The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

"Your Majesty, General Feng's marriage has been arranged. The Prime Minister's Mansion is now a suitable match for us." Aunt Hanyu couldn't help but speak up when she saw Empress Feng's displeasure. She knew that the Empress was unhappy because of the marriage alliance between the Marquis of Yong's Mansion and the First Prince's Mansion. However, they had also formed a marriage alliance with the Prime Minister's Mansion. Although Yang Jingyu was not as shrewd as Sima Yan, the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Marquis of Yong's Mansion were still considered to be evenly matched in terms of status and strength.

To the Feng family, women are merely tools; in the end, it all comes down to how much the Prime Minister's mansion helps the Feng family.

Why is the Empress so worried?

Empress Feng frowned even more upon hearing Han Yu's words. After a moment of silence, she suddenly stood up and said, "Han Yu, prepare some congratulatory gifts. I will personally visit the Prime Minister's residence. From now on, we will be in-laws, and it is time for us to have a proper visit."

Han Yu glanced at Empress Feng cautiously, noticing the glint in her narrowed eyes. She realized that the Empress's visit to the Prime Minister's residence was probably not just for casual conversation.

Han Yu understood this, and without saying anything more, she curtsied and accepted the order.

The light in Empress Feng's eyes still shone brightly. Han Yu's guess was correct. How could Empress Feng have come to the Prime Minister's residence in person just because of the reasons she mentioned? She had her own plans for going to the Prime Minister's residence.

So what if the marriage arrangements are made at the same time? So what if they get married on the same day?

This wedding must not be less grand than Qinglan's. She must plan this wedding carefully for Yu'er and the Feng family. She wants to use this wedding to sow discord between the Yonghou Mansion and the First Prince's Mansion!

Having made this decision, Empress Feng secretly began to plot. Gradually, a smile appeared on her lips. She walked to a blooming flower in front of the window, ruthlessly reached out and plucked a flower, then wantonly crushed it to pieces. Qinglan, you can forget about fighting her!

Empress Feng's visit to the Prime Minister's residence was something she made no attempt to conceal. Almost the moment she entered the gates, the news reached the ears of many people, including Emperor Mingde.

Inside the Imperial Study, Emperor Mingde sat on a couch, a chessboard in front of him covered with black and white pieces. His personal eunuch, Eunuch Qin, watched as the emperor, holding a white piece in his left hand and a black piece in his right, played the entire game by himself, seemingly enjoying himself.

"How is the situation outside?" Emperor Mingde asked casually as he placed the white chess piece in his hand.

Eunuch Qin was slightly taken aback. Remembering the Emperor's previous instructions, he hurriedly reported the news he had just received, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress just went to the Prime Minister's residence in person, bringing many congratulatory gifts."

Since the two imperial edicts were issued, the emperor has instructed him to secretly keep an eye on the movements of all parties. So far, only the empress has made any moves.

The hand holding the black piece paused slightly before landing it steadily on the chessboard. Emperor Mingde narrowed his eyes, and the smile on his lips became even more sinister. "From now on, the Prime Minister's residence and the Feng family will be in-laws, so she will naturally have to visit them more often."

Eunuch Qin carefully observed Emperor Mingde's every expression. After saying those words, Emperor Mingde continued to focus on playing chess, seemingly not intending to say anything more. Eunuch Qin dared not speculate on the emperor's intentions and could only silently wait aside for Emperor Mingde's instructions.

Suddenly, Emperor Mingde's expression changed, and the black chess piece he was holding remained untouched for a long time. Eunuch Qin's heart tightened, and he quickly became alert, "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Mingde suddenly stood up and slammed the black chess piece heavily onto the chessboard, scattering the pieces and even startling Eunuch Qin, who dared not utter a sound.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive. Emperor Mingde remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Secretly summon Yunshan to the capital for me."

Yunshan?

Upon hearing this name, which he hadn't heard in a long time, Eunuch Qin was taken aback. Who was Yunshan? He was a close friend of the Emperor in his youth, skilled in both civil and military affairs. Back then, he had repeatedly distinguished himself in the war against the Southern Frontier, and was once renowned. Even the late Emperor had personally praised the young man as the greatest talent of his time. Later, when Emperor Mingde ascended the throne, his reputation in the court remained undiminished. However, after the defeat in the Southern Frontier, Yunshan was reported for embezzling a large amount of military funds. Ultimately, Emperor Mingde dismissed him from his post. Considering his contributions to the Great Jin Dynasty and his status as a close friend of the Emperor, Emperor Mingde allowed his entire family to move to a remote border town.

Everyone knew that Yunshan's crime did not warrant such a punishment, but ultimately his achievements overshadowed the emperor's. The emperor could not tolerate such a person remaining in the capital.

It is said that after that, Yunshan became a small wealthy man in the border town, and his family lived a secluded life, never returning to the capital.

Why did the Emperor suddenly summon Yunshan to the capital at this time? Was it a secret edict? And why?

Could it be related to the current situation? Eunuch Qin wondered, unable to fathom Emperor De's thoughts. He accepted the order and went down, knowing only that the current situation was likely the prelude to a storm.

He could see that the Feng family behind the eldest and second princes had designs on the throne, so how could the emperor not understand?

But no one could fathom the Emperor's thoughts on who should inherit the throne.

Meanwhile, the same news reached the ears of others. A carriage left the First Prince's residence and was stopped halfway. The person who stopped the carriage got on after it came to a stop. Inside the carriage, Qinglan frowned subconsciously when she saw the person.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Qinglan lowered her voice, her face showing some urgency. Nalan Jue was too bold. In broad daylight, he had openly entered her carriage. He should know that there must be many eyes and ears around him. If he were to be used by someone with ulterior motives, or if the news reached her father, it would not be good for anyone.

Nalan Jue chuckled, "Very good. Now that you can worry about this, I feel much more at ease about our grand plan. However, you must also trust your uncle. The fact that your uncle is meeting with you like this means he has made sure that no one will see us."

Qinglan frowned, her expression finally relaxing, but her voice remained icy and unapproachable, "Speak quickly if you have something to say."

Nalan Jue, however, did not take Qinglan's cold attitude to heart, and instead became even more enthusiastic, "You must have heard about Empress Feng's personal visit to the Prime Minister's residence."

Qinglan didn't answer, but Nalan Jue saw the answer in his eyes. With a smirk, Nalan Jue continued, "Then you don't know what she was planning when she went to the Prime Minister's residence?"

Qinglan frowned, seeing the strange look on Nalan Jue's alluring face, and immediately understood that Nalan Jue seemed to have more information than he did.

As expected, before Qinglan could even ask, Nalan Jue said smugly, "Since your two families' weddings are on the same day, if your scale is weaker than Feng Yu's, then the Yonghou Mansion might be unhappy."