The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Anmi listened and smiled, "Thank you for your advice, Father-in-law. I will keep your words in mind."

"Just remember that," the old eunuch murmured, walking ahead and leading Anmi toward their destination.

Inside the room, the Empress Dowager looked furious. None of the palace maids serving her dared to speak. They all knew that the Empress Dowager had maintained this expression ever since the Emperor sent someone to deliver a message. After the messenger left, the Empress Dowager ordered someone to bring the person kneeling in the Buddhist hall. Everyone understood that the Empress Dowager's anger was probably related to the future Princess Consort of Bohai.

The palace maids glanced cautiously at the Empress Dowager, and couldn't help but sigh for the future Princess Consort of Bohai. Angry the Empress Dowager was no good thing.

Before long, An Mi was brought in. When An Mi walked to the front of the hall and bowed to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager remained silent, letting An Mi remain in a half-kneeling position. The atmosphere in the room was very strange. The palace servants looked at An Mi's legs, which were trembling, as if they would not be able to support her body at any moment.

Finally, after a long while, the Empress Dowager glanced at An Mi and said, "Come here!"

Anmi rose and slowly walked to the Empress Dowager, remaining motionless as if awaiting her instructions.

The Empress Dowager's sharp gaze swept over An Mi from head to toe, her anger turning icy cold. "Have you thought this through? Do you have anything to say to me?"

Have you thought it through? Didn't she already think it through before she entered the Empress Dowager's palace?

"Your Majesty, Anmi has nothing to say!"

As soon as she finished speaking, just as An Mi had expected, even the air seemed to tighten because of the Empress Dowager's anger. The old eunuch behind her felt a jolt in his heart when he saw the Empress Dowager's face change drastically. Was An Mi really not afraid of death?

"Nothing to say?" The Empress Dowager chewed on these words, as if they were being spat out from between her teeth.

What a peaceful place! It seems she's made up her mind to go against her!

"You should think it over carefully. My promise from that night remains unchanged. Today, I will grant you another ideal husband. In the future, you will enjoy endless wealth and honor." The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, seemingly suppressing her heartache and making concessions.

She would absolutely not allow this peaceful woman to marry into their royal family!

A perfect husband? Wealth and glory? An Mi frowned, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes. What she wanted was never wealth and glory.

If Bai Yi is not a member of the royal family, then why should she face the Empress Dowager?

The ideal husband she wanted was Bai Yi alone. As Bai Yi's image appeared in her mind, a gentle smile appeared on An Mi's lips. However, this smile, when seen by the Empress Dowager, aroused another kind of anger.

That gentle and happy smile was just like Bai Yi's mother back then!

snort!

"Have you thought it through?" The Empress Dowager's eyes narrowed, and she raised her voice, as if she wanted to destroy the happiness in her eyes with this sternness.

Anmi remained silent for a while, clearly indicating that the outcome was already obvious.

"Get out!" the Empress Dowager shouted sternly. For a moment, she had the urge to punish An Mi on the spot, but when she thought of the Emperor's message, she ultimately did not make up her mind.

An Mi curtsied respectfully and withdrew, somewhat surprised that the Empress Dowager had let her leave so easily. Just as she reached the door, the Empress Dowager's voice rang out behind her once more...

"You will prepare my breakfast first thing tomorrow morning."

An Mi listened attentively and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Is it just breakfast? But Anmi felt that it might not be that simple!

It wasn't until the next morning that Anmi finally realized that it wasn't as simple as breakfast.

The Empress Dowager's breakfast was always prepared by a special person. She loved porridge, and the porridge was cooked starting at midnight every day, and no mistakes were allowed during the process.

Before dawn, Anmi was awakened and taken to the Empress Dowager's special kitchen to prepare breakfast for her.

As dawn broke, everything seemed peaceful in the Empress Dowager's palace. When it was time for breakfast, before the Empress Dowager even reached the side hall, she had already planned how to make things difficult for Anmi.

Upon arriving at the side hall, the Empress Dowager saw that breakfast was laid out on the table, with Anmi waiting to the side, looking somewhat weary. She was surprised, but also somewhat gloating.

"It must be hard on you to prepare breakfast for me so early in the morning." The Empress Dowager sat down with the help of the palace maids, her gaze falling on the thin porridge in front of her, and her brows furrowed slightly.

"I don't feel tired at all," Anmi said softly. As long as she wasn't deliberately making things difficult for herself, that was already a kindness. Was it hard work? What did it matter?

Seeing the Empress Dowager frown, An Mi already knew something was wrong. Sure enough, the Empress Dowager took a small sip of the porridge, then waved her hand, knocking the bowl of porridge in front of her to the ground. Instantly, everyone in the side hall was filled with fear and unease.

"Your Majesty, please calm down..." The old eunuch's heart skipped a beat. This time, An Mi was probably in for a lot of trouble!

"Calm down? Are you trying to kill me?" the Empress Dowager roared. "Anmi, what are you up to?"

What are you up to? An Mi lowered her brows. Didn't she know better than anyone whether the porridge was salty or not?

The Empress Dowager is deliberately making things difficult for her. No matter what she does, the result will be the same, won't it?

"Your Majesty, Anmi is foolish and has displeased you. Anmi deserves to die a thousand deaths," Anmi said in fear.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager paused slightly. Deserving of death? Ha, she did want to kill her and end it all, but... she couldn't do that.

Everyone knows that the future Princess of Bohai is in the Empress Dowager's palace. If she dies like this, many things will become unclear.

She wants to ruin the grand wedding of the King of Bohai in a few days. There is only one way: to make An Mi back down and take the initiative to cancel the engagement!

Suddenly, the Empress Dowager felt a pang of regret. Had she known this would happen, she would have preferred not to return to the palace and instead had someone take Anmi's life!

But since things had come to this, all she could do was try her best to force him. She wanted to see if Anmi could withstand it!

Her eyes narrowed, a hint of venom appearing in them. "Stupid? These are just small matters. If you can't even handle these, how will you take care of the Prince of Bohai in the future? I think it's time to teach you how to serve others!"

"Granny Li," the Empress Dowager announced loudly.

"This servant is here." An old palace maid stepped forward to receive the order, her brows revealing a sharp edge. Everyone knew that Granny Li in the Empress Dowager's palace had an extremely unique way of disciplining people. In the early years, many concubines in the palace had suffered a lot under Granny Li's care.

What did the Empress Dowager want to do by calling for Granny Li?

"I'm entrusting her to you. Teach her well how to serve others." The Empress Dowager's eyes narrowed. She glanced at An Mi, then flicked her sleeve. "I have no appetite for breakfast either."