"Three thousand acres of beach land, six hundred acres of mountain land, and four hundred meters of wasteland! This is the Lonely Imperial Estate?"
Although Helian Jue did not manage the affairs of the Prince's Palace, he still couldn't help but get angry when he heard such news.
He wasn't concerned about the state estate; rather, he was furious that the whole affair was a scheme orchestrated by Cui Boyong.
His good princess, who was always intelligent and witty, was actually tricked by Cui Boyong.
"Xie, do you really want a reputation for 'benevolence' so badly that you've been coerced by Cui Boyong?"
Helian Jue asked this question with dissatisfaction.
But soon he realized, "No! Xie Ayuan, you're not a fool, much less a stupid person coerced by fame and fortune!"
He raised one eyebrow and asked curiously, "So, what's your plan?"
Xie Yuan gave a thumbs up.
It wasn't an act, but genuine admiration: "Your Highness is wise! Indeed, nothing can escape your discerning eyes!"
Helian Jue curled his thin lips, but still said disdainfully, "Stop with the flattery, I don't fall for it!"
Tsk, he's starting to call himself "lonely" again.
Xie Yuan spent more time with Helian Jue and discovered that this obsessive narcissist was sometimes a proud and adorable little devil!
Xie Yuan gave a forced, awkward laugh, then answered Helian Jue's question: "Your Highness, beaches and wetlands are treasures; calling them money trees and cornucopias wouldn't be an exaggeration!"
Helian Jue's mind raced as he carefully considered the meaning behind Xie Yuan's words.
Beach/shoal?
Wait, the beach! The sea!
What's in the sea?
Seafood, pearls, coral, and so on.
However, while these items are valuable, they cannot be considered money trees or treasure troves.
Oh, and one more thing—
"Salt! You want to boil salt?"
The greatest treasure in the sea is actually salt.
If you want salt, you have to boil it.
To boil salt, you need a place.
Therefore, the beach is the most suitable.
But even if you want to boil salt, there's no need to use 3,000 acres of riverbank.
"Your Highness is wise!"
Xie Yuan, as was his habit, praised Helian Jue again.
However, this time, she made a twist: "However, Your Highness only guessed half right."
"I do have my eye on the salt in the sea, but not for boiling; I want to cultivate salt pans!"
Helian Jue was taken aback. "Salt fields? You mean salt can be grown?"
Helian Jue wasn't stupid; he was simply limited by the times.
After all, the salt-making method wouldn't be invented for many more years.
Xie Yuan, a history buff from the future who is well-versed in salt production, is merely standing on the shoulders of giants.
Xie Yuan didn't gloat, nor did she mock Helian Jue. She dipped her finger in the teacup and drew on the table—
"Your Highness is right. Salt fields are still fields, but they are not used to grow sea salt; they are used for sun-drying!"
“We divided these riverbanks into plots resembling fields, and then…”
Xie Yuan carefully explained the salt-making method and emphasized, "However, now is not a good time to make salt."
"It would be best to wait until next spring or summer when the tide comes in and floods the salt fields."
"When the southeast wind rises again, it dries the seawater, causing sea salt crystals to form. Finally, after processes such as filtration, you can obtain sea salt of excellent quality."
However, before Xie Yuan could finish speaking, Helian Jue raised his hand.
Xie Yuan quickly stopped talking and looked at Helian Jue with a puzzled expression.
Helian Jue's expression was complicated, and his beautiful peach blossom eyes were filled with obvious inquiry: "Xie Shi, you just revealed the secret method so directly?"
How could you trust him so much?
You should know that these days, skills and recipes are passed down from father to son and are never leaked.
Even one's own son, if not the eldest son destined to inherit the family business, would not be allowed to study.
"Cherishing one's own worthless broom" is the proper way.
If this is true for ordinary crafts, then it goes without saying that salt production is a way to get rich quick, comparable to mountains of gold and silver.
It is no exaggeration to say that if Xie Yuan had reported the salt-making method to the imperial court, the emperor would have been overjoyed and bestowed upon her the title of "First-Rank Lady".
Or it could extend favor to her father, husband, or children.
Now that Lady Xie is the Princess Consort of Yue, she naturally does not need these rewards.
But Helian Jue said this entirely to prove how precious the salt-making method was!
But she told herself so easily!
"The Xie family must love me terribly! I'm just too beautiful!"
The ever-narcissistic Helian Jue thought to himself in this narcissistic way once again.
"Yes! You are my husband!"
In a monarchical society, having skills did not guarantee wealth.
Without a powerful backer, Xie Yuan would have lost his life before he could even finish drying the salt.
Possessing a treasure is a crime!
Xie Yuanhui told Helian Jue because Helian Jue was the King of Yue, and he had eight hundred personal guards under his command.
Having status and military power are essential to protecting your "cash cow"!
Xie Yuan thought to himself, but he couldn't tell the truth aloud.
She said to Helian Jue, "Your Highness, we are husband and wife. You have given me the dignity of being a legal wife, and I will give you the loyalty and trust of a wife in return!"
She looked deeply into Helian Jue's eyes and slowly said, "Helian Jue, I believe you!"
The three words, "I believe in you," struck heavily against the hard shell encasing Helian Jue's heart, once again creating a deep crack.
Helian Jue was touched once again. He, a petty person, did not even care about Xie Yuan's "insolence" - daring to call him by his name!
"...Hmph! At least you have a conscience!"
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