The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

"Are you feeling any better?" Qinglan asked tentatively.

"I'm feeling much better, thank you for your concern, Your Highness." The voice from behind the screen sounded again, accompanied by a slight cough.

"Feeling better? That's good." Qinglan murmured, looking at the screen separating the two of them. She couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied. She frowned and stepped forward without hesitation.

Seemingly noticing Qinglan's actions, the person behind the screen frowned and hurriedly stopped her, "Your Highness, please wait. I am already the Princess Consort of Bohai, and it is getting late. Your Highness should go back."

"It's been quite a while since we last met." Qinglan stopped in her tracks, looking at the screen with a hint of longing in her eyes.

"Your Highness, let's do it another day! Another day... another day when I'm feeling better..."

Qinglan continued walking forward. The voice coming from behind the screen carried a hint of panic. Hearing this, Qinglan frowned even more deeply, and his resolve hardened. No matter what, he was determined to see Anmi today!

Thinking this, Qinglan quickened her pace. Liuguang and Yifei saw this, exchanged a glance, and quickly made a decision. They flashed and blocked Qinglan's path.

"Your Highness, the Princess Consort says it is getting late and requests that Your Highness return." A sharp glint flashed in Liu Guang's eyes as he spoke coldly.

Qinglan's eyes narrowed. This audacious servant had actually stopped him time and time again?

Hmph, he'd like to see who can stop Qinglan from doing what he wants in this world!

As if sensing the tense atmosphere outside, the voice from behind the screen sounded again, "Your Highness..."

The voice was much more normal than before, and it was this normality that made Qinglan's eyes narrow slightly as she looked behind the screen. The next moment, she saw the figure behind the screen slowly moving.

Qinglan's gaze remained fixed on that figure, watching her gradually approach the screen, then emerge from behind it, and finally see the veiled woman. The expression in Qinglan's eyes changed repeatedly.

“You… are not Mi’er.” Qinglan said with certainty. Even without seeing the face, he could recognize her. He stepped forward and ripped off the woman’s veil. The veil fluttered down, revealing another face in front of him.

"Cheng Ying? It's you. Where's Mi'er?" Qing Lan suddenly grabbed Cheng Ying's wrist, a sharp glint flashing in her deep eyes.

Indeed, the woman was Cheng Ying, but she was dressed in Anmi clothes.

Cheng Ying met Qing Lan's sharp eyes, a smile playing on her lips, and said unhurriedly, "Cheng Ying greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. If the Princess Consort were to see the former Doctor Qing Lan dressed in the Crown Prince's robes, she would surely be happy for you."

Cheng Ying did not give Qing Lan's question a direct answer at all.

Qinglan couldn't hold back any longer, tightening her grip on Cheng Ying's wrist. "Tell me quickly, where is Mi'er? Where did you hide Mi'er? Was it Bai Yi? Did he do it?"

A hint of arrogance appeared in Qinglan's expression. Cheng Ying saw it. Over the years, her experience in the business world had made her calm and collected. Even if the person standing in front of her could take her life with just a single order!

In fact, when she received the request from the King of Bohai to pretend to be a princess, she was already prepared to lose her life. An Mi had saved her life and recognized her talent, so what did it matter if she gave her life for her?

Slowly meeting Qinglan's eyes, he said, "Your Highness is mistaken. You and the Princess Consort have known each other for many years. You and I both know her character well. Who can hide the Princess Consort? Since she has left, it must be her own decision, her own choice. Your Highness, why are you so fixated on this? Your Highness has your own empire, your own wives and concubines, and you will be the emperor of our Great Jin Dynasty in the future. Isn't Your Highness satisfied?"

Qinglan's eyes widened in surprise. Although Cheng Ying hadn't explained everything clearly, he had almost grasped the gist of it. The hand gripping Cheng Ying's wrist tightened even more, and his already gloomy face became even more terrifying, with veins bulging on his forehead. He looked as if he wanted to devour someone whole.

Cheng Ying, Liu Guang, and Yi Fei all felt a chill run down their spines as they watched. The former Crown Prince, though cold and aloof, was far more terrifying than this!

"They're gone, and you're staying here. Do you know the consequences of deceiving this Crown Prince?" Qinglan said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

Liu Guang and Yi Fei exchanged a glance, seemingly ready to launch a fierce attack. Cheng Ying, however, regained her composure and smiled. "Your Highness, we will leave ourselves to your disposal. However, the Princess's most cherished friend is Doctor Qing Lan from Rongjin City. Qing Lan replied that he has always been dedicated to saving people from illness and would never kill anyone."

Qinglan froze, his deep eyes flashing with a complex emotion. Suddenly, he burst into laughter. "Well done, Cheng Ying! You truly are worthy of being taught by Mi'er. Don't forget, I am now the Crown Prince of the Great Jin Dynasty, not some Doctor Qinglan!"

Mi'er, Mi'er, you left them here without worry, is it because you knew I wouldn't do anything to hurt you?

Doctor Qinglan? Is the current Doctor Qinglan the same Doctor Qinglan as before?

Qinglan looked at Cheng Ying in front of her, then suddenly turned her hand and gripped Cheng Ying's neck tightly, tightening her grip. If she killed her, what would happen to Mi'er?

Has the once vibrant Qinglan vanished?

Qinglan's eyes widened suddenly as he looked at Cheng Ying's pained expression. Time seemed to stand still as he recalled his time in Rongjin City. She was just a concubine's daughter, and he was merely a doctor who healed the sick and saved lives!

That first encounter was so beautiful, Mi'er...

"Haha..." Qinglan suddenly burst into laughter, releasing Cheng Ying's neck. Cheng Ying was free, but she was still terrified because of Qinglan in front of her.

Qinglan glared fiercely at Cheng Ying, a resolute look gathering in her eyes. "I will not let this go!"

With those words thrown down, Qinglan left the room without looking back. The others breathed a sigh of relief, but they could still see the worry in each other's eyes. It seemed that His Highness the Crown Prince was unwilling to accept this!

What about the prince and princess?

I don't know, and what's the matter now?

The King of Bohai led his army to conquer the Feng family and should have returned in triumph, but the capital waited for many days without any news of the King of Bohai's departure. Qinglan, who learned the truth about Anmi's departure, became even more impatient and sent out several assassination attempts, all of which failed.

Emperor Mingde's condition worsened, and he was almost bedridden. On this day, Emperor Mingde summoned all the court officials, had the palace servants carry him to the morning court, and had an imperial edict read aloud.