The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

However, this feeling was quickly dispelled.

Watching the receding figure, Qinglan was even more certain of his previous plan. Now, he had no more scruples, and everything was under his control, including Anmi!

Just you wait, Mi'er, it won't be long before I have you by my side all the time!

Thinking this, Qinglan smiled and looked at Anmi for a long time before turning around to leave. He still had some things to do, didn't he?

As he turned around, he didn't notice that the distant figure had also turned around, looking at Qinglan's back with a sense of helplessness.

She knew that this meeting might be their last!

After dealing with Empress Feng and the Second Prince, perhaps due to pent-up emotions, Emperor Mingde's injuries worsened. However, he only rested there for a day. Once he felt slightly better, Emperor Mingde ordered a return to the capital. Qinglan led the assembled soldiers to escort him and ensure the safety of the entourage. Meanwhile, the Princess of Bohai caught a cold, which worsened. The imperial physician instructed that she must not be exposed to any wind.

The Prince of Bohai loved his wife dearly, so much so that he even declined the Emperor's instructions to escort her, entrusting the task entirely to the eldest prince. He himself rode in the same carriage with the Princess of Bohai, personally taking care of her.

Upon returning to the capital, the Prince of Bohai did not even accompany the Emperor back to the palace. Instead, he took his wife and went directly to the Bohai Palace, where he summoned the best doctors from outside the palace to treat the wife's health.

The Second Prince was executed, and his remaining followers surrendered without any resistance. Emperor Mingde returned to the palace and fell ill in bed, entrusting the handling of the soldiers who had rebelled with the Second Prince entirely to the First Prince, Qinglan.

In an instant, everyone could see the current situation in the court: it was a foregone conclusion that the eldest prince, Qinglan, would succeed to the throne.

For a month, the entire capital was in a strange state of tension. Fortunately, Emperor Mingde's health gradually improved, but this improvement only meant that he could get out of bed...

On this day, Emperor Mingde summoned his ministers. In the Golden Palace, Emperor Mingde looked pale and coughed several times before he could even utter a word.

Everyone saw this and had their own thoughts. The Emperor's arrow wound, coupled with the Empress and the Second Prince's affair, must have damaged his health. Would he ever recover?

It seems the Emperor's days are numbered!

"The matter of the Feng family is still on my mind, like a fishbone stuck in my throat, cough... cough cough..." Emperor Mingde said a few words and then coughed again. His eyebrows were tightly furrowed, whether because of the mention of the Feng family or because of his physical discomfort, "If they are not eliminated, I will not be able to eat or sleep in peace."

Everyone was taken aback. More than a month had passed since the Empress and the Second Prince's affair, and there was still no movement from the Feng family. Why would the Emperor suddenly bring up the Feng family's affairs at this time?

Judging from that, it seems they intend to wipe out the Feng family completely!

However, it makes sense. Keeping the Feng family around is indeed a big problem. Now that Empress Feng and the Second Prince are gone, it's a good opportunity for the Second Prince to cause trouble and eliminate the Feng family in one fell swoop. Isn't that a legitimate reason?

The Emperor would certainly not let this opportunity slip by!

But who should we send?

“Your Majesty, we also feel it’s inappropriate to keep the Feng family alive. Your Majesty’s assassination attempt is definitely related to the Feng family. It would be better to let His Highness the First Prince lead the soldiers to arrest all members of the Feng family and bring them to justice!” one of the court officials said. At this moment, the entire court was biased towards the First Prince.

Qinglan lowered his gaze slightly but remained silent. Eliminating the Feng family was within his expectations!

"This court cannot do without Qinglan. I think it is still best to have Baiyi lead the army to conquer the Feng family." Emperor Mingde spoke calmly. Although he was weak, his majesty remained undiminished.

Everyone was stunned when he finished speaking. The King of Bohai?

Did the Emperor order the Prince of Bohai to lead the army?

This… Everyone looked at the eldest prince Qinglan, but saw that he was calm. They couldn’t help but wonder, is the eldest prince not worried about the emperor sending the Prince of Bohai to lead the army?

After all, if the affairs of the army were to be controlled by others, there would be more or less hidden dangers for him, wouldn't there?

Qinglan's heart was naturally far from calm. Bai Yi leading the army? If he had some scheme in mind, then...

"As for Qinglan... cough cough... he stays by my side. I have more important matters to entrust to him! My body is becoming increasingly weak, and the position of Crown Prince has remained vacant. I am planning to hold the Crown Prince investiture ceremony on a chosen day."

The moment Emperor Mingde finished speaking, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck the entire hall: the Crown Prince was to be appointed.

Qinglan was also delighted. Since the Crown Prince had bestowed the title, he naturally couldn't leave. But should he let Baiyi lead the army to attack the Feng family?

The Feng family was originally in the territory of the King of Bohai. What would happen if Bai Yi led his army away and never returned?

Qinglan's eyes flickered slightly. Suddenly, as if remembering something, a glint flashed in her eyes, and she said loudly, "In that case, Third Brother will have to take better care of the Feng family's affairs. However, with Third Brother gone, and the Princess Consort of Bohai pregnant, I wonder what will happen to the affairs of the manor..."

As Qinglan finished speaking, he suddenly stopped, his gaze seemingly falling on Bai Yi. Just as he had expected, Bai Yi frowned.

"Father, brother, I am truly worried about Mi'er being alone. I humbly request that you allow me to take Mi'er with me." Bai Yi said, cupping his hands, a hint of urgency appearing on his previously calm face.

Qinglan saw this and a cold snort rose in her heart. "Third brother, how can this be? The Princess of Bohai is pregnant. This is our royal offspring. Your journey is long and arduous. Not to mention dealing with the Feng family, the Princess of Bohai and the baby in her womb will not be able to withstand the hardships of the journey. Father will not stand by and watch the Princess of Bohai suffer. What would happen if anything happened to her?"

"Father..." Bai Yi began to speak again, but was interrupted by Emperor Mingde as soon as he uttered the words.

"Alright. As for the matter of the Princess of Bohai, I think Qinglan's words are not without reason. Baiyi, you lead the troops to attack the Feng family. As for the Princess of Bohai, let her stay in the capital to recuperate. I heard that her cold has not improved. If she goes with you, wouldn't it make her condition worse?"

"But, Father..."

"Alright, it's decided then. Ten days from now, the Crown Prince will be appointed, and at the same time, the Prince of Bohai will lead his troops out." Emperor Mingde waved his hand, coughed a few times, and seemed a little impatient. "Alright, if there's nothing else, everyone can leave."

After saying this, he left the Golden Palace with the help of eunuchs. The court officials who remained did not leave, but instead rushed to Qinglan's side, offering their congratulations. They naturally wanted to curry favor with this future emperor.