The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

"So?" An Mi met Consort Rong's eyes. "So, Consort Rong used An Mi?"

"No, I'm not using you, I'm trying to help you," Consort Rong said firmly, shaking her head.

Help her? Does Consort Rong really think she's a fool and is just playing with her?

“Your Highness Consort Rong, I am foolish and do not understand what Your Highness means by ‘helping you’,” An Mi said, feigning ignorance.

“An Mi, you are a smart woman, how could you not understand my meaning? You know that this Phoenix Heart Pastry was bestowed upon you by Empress Feng. If you insist that Empress Feng instructed you to frame me and kill the child in my womb, then you can shift all the blame onto Empress Feng. As for you, I promise you that I will ensure your safety. But if you do not do so, all the blame will fall on you. Do you think you can bear this punishment?” Consort Rong stared intently at An Mi. At this moment, Consort Rong was not the arrogant and spoiled concubine, nor was she the woman who begged An Mi for help.

An Mi saw her imposing manner and a faint sarcasm curled at the corner of her lips. "Your Majesty, An Mi wants to know, is there really a problem with that Phoenix Heart Pastry?"

Consort Rong's body stiffened, and a strange look flashed in her eyes. "Of course there is a problem. Do you think I would wrong her? Well, Anmi, do you have a choice now? You can't be confused at this time."

“Your Majesty, Anmi is not willing to be confused either.” Anmi frowned and said, “Is there a problem?” In her opinion, there was indeed a problem! However, the problem should lie with Consort Rong.

"So you mean you agree to my proposal?" Consort Rong asked excitedly, a smirk playing on her lips. She thought to herself that as long as An Mi followed her instructions and insisted that it was Empress Feng who had ordered it, then she would have achieved her goal.

Empress Feng, this time, even if she can't bring her down, she will make sure that the Emperor completely alienates her from his heart.

Only in this way, even if she doesn't guard against Empress Feng tampering with the child in her womb, the Emperor will guard against it for her. Then, she'll see what kind of thoughts the Empress would dare to have.

An Mi remained silent, and Consort Rong naturally assumed that she had tacitly agreed. Overjoyed, she couldn't help but sigh, "That's wonderful, An Mi. No matter how the Empress tries to argue, you must stick to your story and insist that it was her. Don't worry, I will protect you."

She would protect her. This time, she wanted to kill two birds with one stone. She not only wanted to make Empress Feng suffer a heavy blow, but also to force An Mi to regard her as an enemy by everyone in the palace in the future.

Just now in the Imperial Garden, those concubines already felt that An Mi was treating them exceptionally well. Now that she has offended the Empress, from now on, as long as she is in the palace, she will have to rely on An Mi for support.

However, she did not expect that even if she was at odds with the Empress, An Mi would not only have her as a potential backer.

An Mi remained silent, but she knew in her heart what she should do. Consort Rong, how could she help her when she schemed against her like this?

Thinking of Emperor Mingde just now, and then looking at Consort Rong, An Mi couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth. It's true that birds of a feather flock together.

Just then, a eunuch's shrill voice came from outside the door, "Your Highness, you cannot go in. The Emperor has ordered that Miss Anmi..."

"Get out!" Bai Yi shouted sharply. The next moment, the door was flung open. An Mi looked up and saw Bai Yi standing in the doorway. Bai Yi's appearance clearly startled Consort Rong. Her previous joy vanished, replaced by resentment. She pointed at An Mi and said, "I have treated you well. Why did you harm me for someone else?"

An Mi felt a sense of sarcasm, finding Consort Rong particularly laughable. Seeing Consort Rong's attitude towards An Mi, Bai Yi was naturally displeased and lowered his voice, "Before we've even investigated whether there's a problem with the Phoenix Heart Pastry, Consort Rong is putting this on An Mi's head far too early!"

Consort Rong glanced at Bai Yi, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly. How could the Phoenix Heart Pastry be without problems? Thinking of what she had done last night, a smug look flashed in Consort Rong's eyes. She just needed to wait for the imperial physician to announce that the Phoenix Heart Pastry contained musk.

When his gaze fell on An Mi again, he nodded solemnly to her. The meaning was all too clear. An Mi saw it and smiled faintly. But when she saw the satisfied smile on Consort Rong's face, she knew that Consort Rong seemed to have misunderstood her.

A misunderstanding? Let her misunderstand then, that's exactly what she wants.

Consort Rong didn't say much and left the room. After Consort Rong left, Bai Yi finally spoke, "What did Father Emperor say to you just now? And what did this woman say to you?"

Even if the investigation was to determine if there was a problem with the Phoenix Heart Pastry, there was no need to lock An Mi up alone. Bai Yi's eyes narrowed, and he stared at An Mi without blinking.

“The Emperor said that if I persuade you to marry Miss Yunxiu, he will ensure my safety.” An Mi did not hide anything, but as soon as she finished speaking, the sharp veins on Bai Yi’s forehead bulged.

"Damn it, damn it!" Bai Yi gritted his teeth. "You agreed to him?"

He understood his father's scheme, but what he cared about most now was An Mi's attitude. Before An Mi could answer, Bai Yi angrily said, "If you agree to him, you must take back that idea. Let me tell you, it's impossible, absolutely impossible!"

An Mi rarely saw Bai Yi so enraged, and the smile on her lips deepened. She said slowly, "See? I knew it. Even if I advised you, the Emperor might not have gotten his way."

Bai Yi's anger subsided somewhat. "Good to know!"

Does she mean she doesn't intend to do as her father said? He breathed a sigh of relief, but then he heard An Mi's voice again, "However, I think that if Your Highness really doesn't want to marry Yunxiu, you should agree to His Majesty's request now."

Bai Yi frowned, looking at An Mi with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"

"Didn't Your Highness just say that the Emperor wouldn't bestow his woman upon you? If the Emperor were to do something out of line to the woman who should be his daughter-in-law, do you think he would feel sorry for you?" An Mi lowered her brows, a hint of wickedness flashing in her eyes. She was not someone to be bullied. First, the Emperor had forcefully threatened her, and then Consort Rong had schemed against her. No matter how good-natured she was, she wouldn't let them bully her.

Threatening her? Scheming against her? She's no saint either!

After careful consideration of what Bai Yi had said in the main hall, she quickly understood. In that case, why not add some more spice to give the royal family more topics for the people to talk about?

Bai Yi stared intently at An Mi, his eyes thoughtful. "You..."