While the servant boy went to pass the message, Jiang Fuying walked up to him, gently tugged at his sleeve, and asked in a hushed voice.
"Your Highness, why did you suddenly act like this?"
Since they were going to open a shop, they would inevitably have long - term interactions with the surrounding shops in the future. Building a good relationship at the beginning was extremely important.
He was usually quite normal, but just now he seemed to be... having a fit.
She really couldn't figure out what he was up to.
Noticing the figure emerging from behind the counter, Lu Huaizhou winked at her and replied in a voice only audible to them two.
"Please cooperate with me, my lady."
Cooperate with him?
Before Jiang Fuying could ask further, the obsequious voice of Shopkeeper Meng came from behind.
"I didn't know Your Highness was coming. I failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"Forgive you? Why don't I feel your sincerity?" Lu Huaizhou glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, still acting like a dissolute prince: "I think Shopkeeper Meng doesn't take me seriously at all."
This light - hearted remark made a thin layer of cold sweat break out on Shopkeeper Meng's forehead.
In the capital, if you were to list the people not to be provoked, Prince Lu would surely be on the list.
Offending Prince Lu, not to mention the person behind him who gave him money, even the whole rouge shop would be turned upside down by Prince Lu!
Shopkeeper Meng forced a smile and said timidly, "Your Highness is joking. How... how dare I? I've long admired Your Highness and respect you very much..."
Seeing Shopkeeper Meng's humble attitude, which was completely different from the way he treated her yesterday, Jiang Fuying instantly understood the meaning of his words "cooperate with me".
He was going to play bad cop, and let her play good cop!
She understood and winked at him: Your Highness, I'm ready.
Receiving her look, Lu Huaizhou nodded imperceptibly.
However, he didn't let Shopkeeper Meng off immediately.
"I think you're quite daring! After all, yesterday you didn't even take my wife seriously!"
Shopkeeper Meng trembled all over, sweating profusely: "Your Highness, I definitely didn't mean that. I just..."
"Alright, husband." Jiang Fuying chose the right moment and said softly, "I think Shopkeeper Meng just made an unintentional mistake yesterday. I don't blame him. Please forgive him this time."
"Humph!" Lu Huaizhou gave a cold snort and deliberately "warned" him, "This time, I'll forgive you because my wife pleaded for you. But if there's a next time, I won't be lenient!"
"Yes, yes, yes. I definitely won't dare to do it again."
Shopkeeper Meng heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Jiang Fuying gratefully: "Thank you, Princess, for your magnanimity!"
Thanking her hypocritically?
There's no need!
Jiang Fuying curved her lips and said with a smile, "To be honest with Shopkeeper Meng, I came today to form a good relationship with you and seriously discuss a cooperation with you."
A few big drops of sweat slid down Shopkeeper Meng's forehead.
He had received money from the second and third wives of the Zhennan Duke's Mansion and solemnly promised that he would never cooperate with the princess. If he suddenly went back on his word, not only would he have to return the money, but he would also offend those two ladies. This would be too much of a loss!
"Princess, I think we'd better discuss the cooperation later..."
"Discuss it later?" Lu Huaizhou took over the conversation and asked sternly, "Then do you think I should also consider later whether to forgive you this time?"
"I didn't mean that..."
"Then can we discuss the cooperation now?"
Lu Huaizhou pressed on step by step. Shopkeeper Meng had no power to resist and could only say, "Of course we can discuss it now."
Hearing his words, Jiang Fuying played good cop again.
"Husband, Shopkeeper Meng is just being cautious in his words. Look, he's still willing to cooperate with us."
Shopkeeper Meng wiped the sweat off his forehead and silently complained in his heart: Who's willing to cooperate? He was completely out of options!
"Shopkeeper Meng, these glass mirrors don't conflict with the rouge you sell." Jiang Fuying straightened her expression and introduced them to him, "We won't occupy your space for free. For every day the glass mirrors are placed in your shop, I'll pay you rent."
She held up her finger and showed a number: "The glass mirrors will be placed in your shop for three months first. I'm willing to pay fifty taels of silver per month during these three months. What do you think?"
Shopkeeper Meng's eyes sparkled, and his mind became active.
Indeed, putting a few glass mirrors in the shop had no impact on their rouge sales at all.
These glass mirrors didn't take up much space, and the princess was willing to pay rent. For him, this money was like getting it for free!
Moreover, the princess was generous and paid more than the second and third wives of the Zhennan Duke's Mansion!
Seeing that he was tempted, Jiang Fuying added, "I only have one requirement. If customers ask where they can buy the glass mirrors, you must tell them the truth."
This requirement seemed very simple to Shopkeeper Meng. It was just a matter of saying a few words. How easy!
He didn't hesitate and immediately agreed, "I'm willing to cooperate with the princess!"
Lu Huaizhou unceremoniously grabbed the pen and paper from the table and motioned to Shopkeeper Meng, "Since Shopkeeper Meng is willing to cooperate, please sign and seal."
After successfully cooperating with the rouge shop, Jiang Fuying thought he would tone down his "dissolute prince" act. However, he didn't say a single unnecessary word from then on.
At each shop, he would go straight to the point: "You refused to cooperate because you were bribed by the second and third wives of our Zhennan Duke's Mansion, right?"
The shopkeepers turned ashen and didn't dare to answer.
He continued to intimidate them: "Coincidentally, I happen to have some acquaintance with your masters. Do you think I'll tell your masters about this? What will the result be?"
The shopkeepers were all hired by their masters to manage the shops. If the matter of being bribed was exposed to their masters, they would surely be in big trouble.
While they were still in shock, Jiang Fuying immediately stepped forward to play good cop: "We have no ill intentions. We just want to discuss a cooperation with you. I guarantee that you'll make a profit without any risk."
Using this method, within just one hour, all the shopkeepers of the various shops relented and agreed to cooperate with them.
On the way back to the Zhennan Duke's Mansion, Jiang Fuying sorted out the thick stack of contracts contentedly and sincerely praised.
"Your Highness, you're really resourceful."
She had thought of many ways, but she really didn't expect there would be such a simple and efficient method.
Being praised by her, Lu Huaizhou felt as if colorful fireworks were blooming in his heart.
The corners of his lips curled up uncontrollably, feeling extremely satisfied.
It was good that he could support her!
It was worth it for him to painstakingly dress up in this "dissolute prince" outfit today!
The carriage swayed, stirring up people's emotions.
"Your Highness, I really owe you a lot today."
After Jiang Fuying praised and thanked him several times in a row, he suddenly hooked his lips and asked mysteriously.
"Miss Jiang, do you think there are benefits to being a dissolute person?"
Jiang Fuying was suddenly stunned.
She really didn't expect him to ask such a question...