The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Outside the Yonghou Mansion, in the carriage, Sima Yan showed no joy whatsoever as a newlywed. Her beautiful face had a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth, but her eyes were lifeless, and she looked quite haggard.

Just as Sima Yan was about to instruct the coachman to depart, a maid's voice came from outside the carriage, "Miss, it's the people from Shengshi Lieyan..."

The maid knew about the young lady's hasty escape from the raging flames that day. When she saw the person getting off the carriage not far ahead with the flame symbol embroidered on the collar, she couldn't help but frown.

Inside the carriage, upon hearing the words "Prosperous Era Blazing Flames," Sima Yan instinctively clenched her fists, her eyes flashing with a terrifying hatred.

"Who is it?" Sima Yan asked in a deep voice, the image of An Mi already appearing in her mind.

"Is that Miss Sima in the carriage? Please, sister, inform Miss Sima that her wedding dress is ready. We would like to ask when Miss Sima has time to try it on so that any parts that don't fit can be altered."

The voice coming from outside the carriage had already answered Sima Yan's question: it was An Mi. Had An Mi personally delivered the wedding dress?

Sima Yan's expression darkened further. What? Was An Mi here to gloat over her misfortune?

Sima Yan thought back to that day when she returned from the Fiery Empire and told her father what had happened. Her father's attitude, even now, felt like a thorn stuck in her heart.

"So what if the Crown Prince takes An Mi as a concubine? Our two families are determined to have a marriage alliance."

"Yan'er, just be your Crown Prince's consort and behave yourself. Don't even think about having the Crown Prince all to yourself. Even if you don't get the Crown Prince's love, it's enough for you to stay in your position as Crown Prince's consort. Don't have any improper thoughts."

Her father's words still echoed in her ears, and Sima Yan felt a pang of irony. So, the initial intention behind this marriage was never to consider her happiness! So, Qing Lan was right. To him, she was a pawn, and to her father, she was just a pawn too!

Sima Yan felt an unprecedented sense of defeat and blow, and at the same time, an unprecedented sense of resentment. Why should she be reduced to a pawn?

Right now, she has lost to Anmi, but there's plenty of time in the future, isn't there?

Father was right about some things. Right now, she needs to secure her position as the Crown Prince's consort. As for the future...

Sima Yan's eyes narrowed. Was it an unreasonable desire? As long as it was something she wanted, even if it was unreasonable, one day she would hold it firmly in her hands.

Thinking of this, Sima Yan smiled, revealing her ambition and shrewdness. However, it lasted only a moment before her smile returned, filled with gentleness and harmlessness, even a hint of gratitude.

Seemingly satisfied with the current situation, Sima Yan got off the carriage herself and warmly greeted An Mi, "Mi'er, thank you so much. It's too much trouble for you to bring it over in person. You could have just sent someone to let me know, and I would have picked it up myself. I feel a little bad about it."

Sima Yan walked up to An Mi, her gaze sweeping over the brocade box Cheng Ying was holding beside An Mi. She opened it with great interest and exclaimed with delight, "It's so beautiful! I can't wait to wear it! It truly lives up to Mi'er's craftsmanship. I'm so lucky to have a wedding dress made by Mi'er. This is probably the first one I've ever made! Oh, I don't know how to thank you enough."

Sima Yan caressed the bright red brocade with obvious affection, making no attempt to hide it. An Mi noticed her actions and was surprised. The Sima Yan before her was nothing like the one she had been at Shengshi Lieyan just a few days ago.

Sima Yan turned to meet An Mi's surprised expression, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and awkwardly took An Mi's hand, saying, "Mi'er, that day at the Flourishing Flame, I don't know what came over me, why I had that attitude, why I lost my composure. Mi'er, I really like your embroidery and wanted your blessing, so... Mi'er, you won't hold a grudge against your sister, will you?"

Sister? Haha, An Mi can't afford to have Sima Yan as her sister anymore!

“Miss Sima, what are you saying? Anmi doesn’t remember what happened that day. Miss Sima, why don’t you try on this wedding dress and see if it suits you?” Anmi smiled gently and gracefully, showing neither aloofness nor enthusiasm.

Sima Yan was taken aback, unsure of An Mi's attitude. She lowered her brows but didn't press the matter further. "There's no need to try it on. What Mi'er made will definitely fit perfectly. Someone, take good care of the wedding dress."

Sima Yan's maid immediately stepped forward and took the brocade box from Cheng Ying's hands.

"In that case, Anmi will take her leave." Anmi smiled and nodded to Sima Yan. As far as she was concerned, she really didn't want to stay with Sima Yan any longer.

Sima Yan didn't linger. Watching An Mi turn around, the warm smile that had been on her face just moments before was now stiff, though still present. As An Mi boarded the carriage and drove further and further away, Sima Yan's face finally fell completely.

"Miss, this wedding dress..." the maid asked tentatively, holding up a brocade box.

Sima Yan glanced at the brocade box indifferently and said coldly, "You didn't even have it delivered to your room? It's really an eyesore. It's getting late. If you delay our trip to the temple, can you take responsibility for that?"

The maid trembled with fright and quickly handed the brocade box to the servant at the door. She thought to herself, ever since the young lady returned from the Fiery Empire that day and cried bitterly in the study, she seemed to have become a different person. Sometimes she made people's scalp tingle and she became increasingly difficult to serve.

Meanwhile, Anmi, sitting in the carriage, thought about Sima Yan's performance just now, and a smile flashed across her eyes.

"Miss, Miss Sima's acting skills are really quite good." Cheng Ying, who was standing to the side, looked at An Mi and sighed tentatively. She was sure that Sima Yan still harbored resentment towards her young lady, and that her young lady should be wary of her in the future.

An Mi could easily see through Cheng Ying's meaning and intention. She chuckled, "No matter how good my acting is, you still saw through me, didn't you? Take your worries back, I'm not a three-year-old!"

Sima Yan's attitude today truly surprised her. She thought that Sima Yan's attitude towards her in the future would definitely be bitter and resentful, and she would not give her any kind look. However, she did not expect that she would act as if nothing had happened. It seems that she has to be careful and wary of this woman, Sima Yan.

A sense of helplessness welled up in her heart. What was going on? She had never had any feelings for Qinglan, but now she had become someone else's imagined enemy, and even Qinglan's attitude made her uneasy.

"That's good, that's good." Cheng Ying felt much relieved. She had been through it all and understood some things. Wasn't Sima Yan treating Miss as a rival in love?