The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Immediately, the others around also became worried. When Consort Rong heard Empress Feng's words, she was even angrier. She probably wished that she would get burned.

He was furious and could not contain himself. He pushed Empress Feng away and said, "Don't touch me."

Empress Feng was pushed several steps away. Everyone frowned at Consort Rong's terrible attitude. Empress Feng was clearly concerned about her, but Consort Rong acted like this. She was really ungrateful. After all, she was the Empress!

Emperor Mingde's brow furrowed even more. How could a concubine treat the Empress with such an attitude? Wouldn't that be a laughing stock?

Before he could reprimand Consort Rong, Empress Feng spoke up, but not in the way everyone expected. Instead, she said softly, "It's all my fault. I poured too much tea just now. Consort Rong, your clothes are all wet. Come with me to change them."

Consort Rong felt a mix of emotions. She thought Empress Feng was doing it on purpose; her beautiful dress was now soaked, and she was utterly mortified in this state. But…

"No, thank you," Consort Rong said unhappily, showing no regard for Empress Feng's status.

"Consort Rong, what will you do if you don't change your clothes and get cold? You are pregnant now, how can you be so careless?" Emperor Mingde spoke up. Although Consort Rong was carrying his child, she was indeed a bit arrogant because of his favor, and didn't even consider the occasion.

Consort Rong's expression stiffened slightly. How could she dare to disobey the Emperor's wishes? However, she glanced at Empress Feng and felt somewhat worried.

"Your Majesty, I would like to return to my own palace to change," Consort Rong suggested. She was worried that Empress Feng might be plotting something to harm the child in her womb, and she couldn't let herself fall into her trap. She should avoid Empress Feng as much as possible and be on her guard.

Emperor Mingde's eyes narrowed slightly. Although Consort Rong did not say it explicitly, her wariness of Empress Feng was very obvious. Emperor Mingde glanced at Empress Feng, thinking that she would change her expression, but he saw that Empress Feng still had a gentle face and smiled and said, "Then Consort Rong, go quickly and have your personal maid serve you, so that you don't get cold."

Consort Rong did not expect Empress Feng to grant her wish so easily, and felt uneasy. What was Empress Feng up to?

Consort Rong gave Empress Feng a deep look, bowed to Emperor Mingde, and left the main hall with two palace maids. She thought to herself that even if Empress Feng wanted to harm her, as long as she was careful and didn't give her a chance, she naturally wouldn't have the opportunity to make a move.

As she left, she failed to see the cold smile that flickered in Empress Feng's eyes. Consort Rong, even with all your precautions, what difference does it make? All of this was exactly what she had anticipated. That wretched Consort Rong had underestimated Empress Feng!

The main hall was still bustling with activity. Dancers performed, and wine cups clinked. Emperor Mingde and his guests enjoyed the grand occasion together. When Consort Rong returned to the main hall, she had changed out of her previous clothes and was now dressed in her usual palace attire, which was still extremely elegant.

Empress Feng watched all this with a faint smile in her eyes. After the banquet had gone on for a while, it was time to make lanterns. The men remained in the main hall, while the women went out to the Taiye Pond. The Taiye Pond flowed all the way to the outside of the palace and connected to the river outside the palace. Every year on the Ghost Festival, the concubines and palace maids would release lanterns here.

Empress Feng led her female relatives, and everyone was extremely happy. By the Taiye Pond, whether they were imperial concubines, wives of officials, or daughters of noble families, they were all making their own lanterns or thinking about the wishes they would write on them.

Consort Rong was no exception. At this moment, her lantern was finished. It was shaped like a lotus flower and looked very beautiful and delicate. After examining it carefully for a while, the more she looked at it, the more she felt that her lantern was more beautiful than those made by others. It is said that the more effort you put into making lanterns for the Ghost Festival, the easier it is for your wishes to come true.

Thinking of this, Consort Rong quickly put the lantern in her hand aside, instructed the palace maid to bring paper and pen, spread them out on the stone table, thought for a moment, and quickly wrote a line of small characters on the white paper. She looked at her written wish with satisfaction, her smile so gentle it could drip water.

"May I safely give birth to a prince for the Emperor."

Consort Rong was staring at the words in a daze when a voice rang out. It was a voice that Consort Rong knew all too well. Instantly, the smile on Consort Rong's face vanished, replaced by a look of full of defensiveness.

She hurriedly stood up and saw the dignified and gentle Empress Feng holding the wish she had just written in her hand. "Empress, this is what I wrote."

"I know, I saw you write this, how could I not know it was you? This wish is indeed very good, but..." Empress Feng's gaze fell on Consort Rong and her flat belly, and she said meaningfully, "Whether Consort Rong is carrying a prince is still uncertain, but even if it is a princess, there will be more fun in the palace with more little girls."

Consort Rong frowned. Was the Empress telling her that she might not be able to give birth to a son?

"Your Majesty, you are overthinking this. These past few days, I've been dreaming of a little boy playing around me. The child in my womb must be a prince." Consort Rong smiled and puffed out her chest, showing no intention of lowering herself in front of Empress Feng.

"Is that so? Then I hope that Consort Rong's wish will come true." Empress Feng sneered inwardly, returned the paper to Consort Rong, and gave her a deep look. "Consort Rong, you can continue to make your wish and be your lantern. I will not accompany you. I will also write down my wish: that our Great Jin Dynasty will have good weather and abundant harvests, and that the country will be peaceful and prosperous. I also wish that the Emperor will have many children."

After saying this, Empress Feng ignored Consort Rong and turned to go elsewhere. Consort Rong watched Empress Feng's back and for some reason, she had a bad feeling, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

She didn't believe that Empress Feng would really accept the child in her womb. The brighter Empress Feng's smile, the more intense her worries became.

"Xinrou, where is Anmi?" Consort Rong frowned. At this moment, she thought of Anmi. She wanted Anmi by her side. Anmi was quick-witted and intelligent. With her by her side to take care of her, she would feel much more at ease. However, she forgot that her actions just now had already pushed Anmi into the enemy's camp.

"Your Majesty, we haven't seen Miss Anmi since she left the main hall. Perhaps she was wronged and is still angry," Xinrou replied from the side.

Consort Rong's expression darkened further, but considering what had just happened, she ignored it, saying, "It's just a trivial matter, why is she angry?"