The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Consort Rong's chest heaved violently. Empress Feng's words had undoubtedly ignited all her hatred. "You did it on purpose...you did it on purpose...I'll kill you, I'll kill you!"

This was Empress Feng's goal: she wanted the Emperor to see her like this, and she wanted him to be completely disgusted with her.

As Consort Rong spoke, she bared her teeth and claws and attacked Empress Feng. But Empress Feng would not let her have her way. Seeing Consort Rong's anger and confusion, Empress Feng curled her lips into a disdainful smile. In her eyes, Consort Rong was nothing more than a pathetic and defeated opponent. Even if something happened to Consort Rong, the Emperor would not care. Consort Rong was now completely at her mercy!

Empress Feng curled her lips into a disdainful smile, slightly extended her foot, and just touched Consort Rong's ankle. Consort Rong staggered and fell heavily to the ground with a thud.

"Ah..." Consort Rong cried out in pain, howling loudly.

Empress Feng looked at her current disheveled state, her gloating deepening. She sneered, "Consort Rong, if you want to kill me, you'll have to see what you're capable of. Let me tell you, when you were favored before, you could only flaunt your power and influence, which had no impact on my position. But now that you've fallen out of favor, do you think I'll still have any scruples?"

"No, I... I haven't fallen out of favor..." Consort Rong cried out, the words "fall out of favor" seeming like a monstrous flood to her.

"No? Consort Rong, if you're willing to live in the lies you've woven, then I'll grant your wish." Empress Feng chuckled, giving Consort Rong a deep look. A hint of cunning crept into her eyes as she slowly withdrew her gaze from Consort Rong. Consort Rong couldn't help but shiver.

Consort Rong asked almost instinctively, "What are you going to do?"

Empress Feng did not answer, but slowly walked to the door and opened it...

The sudden opening of the door startled the concubines who were eavesdropping outside, but couldn't hear clearly. They looked at the smile on Empress Feng's face, then their gazes passed over Empress Feng and landed on Consort Rong. Immediately, a series of gasps rose and fell.

Good heavens! Is that Consort Rong? How could it be Consort Rong?

The concubines present were stunned. In just a moment, too many thoughts flashed through their minds. But in the end, a faint smile appeared in their eyes. No wonder the emperor's face was so ugly when he came out. If it were them, their faces would probably be even uglier.

Empress Feng observed the expressions of the concubines, smiled, and loudly instructed, "Consort Rong is injured, and this palace is too noisy for her to recuperate. Hanyu, arrange for a quiet palace for Consort Rong to move in immediately. This will be beneficial for her recovery."

A secluded palace? No one present was stupid; the secluded palace the Empress spoke of was probably the Cold Palace!

Each of the concubines had their own thoughts. In this harem, it was very difficult for a woman who entered the Cold Palace to have a chance to turn her life around. How could Consort Rong bear the desolation of the Cold Palace?

But so what if she can't take it? This woman has been arrogant enough; she deserves to suffer!

Consort Rong was stunned for a moment before she understood what Empress Feng meant. She... she wanted to send her to the Cold Palace?

"No, Empress Feng, you can't arrange it like this! The Emperor won't allow it..." Consort Rong rushed out, and the concubines at the door looked on with disgust and took a few steps back. But Consort Rong didn't care about their reactions. She grabbed Empress Feng's sleeve, "Empress Feng, you've got the guts, just wait until I'm better..."

"Haha..." Empress Feng laughed disdainfully, "What are you saying, sister? You should go to the Cold Palace and rest properly. Maybe when you recover, the Emperor will still take a look at you. Don't you all think so?"

Empress Feng's last question was naturally directed at the concubines outside the door.

“Yes, Consort Rong, what the Empress said makes sense. Besides, the Empress is the head of the harem. Arranging a place for you to recuperate is a sign of her kindness. You should thank her properly,” one of the concubines said.

"Good. Focus on recovering from your injuries and strive to return here with Asahi, and strive to serve the Emperor with Asahi."

Another concubine spoke up, only to be met with sneers from the others. "She can still come back here and serve the Emperor? Hmph, Empress Feng sent Consort Rong to the Cold Palace. She probably won't let her come back so easily. Besides, just thinking about the Emperor's furrowed brows and gloomy face when he left, they knew that if Consort Rong really wanted to naively wait for this day to come, then she really had a long way to go."

"Hanyu, what are you waiting for? Take some men and escort Consort Rong there," Empress Feng urged loudly, her brows furrowed with the smugness of a victor.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Han Yu curtsied and gave the palace maids present a wink. "Didn't you hear Her Majesty the Empress's orders? Consort Rong is injured and has miscarried. Do you expect her to leave on her own?"

Since Consort Rong refused to leave on her own, they naturally dragged her away.

The palace maids in Consort Rong's palace would never dare to disobey Empress Feng's wishes. Besides, Consort Rong's future was already bleak, and following her would only bring them bad luck and harm. So, they might as well listen to the Empress and perhaps get a good job in the future.

Xinrou stepped forward first, took Rongfei's hand, and together with several other palace maids, helped lift the struggling Rongfei up.

"Let me go... let me go..." Consort Rong tried her best to break free, but how could she possibly defeat several palace maids with her strength alone?

Was this all her fate could be? No, the thought of the Cold Palace filled her with instinctive fear. No, she couldn't let herself spend the rest of her life in the Cold Palace, and she was even more unwilling to let Empress Feng be so smug.

"You wait...you all just wait..." Consort Rong shouted, her voice growing louder and louder as she moved further and further away from the room.

Before long, Consort Rong was led out of her palace and headed towards the Cold Palace by Han Yu. Consort Rong's shrill screams still echoed in the air. When they reached a certain point, they stopped.

Han Yu looked at An Mi standing in front of her, her brows furrowing slightly, but only for a moment before relaxing. "Miss An Mi, is there something you need here?"

An Mi met Han Yu's gaze and nodded in a friendly manner, "Aunt Han Yu, this is..."

"Oh, Her Majesty the Empress instructed that Consort Rong be taken to a secluded palace to aid her recovery," Han Yu said truthfully, feeling that An Mi, though seemingly harmless, was actually quite profound.

An Mi slowly stepped forward, her gaze falling on Consort Rong. "Oh? Is that so? A secluded palace? Ha, isn't it the Cold Palace? It's not a suitable place to recuperate! Aunt Han Yu, may An Mi exchange a few pleasantries with Consort Rong?"

Han Yu glanced at An Mi, then gave a signal to the other palace maids, who all stepped back a few paces, leaving space for An Mi and Consort Rong.