The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

A bright smile spread across his face; he was in a very good mood.

Ten days later, at the First Prince's residence.

Qinglan had just returned from the palace when she heard the steward of the manor, Chen Bolai, report, "Master, Young Master Qi from the Bohai Prince's Mansion requests an audience."

The Bohai Prince's Mansion? Qinglan frowned. The First Prince's Mansion and the Bohai Prince's Mansion had never had any dealings. Qi Shaoshang? That Bohai Prince's confidant, what brings him here to see him?

"Where is he?" Qinglan asked softly, her voice carrying an indifference that made her unapproachable.

"This servant has asked Young Master Qi to wait in the main hall. Master, shall we see him or not?" Uncle Chen asked tentatively, following closely behind Qinglan's steps.

"You may leave." Qinglan's voice was devoid of any warmth, and Uncle Chen immediately stopped in his tracks, watching the First Prince walk towards the hall.

In the hall, Qi Shaoshang, dressed in an ordinary blue robe, was sipping tea. When Qinglan entered and saw Qi Shaoshang, she couldn't help but frown.

This blue robe seems familiar; wasn't he dressed like this during his time in Rong Jincheng? But it all seems like a dream.

The image of that beautiful woman flashed through his mind. Qinglan frowned and subconsciously took out the embroidered handkerchief from his pocket. Since he left Rongjin City, he had specially sent people to collect information about that place. He knew that her Shengshi Lieyan business and a series of silk and cloth businesses had already gained a monopoly in Rongjin City. He also knew that she had taken over the original Liu family's business. Furthermore, he knew that the Bohai King and Miss Yan were almost inseparable.

Taking a deep breath, Qinglan put the embroidered handkerchief back in her pocket, looked up at Qi Shaoshang, and smiled slightly, but there was no smile in her eyes. "Young Master Qi, your presence is a rare treat."

Qi Shaoshang's visit to the First Prince's residence must have been at the behest of his master!

Qi Shaoshang immediately stood up and bowed to Qinglan. His smile was as worldly and smooth as that of his master, the Prince of Bohai. "Your Highness, I won't beat around the bush. I've come today to deliver something to Your Highness."

Qinglan frowned even more, but her expression remained calm. "For Young Master Qi to trouble you to send me something, that thing must be extraordinary!"

"Hehe, it is indeed not simple." Qi Shaoshang said, presenting the things he brought to Qinglan with both hands. "His Highness instructed that this should be given to His Highness the First Prince, and His Highness will know what it means."

Qinglan frowned, took the brocade box, opened it, and saw the familiar embroidery on it. Her hands trembled slightly. "This..."

Tranquility, this was embroidered by Tranquility!

"His Highness said that the concubines in the palace will definitely like this dress very much. However, I don't know who can bring out the temperament of this dress. I think His Highness the First Prince understands this."

Qi Shaoshang said this, without going into too much detail.

However, Qinglan was shrewd. Just from this, he already understood Baiyi's meaning. Baiyi asked him to send this garment into the palace. Did he want to use this garment to force Anmi into the capital?

Bai Yi, oh Bai Yi, he wanted An Mi to come to the capital, but was this the only way? And he even went so far as to cooperate with him?

A smile played on his lips. "Okay, please wait for my message."

Qinglan spoke loudly, putting away the clothes in his hands. He naturally wanted to help Bai Yi—no, not Bai Yi, but himself. In Rongjin City, he was powerless to help An Mi, but in the capital, at least he would have a chance…

Taking a deep breath, Qinglan felt her heart race, as if it were about to burst out of her chest. Was she about to see her?

"Thank you very much, Your Highness, but..." Qi Shaoshang frowned, looking troubled. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke, "Please, Your Highness, kick me out!"

Qinglan was slightly taken aback, but then she immediately understood. Yes, it was time to kick them out.

They all knew that both the First Prince's residence and the Bohai Prince's residence had many spies they couldn't find. If those people knew that Qi Shaoshang was moving around in the First Prince's residence, it would inevitably cause unnecessary trouble. With a smile on her lips, Qinglan walked to the table, picked up a cup and rubbed it. The next moment, with a bang, the cup was smashed on the ground, the sound echoing throughout the room. "Guards, throw Qi Shaoshang out of the First Prince's residence! The First Prince's residence does not welcome this person!"

Uncle Chen, who had been waiting near the lobby, rushed in and was taken aback by the mess in the room.

"Hmph, do you think I care?" Qi Shaoshang flung his sleeves and stormed out of the hall.

The servants who arrived later all had different expressions when they saw this scene.

That night, news of the Prince Qi of Bohai's visit to the Crown Prince being sternly driven away by the Crown Prince reached the ears of some people. Inside the palace, the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty listened to the report from the palace servants, waved his hand, and signaled the person to leave. His face was calm, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Meanwhile, in Empress Feng's palace, Empress Feng had just heard the news and a faint smile appeared on her lips as she quietly instructed, "Keep a close eye on the First Prince's residence and the Bohai Prince's residence. The Emperor has already issued an edict ordering the Bohai Prince to return to the capital. I'm afraid that once he returns, he might pose a threat to my son."

Empress Feng slammed her hand heavily on the table. Her beautiful face was so serious it was frightening. She had never taken the Prince of Bohai seriously before, but his rapid rise in recent years had made her wary of him.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The man withdrew, leaving only one person in the vast palace. Empress Feng seemed to remember something, walked to the door, and asked in a low voice, "Where did His Majesty go tonight?"

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has just gone to Consort Rong's palace," the palace maid replied cautiously.

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a sharp aura rushing towards her. The palace maid trembled in fright but still dared not move. Then she heard Empress Feng's angry voice.

"Hmph, it's that vixen Rong again!" Empress Feng gritted her teeth, her jealousy boiling. For the past month, the Emperor had been resting in that wretched Rong's palace for many days in a row. Now everyone in the palace knew that Rong was enjoying the Emperor's favor. Rong's momentum was so great that she didn't even put her, the Empress, in her eyes.

That Consort Rong, she'll have to get rid of her sooner or later!

Three days later, in the Empress's palace, all the concubines had just paid their respects to the Empress and had not yet left when the head of the Imperial Wardrobe delivered a batch of clothes to ask for the Empress's permission.

One by one, garments were brought out, and the Empress carefully bestowed them upon some of the concubines. However, when one particular garment was brought out, almost all the concubines showed expressions of amazement.

They had seen all sorts of fine things in the palace, but even the clothes they wore, made by the best embroiderers in the palace, couldn't compare to the breathtaking beauty of the garment before them, making one want to wear it themselves.