The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Seeing this, Empress Feng also shrewdly "busied" herself, saying, "What are you all standing there for? Quickly, drive these ghosts away! If Consort Rong is harmed, you won't have a good life either."

Even after Empress Feng gave the order, very few people actually took action. They only made a token effort to get closer, but still dared not actually approach.

What a joke! Those are wasps! Who would be so reckless as to risk their life?

"What...what's going on? Consort Rong, she..." Emperor Mingde was already standing at the front of the crowd, and he was even more shocked by the scene before him. "Quick, quick, save Consort Rong..."

The guards who had followed her immediately sprang into action, but no matter what they did, the wasps seemed to be stuck to Consort Rong and refused to leave. They even caused some of the wasps to scurry around, stinging the guards as well.

Seeing the wasps spreading, Empress Feng hurriedly shouted, "Protect the Emperor! Don't let these wretches hurt His Majesty!"

Consort Rong, you brought this upon yourself!

Thinking of the clothes she was wearing, humph, this Consort Rong thought that by using some tricks and smearing some honey on her clothes, she could attract butterflies. She certainly drew a lot of attention just now.

She thought that by not going to change clothes with her, she could completely guard against her. However, she did not expect that she would think about how Consort Rong would react. This dress, which was specially coated with honey for Consort Rong, was lying in her wardrobe!

Over the years, she had come to know Consort Rong quite well. At least she was certain that on such an occasion, even if Consort Rong changed out of the clothes embroidered for her by An Mi, she would put on this one instead.

Honey attracts butterflies, and its sweet scent is also the love of these bees... no, wasps!

She once said that Consort Rong was far too naive to fight her. Now, seeing her stung by wasps, isn't that satisfying?

Consort Rong's cries for help grew fainter. Seeing that things had almost stopped, and the guards still hadn't driven the wasps off her, Empress Feng approached Emperor Mingde, her brows furrowed with worry. "Your Majesty, this can't go on. These wasps are extremely fierce; I'm afraid we'll have to resort to water..."

Emperor Mingde understood Empress Feng's meaning, "But..."

"Your Majesty, if you hesitate any longer, Consort Rong will be in even worse shape. She is pregnant now," Empress Feng urged, her face full of anxiety.

Emperor Mingde was taken aback, but he had no other choice at the moment. Seeing Consort Rong surrounded by so many wasps on the ground, even he couldn't help but feel a chill. After a moment of silence, he had no choice but to order, "Use water!"

"Quickly, quickly put Consort Rong into the water." Empress Feng repeated anxiously, a hint of triumph flashing in her eyes. To prevent Consort Rong from being discovered by others, she could only use water. As soon as Consort Rong entered the water, the honey on her body would be washed away.

The guards, disregarding everything else, endured the danger and pain of being stung by the wasps, dragged Consort Rong out of the water, put her in the Taiye Pool, and pressed her completely into the water. As soon as Consort Rong's body was submerged, the wasps on her body scattered and hovered in the air above the Taiye Pool for a while before darting away into the distance.

As the wasps gradually disappeared from sight, everyone finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Looking at Consort Rong in the water, only her head was visible, her face covered with wasp stings. Everyone who saw this couldn't help but gasp.

How could the phrase "utterly horrific" possibly describe it?

"Ah... Consort Rong...Quick, quickly pull Consort Rong out of the water, she...she...there's so much blood..." Empress Feng panicked and hurriedly ordered. As soon as Empress Feng mentioned this, the others who had been focusing on Consort Rong's disfigured face also turned their attention to the water, and their expressions changed instantly.

Suddenly, a bright red color spread across the once clear water, and then the red color grew larger and larger.

Everyone then remembered that Consort Rong was pregnant. Could this be...?

Everyone had their own guesses. Even the strongest body couldn't withstand such a commotion. It seemed that Consort Rong had miscarried!

"Quickly, summon the imperial physician... summon the imperial physician..." Emperor Mingde was also in a state of confusion. What was going on? How could he not know?

Consort Rong was quickly pulled from the water by the guards. Before she could even be taken back indoors, the imperial physician rushed forward to examine her. At first, he was shocked to see the sores on her face. Consort Rong was unconscious at the time. After taking her pulse, the physician shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Rong's unborn child could not be saved."

With a deafening roar, Emperor Mingde was struck as if by lightning, staggering back a step. "Didn't manage to save it? What do you mean, 'didn't manage to save it'?"

Emperor Mingde roared angrily. Just a moment ago, he was extremely worried about this child who had suddenly arrived, but how could things have turned out like this in such a short time?

Emperor Mingde glanced at Consort Rong, his eyes immediately meeting her horribly pale face. He couldn't help but frown. "Imperial Physician, please examine her carefully again. Is there any chance that the fetus in Consort Rong's womb can still be conceived..."

The imperial physician was filled with trepidation, while Empress Feng lowered her brows slightly. "Your Majesty, please calm down. Physician Xie has served in the palace for many years, and his diagnosis is unlikely to be wrong. Your Majesty, please consider Consort Rong's condition and quickly have the imperial physician examine the wasp stings on her body. Those wasps are not very big, but they are not small either. I have heard that some people have died from wasp stings. If she is not treated quickly, Consort Rong's life... may also be in danger. Now that the child is gone, the mother cannot be lost either."

In everyone's eyes, Empress Feng's behavior was gentle, magnanimous, and tolerant. Everyone remembered that Consort Rong had intentionally or unintentionally framed Empress Feng in the main hall just now, but now, Empress Feng was actually thinking of Consort Rong in this way.

But no one knew that Empress Feng was happier than anyone else at this moment. It was wonderful, truly wonderful! Now that the child was gone, let's see how Consort Rong can still be arrogant in front of her!

No, Empress Feng glanced at Consort Rong's face and felt even more pleased. This time, Consort Rong probably lost more than just her child!

She couldn't let Consort Rong die. If Consort Rong died like this, it would be too easy for her. She wanted her to live, to watch how Consort Rong fell out of favor and how she would accept this heavy blow.

She once said that if she had the chance, she would make Consort Rong suffer terribly.

She now hoped that Consort Rong would wake up soon. She couldn't help but wonder how Consort Rong would react if she woke up and learned that she had lost her child and was in this state.

"Quickly take her back to her palace. Physician Xie, do your best to treat her." Although Emperor Mingde was unwilling to accept the fact that Consort Rong had miscarried, he calmed down after a moment. Empress Feng was right. Consort Rong's injuries were serious even to the naked eye. If treatment was delayed, I'm afraid... Alas, what a day it is today. We must not let someone die.