It's not that she doesn't want to seek benefits for the Li family's descendants. Over the years, these children have grown up under her very nose. How could she not want them to have a good life?

It's something you can think about but can't say.

She had to convince the emperor that she was truly free-spirited, so that he would feel comfortable using the Li family.

A towering building rises from the ground; the Li family has already laid a solid foundation. All that remains is to follow the proper procedures and raise the children of the clan in a disciplined manner, and their future will be bright.

Having obtained this method of governing a prosperous era, the emperor looked at Pan Jinhua as if she were a precious jewel. He was certain he would treat this old lady with great respect, and who knew when she would give him another grand surprise.

"Madam, the matter of smuggled salt is of great importance. For your safety, I have dispatched a team of imperial guards to protect you. This is the overt dispatch. In addition, I have dispatched a ten-man secret guard team to protect you in secret."

Ying Hao knew that once this plan was implemented, Pan Jinhua would be in great danger; there were many desperate people who would do anything. Now that Pan Jinhua was of paramount importance to him, he naturally paid close attention to her safety.

Pan Jinhua readily accepted, believing that the more protection she received, the better.

Pan Jinhua suddenly entered the palace, and then suddenly returned to the Pan residence with a large amount of rewards and imperial guards.

Not only were people outside speculating, but even those in the household were scratching their heads in curiosity. However, Pan Jinhua was tight-lipped; if she didn't want to talk, she wouldn't.

With the addition of a royal guard, Pan Jinhua, along with the Li family, continued to gain prestige. Families that had married into the Li family were secretly delighted; the better the Li family prospered, the happier they were, as they would inevitably benefit from the marriage alliance.

The wedding of Li Qingduan and Li Qingyi will be held together next month, and preparations are already underway at the manor.

Last year, the Wen and Wang families sent people to measure the dimensions of the two brothers' room, and they will deliver the finished furniture in a few days.

The servants in the manor are now going to completely clear out the two brothers' rooms. Fortunately, the two brothers mostly live in the military camp, otherwise they would only be able to sleep on the small couch in the study when they come back.

Over the course of the year, Wen Leyang and Wang Zhenzhu, the two girls, have become familiar with each other, after all, they will be sisters-in-law in the future.

Both of them were somewhat worried. After they married into the family, their father-in-law and mother-in-law returned to their hometown, and their husbands were often at the military camp.

The two new brides would be facing their mothers-in-law's mothers-in-law in the inner quarters, and mothers-in-law are known to be difficult to deal with; their mothers-in-law's mothers-in-law are probably even more formidable. In particular, this grandmother was said to be the absolute authority in the household and highly favored by the Emperor, who had recently assigned imperial guards to protect her, making her even more powerful.

Pan Jinhua, of course, had no idea that her two future granddaughters-in-law were afraid of her.

Li Xuming and Liu Yun also went to Beijing, and the whole family gathered together that day for a proper reunion dinner.

The next day, Liu Yun took on the responsibilities of the eldest daughter-in-law and began to manage the household affairs.

Knowing that they had entered the capital, the Sheng family sent a visiting card two days later, consisting of the eldest son and his wife, along with Sheng Mingxing.

Li Xuming and Liu Yun then met their future son-in-law, and the mother-in-law was increasingly satisfied with him. Not to mention that this marriage was arranged by the Empress, and Sheng Mingxing's family background and talent were all outstanding.

In conclusion, both sides were satisfied with the meeting.

Pan Jinhua felt relieved to have resolved a major issue. With her eldest daughter-in-law taking over household affairs, she had nothing to worry about.

She lived a life of ease, with everything done for her. With nothing to do, she would either travel with her entourage or go shopping and watch operas, living a carefree life. Everyone who talked about her life was envious.

While she enjoyed a peaceful life, the emperor was extremely busy.

Ying Hao first gave a secret order, instructing the leaders of Liancheng and Luocheng to find flat and open private areas on the coast to create mudflats, and to organize a large number of people to prepare for the construction of salt fields.

On the other hand, he searched for a place in Kyoto to build a factory for refining crude salt, and all the staff were his loyal men.

He issued a series of instructions regarding the location, manpower, and equipment. The matter was of utmost importance; if it succeeded, everything would be fine.

Tired, but happy.

The newly appointed scholars also returned to the capital one after another. With the injection of fresh blood, the court was renewed once again.

Li Qingyao also returned. He and Yan Min chose a day to have a big meal with the Li family, and then moved out of the Pan residence and back to the place where he grew up.

He officially went to work at the Hanlin Academy and worked diligently with his colleagues every day to revise books.

In March of the eighth year of the Yuanqi era, the salt fields harvested countless tons of sea salt, which was continuously transported to the capital for purification.

In December of the same year, Emperor Wen, Ying Hao, announced to the world that the court would open salt shops in various counties and prefectures, where salt would be sold for only eighteen coins per pound, with no purchase limit.

This news caused a sensation throughout the land. Salt smugglers were dumbfounded, and they all said that the salt stones were probably going to be sold.

On the first day of operation for Kyoto's first official salt shop, a huge crowd gathered in front of it. Many private salt dealers, who had been waiting to see the spectacle and were ready to mock the emperor, as well as officials entangled in the profits of private salt trade, were utterly astonished when they saw the salt being sold in the official shop.

"Refined salt! Snow-white refined salt! And it's only eighteen coins a pound."

The people went crazy; even coarse salt cost fifty or sixty coins, while refined salt of this quality only sold for eighteen coins!

People are scrambling to buy it! Even without purchase limits, they're buying in bulk. Even salt dealers are lining up to buy it, afraid that there won't be any left to sell and they'll lose money!

Furthermore, there are smugglers secretly controlling the supply and constantly purchasing salt. Since there's no limit, they buy up all the salt of this quality and then resell it later, so they don't lose money no matter what.

But the more they bought, the more anxious they became. How come there's more? How come there's more again?

Salt kept arriving at the shop, and as soon as the smugglers finished buying it, more arrived. After nearly half a month of competition, the smugglers finally gave up!

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