The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Bai Yi stood outside the crowd, watching the spirited Qing Lan. His eyes grew even more profound. However, as he turned away, a smile appeared on his lips. His father had given this order at this time to create an opportunity for him!

A glint of light flashed in Bai Yi's eyes. Without lingering, he left the palace. In the past ten days, Bai Yi had arranged everything in the Bohai Prince's Mansion perfectly. However, the Bohai Princess's cold had not improved and seemed to have worsened.

Before his departure, the King of Bohai was so worried about his queen that he went to the palace to decline the important task of leading troops, which angered the emperor. That very night, Emperor Mingde ordered that the Queen of Bohai be brought into the palace and taken care of by the palace staff, so that the King of Bohai could lead his army to conquer the Feng family with peace of mind.

Left with no other choice, the King of Bohai had to accept the order.

The day before his departure, the King of Bohai stayed in the palace and spent the night with his queen. The next morning, he set off directly from the palace.

Outside the capital, a million-strong army had already assembled, densely packed and quite magnificent. On horseback, Bai Yi, dressed in military attire, appeared even more valiant and heroic.

On the other side, Qinglan rode her horse closer and closer until she stopped in front of Baiyi.

On horseback, the two brothers glanced at each other, a smile playing on their lips. "I didn't expect you to come back to see me off, but today, as you are being appointed Crown Prince, I'm afraid I won't be able to witness it."

"It's alright. My third brother has worked so hard for the sake of our Great Jin Dynasty, so naturally I have to come and see him off. You can go with peace of mind. I will take care of everything in the capital. Also, this is for you..." Qinglan said calmly. As she spoke, she took something out of her bosom and tossed it to Bai Yi. Bai Yi caught it easily and held it firmly in his hand. It was the jade pendant that he had given to Qinglan two years ago.

"Hehe, this time, I can say that I've fulfilled my promise to you." Bai Yi held the jade pendant tightly in his hand, his eyes deepening in color.

"Thank you for your help. If it weren't for your cooperation, Empress Feng and the Second Prince wouldn't have been so easily executed!" Qinglan narrowed her eyes, a strange glint flashing in them.

Bai Yi saw this and felt a little ironic. "I was just going with the flow. It was all thanks to my brother's good planning. If it weren't for the arrow that my brother arranged for Mi'er to transfer me away, things would have been very difficult to get along with!"

Bai Yi smiled faintly, and as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Qing Lan's handsome face stiffen and his expression instantly darken.

"You..." Qinglan began, but didn't know what to say. It was true that everything was his arrangement, but he had no choice. If Bai Yi were by his father's side, he would never let anything happen to his father. So, he had no choice but to transfer him away. And the only one who could restrain Bai Yi was An Mi.

But he never intended to hurt Mi'er!

"Elder brother, rest assured, she doesn't know about this, and I won't let her know." Bai Yi spoke again, a deeper look in his eyes. After speaking, he gave Qing Lan a deep look, turned his horse around, raised his sword high, and shouted to the thousands of soldiers in front of him, "Let's go!"

The two words seemed to pierce the sky, passed down from the lieutenants, level by level.

Qinglan sat on his horse, unaware that Bai Yi had already left with his soldiers. His mind was preoccupied with the matter at hand: Didn't Mi'er know?

Did she really not know?

If she doesn't know, that's great. He can't imagine what it would be like if Mi'er knew!

In the gentle breeze, Qinglan took a deep breath. As long as she didn't know, that was fine. Watching the departing procession, Qinglan's deep eyes narrowed.

He will make everyone who knows about this disappear from this world completely!

In that way, in Mi'er's eyes, he would still be himself!

A wicked smile crept across his lips. Casualties are inevitable when you're on a military campaign, aren't they?

After taking a deep look at the departing procession, Qinglan tightened the reins, turned his horse around, and rode into the city. Today was also the day of his investiture ceremony as crown prince, and the throne was only one step away from him!

The ceremony to appoint the Crown Prince went exceptionally smoothly. Once the Crown Prince was dressed in his robes, the first person Qinglan wanted to see was Anmi. However, instead of seeing Anmi, he was summoned by Emperor Mingde for a private audience. After that, Emperor Mingde ordered that the Crown Prince be by his side at all times, even at night, so that the Crown Prince would wait outside.

News came from the imperial physicians that Emperor Mingde's health was deteriorating further. Almost everyone could see that Emperor Mingde's days were probably numbered. Qinglan wanted to see Anmi, but she could not leave Emperor Mingde's side, so she could only endure it and secretly instructed people to report to her the daily life of the Princess of Bohai in the palace!

It is said that the Princess of Bohai is still suffering from a cold, and the imperial physician has instructed that she must rest quietly indoors and not leave the house.

I heard that today, the Princess of Bohai ate more and was in a better mood. She ordered someone to bring her an embroidered handkerchief.

I heard... countless rumors, even the details of how many times the Princess of Bohai coughed in a single day, all reached Qinglan's ears.

For over a month, Qinglan listened to these messages but did not see Anmi even once. News also came from the Bohai King's side that in the battle with the Feng family, the Feng family only resisted for a few days before surrendering completely. The old master of the Feng family committed suicide in the mansion, and the Feng family was thus destroyed.

Emperor Mingde was overjoyed upon hearing the news, but Qinglan was filled with resentment. The assassins he had sent had repeatedly managed to kill Bai Yi, but Bai Yi was about to return in triumph. In the future, he feared he would have little chance of such an opportunity again!

That night, after Emperor Mingde finally fell asleep, Qinglan finally left Emperor Mingde's palace. Alone, she walked to a courtyard, pushed open the door, and saw Liuguang and Yifei waiting outside. Her brows furrowed slightly.

"Your Highness, the Princess Consort has already retired for the night." Liu Guang saw Qing Lan and immediately stepped forward, his stance of blocking her way was all too obvious.

Qinglan frowned even more deeply. "Get out of the way!"

The two cold words, accompanied by a sharp gaze, sent a shiver down one's spine. Liu Guang and Yi Fei froze, but still gritted their teeth, showing no intention of giving way.

From inside the room came a voice, a light cough, "Let His Highness the Crown Prince in!"

Upon hearing that voice, Qinglan's brows immediately relaxed. Liuguang and Yifei, however, frowned, but had no choice but to obey their master's orders. They opened the door and watched Qinglan enter the room, but then followed her...

Upon entering, Qinglan saw a screen blocking her way, her brow furrowing slightly. The next instant, a woman's voice came from behind the screen...

"Your Highness, it is getting late. What brings you here?" The voice was somewhat hoarse, and Qinglan could tell that it was different from usual.