"Your Highness, why did you sell the brown sugar recipe?"
Ruyi was somewhat puzzled.
The candy shop was incredibly successful; in just a few months, it had earned the princess a huge fortune.
This kind of business can definitely continue for a long time.
"Making brown sugar doesn't require much skill!"
Xie Yuan certainly knew how profitable monopolistic businesses could be.
However, the technical threshold for making brown sugar is not high.
"Nowadays, many people know that the raw material for brown sugar is sugarcane!"
Xie Yuan never underestimated the wisdom of the ancient working people.
Once the raw materials are known, someone will conduct experiments.
Even if you don't know the specific steps, you can gradually learn the process through repeated attempts.
Xie Yuan dared to bet that when the sugar shop became a sensation throughout Yuezhou, women from official families like Madam Zheng, or local tycoons, all began to secretly try it out.
It's only a matter of time before they replicate brown sugar.
Xie Yuan never imagined that he would be able to keep the secret recipe for brown sugar forever.
Instead of waiting for everyone to spend time deciphering it, she might as well make a fortune with the secret formula in advance.
Anyway, she still has the secret recipe for refining white sugar, which is what can truly be called "technology".
Of course, Xie Yuan couldn't explain these things to the people around him.
She could only say, "Besides, Xiao Zixiu has already obtained the incomplete sugar-making recipe, so he should have already made brown sugar."
Once the so-called confidentiality technology is known to a second party, it becomes very difficult to keep it secret.
The Third Prince's true colors were exposed by Helian Jue, forcing him to step out from behind the scenes and into the limelight.
Faced with attacks from the Second Prince, the Fifth Prince, and others, the Third Prince may not have a chance of winning.
The secret recipe for brown sugar could help the Third Prince build connections and "share the risks."
Xie Yuan thought that it wouldn't be long before several brown sugar shops would spring up in the capital.
The nobles in the capital have obtained the secret recipe, so how can the main sugarcane-producing areas of Lingnan be ignored?!
At that time, the entire Lingnan region will be producing brown sugar.
Xie Yuan's insistence on guarding the secret recipe was to no avail.
So, let's be quick and sell the secret recipe ahead of time.
Xie Yuan's actions are also a way to divert attention—
With the brown sugar recipe in hand, Madam Zheng and others would concentrate on building workshops and making brown sugar, leaving them with less time to pay attention to the Yue Prince's Mansion.
Xie Yuan and Helian Jue were able to catch their breath and proceed with the next step of their plan.
"Your Majesty is indeed very thoughtful!"
Ruyi still didn't quite understand, but seeing her princess speaking eloquently and confidently, she knew that everything was under the princess's control.
"You little brat, you've learned how to flatter people now?"
Xie Yuan was in a good mood and jokingly said something to Ruyi.
"No way! I'm just telling the truth!"
Ruyi's praise is three parts flattery and seven parts sincerity.
Back in the Xie family in the capital, Xie Ze used his power as a nobleman in the palace to seize control of the entire Xie family.
The young lady, the young master, and their old servants all lived a very miserable life.
The young lady was even forced to marry in someone else's place!
Even now, Ruyi still remembers the day Xie Rou brought a group of people to bully the young lady, who only had her, a little maid, by her side.
The master and servant were isolated and helpless, filled with despair.
The young lady even hit her head and broke it...
However, since the young lady was injured, she has become stronger and more decisive.
And His Highness the Prince of Yue is also a very kind person; he helped the young lady get her dowry back.
...The past events, though less than a year had passed, gave Ruyi a feeling as if it were a lifetime ago.
She was deeply moved: "Fortunately, the Princess Consort was strong, and fortunately, she married His Highness!"
Otherwise, how could they, master and servant, have such a good life?
"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's discuss the 'auction' instead."
Xie Yuan was unaware that Ruyi was reminiscing about the past. After chatting and laughing for a while, he got back to the main topic.
An auction?
What's this?
Ruyi was full of question marks.
Standing to the side, Zheng Yurong, being educated and knowledgeable, tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, do you intend to publicly sell the secret recipe? The highest bidder wins?"
"That's right! It's an auction! I'll release ten slots, and the ten highest bidders will get the secret formula!"
Madam Zheng and others had plundered so much of the people's wealth in Yuezhou, and Xie Yuan felt no guilt whatsoever about taking a piece of their flesh.
On the contrary, she even felt a sense of pleasure in robbing the rich to help the poor and eliminating evil for the people.
"Your Highness's idea is excellent! We shouldn't sell to just one company."
Zheng Yurong secretly admired her; she had already guessed the Princess's intentions:
Selling the secret recipe to more people not only increases profits but also breaks the network of relationships between the governor's mansion and the powerful clans.
What kind of collusion between officials and businessmen?
Nothing can compare to tangible benefits.
On the surface, Yuezhou appears to be entirely under the control of the Cui family, but it has never been a monolithic entity, neither inside nor outside the city.
By revealing a secret sugar-making formula, these people are driven to divide, compete, and fight over profits...
The princess's move was definitely a "double kill".
Faced with Zheng Yurong's praise, Xie Yuan smiled but remained silent, only instructing Zheng Yurong to go and make arrangements.
After finishing these tasks and sending away the maids, including Ruyi, Xie Yuan began writing letters.
Helian Jue went to the mountains, but he did not sever ties with Xie Yuan.
Helian Jue did not provide details about the "underground base," but Xie Yuan would frequently report to Helian Jue on the situation at the Prince's Palace and in Yuezhou.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
