The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

She only hoped that Qinglan could find a lover to accompany him for life soon, but would he?

Some time ago, Qinglan's actions inside the carriage resurfaced in Anmi's mind, still stirring up a sense of unease in her heart.

"Mi'er..." A gentle voice rang in An Mi's ears, instantly pulling her back to reality. An Mi looked up and met Bai Yi's gentle eyes. He couldn't help but squeeze her hand, as if he knew what she was thinking, and continued softly, "Elder brother will also bless us!"

Blessings? Bai Yi knew in his heart that these were just words of comfort to An Mi. Qing Lan's feelings for Mi'er had not diminished in the slightest, even now. He believed that even if Mi'er married him, Qing Lan would not change.

He knew him too well; they shared the same blood!

However, An Mi will always be Bai Yi's woman, and Qing Lan... Bai Yi smiled, but his deep eyes were unfathomable, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

"Your Highness, has Miss Anmi entered the palace yet? The Empress Dowager is still waiting for her." The old eunuch stepped forward with a smile, his attitude quite polite.

Bai Yi frowned, and An Mi nodded. "Please lead the way, Father-in-law."

"Miss Anmi, this way please." The old eunuch bowed.

An Mi glanced at Bai Yi and said, "Go back."

Having said that, a smile appeared on his lips, and led by the old eunuch, he walked towards the inner palace...

The Empress Dowager's palace was not as lively as it had been before. At this moment, there were only a few palace maids and eunuchs serving her. The Empress Dowager had always preferred quiet, especially in recent years as she devoted herself to Buddhism, and the number of people serving her had become increasingly smaller.

When the Empress Dowager was not in the palace, her palace was managed by only a few old palace servants. Even when she returned to the palace, only a few quick and efficient old palace servants were assigned to her.

An Mi was led into the Empress Dowager's palace by the old eunuch. The atmosphere was very oppressive, and even when they arrived at the Buddhist hall in the inner palace, the air was filled with tension.

“Miss Anmi, the Empress Dowager is inside. She has instructed that you may go in directly upon arrival.” The old eunuch stopped outside the Buddhist hall, pointed inside, and gestured for Anmi to go in on her own.

An Mi was slightly taken aback, but only for a moment. She then smiled and said softly, "Thank you for leading the way, Eunuch. An Mi will go in now."

Anmi glanced at the Buddhist hall before her, and the words the Empress Dowager had spoken to her that day flashed through her mind. A bitter feeling welled up in her eyes. Anmi knew that once she stepped through this door, she would likely be on high alert. The Empress Dowager... she was far more formidable than anyone else in the harem!

However, no matter how capable she is, she will eventually have to face it!

Her gaze narrowed slightly, and Anmi stepped into the Buddhist hall. But as soon as she put one foot inside, she heard a low, angry voice from within: "Get out!"

Anmi paused slightly. "Go out?"

With a furrowed brow, Anmi subconsciously withdrew her foot that had stepped out. Then, within the Buddhist hall, an angry voice rang out once more…

"Have you taken a bath? Have you burned incense? There are some places you can't just enter at will!" Every word seemed to carry a sharp thorn.

An Mi couldn't help but find it amusing; the Empress Dowager's every word was aimed at her!

How could she not understand? There are some places she can't just enter at will, like this Buddhist hall, or the royal family, for example.

With a slight twitch of her lips, Anmi lowered her brows and said softly, "Anmi knows she was wrong. Anmi will now bathe and burn incense."

After a long silence, An Mi smiled and turned to the old eunuch who had brought her there earlier. "Eunuch, please take me to bathe and burn incense."

The old eunuch, however, abandoned his previous politeness and gentleness, giving An Mi a cold glance. "I'm sorry, Miss An Mi, this old servant has other matters to attend to. Please leave."

An Mi was taken aback. Before she could react, the old eunuch turned and left, leaving An Mi standing there, her lips twitching involuntarily. She glanced at the palace maids serving outside the Buddhist hall, shrugged helplessly, and knew that she should have been prepared to be harassed from the moment she entered the Empress Dowager's palace.

She believed that asking anyone for help here would be futile, so Anmi simply didn't ask for help. However, while bathing and burning incense, Anmi frowned, as if she was thinking about something. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her, and an idea quickly took shape.

Should we take a bath and burn incense?

Even without help, she has her own methods!

Inside the Buddhist hall, the Empress Dowager knelt before the Buddha statue, fiddling with her prayer beads. Her previously tightly closed eyes finally opened, revealing a hint of coldness in her experienced and profound gaze.

After a long silence, the Empress Dowager finally spoke, "Where is she?"

"Your Majesty, she has already left. We don't know where she went, Your Majesty..."

The palace maid was about to say something when the Empress Dowager coldly interrupted her, "So, Anmi has left? Without my permission, she just left like that, humph!"

The Empress Dowager's eyes narrowed, recalling An Mi's behavior earlier that day. The gloom in her eyes deepened, and her anger intensified. This An Mi, she thought, would not give up on marrying Bai Yi unless she was taught a lesson!

His gaze sharpened, and he ordered in a loud voice, "Someone come here!"

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager..."

Just as the Empress Dowager opened her mouth, a palace maid's voice came from outside the Buddhist hall. The Empress Dowager frowned slightly, "What is it?"

"Your Majesty, Miss Anmi has arrived."

The Empress Dowager paused, her hand moving the prayer beads. Had they arrived?

“Anmi greets the Empress Dowager. I have just bathed and burned incense. Please give your instructions.” Anmi curtsied at the door, her expression serene.

The Empress Dowager's face darkened. "Oh? Someone, examine her!"

The Empress Dowager clearly did not believe it. She had already given orders that no one was allowed to provide any convenience to An Mi, so how could she bathe and burn incense?

The palace maid obeyed the order and immediately went to An Mi's side. She examined her carefully, and after a moment, her expression changed. She walked to the Empress Dowager and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, she has already bathed and burned incense!"

The Empress Dowager's expression faltered slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes, but she ultimately suppressed it. "Come here!"

An Mi lowered her brows, slowly stepped forward, and stopped a few steps away from the Empress Dowager. As soon as she stopped, she heard the Empress Dowager's voice again...

The two words, "Kneel down!" were spoken with a resounding force, echoing in the empty Buddhist hall and adding to the solemnity of the place.

An Mi showed no panic and obediently knelt on the ground. When she entered the Empress Dowager's palace, she had already prepared herself for difficulties. So what if she knelt? What's wrong with kneeling? Bai Yi's image appeared in her mind, and a smile involuntarily appeared on An Mi's lips.