The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

"Yu'er, I never expected you to be so naive. It shouldn't be like this, should it? You are a great general, accustomed to the cruelty of the battlefield, where it's either you or me who dies. And now, we are in what is like a battlefield. If you don't die, others, or even more people, will die. After much thought, your aunt still feels that you should die knowing why." Empress Feng's voice was even colder, as if it had been chilled by ice.

Feng Yu frowned. Understand? Understand what? He knew that what Empress Feng wanted him to understand was definitely not a good thing, but even at this moment, he was still curious. Who wouldn't want to die knowing the truth?

Empress Feng paused, then continued, "Yes, if there were no other way, I would abandon you. But this time, it's not my decision, hehe..."

Empress Feng smiled as she thought of the letter. "You must want to know who it is. I'll tell you, it's your grandfather, the old master of the Feng family!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a complex array of emotions flashed across Feng Yu's somewhat weak face: shock... disbelief... and a desire to escape...

Feng Yu kept shaking his head. No, how could it be? Grandpa? How could it be Grandpa?

Grandpa once told him that the future head of the Feng family would be passed on to him. How could Grandpa abandon him at this time?

This news was even more heart-wrenching than the poison he had just drunk. He murmured weakly, "No, Grandpa... hasn't arrived yet, has he?"

Empress Feng looked at Feng Yu's reaction, unsure whether to laugh or feel heartbroken. She took a deep breath, stood up, and looked down at him. "Yes, he hasn't arrived in the capital yet, but a letter has been sent. In it, he instructed that you must commit suicide before he arrives."

With a thunderous boom, this thought exploded in Feng Yu's mind. He understood his grandfather's meaning: he would "commit suicide out of fear of punishment," and the matter would be dropped. Perhaps not only that, but Emperor Mingde would also show leniency towards the Feng family because of this.

Grandpa! Did he ever think about saving him? He suddenly realized that perhaps from the very beginning, Grandpa had already made this plan!

"Haha..." Feng Yu laughed loudly. The desolation in his laughter echoed throughout the prison and even reached outside. The jailers who heard the sound couldn't help but feel their scalps tingle. Not knowing what was going on inside, and thinking that the Empress was inside, the jailers didn't dare to go in and check.

The laughter lasted only a moment before abruptly ceasing, as if a bird had been struck by an arrow, suddenly losing its breath and crashing to the ground.

In the prison cell, Feng Yu's eyes were wide open, his gaze still fixed on Empress Feng.

Han Yu felt a chill run down her spine. She took a few steps forward and whispered, "Your Highness, the General is dead, we..."

Han Yu seemed still immersed in Feng Yu's desolate laughter, and subconsciously did not want to stay here any longer. She now understood what the old master had told her in the letter that the empress had received earlier.

Thinking of this, Han Yu felt a chill in her heart. Noble families, for the sake of interests, weigh all kinds of things, and even their most beloved grandsons and nephews, they have the heart to poison them with their own hands. Alas!

Han Yu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, looking at Empress Feng and awaiting her decree.

Empress Feng frowned slightly, her eyes still icy cold. "Pack these things up and let's go!"

Empress Feng's voice was firm in the first sentence, but even Han Yu could hear the weakness in the last two words. Empress Feng glanced at Feng Yu, who was still starving even in death, and turned away resolutely. As she turned, a hint of hatred gathered in her cold eyes. She remembered the loss they had suffered this time!

Empress Feng was convinced that Bai Yi was involved in this matter, and she was determined that this matter would not end like this!

Han Yu quickly packed up the food and wine and followed Empress Feng out of the prison. When the prison guards saw Empress Feng and Han Yu come out, they were all so frightened by the coldness on her face that they knelt down on the ground, trembling with fear, not daring to utter a sound, let alone find out what had happened in the prison.

"How did you manage to keep General Feng under control? He actually committed suicide in his cell out of fear of punishment, and you didn't even know?"

In the high-pressure air, Empress Feng's voice suddenly rang out. The group of prison guards were stunned, their heads spinning. What had they just heard? General Feng had committed suicide out of fear of punishment?

But everything was fine just now, wasn't it? The jailer who brought Empress Feng in was even more puzzled. He clearly saw Empress Feng standing face to face with General Feng. Why would Empress Feng say such a thing now?

Moreover, the Empress's words clearly contained blame and reproach; how could they bear such a thing?

They had even heard General Feng's laughter just now!

How could Your Highness say such a thing? What does she mean? What is her intention?

The jailers were trembling with fear. One of them finally couldn't hold back any longer, "Your Majesty, General Feng previously..."

He had barely finished speaking when he felt a sharp pain in his neck. A knife was firmly embedded in the back of his neck, blood splattering everywhere. The other prison guards around him were terrified.

The person who assassinated the jailer was Han Yu, who was by Empress Feng's side. Han Yu pulled the dagger out of the jailer's body, and the jailer fell to the ground with a thud. Empress Feng's gaze swept over the jailers kneeling on the ground in the prison, and every one of their faces was filled with fear.

Empress Feng, observing this, smiled slightly. "Listen up, all of you," she said, "this jailer failed to properly supervise General Feng, allowing him to commit suicide in prison without our noticing. He deserves to die, and I have already dealt with him on his behalf. Now that the Emperor is investigating, you should all know how to report this!"

The jailers were stunned, processing Empress Feng's words in their minds. They quickly realized that General Feng's death was probably the Empress's doing, but who dared to hold her accountable? Besides, General Feng was a death row inmate after all, having been thrown into the imperial prison!

"Understood, we understand!" The jailers nodded hurriedly, already sweating profusely with fear.

Empress Feng nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. I do not wish anyone to know about today's events. If anyone does, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The jailers had no choice but to nod. Fortunately, one jailer had died, so they could shift all the blame onto him. As long as they could save their own lives, what did it matter if they did as the Empress said?

The jailers didn't dare to lift their heads until Empress Feng and Han Yu walked out of the prison. Only then did they seem to breathe a sigh of relief. Thinking of something, the jailers rushed into the cell where Feng Yu was being held. Sure enough, they saw Feng Yu lying there with his eyes wide open, covered in blood.