected.

Madam Liu's face stiffened. Seeing Young Master Mei leading several people forward, she couldn't say anything and could only force a smile and invite the guests into the mansion.

"Haha, brother-in-law, let Miss Mei take care of us!" As soon as the eldest young master of the Mei family arrived, his gaze fell on Liu Xu. His eyes seemed to want to devour Liu Xu, without any regard for the other people present. These days, he had been missing Liu Xu's body terribly. Every time he dreamed, he would dream of that intoxicating feeling, unable to stop himself.

Without willow catkins, he could only seek solace in his other wives and concubines, but none of them satisfied him, which only intensified his longing for willow catkins.

Thinking of the promise he made to the eldest daughter of the Liu family that day, the eldest son of the Mei family wished he could pull her into his room right now and pamper her.

Liu Xu naturally felt the blatant stares. Besides disgust, a hint of hatred surfaced in her heart. Thinking of her plan, she forced a smile and said, "Please come in, everyone!"

Liu Xu smiled faintly, but Young Master Mei was unwilling to just watch her like that. As he entered the room, he pulled Liu Xu's hand. Liu Xu stiffened, suppressed her disgust, and glared at him reproachfully, "What's your hurry? My elder brother and Sister-in-law Yingxue are about to get married. That's the important thing. As for our matter, it's not too late to do it later."

Upon hearing her promise, Young Master Mei chuckled, his eyes gleaming with even more lewdness. "Later, I'll make you beg for mercy on your knees!"

Liu Xu lowered her head, concealing the fleeting ruthlessness in her eyes. Kneeling down and begging for mercy? That's a good idea!

Liu Xu greeted the guests of the Mei family. Outside, Liu Zhan had already brought the bride out of the bridal sedan chair. At this moment, Mei Yingxue's hand was held by Liu Zhan, and she felt an extraordinary warmth in her heart. From today onwards, she was Liu Zhan's wife!

Hmph, who cares what the Liu family's current situation is? As long as they have the Mei family's help, the Liu family will still be firmly in the position of the richest family in Rongjin City in the future!

Just as she was thinking this, she heard the furious roar of the eldest young master of the Mei family from inside the mansion, "What on earth is going on? Where are the guests? How can your Liu family be so stingy in marrying my sister? Don't you have any respect for the Mei family?!"

Mei Yingxue frowned slightly, and Liu Zhan also frowned. They quickly entered the room, only to find it deserted. Apart from the Mei family members who had just arrived, only the servants of the mansion stood with their heads bowed, all of them with extremely ugly expressions.

"Mother, what's going on? Where are the guests? Where are they?!" Liu Zhan's face darkened as he turned around and asked. The courtyard was filled with festive red decorations, but without the guests, it was desolate and bleak, with a touch of melancholy and irony.