The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

This was once a widely circulated story in the palace. Later, the emperor's feelings for Empress Feng faded, but the rule continued. The chef is still in the palace, making these Phoenix Heart Pastries exclusively for Empress Feng. Even if the ladies of other palaces wanted to eat them, they couldn't get the chef to do it unless Empress Feng granted them permission to bestow the pastries upon them.

Over the years, Empress Feng has become increasingly fond of the Phoenix Heart Pastry. Everyone in the palace knows that she wants to reminisce about the Emperor's kindness to her in the past, and also to show everyone that the Emperor treats her differently.

That's how people are; the more they lose something, the more they want to hold onto it.

Consort Rong's eyes lit up when she saw the phoenix-shaped pastry. "This...this was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress?"

An Mi followed her gaze and frowned slightly. "Replying to Consort Rong, these are the pastries that Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon An Mi."

She hadn't planned to eat it, but before she could have Liuguang take the pastry away, Consort Rong came in. Anmi glanced at Consort Rong and thought to herself: What is Consort Rong up to?

The expectation in Consort Rong's eyes made An Mi vaguely guess what was going on. Sure enough, the next moment, Consort Rong spoke up, "An Mi, you are really lucky. This is the Empress's favorite Phoenix Heart Pastry. I heard that it tastes amazing. It's a pity that I have been in the palace for so long and have never had the chance to taste it."

As Consort Rong spoke, she couldn't help but pick up a piece of Phoenix Heart Pastry and examine it carefully in her hand. She looked as if she wanted to put the pastry in her mouth and savor its taste.

An Mi frowned upon seeing this, and even Xin Rou's eyes flashed with a strange light.

“Your Majesty, there are so many delicious snacks in the palace. If Your Majesty were to…” An Mi twitched the corner of her mouth. She could never give these snacks to Consort Rong. She herself was not sure if there was anything wrong with these snacks, so how could she let Consort Rong eat them?

You must know that Consort Rong's health is not ordinary right now. If she eats this dessert and something really happens to her, then I will be held responsible.

However, Consort Rong didn't give An Mi a chance to finish her sentence, excitedly interrupting her, "What you said is true, there are all kinds of delicious pastries in the palace, but these Phoenix Heart Pastries are quite rare. I once had an older sister who received Phoenix Heart Pastries as a gift from Her Majesty the Empress, and she spoke of their taste, which truly made me envious. I've long wanted to taste them, but as you know, Her Majesty the Empress has never been fond of me, so why would she bestow them upon me? An Mi, may I..."

"Your Majesty, this is impossible... This is something Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon me. If I were to give it to Consort Rong and Her Majesty the Empress were to find out, I could not bear the consequences." An Mi frowned, wondering if Consort Rong really wanted to eat something as simple as a phoenix heart pastry. Or did she have some other purpose?

"Anmi, you secretly gave it to me, and I won't tell anyone." Consort Rong put the pastries back into the food box, glanced at the others present, and said, "Listen up, all of you. You should all know what you should and shouldn't say. If anything goes wrong, you'll lose your heads."

Inside the room, there were only Consort Rong's personal maid Xinrou, and Anmi's two maids Yifei and Liuguang. The three of them hurriedly and fearfully said, "This servant dares not speak recklessly."

Consort Rong smiled with satisfaction and gave Xinrou a wink. "Alright, Anmi, I'll take these things. You know I'm pregnant, and I feel terrible if I can't eat these things I crave. Xinrou, take these things with you; we should head back to the palace."

Consort Rong turned around and walked towards the door. As she turned, the light in her eyes was exceptionally bright. She was worried about not being able to find an opportunity, but she did not expect that on the eve of the Ghost Festival, the opportunity would be presented to her. Isn't this God helping her?

Upon hearing Consort Rong's order, Xinrou walked to the table, picked up the pastries, and stopped as she passed Anmi. She said in a barely audible voice, "Miss, there's nothing to worry about."

An Mi met Xin Rou's eyes again, but their gazes only met for a moment before they looked away. Xin Rou left behind a few words and calmly followed Consort Rong out. Everything happened in a flash, as quickly as if it had never happened at all.

However, Xinrou's soft voice was exceptionally clear in Anmi's ears. Just who was this Xinrou?

"Is she one of your master's people?" An Mi glanced at Yi Fei and Liu Guang, asking in confusion.

Liu Guang and Yi Fei exchanged a glance and shook their heads. "Miss, we don't know either. However, this palace maid named Xin Rou doesn't seem to have any ill intentions towards you. In fact, she seems to be showing goodwill."

Yifei nodded as well. Anmi frowned and looked at the hairpin in her hand. Something under the brocade in her palm made Anmi's eyes light up. She immediately removed the hairpin and brocade. What was in her palm was a tiny rolled-up piece of paper.

A note? Who gave her this note? Was it Xinrou?

Why would a palace maid, especially Consort Rong's personal maid, give her a note? And why would she show kindness to her?

Anmi put the hairpin aside, turned around, and carefully unfolded the note. It only had eight characters on it: "Be careful in everything during the Ghost Festival." However, Anmi could recognize the handwriting.

Wasn't this the handwriting on the prescription that doctor in the blue robe wrote for her back then?

Qinglan, this note was given to her by Qinglan!

And Xinrou must belong to Qinglan!

Thinking of this, An Mi's eyes became calmer. She knew that the harem was a mixed bag, and anyone could have planted spies somewhere. Perhaps, there were also many spies watching her in Yanfu Palace!

An Mi clutched the note tightly in her hand and said loudly, "Liu Guang, Yi Fei, let everyone go and rest. I'm tired too, it's time for me to go to sleep."

As she spoke, she slowly walked into the inner hall and entered her room. When no one was around, An Mi placed the note on the candlestick and watched it turn to ashes.

Remembering what Bai Yi had told her earlier, both brothers had repeatedly told her to be careful tomorrow. Could it be that something big is really going to happen tomorrow?

Just as An Mi had suspected, there could be spies everywhere in the palace. When Consort Rong personally delivered the hairpin to An Mi, Empress Feng in the Empress's palace had already learned of the news.

"That hairpin is Consort Rong's treasure. I didn't expect her to be willing to take it out. It seems she really wants to curry favor with An Mi." Empress Feng snorted coldly, a hint of disdain spreading in her eyes.