Yun Yishu asked Chu Dunshi in confusion, and Chu Dunshi told Yun Yishu what had happened in the painting studio:

Around 9:00 AM, a young gentleman and a short, stout man entered the shop to look at paintings.

How much is this painting?

The young man in the green robe asked,

"Young master has a good eye. This painting of galloping horses is worth seventy taels of silver, which is equivalent to seven taels of gold. For the first three days of our grand opening, we will give you sixty taels of silver."

Chu Dunshi counted on his fingers and said with a smile.

"Hmm, I quite like this painting. Okay, send someone to deliver it..."

"Young Master Liu, let's go and take a look at the paintings at Junhe Painting Studio in the west of the city before making a decision."

The young man in the green robe said with a grin. The follower was of medium height, round and chubby, with sparse hair on his head.

"You have a discerning eye and a noble status; the paintings there might be more suitable for your hall."

The follower continued the story, preventing him from buying cosmetics at the Moonlit Edge Painting Shop.

"Alright then." With that, the two walked out of the Moonlit Edge Painting Studio.

Chu Dunshi gritted his teeth, suppressing the urge to go up and give that lackey a good beating.

"Please take care, young master, and come visit often."

After seeing the young master off with a forced smile, Chu Dunshi spat on the ground.

"Pah!"

He glared at the lackey with hatred. "You bastard, you ruined my business! Little Zhao, remember the appearance and clothing of that lackey and that young man in green robes, go and find out who they are!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

A moment later, Xiao Zhao, the shop assistant, returned.

"Shopkeeper, we've found out. The young man in green robes is the second son of the Liu family."

"The Liu family?"

"But that Liu family?"

"That's right..."

"The Liu family owns the largest pulp mill in the capital, as you know. They are the main supplier of the paper we use for bookkeeping and the paper that scholars use for drawing and writing."

Chu Dunshi nodded. "What about the shorter one?"

"Those are constables from the West City government office. As for why they were with the second young master of the Liu family and how they got in touch, we don't know yet."

"However, I saw that the short guy walking behind, and when the second young master of the Liu family wasn't paying attention, he whispered a few words to the guard beside him, and then the guard went to Junhe Painting Studio."

After listening to Chu Dunshi's explanation, Yun Yishu understood that they had come to poach his employees.

Presumably, Junhe Painting Studio gave that constable a bribe.

"So Junhe Painting Studio was hiring people to poach our staff."

Yun Yishu sneered a few times. "I will not offend others unless they offend me; if they offend me, I will retaliate."

"The Liu family made their fortune by selling paper and related products."

"The eldest son of the Liu family is in charge of selling paper and finding buyers, while the second son of the Liu family is in charge of showing customers the color and quality of paper made from different materials."

"Chu Dunshi, pick out the paintings made of different types of paper and send the paintings made of Xuan paper, hemp paper, silkworm cocoon paper, ribbed paper, and cotton paper to the Liu family."

“Okay, I’ll go pick one.” Chu Dunshi nodded.

"Xiao Xue, keep watch in front of the Liu family's residence. When the second young master returns, deliver the painting to him and tell him that the owner of Yuexiayuan Painting Studio gave him the painting 'Ten Thousand Horses Galloping'. Ask him to appreciate the rest."

"Given it away? Master, this painting is worth quite a bit of money!"

Chu Dunshi looked at Yun Yishu in surprise.

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. Trust me, this painting is worth the price."

"Don't worry, I bought the painting of ten thousand galloping horses, so you'll get a good reward."

"I understand, I will do as the master says."

...

Yun Yishu bought a small pavilion at the end of Chang'an Street and hung a sign made of nanmu wood with the three large characters "Jixi Pavilion" on it.

He didn't want the shopkeeper to know that he was a prince from Nanyang, so he chose this place to meet and pass messages.

News from Yuexiayuan Painting Shop, Baixiangge Spice Shop, and Huichuntang Medical Clinic would all be delivered to Jixi Pavilion, and Shitou would come to collect the news every night.

That evening, Chu Dunshi sent a message saying that the second young master of the Liu family had accepted the painting "Ten Thousand Horses Galloping" and thanked the painting studio for its care. As for the other paintings sent, the Liu family bought them all.

Paintings such as "Springtime in Full Bloom," "Cicadas Singing," "The Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars Series," and "Lychees of Lingnan" brought in a total of 800 taels of silver.

In his letter, Chu Dunshi said that he would keep a close eye on the Liu family and maintain contact with them to make them a stable customer of Yuexiayuan Painting Studio.

...

Half a month after opening, Yun Yishu was in his bedroom thinking about how to make more money from the painting studio.

Just then, Yun Duoduo walked in carrying a food box.

"Third Imperial Brother!"

"Why does Your Majesty look so worried?"

Yun Duoduo placed the food box on the table, took out a piece of sweet and sour hawthorn cake from it, and ate it.

"Recently, there has been a man who has been sabotaging the business of our shop, and all our customers have been taken to Junhe Painting Studio."

[Oh my god, isn't this poaching someone else's boyfriend?]

"Poaching customers, stealing business?"

Yun Duoduo rolled up her sleeves.

Tell me which art studio it is, and if you can take action, don't just talk!

"I bet this person also ruined the business of other painting studios."

"Third brother, how about we do it this way?"

Yun Duoduo whispered a few words in Yun Yishu's ear, and Yun Yishu nodded in understanding.

That night, on a deserted path, the constable in green robes was put in a sack and given a good beating.

At the same time, Chu Dunshi sent letters to the owners of several other painting studios, saying that the owner of Yuexiayuan Painting Studio invited them to a gathering at Manjianghong Restaurant at 9:00 AM on the 9th of this month.

At 9:00 AM on the ninth day, Yun Yishu, along with Chu Dunshi and Xiao Zhao, a capable assistant from the painting studio, arrived at the Manjianghong Restaurant. They found that the managers of Feilong Painting Studio in the east of the city, Ruyi Painting Studio in the suburbs, Shengjing Painting Studio in the south of the city, Qifu Painting Studio, and Xiangrui Painting Studio were already sitting in private rooms.

"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence. I'm sure you've all encountered similar situations recently, with your business being ruined by your friends, and you, sir, being taken to Junhe Painting Studio."

"Yeah, it's infuriating!"

The owner of Feilong Painting Studio slammed his fist on the table and said angrily.

"Once is one thing, but mine has been robbed several times!"

The owner of Xiangrui Painting Studio took a sip of tea to suppress his anger.

"I have an idea, let's see if it's feasible."

"As for the paintings from Junhe Painting Studio, I'm sure you're all familiar with them. There are very few expensive paintings, such as those priced above fifty taels of silver. Most of their paintings are priced below ten taels of silver."

"As everyone knows, these customers are very sensitive to changes in the price of paintings."

"Therefore, I propose that we uniformly lower the price of paintings priced below ten taels of silver."

“The price will be reduced by two taels of silver until all the customers of Junhe Painting Studio are taken away by us and come to our painting studio to buy paintings. Then we will restore the price uniformly.”

After saying that, Yun Yishu took a bite of the chestnut cake from the restaurant.

This idea was suggested by his younger sister, who called it a price war.

"Hmm, that's one way."

After thinking for a moment, the owner of Xiangrui Painting Studio nodded in agreement.

"But what if Junhe Painting Studio also lowers its prices?"