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Someone tried to hoard stock, but was quickly surrounded and beaten by other artists.
The prices were so low and the quality so superior that many merchants selling lapis lazuli and murex purple were forced to lower their prices reluctantly, after being snubbed.
As a result, people tasted the benefits and started purchasing these colors with even more fervor—
Though purple was supposed to be a color for the nobility, this was Milan, and no one cared about such things.
The shopkeeper was quite mysterious, often leaving assistants to rotate shifts running the shop.
But given the amount of money being made without attracting the attention of the church or the court, he was probably someone with powerful connections.
During this period, Sforza issued a decree to develop the pastoral industry.
Although his private life was somewhat chaotic, his efforts for the country's development were always admirable.
This regent believed that the strength of a nation came from the prosperity of its economy. Whether developing the military or building academies, the priority should be to strengthen the finances.
He established a huge farm and livestock research facility near Vigevano, where it was said that they raised around twenty to thirty thousand cattle, horses, and sheep, with the best horses in all of Europe.
Hedy smelled the opportunity and quickly made a similar investment.
She found a grazing area with fertile grasslands and, at areasonable price, bought the land. She then began hiring workers to build the ranch.
The trend of slavery began to rise in this era, with Moors being bought and sold like black slaves.
However, Hedy directly purchased a large portion of the Moors and gave them new identities and income freedom. She even sent people to teach them more advanced production skills.
The honest and earnest Moors understood what this meant and worked even harder when doing their tasks.
Horses, sheep, goats, as well as various egg-laying chickens and meat chickens, were all introduced to excellent breeding programs.
The meat chickens didn't need to be taken for walks; they were kept in pens and only needed to be fed and watered.
Under Hedy's guidance, Da Vinci designed grain bins and water troughs that could circulate and were easy to replenish, even developing a clever method for handling waste.
The price of meat in Milan began to slowly decrease.
People gradually noticed that chicken and lamb supplies were becoming more abundant, and the prices were now affordable.
Once the demand for her paint reached saturation, Hedy began exporting it to cities like Florence, Venice, and Ferrara. More and more merchants tried to source from her, and Persian traders lost the popularity they once had.
Da Vinci remained his usual self, going out early and returning late, working on the frescoes and dome designs at the Milan Cathedral. But over time, he started spending more time painting for his patron.
Now, his only patron was a young lady from the Medici family.
Atalante sometimes helped by passing brushes or scrapers, watching closely as he worked.
One afternoon, he couldn't help but share his thoughts.
"Leonardo," the young man took a sip of juice, "do you like her?"
The painter's movements faltered for a moment, and he instinctively retorted, "That's not something you should be asking."
"So, you do like her? Or is it more than that?" Atalante shook his glass with lime juice. "You stare at her portrait for a long time every day—sometimes you even can't help but smile."
Da Vinci rubbed his forehead, lowering his voice, "Don't make such assumptions. If you keep this up, I won't need your help with my painting anymore."
The feeling of someone noticing such a private emotion made him uneasy.
