As Yang Hong and Li Lizhi locked eyes, Yang Zhong and Yang Jian arrived together.
"Good grandson, you've struck it rich."
Upon seeing Yang Hong, Yang Zhong embraced him and led him out of the small building, winking and nudging Yang Hong with a rather lewd expression.
"Imperial Grandfather, don't you think this is highly unreasonable?"
"She's a Sixth Princess of the Great Tang, and a skilled martial artist at that. Why would she marry me?"
"There must be a conspiracy behind this."
Yang Hong rolled his eyes and retorted directly.
"Hehe~ There really is no conspiracy. After every Five Dynasties Heavenly Pride Tournament, many men and women busy themselves with weddings."
"Even if there is a conspiracy, it's not like you're losing out, my good grandson."
"Such a beautiful girl, throwing herself into your arms. You should be happy."
"Besides, the dowry Li Lizhi is giving is quite substantial."
Yang Hong glared at Yang Zhong, and he understood the reason.
"Heh, Imperial Grandfather, you're all selling me off for Li Lizhi's dowry, aren't you?"
"Heh heh~ Heh heh~"
Yang Zhong chuckled sheepishly, even scratching his head in a manner unbecoming of his status.
"Tell me, what dowry did the Li family of the Great Tang provide?"
Yang Hong was also curious about his market price.
"Your dowry is excellent, very powerful, *slurp*~"
Yang Zhong, the Grand Emperor Emeritus, first slurped audibly in a rather ungraceful manner before continuing.
"Your dowry is the Great Tang's latest steel smelting formula and the newest salt refining formula. *Slurp*~"
"Hiss~"
Yang Hong was also astonished. Salt and iron were the primary sources of income for rulers in feudal society.
Among them, the Great Tang's iron smelting technology had always been the strongest in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, with their Mo Dao and Tang Heng Dao being unsurpassed classics. Their Mingguang armor was also a rare top-tier piece of armor.
"Is the Great Tang crazy to offer such a dowry?"
"Heh heh~ Whether they're crazy or not, I don't care. We've tested the Great Tang's salt refining formula. It can turn toxic rock salt into non-toxic refined salt, even better than high-grade green salt – snowflake salt."
"Snowflake salt? Could it be... Holy crap!"
Yang Hong suddenly exclaimed, ignoring Yang Zhong's expression and rushing back into the small building.
He approached Li Lizhi and, before she could react, grabbed her small hand.
"Fellow countryman~"
"..."
Li Lizhi was slightly surprised but didn't understand Yang Hong's meaning.
"Qi bian ou bu bian."
Yang Hong uttered another sentence, looking intently at Li Lizhi, hoping to see something in her expression.
"Mmm~"
But Li Lizhi remained bewildered.
"Gong ting yu ye jiu."
"..."
"Oppa?"
"Yamete?"
As Yang Hong posed these questions, not only was Li Lizhi confused, but everyone else also looked at Yang Hong strangely, wondering what had gotten into him.
However, Yang Hong's disappointment grew more apparent.
"What are you saying? Is it food? A new dish?"
Li Lizhi, having just heard Yang Jian praise Yang Hong's farming skills and culinary abilities, instinctively asked.
Yang Hong was completely disappointed, but then he thought about it and asked again,
"Who researched the snowflake salt?"
"Hmph hmph~ Of course, it was me. If it wasn't for me, how would I dare to offer it as a dowry?"
Li Lizhi puffed out her developing chest and said with a hint of pride.
"It really is you, but how could you not know the answer to my questions?"
"Why would I know? What do these questions have to do with snowflake salt?"
Li Lizhi tilted her small head, looking at Yang Hong curiously. Although she didn't understand what Yang Hong was saying, it sounded delicious.
"Hiss~ This is really~ really delicious."
Upon hearing Li Lizhi's answer, Yang Hong almost spat out his drink.
These questions he had asked were ones that online大神s had compiled as the best ways to confirm the identity of a transmigration.
