The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

"Empress Feng, Empress Feng, Anmi said that the Emperor should guard against enemies for me, but I think it would be even better if we could bring you down." Consort Rong murmured softly, a smile playing on her lips. "Anmi, I'm sorry, but I have to use you this time. However, as long as you behave, I won't make things difficult for you."

Thinking of her own plans, Consort Rong's smile deepened. She glanced one last time at the Phoenix Heart Pastry on the table, then got into bed with satisfaction. However, she didn't notice that a pair of eyes in the shadows had seen her actions.

The Ullambana Festival was a grand festival in the Jin Dynasty. It has been passed down since the founding of the Jin Dynasty. On this day, people all over the country prepare wine, food and paper money to commemorate the dead. Similarly, young people release water lanterns on this day. Initially, it was to guide the spirits of the dead. In the end, it gradually evolved and added other meanings, such as making wishes and hoping that their ancestors and Buddha would bless them so that their wishes could come true.

However, some nobles in the capital liked to hold banquets on this day. The more grand the banquet, the more it could demonstrate the family's wealth and power, and also allow everyone to celebrate the festival together.

In the royal family, according to custom, early in the morning, the emperor would lead civil and military officials to the royal ancestral temple to pay tribute to the previous emperors, and then go to the altar to worship heaven, praying that heaven would bless the country to prosper. At noon, a grand banquet would be held, which would last from noon until evening, during which various activities would be held, such as watching plays, releasing water lanterns, and so on.

That morning, An Mi was supposed to get up late. In her opinion, she was just a nobody who came to the palace to do embroidery. It wouldn't matter whether she was there or not for such a grand event. However, early in the morning, there was a commotion outside. An Mi got up, washed up and went out to see what was going on. She saw a palace maid next to Consort Rong, who seemed to be talking to Liu Guang and Yi Fei.

Upon seeing An Mi emerge, the palace maid immediately stepped forward, "Miss An Mi, our Consort Rong requests your presence."

An Mi frowned. She was just a lowly embroiderer. Since Consort Rong had asked her to go, she had no reason not to. So she nodded and followed the palace maid. She thought Consort Rong was asking her to go to Consort Rong's palace. However, it wasn't until a while later that An Mi realized that this was not Consort Rong's palace at all.

The vast imperial garden was filled with women, all dressed in extremely wealthy and noble attire. Apart from some imperial concubines, most of them were the wives and daughters of various officials in the court, gathered in twos and threes, creating a lively atmosphere.

These must be the people who came to attend the Obon festival banquet today!

An Mi frowned. Why did Consort Rong summon her here?

Anmi searched for Consort Rong's figure and soon spotted her. Consort Rong was wearing a dress she had embroidered, with a pinkish-purple base and various brightly colored flowers adorning it. The flowers were so lifelike that they were even more beautiful than the flowers blooming in the Imperial Garden.

Many noble ladies and daughters of wealthy families surrounded Consort Rong, praising her endlessly. Suddenly, a gasp startled everyone...

"Ah, a butterfly..."

"Yes... a butterfly, look, it has landed on Consort Rong..."

"Oh, it must be the flowers on her clothes that made those butterflies think they were real."

"It's truly amazing! I heard that Consort Rong's dress was made by an embroiderer invited from outside the palace. Look how beautiful it is! The craftsmanship is so exquisite that even the butterflies are amazed."

In an instant, the women were in an uproar, all surrounding Consort Rong. Under the envious and amazed gazes of the crowd, Consort Rong naturally smiled brightly.

The other concubines, however, looked rather grim. Their clothes were also made by An Mi, and they were adorned with flowers to varying degrees. But why was it that only Consort Rong's clothes had flowers that attracted butterflies? The others had none at all.

what does this mean?

With just a little thought, they would place all their blame on An Mi, their eyes filled with jealousy and hatred as they looked at Consort Rong, and their hearts were filled with even more displeasure when they thought of An Mi.

They had sent many gifts as thanks, but An Mi was clearly bribed by Consort Rong. Perhaps she was Consort Rong's person. They remembered that Consort Rong visited Yanfu Palace the most often.

The more they thought about it, the more suffocated they felt. Looking at the butterflies surrounding Consort Rong, they found the flowers on Consort Rong's clothes to be extremely beautiful.

Anmi looked at the butterflies, but her lips twitched. In this season, even if there were butterflies, they were few and far between. However, the arrival of these butterflies was rather strange.

In fact, the flowers she embroidered on the clothes of each concubine were not much different, and she didn't believe that the flowers she embroidered could actually attract butterflies. There was more to it than met the eye...

An Mi met Consort Rong's eyes and could vaguely guess something. Consort Rong, oh Consort Rong, she was arrogant and spoiled by the emperor's favor, doing all sorts of mindless things. But, even if 30% of the people who can survive in this harem are stupid, they are not so simple-minded after all.

This butterfly must have been done by Consort Rong!

But what was her purpose? Was it merely to grab everyone's attention and create a buzz?

For some reason, she always felt that it wasn't as simple as it seemed!

Indeed, it was Consort Rong who tampered with the butterflies. She had smeared some honey on the clothes beforehand and prepared a lot of butterflies. Once these butterflies were released, wouldn't they flock around Consort Rong?

As for her purpose... Consort Rong endured the amazed gazes of everyone, then looked at the other concubines, and finally settled her gaze on An Mi. She had to admit that An Mi was really too clever; this one move could achieve so many goals, couldn't it?

Not only did she attract a lot of attention, she also made the concubines jealous of An Mi. From now on, all the concubines will think that An Mi belongs to them!

Now, all she has to do is devise a plan to force Anmi to stay, and in the end, Anmi will have no choice but to become Anmi's person and do things for her.

Consort Rong was pondering this in her heart when the Empress walked over. Seeing the scene before her, she frowned imperceptibly. "Oh, what's going on? Is Consort Rong really a flower fairy reincarnated? Look at all these butterflies on her body, I've never seen anything like it before."

Despite this, Empress Feng felt a chill in her heart. That vile Consort Rong was smug now, but she would be crying later. She wasn't in a hurry!

Consort Rong immediately curtsied, and the other concubines, ladies, and daughters also bowed to Empress Feng. After receiving Empress Feng's order, they rose but dared not show the same admiration for the butterflies that had attracted Consort Rong as before.