They learned that Pan Jinhua only needed a small place and simple materials: coarse salt, water, lime, a stove, and a pot.

Ying Hao immediately made the decision to have Pan Jinhua conduct the procedure in a side hall of the Qin Zheng Hall. The things she needed were quickly delivered, and the people handling the matter were all capable of keeping it a secret.

Inside the side hall, only Pan Jinhua, Zhou Daban, and the emperor were present. The hall was heavily guarded, and no one was allowed to enter.

Ying Hao and the other man watched as Pan Jinhua first poured coarse salt into a container of water, stirred it to dissolve it, and soon the murky yellow salt water was ready.

"Please trouble Eunuch Zhou to pour the lime into the water."

Zhou Daban quickly added lime to the water as Pan Jinhua instructed. Pan Jinhua stirred it, and the salt water began to boil slightly, producing many bubbles.

The brine became even more turbid, and the emperor couldn't understand it. Wouldn't this make the coarse salt even dirtier? How could it be turned into refined salt?

Seemingly sensing the emperor's doubt, Pan Jinhua timely explained:

"Crude salt contains many impurities. Adding lime can adsorb these impurities. Now we need to wait for the impurities to settle, and then filter it out later."

The chemical reactions inside were too complex for Pan Jinhua to explain, and even if she did, they wouldn't understand.

Ying Hao nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

While waiting, Zhou Daban poured tea for the emperor and Pan Jinhua.

The hall was silent; no one spoke.

Ying Hao thought about how to maximize his profits if this really came to fruition. Although he found the production process incredible, he knew that Pan Jinhua would never lie to him.

Don't they value their own lives? Don't they value the lives of the Li family?

He was already mentally preparing himself for this miracle; the muscles in his arms were even starting to tense up, and he was getting impatient.

Pan Jinhua didn't think about anything; the outcome was inevitable, so there was no need to overthink it.

When the water in the basin became clear and all the impurities had sunk to the bottom, Pan Jinhua laid a fine cloth on another basin and poured out the clear liquid from the top.

"Your Majesty, all that is needed now is to boil this salt water."

"good."

"Lady Liang, I humbly request that you allow me to do the boiling work. If this first bowl of refined salt can be boiled from my hands, it will be an immense blessing."

Pan Jinhua smiled. This Eunuch Zhou truly lived up to his reputation as the Emperor's favorite; his tongue was too silver. What was clearly an act of kindness was presented to him as a blessing. Tsk tsk.

"Father-in-law can stir it while simmering."

"Madam Xie."

Zhou Daban meticulously boiled salt water by the stove. The fire was so intense that he was sweating, but he didn't want to stop and wipe it off.

If the issue of smuggled salt can be resolved, the emperor will surely be remembered in history, and his name will shine brightly for thousands of years to come.

The Emperor's long-cherished wish has been fulfilled, and the biggest problem at present has been effectively solved. It's likely that the Emperor would grant any request Lady Liang might make.

As time passed, the water in the pot gradually evaporated, and white crystals continuously precipitated out.

"It's done! The salt has come out!"

Zhou Daban cheered with joy, fearing that he, Old Zhou, would be remembered in history for making the first batch of refined salt by his own hands!

Realizing this, Zhou Daban was overjoyed and looked at Pan Jinhua with intense longing.

"Very good! With a lady like you, how can the Great Zhao not prosper! Unbelievable, utterly unbelievable, Lady of Liang, I truly do not know what to do with you."

Ying Hao's evaluation was shockingly high, but Pan Jinhua remained humble.

"Your Majesty, I have come today not only for this method of refining coarse salt, but also for another method to obtain more salt."

"What!"

Ying Hao felt like he was dreaming. The purification of crude salt had already had a huge impact on the illegal salt trade, and there was actually a way to obtain salt.

"Could it be that the old lady knows how to find the salt wells?"

Pan Jinhua smiled subtly.

"Your Majesty's words, though not entirely accurate, are not far off. This method of mine is the salt-making method."

"Does Your Majesty know about sea salt?"

"I know that the Great Zhao is a vast and resource-rich land. Both Liancheng and Luocheng are located by the sea, and these two places have produced sea salt since ancient times. Does Lady Liang perhaps intend to use this seawater to make salt?"

Yes, seawater can indeed be used to make salt, but one bucket of water won't yield a single bowl of salt, and the amount of firewood consumed is countless. Furthermore, sea salt is poisonous, making it inedible; anyone who eats it will surely suffer from vomiting and diarrhea.

As an emperor, Ying Hao was naturally well aware of the situation in the cities under his rule. Sea salt, though readily available, was inedible. Otherwise, those two cities wouldn't be so impoverished.

"Your Majesty, sea salt is inedible, but now we have a solution!"

Pan Jinhua looked at the freshly boiled salt crystals, and Ying Hao followed her gaze, the information in his mind instantly connecting.

"Does that mean salt made by boiling lime in seawater is edible?!"

“You can use something even cheaper, like wood ash.”

!!

"Your Majesty, we will build salt fields, utilize the coastal mudflats, collect the tides to make brine, obtain coarse sea salt, and then purify the coarse salt. We will then have an inexhaustible supply of salt."

"!!!"

Ying Hao was so shocked that he couldn't speak. His breathing became heavier and heavier. The day he would be remembered in history was today!

Pan Jinhua knew that this would greatly shock the emperor, as it was the culmination of thousands of years of Chinese wisdom, and it was only right that he was shocked.

What do you want?

After a long pause, the emperor spoke with difficulty, his head spinning and his throat dry from the magnificent sight before him.

Pan Jinhua, you gave me such a big gift, what does she want?

"Your Majesty, all I ask for is a promise from Your Majesty to give me a carefree old age."

"Your Majesty is an ambitious and aspiring man. I am old and frail, and only have a few years left to live. I only wish for a peaceful life."

"This is all you want?"

The emperor was astonished. He thought that Pan Jinhua would at least be granted the title of a prince of a different surname for giving away all these gifts, and all she got was a peaceful old age? Had he treated the old lady very badly?

"Is this really something His Majesty would grant?"

Pan Jinhua answered honestly, without a trace of guile; she only wanted this.

"Where are the Li family members? Where are your children and grandchildren?"

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. If they are talented and virtuous, and have real skills, the Emperor, who loves talent, will certainly not treat them unfairly."

If they are without talent or virtue, and are merely parasites on the nation, I, your humble servant, would not deign to seek favors for them.

"Hahahaha, excellent! As expected of the Lady of Liang, whom I personally bestowed upon you, you are truly wise and open-minded. I admire you. Your request is granted!"

“A promise made is a promise kept. His Majesty, the supreme ruler, would never joke with a subject like me. Thank you, Your Majesty!”

"Please don't tease me, Madam. Bring my jade pendant. I've worn it close to my body for decades; please keep it as a testament."

Pan Jinhua hurriedly thanked the emperor with a smile. Words are not enough; the emperor could disobey if he wanted to. Having evidence was better than having no evidence.

She knew that she had completely passed this test, and from now on, the Li family would rise to prominence entirely because of her!