The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Qinglan's voice reached Anmi's ears, sounding just like a helpless child, making one feel tenderness and affection. However, Anmi remained rational and did not ignore the deeper meaning in Qinglan's words. "If it's torn, just mend it. Besides, once you get married, she will make clothes for you. At that time, Anmi's rudimentary skills will not be worth mentioning."

“No, it’s not the same. Clothes mended by others are not the same, and clothes made by others are not the same either, Mi’er…” Qinglan became anxious, paused, and then seemed to have made up her mind in her misty eyes. She gazed into An Mi’s eyes and said, word by word, “Would it be alright to stay in the capital?”

If she were there, even if he could only watch her from afar, in this struggle against Empress Feng and the Second Prince's faction, the thought of her presence would make him feel less lonely and cold, and would give him more motivation to obtain the position he had to have.

As soon as she said it, An Mi frowned. Stay in the capital? She already had a decision in mind. Not only because of Bai Yi, but also because of Qing Lan, she couldn't stay in the capital.

Qinglan's feelings for him could very well become a hidden danger for him, a hidden danger that his enemies could exploit!

"Qinglan, you're drunk." Under Qinglan's expectant gaze, Anmi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. As she finished speaking, her eyes darkened, and her gaze shifted from Anmi's face. She murmured, "Drunk, I'm drunk...drunk..."

If he wasn't drunk, and knew the answer was right, why would he ask such a question so recklessly?

He's drunk, and quite drunk!

Qinglan straightened up, holding the wine glass in her hand, and met Anmi's eyes again. "This glass is to bid you farewell."

After drinking it down in one gulp, Qinglan sat down and refilled their glasses, as if the little incident had never happened. She continued drinking, with Anmi naturally keeping her company. Anmi eventually fell asleep on the stone table when she was truly drunk.

Bai Yi frowned, gently stroked An Mi's hair, and slowly said, "You've already gotten her drunk, now you should be sober!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the man, whose eyes had been hazy and filled with drunkenness, frowned and a smile appeared on his lips. "In the end, I couldn't hide it from you."

"Hehe, how could a prince like you let himself get drunk so easily? Your alcohol tolerance is more than that. It's a pity that this little fool, who is usually so clever, was fooled by you." Bai Yi said, looking at An Mi with undisguised tenderness in his eyes, "She considers you a friend."

"The word 'friend' is truly heavy." Qinglan sighed, got up and left the pavilion. When he returned shortly after, he had a cloak in his hand, which he carefully draped over Anmi. When he sat down again, compared to his gentle demeanor when drinking with Anmi earlier, his face now wore a cold, feigned expression.

"How about we have a drink?" Qinglan met Baiyi's eyes.

Bai Yi shrugged. "Since the eldest brother has invited me, I, the third brother, will naturally accept. This cup is for you."

The two exchanged a smile, tilted their heads back, and drank it all in one gulp. After finishing their cups, Qinglan looked at the sleeping Anmi and asked, "She's leaving the capital. What are your plans to do to keep her here?"

Bai Yi's deep eyes narrowed slightly. He had to admit that Qing Lan was one of the very few people in the world who understood him. He knew that he could not let An Mi leave the capital!

With a slight shift in his gaze, Bai Yi chuckled, "I do have a solution, but it would be even better if my eldest brother could help."

He couldn't let Anmi leave the capital, but he also didn't want Qinglan to reap the benefits without lifting a finger. He didn't want Anmi to leave either, did he? In that case, he should do his part.

Qinglan was slightly taken aback, then laughed heartily, "If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."

The two understood each other's intentions without saying a word. Bai Yi, oh Bai Yi, you really are a cunning fox. Whether An Mi is lucky or unlucky to have met this fox is unknown, but it is definitely not a good thing for him to have met this cunning fox!

"Your father has agreed that you can decide your own marriage. So what's your next step? To marry Mi'er?" Qinglan took a small sip of wine and asked tentatively.

Bai Yi raised a thick, dark eyebrow. "Your eldest brother's information network is truly impressive!"

Although things like eyeliner are nothing unusual to them, this is something their father tries his best to keep hidden. The fact that he knows about it shows that he underestimated his eldest brother.

"I'm not as capable as my third brother," Qinglan said, her brows furrowed. She met Bai Yi's eyes again. "Third brother, you haven't answered my question yet. Do you want to marry Mi'er?"

Bai Yi smiled but remained silent. In his view, this was a matter that did not need to be asked. Of course he wanted to marry An Mi. Wasn't that his original intention in designing all of this?

"So what if I am? So what if I am not?" Bai Yi met Qing Lan's gaze, giving a cunning and ambiguous answer.

Qinglan frowned even more, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, "Hehe, Third Brother, no matter when you marry Mi'er, Father will always see her as a thorn in his side. You are pushing her into the eye of the storm and putting her in danger. However, I do have a way to prevent Father from becoming an obstacle for you."

"Oh?" Bai Yi raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."

“If Father is no longer the Emperor, then…” Qinglan’s eyes narrowed, and he didn’t continue. He knew that Yi Baiyi was so smart that he didn’t need to say more; he naturally understood what Yi Baiyi meant.

Bai Yi was slightly taken aback. Just as Qing Lan had expected, he immediately understood what Qing Lan meant. Since his father was no longer the emperor, he could no longer stop him from marrying An Mi. But if his father was no longer the emperor, then who was the emperor?

The two main contenders for the throne are the eldest prince and the second prince!

Bai Yi's lips curled into a smile, and he chuckled, "Elder brother, are you trying to recruit me into your camp?"

Qinglan met Bai Yi's gaze without any hesitation. "No, my third brother's talent is certainly not worthy of being subordinate to others. I simply want to find an ally, and at the same time, give my third brother an ally. With the second brother on the throne and the Feng family in power, neither of us can expect to remain unscathed. And Mi'er..."

As Qinglan spoke, Bai Yi remained calm, but upon closer inspection, one could sense that the color in his eyes was growing increasingly profound. Qinglan's last words struck him like a heavy hammer blow. In fact, he had always understood this.

With the second prince ascending the throne and the Feng family in power, the court will inevitably be in turmoil. Not to mention the eldest prince Qinglan, who will become the loser, even if he has no intention of vying for the throne, he can forget about finding a peaceful place under the Feng family's nose. As for peace... when the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?

He knew Qinglan's purpose perfectly well, but he had to admit that he agreed with Qinglan's thoughts. With Qinglan's strength alone, fighting against Empress Feng's faction was unlikely, even though Qinglan had made great progress recently. As for him... he couldn't let go of the hatred the Feng family held for him, and the Feng family wouldn't just stand by and watch him exist. Even if everyone was at peace now, he could vaguely sense the undercurrents beneath the surface. He and the Feng family couldn't tolerate each other, and only one of them could survive.