The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

When she mentioned that Feng Yu liked Yu Ling'er, he had already seen through Empress Feng's intentions. He just watched calmly and did not expose her. It was not because he was afraid of the Feng family, but because she had her own plans and he naturally had his own plans as well!

Hmph, trying to form a marriage alliance with the Yu family and bring them into the Feng family's camp, what a damned wishful thinking!

This Great Jin Dynasty belongs to his family; the Feng family shouldn't even think about having any wicked ideas!

"What is the Yu family's attitude now?" Emperor Mingde's eyes darkened slightly, his anger from before subsiding somewhat.

"The Yu family..." Eunuch Qin paused, then continued, "The Yu family hasn't made any moves, but I've heard that Miss Yu Ling'er hasn't left the house for many days."

"Oh? Is that so? No movement?" Emperor Mingde's lips curled up, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light. "Come here, I have something to tell you to do!"

Eunuch Qin quickly leaned in and Emperor Mingde whispered something in his ear. A look of surprise flashed across Eunuch Qin's eyes, followed by calmness. That calmness seemed to be the profoundness of someone accustomed to the ways of emperors. He sighed inwardly. It turned out that the moment the emperor issued the decree to marry General Feng and Yu Ling'er, he never intended for the marriage to succeed.

Empress Feng was probably still basking in her own pride at having secured such a powerful family as the Yu family for the Feng family and her son's support, unaware that the Emperor had already begun his scheme.

The Emperor's orders echoed in his mind. The Emperor was indeed cruel. The Yu family was in for a lot of trouble this time. But how could the Emperor's will be disobeyed?

Even if the Emperor wanted the entire Yu family to decline, the Yu family could only endure it!

"This servant will go to the Yu family immediately." Eunuch Qin accepted the order and withdrew. In the vast imperial study, Emperor Mingde glanced at the memorial he had just read, then turned his gaze to the imperial edict that Eunuch Qin had just drafted. This marriage was not bad!

As for the other marriage... Empress Feng, I wonder if your wishful thinking can still be swayed?

After leaving the imperial study, Eunuch Qin walked directly towards the palace gate, carrying Emperor Mingde's decree, his expression utterly calm...

Meanwhile, in the Yu family mansion, ever since Yu Ling'er caused such a scene on the Ghost Festival, Master Yu had been dragged into the trap set by the Empress. In recent days, he had been very cold towards Yu Ling'er. Everyone knew that the young lady of the Yu family had not left the house for many days, and had not even attended a single gathering with her friends, who were usually young ladies. In reality, even if Yu Ling'er wanted to go out, she was under house arrest and could not leave the gates of the Yu mansion, or even her own room.

Inside Yu Ling'er's courtyard, the door to her room was tightly locked. Several thick wooden planks even sealed the door shut. The windows were also sealed shut, except for a small hole through which food could be passed in. The room was completely airtight.

"Let me out... You bunch of lackeys, don't you even listen to me anymore?"

Inside the room, Yu Ling'er's fierce voice came out, but it was obvious that, perhaps because she refused to eat, her voice, though fierce, also carried a hint of weakness.

The servants and maids guarding outside all frowned deeply, listening to the young lady's scolding voice from inside the room, not daring to approach even a little. They had all received orders from the master to keep an eye on the young lady, and if she really escaped from this room, they would be in big trouble.

They knew more or less about the young lady's temperament; she might make a fuss or go on a hunger strike, but when she really couldn't take it anymore, she would eventually give in and eat.

The servants and maids stood at their posts, diligently performing their duties. Suddenly, seeing a figure entering through the courtyard gate, they perked up even more and called out in unison, "Master... Madam..."

Master Yu and Madam Yu walked in hand in hand. Master Yu's face was solemn, while Madam Yu's brows were furrowed. Yu Ling'er, who was inside the room, seemed to have heard the commotion and immediately ran to the door, calling out loudly, "Father, please let your daughter out quickly..."

Master Yu frowned, and Madam Yu, feeling sorry for her daughter, looked even more worried, "Ling'er..."

Hearing the concern in Madam Yu's call, Yu Ling'er seemed to see a glimmer of hope. "Mother, please beg Father to let Ling'er go. Ling'er wants to find her brother-in-law. Ling'er doesn't want to marry that damned Feng Yu."

Madam Yu was anxious, and she was also heartbroken that her daughter was imprisoned. However, looking at her husband's increasingly gloomy face, Madam Yu couldn't help but sigh in her heart. This matter was indeed too complicated.

It's one thing for the master not to want Ling'er to marry Feng Yu, but if Ling'er is released and she really goes to find the Prince of Donglin, then things will be even more serious. Empress Feng will definitely make a big deal out of it, and who knows how she will suppress the Yu family. This concerns the honor and disgrace of the Yu family. Even though she is a woman and she loves her daughter, she has to harden her heart and see what the master thinks.

Upon hearing Yu Ling'er's words, Master Yu gave a displeased snort, "You unfilial daughter, you've caused such a big problem, do you want to cause even bigger problems?"

"Father..." Yu Ling'er cried out, feeling extremely aggrieved. What happened that day was something she hadn't expected. The person she wanted to hit was clearly An Mi, so how could she have imagined that the stone would fall on Empress Feng's head, giving Empress Feng the opportunity? But the person she loved had always been her brother-in-law. How could she just watch herself marry someone else? Even if that person was Empress Feng's nephew, even if that person held a high position in the court, her heart only belonged to her brother-in-law.

"Father, don't you also want your daughter to be with your brother-in-law?" Yu Ling'er said aggrievedly. Her father did not stop her from getting close to her brother-in-law, and even hinted that if she could take her sister's place, it would be a blessing for the Yu family. Her father's attitude was so obvious, but why was he so heartless at this time?

"Shut up! Don't say another word like that!" Master Yu shouted sternly. Yu Ling'er was telling the truth, but who knew if there were spies in the Yu household? Walls have ears, so we had to be careful.

Yu Ling'er bit her lip, feeling unwilling, "Father..."

Master Yu's brows were furrowed. He had been trying to find a solution all day, but he had no clue whatsoever. Empress Feng's scheme had undoubtedly put the Yu family in a dilemma.

These days, Empress Feng sends people to his residence every few days to deliver things, ostensibly to foster a relationship, but in reality, isn't her purpose to keep a close watch on the Yu family?

Now, he has only two paths before him: either he obediently waits for Feng Yu to prepare a grand wedding procession to marry Ling'er, and from then on, the Yu family can only depend on Empress Feng and the Feng family, but in that case, the Yu family will be subservient to the Feng family for life and never have a chance to rise again.