The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

An Mi was slightly taken aback, her eyes flickering. "I am terrified. I am just an ordinary woman. I am absolutely not capable of shouldering such a heavy responsibility, nor do I dare to have any inappropriate thoughts."

Emperor Mingde was most wary of her being involved with the Prince of Bohai. If she were to accidentally say something wrong and it reached Emperor Mingde's ears, it would only cause more trouble. In this harem, all she could do was to be extremely careful.

Seeing her like this, Empress Feng did not give up. She lowered her brows and her tone became more probing, "Actually, the eldest prince is not bad either. If Miss Anmi is willing, I would not mind being the matchmaker."

Empress Feng carefully observed An Mi's expression and clearly saw An Mi's delicate eyebrows furrow slightly, but only for a moment before she was filled with fear again. An Mi quickly stood up and bowed her head to the side, saying, "Your Majesty, neither His Highness the First Prince nor the Prince of Bohai are worthy of my attention. Please, Your Majesty, do not joke."

Empress Feng seemed to have not expected An Mi to be so direct. For a moment, if she said anything more, it would seem that she had gone too far.

Indeed, when she learned that Qinglan's feelings for Anmi were not simple, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. Even yesterday, she probed the Emperor, suggesting that Anmi betrothed to Qinglan. However, this angered the Emperor, and Empress Feng was displeased. Even though she knew that betrothing Anmi to Qinglan would only benefit her, not only cutting off Qinglan's chance to marry the daughter of the Marquis of Yong, but also creating a rift between him and the Prince of Bohai, it was a two-birds-with-one-stone plan. However, she dared not displease the Emperor any further and had to suppress the matter in her heart.

Empress Feng summoned An Mi to the palace today, partly to probe her intentions. If she could get An Mi to have this idea herself, that would be wonderful. However, An Mi's attitude... Empress Feng was somewhat displeased. This An Mi was simply too difficult to control.

Empress Feng remained silent for a moment, and the atmosphere became somewhat strange. Just then, a eunuch hurried over and reported to Empress Feng, "Your Majesty, Miss Sima has arrived. Should we summon her?"

An Mi raised an eyebrow. So Empress Feng hadn't just sent her to the palace alone to accompany her today. Miss Sima? An Mi subconsciously recalled a beautiful figure in purple. Could it be Sima Yan, whom she had seen at the Grand Flame Palace that day?

Thinking of Sima Yan's little scheme that day, a smile gradually appeared on An Mi's lips, but the emotions mixed in that smile were unfathomable.

As An Mi was pondering, Empress Feng's voice rang out happily, "Of course, quickly bring Miss Sima over."

The eunuch immediately obeyed and left. Before long, he returned with a graceful woman, walking slowly and elegantly. An Mi recognized her immediately; she was indeed the woman from that day. However, today she was wearing a white dress, which made her appear even more dignified and graceful.

Sima Yan bowed to Empress Feng, and when she met An Mi's gaze, the corners of her mouth turned up. Her enthusiasm for An Mi exceeded An Mi's expectations. "This must be Miss An Mi. We met the other day, but I wonder if Miss An Mi still remembers me?"

After a slight pause, An Mi smiled and said, "Miss Sima is someone who is unforgettable at first sight, so of course An Mi remembers her."

Sima Yan seemed even happier, "Miss Anmi is the kind of person who is unforgettable at first sight, no, not only unforgettable, but also likable at first sight."

“Miss Sima is too kind,” An Mi replied.

"Have you two only met once? I feel as if you've known each other for a long time, or even as close sisters. This must be fate. I have a suggestion: how about I take the lead and you become sworn sisters?" Empress Feng's eyes lit up. It seemed like a sudden idea that popped into her mind, but to An Mi, it always felt as if she had prepared it beforehand.

Clearly, Empress Feng's suggestion pleased Sima Yan. Unable to contain her excitement, Sima Yan grabbed An Mi's hand, "That's wonderful! If that's the case, then it's truly wonderful! Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty, but..."

Sima Yan paused, her gaze gently falling on An Mi, "I wonder if Miss An Mi dislikes Yan'er."

That expectant yet fearful expression, that pitiful look, was truly heart-wrenching, making one's heart melt. As An Mi gazed at that beautiful face, her peripheral vision caught sight of Empress Feng's amused expression, and a hint of irony welled up in her heart.

Disdain? How could she be allowed to disdain the daughter of the dignified Yonghou family? Besides, if she were to utter a word of disdain, she would not only be offending Sima Yan, but also going against Empress Feng's wishes. Perhaps Empress Feng would be waiting to find some fault with her and punish her. How could she let Empress Feng have her way?

“An Mi’s status is too lowly; I’m afraid it would be an insult to Miss Sima’s status,” An Mi said, lowering her brows. “If Miss Sima doesn’t mind, then An Mi naturally has no objection.”

Upon hearing An Mi's words, Empress Feng frowned imperceptibly. Knowing An Mi as she did, shouldn't she have refused?

"What a pity..." Empress Feng glanced at An Mi without leaving a trace, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes. But it vanished in an instant, and she quickly said cheerfully, "That's wonderful! I never expected that I would be able to forge a sisterly bond today. Yan'er, I heard that the Emperor recently intended to bestow your hand in marriage to the First Prince. If this comes to fruition, you will be family. And An Mi... hehe, she's not an outsider either. Perhaps one day, you two can become even closer through marriage and live in harmony as sisters!"

As soon as Empress Feng finished speaking, An Mi frowned slightly, and then a hint of mockery rose in her heart. Empress Feng, it seems that she summoned the two of them to the palace today to stir up trouble between them?

Judging from Sima Yan's attitude towards Qing Lan at the Grand Flame that day, it's clear that she has feelings for Qing Lan. And whether the Empress intends to or not, she is deliberately trying to make Sima Yan hate her!

An Mi looked up and met Sima Yan's eyes, only to see gentleness in Sima Yan's eyes, a gentle and elegant demeanor that seemed to emanate from her very bones. "That's good! Yan'er really likes Mi'er very much. Mi'er wouldn't hate me, would she?"

"How could that be?" An Mi chuckled. She knew that Sima Yan was a deep and calculating person. The calmer she was, the more dangerous she was. At this moment, everyone was acting, so she naturally had to play along, right?

However... if Empress Feng and Sima Yan really thought she was someone who could be led by the nose by others, then they were sorely mistaken!

They left her with no choice. Empress Feng was able to sow discord between her and Sima Yan, so how could she not retaliate?