Chapter 590: A bet with 50 percent success (2/2)

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Long Feiye had told the fourth imperial prince that he’d give him an answer after three days, but plenty of developments happened at the borders before the time was up. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium’s first move to help the Chu Clan was to help them win over the three eastern prefectures of Western Zhou. They not only supplied armor, but urgent stores of rations, quilts, and medicines. It was almost New Year’s and the days were getting colder. Snow had starting falling last night, but the consortium’s deliveries were enough to keep the Chu army warm through winter.

Emperor Kang Cheng had originally banned all trade from Cloud Realm Trade Consortium within Western Zhou borders, but the latest news angered him into sealing all businesses owned by the consortium. Moreover, he banished all of their merchants from Western Zhou and set a decree that anyone consorting with them would be executed along with their entire clans!

But Cloud Realm Trade Consortium had long prepared for this. Much of their most valuable assets and properties had already withdrew from the country or transfered to other locations. They’d also stopped major high-stakes deals with force, costing Western Zhou’s merchants massive losses in the process. Furthermore, the consortium hired people to disseminate false rumors to turn public opinion, accusing Emperor Kang Cheng of being incompetent and turning the country’s merchants against him. Han Yunxi learned of this news at the same time she received a letter from Medicine City’s Council of Elders.

“They one-sidedly stopped all agreements and contracts? And now they’re not only refusing to hand over the profits earned this year, but want us to pay them compensation?” Han Yunxi felt her temper flaring at the words. “Ouyang Ning Jing can even do things like this? Doesn’t she know that businesses are built on mutual trust?!”

“Esteemed wangfei, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium said the it was Medicine City who’d stopped trading with them first, thus violating the terms of their contracts. This gives them the right to withhold all profits and claim indemnity for their losses. They even….they even sent word to say that if Medicine City didn’t pay up, they’ll ask Medical City to come and uphold justice for their side!” Xu Donglin reported.

“Shameless!” Han Yunxi smiled coldly.

Though the world had its share of wily merchants, they still had their bottom line. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium was simply plaguing them with unreasonable demands.

“So what if they find Medical City? Tell them that they can dream on about compensation. And they better pay Medicine City everything they owe them, or else!” Han Yunxi said coldly.

“But esteemed wangfei…it really seems like Medicine City violated their contracts when they cut off trade first with the consortium,” Xu Donglin reminded her timidly. “The terms of the agreements stated that Cloud Realm Trade Consortium has the right to choose their business partners after the contract expires. Medicine City can only sell their wares to other business only if Cloud Realm Trade Consortium declines to renew their contracts.”

“Those are simply the rules of a despot! The Council of Elders might have agreed to the clause, but who knows how many benefits Ouyang Ning Nuo padded in for Xie Deyi? Now the Council’s been reformed, so do they have to follow the same terms?” Han Yunxi shot back.

Xu Donglin finally understood and nodded in agreement.

“We’re already letting them off by not pressing charges of bribery. Ouyang Ning Jing really wants a yard after getting an inch!” Han Yunxi was truly furious. There was a sizable profit from all the business that the consortium had done with Medicine City. If the city didn’t get their due, it would affect the prices of the medicines for next year. And if weather conditions further affected the crops, then prices would rise even further. The consortium’s reasons for keeping the money really made one’s blood boil.

Moreover, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium was even using the profits to support the war effort, making Han Yunxi heave with rage. Because she was angry, Long Feiye didn’t look very happy either. But he managed to keep his cool.

“It’s unlikely that Cloud Realm Trade Consortium would have given up the medicine business so easily without reason,” he remarked.

“The snow mountains?” Han Yunxi asked in alarm. Last time, Jun Yixie had used those very same mountains to win over Xie Deyi. It was also then that she discovered Northern Li’s snowy peaks had high-yield production crops of precious medicinal plants.

“In other words, Cloud Realm Trade Consortium’s teamed with with Northern Li?” Tang Li said faintly.

Gu Qishao, who was sitting on the side, abruptly leapt to his feet and headed towards the door. “This is annoying, why’re things so complicated? This old man’s going to Western Liang for a look! I’ll be back in a few days!”

“Old fiend, take care of yourself!” Han Yunxi said as she chased after him, but Gu Qishao was already long gone.

It really was as he said. Why were things so complicated?! Things were chaotic enough to begin with, but if Northern Li got involved as well, then all of Cloud Realm Continent was likely to break out in war.

A complex look flickered past Long Feiye’s eyes before he ordered, “Xu Donglin, send word to Wang Gong and have him spread news of the snow mountain deal to the medical academy! Just say that Medicine City’s Council of Elders suspects it’s related to Jun Yixie!”

Although their theories about the snow mountains were pure conjecture, Long Feiye was all too willing to pin the blame on Jun Yixie. The man had already been reduced to commoner status, while the medical academy wouldn’t let such a rumor drop. They would keep a tight eye on its developments. None of the pharmacies with Pill Fiend Pharmacy’s token would dare to cooperate with Cloud Realm Trade Consortium. If the consortium did have medicine in their hands, they would only be able to do business with some famous doctors or independent pharmacists. But if the medical academy was keeping an eye on them, which doctor or pharmacy would have the nerve to buy the consortium’s wares?

Xu Donglin left with his orders before Long Feiye turned back to Han Yunxi. “Esteemed wangfei, please calm your anger,” he said.

Han Yunxi snickered as her temper evaporated. Cloud Realm Trade Consortium might be crafty, but Long Feiye was even more sinister! Tang Li and Chu Xifeng were both stunned at the sight. Finally, they had personally witnessed how the Duke of Qin liked to spoil esteemed wangfei to make her happy. He even told ‘esteemed wangfei’ to ‘calm her anger.’

Your Highness Duke of Qin, war’s about to break out all across the continent. Is it really alright to fool around and flirt at a time like this?

Chu Xifeng murmured quietly, “Your Highness, it’s about time to give the fourth imperial prince an answer.”

How would Long Feiye reply to the prince? Would he go to Western Liang? Or stay here?