The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Upon hearing the mention of Consort Rong, even Empress Feng, usually so composed and reserved, couldn't help but change her expression. She tightened her grip on An Mi's hand, and then heard An Mi speak, "Consort Rong is truly something else. She's already pregnant, yet she doesn't seem to care for the child in her womb. What if what she attracted just now wasn't butterflies, but… Ah, Your Majesty, please forgive me, it was just an unrealistic guess. Please pretend you didn't hear me…"

"Hehe..." Empress Feng laughed. "Anmi, Consort Rong's attempt to use you against me was truly excessive. How could you be involved in the power struggles within the harem? I suppose you hate her too?"

Anmi smiled silently, meeting Empress Feng's gaze. There were some things they understood without words, a tacit understanding reached between them as their eyes met.

"You really are a clever woman. You're right. If it weren't butterflies that were attracted, but something else... Hehe..." Empress Feng couldn't help but glance at An Mi a few more times. This An Mi was quite shrewd. Hmph, that Consort Rong was really overestimating herself. She probably didn't know that she had not only offended her, but also An Mi.

"Your Majesty also knows that the dress Consort Rong is wearing was made by An Mi. If something happens to her while wearing that dress, An Mi will likely be held responsible as well." An Mi frowned, looking somewhat troubled. She and Empress Feng both wanted to teach Consort Rong a lesson, so why not join forces for the time being?

There are some things she really needs someone to do for her.

The fact that the Empress approached her at this time was truly perfect.

Empress Feng understood her meaning and chuckled, "That's easy. Just have her change her clothes. As for how to change them and what clothes to change them into... that's none of your concern, Miss Anmi."

"Then thank you very much for your kindness, Your Majesty. Please don't keep Anmi waiting too long, Your Majesty," Anmi said with a smile.

"Go do what you need to do. I will not keep you waiting." Empress Feng originally came out to persuade An Mi to hold on to the powerful Prince of Bohai and not let Yunxiu and Baiyi's marriage go through. However, she did not expect to gain something else first. Since that's the case, why not deal with that bitch Consort Rong first?

The two exchanged a smile, a mixture of malice and cunning swirling within it...

The main hall was still bustling with activity as everyone congratulated Yunxiu and the Prince of Bohai on their "engagement." No one noticed that Empress Feng had left and returned to the main hall.

However, Consort Rong noticed that now that Yunxiu was no longer a threat, her biggest enemy was still Empress Feng.

"Oh, Empress, where have you suddenly gone?" Consort Rong suddenly spoke, her tone somewhat unfriendly. For some reason, the smile on Empress Feng's face made her feel particularly uneasy, sending chills down her spine.

Empress Feng was always experienced, and she naturally had her own way of dealing with Consort Rong's question. With a slight smile, she said unhurriedly, "Look, I went and had someone change the cloth. The previous one was soaked with blood, which was embarrassing on a day like this."

Upon hearing this, everyone noticed that the cloth wrapped around Empress Feng's forehead seemed to have been changed. Consort Rong originally wanted to make trouble, but after Empress Feng's words, she ultimately couldn't find an excuse and felt somewhat resentful.

Empress Feng twitched the corners of her mouth, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes. She raised her wine cup and walked up to Consort Rong, saying as she went, "Consort Rong is pregnant. I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet. Congratulations, sister. I'll drink this cup of wine."

As Empress Feng spoke, she downed the entire cup of wine in one gulp in front of everyone, before looking at Consort Rong and letting her gaze linger on the wine on the table in front of her.

"Your Majesty, I am pregnant and should not drink alcohol. I hope Your Majesty will understand." Consort Rong gently stroked her belly, and thinking of the child in her womb, she felt a little smug. She hoped that Empress Feng would force her to drink, so that she could seize the opportunity to let the Emperor judge the matter. However, how could Empress Feng give her such an opportunity?

"Of course, my sister can't drink alcohol. You are carrying the Emperor's child, how can you drink alcohol?" Empress Feng said loudly, then smiled broadly, stepped forward warmly, and picked up the teapot on the table. "Why don't you just drink tea, my sister?"

Consort Rong's expression stiffened. Empress Feng's approach made her lean back slightly. Then, Empress Feng picked up a full teacup and handed it to her.

"Consort Rong, please drink this." Empress Feng spoke gently. This gesture amazed everyone present. Empress Feng personally poured tea for Consort Rong. How much she valued her!

They had assumed that Empress Feng would dislike Consort Rong, who was pregnant, and that the relationship between the two would be even more strained after Consort Rong's earlier accusations against Empress Feng. However, they were surprised to find that Empress Feng was so friendly to Consort Rong and did not hold a grudge at all. In this light, it seemed that Consort Rong was rather petty.

Consort Rong was stunned, staring at the cup of tea in front of her. For some reason, even though she had watched her pour the tea and had no chance to tamper with it, Consort Rong still felt as if this cup of tea was poison meant to kill her.

"Consort Rong, what's wrong with you? Are you afraid that I will harm the baby in your womb? Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would never harm the Emperor's flesh and blood." Empress Feng raised her voice, but to others it sounded like a firm declaration.

Consort Rong's brows were furrowed, but Emperor Mingde's brows furrowed slightly. "Consort Rong, aren't you going to drink the Empress's tea?"

Emperor Mingde naturally hoped for peace in the harem. If Consort Rong didn't drink, it would leave everyone with the impression that there was discord in the harem, and in the end, it would be his face that was lost.

"No, how could I not drink it? I thank Empress for the tea. Also, I misunderstood Empress earlier. It was my fault. I apologize to you." Consort Rong dared not anger Emperor Mingde. She knew that if she continued to hold a grudge, it would only highlight Empress Feng's virtue and magnanimity.

As she spoke, Consort Rong reached out to take the teacup, but before she could even hold it properly, the teacup fell into her hand, and naturally, the full cup of tea spilled out immediately.

"Ah..." Consort Rong cried out in surprise. The tea spilled on her clothes. It was only a little wet at first, but Consort Rong panicked and her hand trembled, so more tea spilled out, and more of Consort Rong's clothes were soaked.

"Oh dear, sister, what happened? Why can't you hold it steady?" Empress Feng frowned, anxiously wiping the tea off Consort Rong's body. "Luckily, the tea wasn't too hot, otherwise, what would have happened if you had burned yourself?"