The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

However, Anmi gave them a look, signaling them not to make any rash moves.

What a joke! If Liuguang and Yifei were to reveal their skills in this palace, the situation would likely become even more chaotic. Just imagine, she entered the palace as a mere embroiderer, yet she was accompanied by two experts. If someone with ulterior motives were to exploit this, it would only bring even greater trouble.

"Princess, I am filled with trepidation. Your Majesty is so dignified and awe-inspiring. I would never dare to harm anything Your Majesty cherishes. Although I was here just now, I did not harm the two koi. I am an embroiderer from Rongjin City, summoned to the capital by the Emperor. In Rongjin City, I heard of Your Majesty. I know that Your Majesty is a person who can distinguish right from wrong, is respectful to superiors, and governs strictly. You will not let a thief go unpunished, nor will you wrong a person. I am not afraid of Your Majesty's punishment, but I do not wish to see the person who truly killed Your Majesty's koi go unpunished. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly." Anmi said with trepidation, but every word was clear and flattering to the unruly princess.

The Eighth Princess glanced at the woman kneeling on the ground. She had heard countless people flatter her, but this woman's words made her feel unusually comfortable. At that moment, the anger she felt over the death of the koi carp subsided considerably.

Not only that, but thinking about what the woman had just said, the Eighth Princess became even more interested. She then took a look at the woman's attire, which was indeed the kind of clothing worn outside the palace.

"You said you're from Rongjin City? What kind of place is Rongjin City?" The Eighth Princess walked up to An Mi and looked down at her.

An Mi lowered her gaze slightly and replied, "Rongjin City is just a small city in the territory of the Eastern Lin King. It cannot compare to the prosperity of the capital. However, the people there all know the name of the Eighth Princess."

"Oh? So it's my fourth brother's territory. What are they saying about me?" As a princess, the Eighth Princess was naturally overjoyed to hear that even the people of such a small city knew her name.

An Mi had originally intended to divert the Eighth Princess's attention, and now the Eighth Princess's reaction suited her perfectly. She then said loudly, "Everyone says that the Eighth Princess is as beautiful as a flower, gentle and elegant, and kind-hearted. It is a blessing for our Great Jin Dynasty to have such a daughter."

"Hehe..." The Eighth Princess smiled with satisfaction, her mood immediately improving. "Get up and tell me about your folk customs."

The Eighth Princess had clearly forgotten what had just happened. No matter how unruly and domineering she was, she was still just a child who had not yet reached the age of marriage.

An Mi thanked the maid and stood up. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the palace maid who had just accused her of killing the koi. The maid's slightly furrowed brows startled An Mi. She forced a smile and quickly said, "Princess, then about the death of this koi..."

The Eighth Princess was taken aback. She glanced at the two fish in the pond and felt an indescribable pity. She wanted to take her anger out on the person in front of her, but the words the woman had just spoken forced her to suppress her anger.

In popular culture, she was a beautiful, gentle, and kind-hearted princess. She loved these words and was determined not to let anger tarnish her image.

"I'll investigate this matter thoroughly before making any further statements," the Eighth Princess said calmly, glancing at the other palace maids present. "If I find out who did this, their fate will be the same as these two koi fish."

As soon as she finished speaking, all the palace maids were filled with fear and trepidation, especially the one who had just accused An Mi. A strange glint flashed in her eyes, which she quickly concealed, but it did not escape An Mi's keen eyes.

It's her! Anmi was almost certain.

"Sit down and have a good chat with this princess." The Eighth Princess glanced at An Mi. Originally, she would have disdained to let a lowly commoner sit with her, but in order to show her approachability as the Eighth Princess, she would consider it a favor to this woman.

An Mi curtsied and sat on the stone bench. The Eighth Princess seemed unusually interested in matters of the common people, and kept asking questions. An Mi, being shrewd, knew exactly what the Eighth Princess wanted to hear, so she naturally picked out words that the Eighth Princess liked to hear and told them. In an instant, the atmosphere in the pavilion was unusually lively, and the smile on the Eighth Princess's face never disappeared for a moment.

Empress Feng arrived right on time and saw the Eighth Princess sitting in the pavilion chatting happily with someone. She couldn't help but frown. "Wasn't An Mi brought here? Where is she?"

According to her calculations, An Mi's "killing" of the Eighth Princess's beloved koi fish would surely enrage the Eighth Princess. Therefore, when the Eighth Princess wanted to punish An Mi, she, as the Empress, would speak up at the right time and give An Mi face. An Mi would surely remember her kindness, and then many things would be much easier to handle in the future.

But... the scene she wanted to see was not what she was seeing.

"Your Majesty, the person sitting opposite the Eighth Princess is An Mi." Han Yu replied with lowered eyes, her heart also full of doubts. What was going on?

Empress Feng narrowed her eyes, looking at the woman sitting opposite the Eighth Princess who seemed to be talking about something. A glint of malice gathered in her eyes. "Did you do as I instructed?"

“It has already been done, but…” Han Yu glanced cautiously at Empress Feng, and seeing the dark light in her eyes, her heart trembled, knowing what her master’s expression meant.

Empress Feng snorted coldly, her voice carrying an indescribable chill. "Has it already been done? Hmph, should I say that I've been raising a bunch of good-for-nothings? Or should I say that the embroiderer is no simpleton?"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and strode toward the pavilion, leaving Han Yu stunned for a moment before she came to her senses and hurriedly followed.

As soon as Empress Feng arrived at the pavilion, the Eighth Princess burst into laughter, seemingly amused by something. Empress Feng found it particularly irritating, but she did not show it on her face. She remained as dignified, elegant, gentle, and authoritative as ever. "Jin'er, what are you two talking about? You seem so happy."

Upon hearing the voice of the newcomer, the Eighth Princess immediately stood up, and all the palace maids in the pavilion knelt down. An Mi could tell from the person's attire who the noble person in front of her was at a glance.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress." An Mi and the other palace maids bowed and paid their respects.

The Eighth Princess didn't even bother with the formalities. She walked straight up to Empress Feng, took her arm, and said, "Mother, you've come at just the right time. There's an interesting person in the palace."

The Eighth Princess was not the Empress's biological daughter. Her mother was Consort Yu, but a few years ago, Consort Yu fell seriously ill and died despite all the medicine. After that, the Empress took the Eighth Princess into her care and doted on her, even more so than when Consort Yu was alive.

Empress Feng glanced at An Mi, quickly looking her up and down. This woman was indeed quite beautiful, but in the capital, a place never short of beautiful women, she seemed rather ordinary.