Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 716

Yun Shang patted Luo Qingyan's hand around her waist and stood up with a smile. "Go to bed and pretend to be unconscious."

Looking at his empty hand, Luo Qingyan smiled helplessly. "Qian Yin is your confidant. It doesn't matter.

Yun Shang glanced at him coldly and then asked Qian Yin to come in.

As Qian Yin raised the curtain and came in, she saw Yun Shang standing beside the bench, and Luo Qingyan leaning against it. She paused for a moment, and then quickly walked up to Yun Shang and bowed to her. "Your Highnesses."

Yun Shang walked to a desk and sat down before she spoke up, "On my way back to the mansion, I noticed that many Xiao's shops has been opened for business which sell the same items as the Wang's shops do as I instructed. You've done it really quickly." Is the price of the items lower than that of the Wang's? "

Qian Yin hurried to answer, "Yes, all the items are cheaper than those of their shops, but not too much. The price of inexpensive ones are about 3 or 5 pennies lower while the expensive items are two taels of silver cheaper."

"I have observed carefully all the way, only to find that although we offer lower prices, our business is not as good as the Wang's. Is that true? What's going on? " Yun Shang asked again. Qian Yin nodded and said, "Yes, Your Highness is right. I have also been paying attention to it recently. A few days ago, I had someone inquire around in the street. Most customers still prefer the Wang's as it's been a time-honored brand people in the Jin City are familiar with. They don't want to risk just for a small price difference from the Xiao's.

Hearing what Qin Yin said, Yun Shang fell silent. She should've expected that people would grow bond with the shop they frequently visited and become loyal to some certain brand.

Once they got used to it, it's not easy to change their habit.

"Do you have a solution?" Yun Shang looked up at Qian Yin and asked softly.

Qian Yin kept silent for a while before responding softly, "Well... I have come up with some ideas. I think we could make some more trouble for them as we did last time, to totally ruin the reputation of the Wang's."

Yun Shang shook her head and said, "Wang Congwen and the seventh prince have colluded with each other. If we use the same trick, he might find out that I am behind that fabric incident. In this way, he will know that the Xiao's is mine. If he invents a charge against us, it will be difficult for us to regain everything we have in the Jin City as we don't have a deep foundation."

Qian Yin replied in a low voice. After a while, she smiled and said, "Your Highness, these days I've noticed that there are many businessmen in the Jin city who travel between the two countries for trade. Recently, the news that the State of Yelang harasses the people at the border of the State of Xia and wants to start a war has provoked a lot of public indignation. And His Majesty is going to send troops out soon. The army provisions are being prepared recently. I think this may be an opportunity." Yun Shang's eyes lit up. She looked up at Qian Yin, "Tell me."

"I think it's better to donate some food in the name of the Xiao's to gain a patriot reputation first, and then find a way to secretly spread the news. Perhaps we can take this opportunity to leave a good impression on the people." Qian Yin said seriously.

Before Yun Shang could say anything, Luo Qingyan clapped his hands and said, "What a brilliant idea."

Hearing this, Yun Shang couldn't help laugh. She gave Luo Qingyan a quick glance and turned to Qian Yin, "Do as you said. Donate all the rice and oil in the rice shop of the Xiao's. After that, post a notice outside the shop, saying that there is no food for sale for the time being as all the food has been donated to the soldiers who are going to fight at the frontier and all the other shops of the Xiao's are open as usual."

Qian Yin agreed with a smile. Seeing that Yun Shang had no other orders, Qian Yin bid a goodbye and left.

After Qian Yin went out, Qin Yi refilled Yun Shang's cup with tea and said with a smile, "I think it's a good thing that Qian Yin seems to have become calmer after that incident and after she got married."

Yun Shang also nodded slightly, "Indeed."

Luo Qingyan chimed in, "What makes one grow is experience."

Yun Shang stood up and ordered Qin Yi to prepare lunch before turning to Luo Qingyan. "When I was meeting His Majesty in the Palace, the Empress came and tried to recommend Su Ruhai to lead the army to the battle front."

Luo Qingyan raised her eyebrows. "Is he the third grade general?" Yun Shang nodded slightly. "So, you've seen him before?"

"Of course I have. Compared with his scheming father and sister, he was much simple-minded. As for martial arts, he had brute force and no rules. In terms of strategy, he was quite proficient in the art of war, but he seems not able to put it into practice. The empress even attempt to seize the position of general for such a person. The mission of leading troops to the State of Yelang has become something like a hotcake that everyone wants." Luo Qingyan's voice became colder and his smile faded.

Hearing Luo Qingyan's words, Yun Shang also smiled. "The Empress knows little about Cangjue Qingsu. Though she is considerate, but a little simple."