The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Sima Yan was calculating in her mind. Thinking about what was about to happen, her blood seemed to boil. She even wished time would pass quickly so she could see the Buddhist beads being found on An Mi as soon as possible.

An Mi glanced at Sima Yan without leaving a trace, and said softly, "Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly. I also wish to ask Your Majesty to have someone search me to clear my name."

For a moment, everyone looked at the Empress Dowager, seemingly awaiting her decision. The Empress Dowager's sharp eyes were deep and reserved. Sima Yan was so certain about searching An Mi; the Buddhist beads were probably really on An Mi's person. But An Mi…

The Empress Dowager glanced at An Mi; this girl was quite shrewd!

After much deliberation, the Empress Dowager finally spoke, "Search!"

With a single command, the atmosphere instantly became tense. The men who had been searching the bodies glanced at the Crown Prince and the Prince of Bohai, then tentatively stepped forward. Seeing that they did not stop them, they quickly moved forward and searched An Mi for a long time under everyone's gaze, but found nothing.

"Your Majesty, we did not find any Buddhist beads on Miss Anmi," one of them reported.

Upon hearing this, Sima Yan's expression instantly changed. "How is that possible? Have you checked carefully?"

The palace maid shrank back, "Reporting to the Crown Princess, we have checked thoroughly, and there is indeed nothing there."

Sima Yan's eyes flickered. Impossible, absolutely impossible. She clearly placed the Buddhist beads on An Mi's body. The time was so short, and An Mi had never left her sight from beginning to end. Even if she noticed, she had no chance to deal with it.

How come I couldn’t find it?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Sima Yan was certain again in her heart. She made up her mind and immediately said, "Grandmother, those Buddhist beads are of great importance. I have a request. I beg you to allow me to search for them myself."

As soon as she finished speaking, the expressions of everyone present changed. They thought to themselves that this Crown Princess was too domineering, coming to search personally? Was she going to fight like before?

Even the Empress Dowager frowned slightly, remaining silent. However, An Mi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, since the Crown Prince's Consort wants to search personally, then let her search. An Mi also wants to clarify this matter and clear this commoner's name."

Everyone was stunned. They hadn't expected that An Mi, who had just been fighting with the Crown Prince's wife, would be so magnanimous.

However, these words brought a surge of joy to Sima Yan's heart. "Grandmother..."

"Since that's the case, then search." The Empress Dowager said coldly. At this moment, she felt more and more that An Mi had some ulterior motives. Heh, she wanted to see just how capable An Mi really was.

Having received permission, Sima Yan couldn't wait to get up and walk to An Mi's side. Meeting An Mi's eyes, her gaze was sharp, as if she wanted to tear An Mi to pieces. A smile appeared on her lips as she said, word by word, "Mi'er, I'm sorry to offend you."

An Mi twitched the corner of her mouth, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. Did she offend him?

Hasn't Sima Yan offended her enough times? And yet, has she ever cared?

"It's alright. An Mi may have offended the Crown Princess in some way, so please don't take offense." An Mi met Sima Yan's gaze, her words carrying a profound meaning.

For some reason, Sima Yan felt a chill run down her spine. She frowned, gritted her teeth, and reached out to quickly search An Mi's body, meticulously examining every spot. However, she found nothing. Eventually, Sima Yan began to panic, her hands trembling, and she involuntarily murmured, "How could this be? How could this be?"

How could it not be?

"I clearly..." Sima Yan searched her entire body, but there was no trace of the Buddhist beads.

An Mi saw this and also heard her mutterings. A slight smile flashed across her eyes as she said unhurriedly, "Crown Princess, have you found anything? Should we search again?"

Sima Yan's body stiffened slightly, and when she looked up, she met An Mi's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

"Yes!" Sima Yan was unwilling. She kept telling herself that she must have missed something or made a mistake in the search, which was why she didn't find it. If she searched again, the result would definitely not be like this.

After saying that, he searched An Mi's body again.

Anmi raised an eyebrow, not angry at her actions, but patiently allowed her to search her body again.

Everyone who witnessed this scene had their own feelings.

"Grandmother, isn't the Crown Princess going too far!" Yan Bing couldn't stand it anymore and felt indignant on An Mi's behalf.

These words resonated with many people. Wasn't it true that the Crown Prince's wife was so domineering, searching An Mi's body repeatedly?

This tranquility was quite docile, yet it lacked any vitality whatsoever.

The Empress Dowager frowned, but simply continued watching without saying anything. After Sima Yan finished searching her body once more, everyone saw the dejection and disappointment on her face and understood that Sima Yan had failed again.

"Your Highness, have you found her?" An Mi raised an eyebrow and a faint smile appeared on her lips, as if she were declaring Sima Yan's defeat.

Sima Yan snapped out of her disappointment and met An Mi's smile. Her resentment intensified, and a hint of madness appeared in her eyes. "No, it can't be, it can't be!"

It must still be with her, it must be!

Thinking this, Sima Yan rushed towards An Mi again without hesitation, trying to search her body once more. No matter what, she had to find that string of Buddhist beads!

But as soon as she touched An Mi, a large hand gripped her wrist tightly, exerting force to stop her movements. Sima Yan felt a sharp pain in her hand and almost cried out. She looked at Qing Lan, paused for a moment, then remembered the string of Buddhist beads and shouted, "Let me go! I want to search her body! I want to find the Buddhist beads! The Buddhist beads are on her!"

"Shut up!" Qinglan said sternly, her eyes filled with not only disgust but also a hint of ferocity.

This woman is really too much. She has humiliated Mi'er time and time again. Does she really think he won't do anything to her?

Sima Yan was stunned by his shout. Was he really protecting her peace like this?

Hmph, the more he protects that vixen, the more she'll make her look bad. Once she finds that string of Buddhist beads, she'll see how An Mi manages to get away with it!

"Let go! She stole my Buddhist prayer beads!" Sima Yan shouted.

But before she could finish speaking, a loud slap landed on her face. The burning sensation spread instantly across her cheek. Before she could even recover from the impact of the slap, the immense force caused her to stagger backward a few steps. Ultimately, she lost her balance and collapsed to the ground with a thud.