Among them, "Yamete" was a divine beast known to all people on Earth, regardless of gender or nationality!
Yet, to Li Lizhi, it sounded like something tasty?
Looking at Li Lizhi's rosy lips, Yang Hong thought, perhaps she could eat it.
"Ahem~ It's not food. It's~~ it's couplets."
"Couplets? Are couplets this strange? You must be uneducated, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am uneducated, so, Sixth Princess, let's call off our engagement."
Li Lizhi was outspoken, so Yang Hong seized the opportunity to bring up the engagement again.
"Scoundrel~"
"Scoundrel~"
Two angry shouts came from Yang Jian and Yang Zhong.
Their faces simultaneously turned grim. Both of them were emperors and naturally understood the importance of Li Lizhi's two formulas.
The steel smelting formula could greatly enhance the nation's military strength, and the surplus iron could improve the lives of the common people.
The salt refining formula could completely solve the problem of salt scarcity for the populace, drive down the price of salt while increasing national revenue. It was a great benefit to the country and its people.
Exchanging Yang Hong, a prince from the Cold Palace, for this was a highly profitable deal.
"Lizhi, Yang Hong has been in the Cold Palace for too long, and his mind isn't clear. He's speaking nonsense."
"Yes, just nonsense. Besides, matters of marriage have always been decided by parents and the words of the matchmaker. Since we, as elders, have agreed, there is no possibility of him objecting."
"Heh heh~ Lizhi, please wait a moment, I'll reason with him again."
This time, before Yang Hong could object, Yang Jian pulled him out of the small building again.
"Yadu, you've grown up too. You should know the importance of salt and iron to a dynasty. We truly cannot refuse this dowry."
"I know Yadu is worried there might be a conspiracy, but I assure you, there is absolutely no conspiracy. Such matters happen every time the Five Dynasties Heavenly Pride Tournament concludes."
"Why?"
Yang Hong vaguely felt a connection to the Upper Sects.
"Actually, this matter is not a secret within the Five Dynasties and the Thirty-Three Sects."
"The overt purpose of the Five Dynasties Heavenly Pride Tournament is to resolve major conflicts within the Five Dynasties and prevent wars.
However, its actual purpose is to facilitate the selection of disciples by the Upper Sects within the territory of the Five Dynasties."
"Both the Five Dynasties and the martial sects are happy with this, because joining an Upper Sect is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Not only can one gain immense power, but there's also the possibility of achieving longevity."
"Over the past three hundred years, thousands of citizens of the Five Dynasties have joined the Upper Sects."
"However, joining an Upper Sect does not guarantee favorable treatment.
Most people start as laborers, much like tenant farmers on a farm."
"Being a laborer is still good. The worst fate is to become a 'furnace cauldron' for some high-ranking cultivator. Once you become a furnace cauldron, your fate is truly tragic, regardless of gender."
Yang Jian's expression grew increasingly solemn as he spoke. His sixth uncle had become a furnace cauldron for the Xuan Yin Sect. Only after his true essence and vitality were completely drained was he released.
Yang Jian would never forget the fear he felt seeing his uncle reduced to a withered husk, but he was also more terrified by the methods of the Upper Sects.
Yang Hong vaguely understood. Entering an Upper Sect was both an opportunity to leap over the dragon gate and the beginning of a descent into the abyss.
"But, what does this have to do with Li Lizhi marrying me?"
"It has a great deal to do with it. The people of the Upper Sect seem to have placed a restriction on our royal family of the Five Dynasties. We cannot easily leave the Five Dynasties, but cultivators from the Upper Sect cannot arbitrarily harm members of the Five Dynasties' royal family."
"One of the conditions is that disciples who marry members of the Five Dynasties' royal family cannot become furnace cauldrons."
"So, it's a shield."
Yang Hong finally understood why Li Lizhi was so eager to get married. She was indeed very beautiful and likely feared being chosen by a cultivator and becoming a furnace cauldron.