The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

Manly? Hmph, I heard that Fu Laoliu once bought a wife, but less than a year after their marriage, the woman was beaten to death while pregnant. Her death was extremely gruesome. Ha! He really is manly!

As for the "good business" that ensures people have enough to eat and wear, it's nothing more than slaughtering pigs.

Are this mother and daughter trying to marry her off to Fu Laoliu? It's clearly pushing her into a fire pit!

“Madam, Anmi is willing to serve you in the manor, Miss…” Anmi lowered her brows, seemingly trembling with fear.

Before An Mi could finish speaking, Yu Fangfei coldly interrupted her, "No need to say anything more. You'll get married sooner or later. It's a rare opportunity to find such a good match. It would be a pity to miss it. Alright, you can go now. After Xin He's wedding is over, we'll hold yours."

Yu Fangfei waved her hand, and An Mi didn't say anything more. She naturally understood Yu Fangfei's intentions: she wanted to throw her out of the An family mansion in this way, and the more miserable she was, the better!

Should I marry Fu Laoliu?

Ah, Anmi turned and took a few steps, the coldness in her eyes spreading wildly.

As tranquility faded, the mother and her two daughters in the garden became even more unrestrained.

“Mother, sister, so you’re going to marry An Mi off to Fu Laoliu? Humph, that’s good. Marrying Fu Laoliu will surely give her a good life. Maybe she’ll be tortured to death soon after she marries him.” An Xinhe said excitedly.

An Xinlian frowned. "I'm afraid An Mi won't be that obedient."

For some reason, she felt that Anmi was becoming increasingly strange. She didn't know where that strangeness came from, but there was always a sense of unease, which became even stronger after Xinhe was imprisoned.

"Disobedient? If she's disobedient, then let's make it a fait accompli and she'll become that Fu Laoliu's woman. Even if she doesn't marry him, her life is over." Yu Fangfei took a sip of tea and spoke maliciously.

Upon hearing this, An Xinlian and An Xinhe exchanged a glance and their smiles became even more wicked.

They all knew that if An Mi really lost her virginity, it would be even worse than marrying Fu Laoliu!

With An Mi's ambiguous relationship with the King of Bohai, and Qinglan Gongzi's deep concern for An Mi, both paths—marrying Fu Laoliu or losing her virginity—are now blocked!

As An Xinlian pondered this, she tightened her grip on the teacup. An Mi was nothing more than a concubine's daughter who had lost her mother; she would never have the chance to be more noble than An Xinlian!

“Mother, I don’t think An Mi will listen to marry someone. Why not do as you say and force her to make it a fait accompli? It just so happens that…” An Xinhe’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she smiled broadly. But what she said sent a chill down one’s spine. “It just so happens that I’m going to marry Young Master Liu. If my wedding night with Young Master Liu can also be my second sister’s wedding night, then it will be double happiness, and such a rare and auspicious day will not be wasted.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Fangfei frowned. "This... is probably bad luck."

"Mother, what's with all this talk about good or bad luck? It's my wedding, can't you just consider it a gift for me?" An Xinhe pouted and said coquettishly.

"Mother, let Xinhe have her way. Anyway, dealing with Anmi is only a matter of time. It's good to make Xinhe happy." An Xinlian nodded in agreement. This suggestion was probably not bad. In the end, Anmi would probably feel even more miserable.

Yu Fangfei pondered for a moment, then finally nodded, "You just be a good bride, and I'll have someone arrange the rest."

"Mom, you're so kind! I love this gift so much!" An Xinhe took Yu Fangfei's arm, leaned on her shoulder with satisfaction, and affectionately cuddled her arm.

The mother and her two daughters were all lost in their own thoughts, unaware that a tall figure was hiding in the shadows not far away, watching and hearing everything.

Throughout, the man's brow was furrowed. A sharp glint quickly spread across his usually gentle eyes. He wanted to step forward several times, but ultimately restrained himself. He glanced at the mother and her two daughters with a complicated expression, took a deep breath, and, suppressing his anger, turned and walked towards the gate of the An residence...

Inside the Holy Physician's Hall.

The man in the blue robe stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with gloom, and even the air in the room seemed oppressive.

A middle-aged man, dressed in plain clothes and sporting a mustache, was none other than Gu Ming, the head of the Holy Physician Hall. Upon entering the room, he noticed the man in the blue robe's unusual demeanor and frowned slightly. He quickly closed the door and approached the man in the blue robe. "Master, is something on your mind?"

Qinglan frowned, pondered for a moment, but instead of answering, she asked a question in her tone, sounding somewhat impatient at being interrupted, "What is it, Hall Master?"

Knowing that his master didn't intend to reveal his thoughts, Gu Ming dared not press further. Remembering the purpose of his visit, Gu Ming stepped forward. "Master, the Prince of Donglin has arrived in Rongjin City. Shouldn't you temporarily seek refuge there...?"

My master has been living in anonymity in Rongjin City for several years without incident, but recently, I don't know what kind of wind has blown up. First, it was the King of Bohai, and now it's the King of Donglin. I'm afraid that sooner or later, people in the capital will find out about what my master is doing in Rongjin City.

The King of Donglin? Qinglan's lips curled up, a smile quite different from his usual gentle demeanor. "So what if he's here? It's been a long time since we brothers have gotten together. Perfect, now all three of us are gathered!"

"Master..." Gu Ming looked at Qing Lan, unable to fathom his thoughts. Was his master going to face everything in the capital?

But... Gu Ming thought of something, his brow furrowed slightly, and after struggling for a long time, he finally cautiously observed Qing Lan's expression and said, "Master, that person has also arrived. This old servant thinks that he is not traveling this time. You should at least... Master, do you want to go and see him?"

After Gu Ming finished speaking, seeing that his master was not surprised and his expression did not change much, he seemed to have become a little bolder. "Master, the Empress's last wish before her death..."

"Shut up!" Qinglan's sharp eyes narrowed, and she shouted sharply, which made Gu Ming tremble with fear. Since his master went into hiding in Rongjin City, he had never been so angry. Even his master in the past was not as angry as he was now... He glanced at his master cautiously and saw his gloomy face, which made him shudder.

"You may leave. From now on, do not mention Mother's affairs again. I will not be making house calls today." Qinglan's icy voice flowed from her mouth, and she said no more.

Gu Ming lowered his head and retreated, carefully closing the door from the outside. Qing Lan was left alone in the room again. He had known that the man had come to Rong Jincheng ever since he went to the An residence for a house call that day.

He learned about Feng Xianglan's injury and went to the lobby. In the lobby, he smelled a familiar scent, one that ordinary people wouldn't be able to detect, but he...