The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

In her previous life, she didn't have much contact with the royal family, so she didn't know what happened to Consort Rong. However, in her opinion, the Empress probably couldn't tolerate Consort Rong.

An Mi twitched the corners of her mouth. She was actually grateful for Consort Rong's sudden arrival, which diverted Empress Feng's attention. Even if Empress Feng wanted to test her feelings, she would never do it in front of Consort Rong, would she?

Anmi took a step back without leaving a trace. Empress Feng was already seething with hatred for Consort Rong. This woman really didn't know what she was doing. Humph, she'll have her day to cry later!

Suppressing her displeasure, Empress Feng picked up a piece of pastry and said, "My sister is so thoughtful."

In the end, no one spoke, and for a moment, the room fell silent. Empress Feng could no longer continue to talk to An Mi about what had just happened. An Mi was happy to be relieved. Consort Rong's purpose was to prevent the Empress from saying anything detrimental to her. Since everyone was silent, she had succeeded. She drank her tea by herself, occasionally glancing around, but showed no intention of leaving.

Even as dusk approached, Consort Rong remained seated. Empress Feng's face turned somewhat green. Finally, she rose and said, "I am a little tired. Consort Rong, you may take your leave now!"

Consort Rong also found it very boring, and was secretly delighted. "Since you are tired, sister, then we will not disturb your rest. Anmi, why don't you kneel down and take your leave?"

An Mi was taken aback and glanced at Empress Feng tentatively. Although she was neither humble nor arrogant, she was not as presumptuous as Consort Rong. In this palace, Empress Feng ultimately had more power than a favored concubine!

Empress Feng gritted her teeth. "Kneel down and take your leave! Think carefully about what I just told you."

Anmi received permission, nodded in agreement, curtsied, and withdrew.

As soon as Consort Rong and An Mi left and their figures disappeared from sight, Empress Feng's forced composure and elegance vanished instantly. She slammed her hand heavily on the table, saying, "That Consort Rong, relying on the Emperor's favor, truly doesn't put me in the slightest bit of respect."

Han Yu was startled. The Empress was furious. Of course, this wasn't the first time Consort Rong had acted arrogantly out of favor.

"Your Majesty, she's just a concubine. What good is the Emperor's favor? She's nothing more than a pretty face and a young body. If she loses that face and that young body, she's nothing. She hasn't even given birth to a prince. When she falls out of favor, that's when she'll pay the price," Han Yu whispered, trying to comfort her. "I'm afraid..."

The Empress's eyes narrowed as she glanced at Han Yu. "I hate people who only say half a sentence."

Han Yu trembled and hurriedly said in a fearful manner, "This servant deserves to die. What this servant means is that I'm afraid that Consort Rong has really received the Emperor's favor and is pregnant with the Emperor's child."

The Empress's expression changed slightly. Yes, this was exactly what she had been worried about. Some time ago, she summoned the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department to ask him about it. In the past, after Consort Rong served the Emperor, she would always drink some medicinal soup to prevent pregnancy. However, half a month ago, the medicinal soup was stopped. It seems that the Emperor intends to make that wretched Consort Rong pregnant.

She's already so arrogant even though she's not pregnant yet; if she were, she'd be even more cocky. Most importantly, there's the Emperor's attitude. If Consort Rong gives birth to a royal heir, how much more favor will the Emperor bestow upon her…

Empress Feng did not want to think any further, and the fierce light flashing in her eyes was quite frightening. "I am determined not to let that vile Consort Rong carry the imperial child."

Han Yu glanced at Empress Feng and a chill ran through her. It seemed the Empress already had a plan.

An Mi followed Consort Rong out of the Empress's palace. Consort Rong kept thinking about what the Empress had said to An Mi at the end, and couldn't help but wonder, "Consider it? Consider what?"

Could it be that the Empress really instructed An Mi to tamper with her clothes?

Thinking this, Consort Rong became even more wary. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and took a jade bracelet off her wrist. "Anmi, this was bestowed upon me by the Emperor. Today, I present it to you..."

A gift for her? An Mi realized something was amiss and calmly pushed it back, "Your Majesty, this was bestowed upon you by the Emperor. It must be extremely precious. An Mi cannot accept it."

"I can accept it, I can accept it. If I say I can accept it, then I can accept it." Consort Rong was thinking of bribing An Mi, so how could she give her any room to refuse?

An Mi looked troubled. Having lived two lives, she was a shrewd person and could see through Consort Rong's intentions. Consort Rong probably wanted something from her!

An Mi stopped refusing, and sure enough, Consort Rong began to ask her questions, "An Mi, what did the Empress say to you just now? She even asked you to consider it."

So that's what it was about. An Mi frowned, somewhat puzzled as to why Consort Rong was so concerned about what the Empress had just mentioned. Seeing that An Mi seemed to be avoiding something, Consort Rong seemed to understand and snorted coldly, "That Empress Feng is old and faded, does she still want to compete for the Emperor's favor? You're new here and don't know, but the person the Emperor loves most in this palace right now is me, Consort Rong. Even you, it was only because I begged the Emperor that he summoned you to the capital. In the end, I am your benefactor. No matter what the Empress says to you or what she orders you to do, you must not listen to her, understand?"

An Mi's lips twitched. So this Consort Rong suspected that the Empress wanted to use her against her?

Ha, you're really overthinking it.

However… An Mi glanced at Consort Rong without leaving a trace, and sighed in her heart. How could someone with such a personality possibly compete with the Empress?

In the end, all that will remain is a pool of blood in this harem!

"I will obey Your Majesty's teachings." Anmi said calmly. She didn't like Empress Feng, but she found Consort Rong, who was not very bright, to be more naive.

Consort Rong smiled with satisfaction, "You're smart enough to know what's good for you. Listen carefully, this year for the Ghost Festival, you'd better put a lot of thought into my clothes. I want to outshine everyone on that day, and once I receive praise, you'll definitely get your share of the rewards."

Everyone is tempted by benefits, but she didn't know that An Mi didn't care about the benefits she could offer. However, An Mi didn't say anything, just silently lowered her head, which made Consort Rong think even more that she had accepted her temptation.

"Alright then, you go back to Yanfu Palace first thing tomorrow morning. I'll come to your place then, and you can take my measurements properly," Consort Rong instructed. Just as she was about to leave, An Mi unexpectedly called out to her, "Your Majesty..."

Consort Rong frowned and glanced at An Mi. "Is there anything else?"

“Your Majesty, Anmi is an embroiderer summoned by the Emperor to the palace to embroider and make clothes for Your Majesty. I will do my best for Your Majesty’s clothes. This jade bracelet is really too precious for me to accept…” Anmi returned the jade bracelet to Consort Rong. She absolutely could not accept this. It was too obvious, and she might be taken advantage of if she was not careful.