The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

An Mi frowned slightly. "It is indeed a grand occasion. I heard that the young master of the Liu family married the fifth young lady because of her embroidery at the embroidery appreciation event. Tell me, if Madam Liu and the young master had chosen a different piece of embroidery that day, then today's bride..."

"Then today's bride won't be the Fifth Miss, right? By the way, the Fifth Miss's embroidery isn't particularly outstanding, so how did she get chosen? I really don't understand." Shuangyue frowned and shook her head in confusion.

“Hehe, that’s fate. But I’ve heard a rumor…” An Mi said casually.

Frostmoon became interested. "What rumor?"

An Mi hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was around before speaking cautiously, "I told you, but don't spread this around. Now that the Fifth Miss has become the young mistress of the richest family, her position in the An family is even more unshakable. If she hears these rumors and investigates, we'll both be in deep trouble."

Shuangyue nodded eagerly, her eyes full of curiosity and anticipation.

An Mi frowned and lowered her voice, "I heard that there was something fishy about the Fifth Miss's embroidery that day."

"Huh? What's going on?" Shuangyue pressed.

“I don’t know about that, but think about it. The embroidery was never seen by anyone. On the day the Liu family proposed marriage, there would have been a chance to see Miss Xianglan embroider in public, but then that happened…” An Mi frowned as she spoke, her voice filled with a hint of regret. “It’s such a pity for Miss Xianglan. She was such a beautiful young woman, at such a radiant age. Her hands are ruined, she can’t embroider anymore, and her face is ruined. How will she ever get married? Sigh, let’s not talk about it anymore, let’s go quickly.”

After saying that, Anmi and Shuangyue headed towards the front yard. As they turned around, Anmi glanced in a certain direction without leaving a trace, and a strange smile appeared on her lips.

After the two left, a figure emerged from behind the artificial hill. It was Jin Qiaoyu, heading back to her own courtyard. Her mind kept replaying what she had overheard earlier. Was it true? The rumor that An Mi had mentioned!

Something fishy? What exactly is this fishy thing?

His dark eyes narrowed, and images of Feng Xianglan's injured hands and face, and her predictable fate, flashed through his mind. Finally, Yu Fangfei's smug smile and cold sarcasm came to mind.

Regardless of whether what she just heard was true or false, there was one thing she had to admit: when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven. Since An Xinhe became the young mistress of the Liu family, Jin Qiaoyu, even with her little bit of "old affection" with Feng Ge, had no chance of turning things around in the An family. She would even be wantonly humiliated and trampled underfoot by Yu Fangfei.

No, no, she couldn't just stand by and watch that bitch Yu Fangfei be so smug. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes as Jin Qiaoyu quickly calculated what she should do. Gradually, a plan took shape in her mind. She was going to take a gamble. If she lost, she would only be trampled even more by Yu Fangfei, but if she won... perhaps, she would have a chance to turn the tables.

Yes, that's it! Jin Qiaoyu gritted her teeth, a hint of coldness creeping into her eyes, then turned and walked towards the backyard...

Anmi and Shuangyue, who had already walked far away, suddenly stopped in their tracks.

"Miss, you had Shuangyue and you put on such a show just now. Do you think the person who overheard it would believe it?" Shuangyue blinked her pure eyes, even she couldn't understand her mistress's intentions.

Anmi smiled knowingly, "Whether she believes it or not, her heart will be restless; she won't sit idly by and wait for her doom."

"What will she do?" Shuangyue felt increasingly that she couldn't keep up with her mistress's pace.

"What are you going to do?" An Mi's eyes flickered. What would Jin Qiaoyu do? With her personality, she would definitely take a gamble! Jin Qiaoyu was unwilling to be subservient to others and understood what her future would be like in the An family. Given this opportunity, how could she not take a gamble and make a scene?

What a joke! Ha! She probably doesn't realize that the moment she had this thought, she had unknowingly become a pawn in her peaceful game, a pawn that wouldn't hurt her hand when used.

Frosty Moon didn't get a reply from Anmi, so she didn't ask any more questions. After a while, Anmi finally spoke, "Frosty Moon, today I have a task for you."

"What kind of mission?" Shuangyue's eyes lit up, eager to try.

Anmi smiled when she saw her appearance. "Dress up like you did when you went to Liu's Embroidery Shop to consign your embroidery. It's time to get the money we consigned back."

"Wow!" Shuangyue exclaimed, beaming with joy, and nodded eagerly, "Great, great, so much silver!"

She thought Miss had forgotten about the silver since she hadn't mentioned it for so long!

Anmi gave Shuangyue time to collect her money before heading towards the servants' quarters. As she walked, she pondered what she needed to do that day. Thinking about it, it was indeed a busy day, but wasn't it worth it?

Unconsciously, she arrived at the door. Anmi pushed the door open and suddenly felt a huge force behind her. Then, her back pressed against a soft chest. Anmi was startled. It was a person, a man much taller than her!

The man slammed the door shut with one hand, and his lips landed on An Mi's neck. An Mi felt a surge of disgust. "Wait!"

"Wait for what? With a woman in my arms, I don't wait for anything." The man's rough voice revealed his impatience.

Anmi's alarm bells rang. She felt the lips pressing down on her from behind again, and a hand groping her body. Anmi gritted her teeth and, with almost all her strength, stomped down hard, landing heavily on the man's foot.

Caught off guard, the man cried out in pain from his foot. Anmi quickly regained her composure, bent her elbow, and thrust it backward. The man groaned, realizing the woman in his arms was trying to break free, and immediately grabbed her wrist with immense strength.

Anmi couldn't break free, but she had already turned around and saw the man who had suddenly appeared. "You..."

"You sly bitch, you're quite cunning. I'll show you what I'm capable of today, or I'll be afraid I can't subdue you. But I like hot and wild women like this, they're really something!" The man spat, his eyes gleaming with lewdness. He sized up An Mi and said flippantly, "Heh, you're really good-looking. I'm so lucky in this life to have such a beautiful wife."

“An Xinlian sent you here!” An Mi had already confirmed the man’s identity. Connecting the dots between the three of them—Yu Fangfei, her mother, and her daughter—in the garden that day, it wasn’t hard to figure this out. Although it was a question, her tone was exceptionally certain.

Good! She never expected Yu Fangfei and her daughter to be so ruthless!

What are they up to? Remembering An Xinhe's ambiguous words this morning, she finally understood: Today is our big day? A big day, what a big day!