I turned the cold palace into a paradise

Yunyue knew that the next year would be very busy, so she gave everyone a holiday on the 16th day of the first lunar month, so that everyone could have a good rest this time.

Unexpectedly, on the ninth day of the first lunar month, Song Li brought bad news.

"Master, other prefectures have received a notice from the court not to provide anything to our Chengnan Prefecture, and all the travel permits of the people of Chengnan Prefecture have been invalidated. At the same time, merchants are also prohibited from having dealings with Chengnan Prefecture. The most troublesome thing is salt. The court has stopped the supply of salt to Chengnan Prefecture. Now there is very little salt left in the shops in the prefecture. After the New Year, if there is still no solution, the people of Chengnan Prefecture will have no salt to eat."

Yun Yue tapped the table in annoyance. The imperial court's move to cut off the source of the trouble really stumped Yun Yue.

If the pass is invalidated, the people of Chengnan Prefecture can't go anywhere except Chengnan Prefecture, and the lack of salt is even more vicious! This era is not like later generations, where salt can be bought everywhere. Now the salt is controlled by the court and is under the charge of special salt officials. If the court wants you to have no salt to eat, then you really can't eat a single grain.

From ancient times to the present, salt has played an extremely important role in human life. It is not only indispensable physiologically, but also occupies an important position in culture and history.

This move was to cause chaos in Chengnan Prefecture! If they couldn't solve this problem, then let's not talk about how many people would run away. Maybe if they were forced into a corner, the people would rebel like them.

Sure enough, all the wise men in the court are not there to do it for free.

Salt can be exchanged in the system, but it would be a waste of merit points. And because I exchanged too many areas before, I don't have many merit points now. Even if I exchange it this time, what about the future? Salt is a consumable. It is impossible to exchange all salt with merit points in the future, right?

Yunyue rubbed his temple: "I'll think of a way."

In the next two days, Yunyue also met with merchants in the city. Not only did she not find a solution, but several merchants also wanted to leave Chengnan Prefecture.

Yunyue was so anxious that bubbles appeared on the corners of her mouth.

Sure enough, for a small state like his to go against the entire imperial court was like an egg hitting a stone.

"I still don't believe it!! There is no way out!" Yun Yue slammed the table. She was a cheater, and she didn't believe there was no way out!

Just then, Bajiao knocked on the door happily and walked in: "Miss! The third young master is here!"

Yun Yue was stunned for a moment, then became happy: "Who? My third brother is here?"

"Yes, the Third Young Master brought a lot of things."

Yun Yue hurried out to greet her. Just then she saw Yun Xingyao walking over, exhausted. The moment he saw her, his eyes sparkled: "Sister!!!!"

"Third brother? Why are you here?" Yun Yue was a little surprised. She looked up and down at the dark and thin third brother, feeling a little distressed. It seemed that his business journey had not been easy in the past few days.

"Your Highness asked me to bring you something." Yun Xingyao happily pointed to the convoy following behind him.

"What's being delivered?" Yun Yue asked curiously as she watched the oilcloth-covered carriages coming in one after another.

"Salt. There is a huge salt mine and a salt lake in Liangzhou. Liangzhou became your highness' fiefdom, so you naturally took over these things as well. News came from the capital that they were going to target your Chengnan Prefecture, so your highness asked me to deliver the salt to you!" As he spoke, he lifted the oilcloth and untied a cloth bag, revealing the salt inside.

"Great, great! Xiao Yinmo did a great job!!!" Yun Yue clapped her hands happily! It was worth it that she gave him so much extra gold and silver!

"Your Highness also said that although the court has stopped the pass for Chengnan Prefecture, there is still business. But our Liangzhou is not under the jurisdiction of the court! We Liangzhou and Chengnan Prefecture can establish business relations. So, didn't they send me here?"

"Third brother!! You guys really came just in time! How could I have forgotten about Liangzhou with my broken brain? Hahahahahaha!" Yun Yue suddenly understood how it felt to have someone behind her. It was so fucking great!!! No, I have to reward Xiao Yinmo again!!!

"Third brother, are you tired? Let's go into the conference room and talk!" Yun Yue looked at everyone rubbing their hands in the cold and said hurriedly.

"Not tired! Help me get some food for my brothers and horses. They are all starving after such a hasty journey."

"Don't worry, we will arrange everything! Lingyao Songluo, arrange hot water, meals and rooms for the brothers to have a good meal and rest."

"Okay!" Lingyao was happy when she saw Yunyue was happy.

"Hmph, he is still useful." Song Luo curled his lips. Seeing that Yun Yue finally no longer had a headache, a smile appeared on his face.

Now that all the troublesome problems have been solved, Yun Yue is no longer in a hurry and asks Yun Xingyao to wash up and eat first.

Yun Xingyao nodded and did as he was told.

After finishing the meal, Yun Xingyao looked around and asked in confusion: "Where is my nephew Fubao? Why can't I see him? I even brought him some New Year's money!"

"Playing in the backyard."

Yunyue asked Bajiao to bring Fubao, who was having fun like crazy, over.

"Oh! My eldest nephew! Do you still remember your third uncle?"

"Uncle! Uncle!" Fubao looked carefully at the approaching man, not sure whether he really recognized him or was pretending. Anyway, he cooperated and stretched out his hands to let Yun Xingyao hug him.

"Oh my!! Sister, you are so good at giving birth! How old is Fubao and he already remembers people?" Yun Xingyao happily took Fubao in and rubbed Fubao's little face with his rough big face, making Fubao giggle.

Yun Xingyao took out a few big red envelopes from his arms and stuffed them into Fubao's arms: "Fubao, these are given to you by your grandparents and three uncles!"

Fubao excitedly grabbed the red envelopes with his little hands and shook them. Yunyue stepped forward and took all the red envelopes in her hands: "You are still young and you don't need them. Mom will save them for you, ah!"

When Fubao saw that his things were snatched away, he shouted loudly: "Mom! Give it to me! You naughty boy!"

Yun Xingyao found it funny: "Tsk, sister, you are possessed by your mother! Why do all mothers say this? My mother was like this when we were little."

"Don't worry about it, it's a tradition!" Yun Yue said with a wicked smile.

Afterwards, Yun Xingyao coaxed Fubao and his uncle to play for a while, cultivating the relationship between the nephew and uncle, until the two little tiger cubs also ran over, and Fubao started to make a fuss about going out to play. So he let Bajiao take them out.

Yunyue thought of the salt she had just seen and asked someone to bring some over. The salt in the bowl was yellowish in color and the grains were like rice grains. Yunyue picked up a grain and put it in her mouth. It tasted salty and bitter. She couldn't help but frown.

"What's wrong sister?"

"Why does this salt have so many impurities and taste bitter?"

"This is the salt extracted from the salt mines! The non-bitter salt is only eaten by the palace and the rich. This is what the common people eat."

"But eating too much of this kind of impurities is bad for your health."

Lingyao who walked in also nodded and said: "We eat this kind of food in our house."

Yunyue was a little confused: "This isn't the kind of salt I saw when I was cooking during the Chinese New Year?"

Lingyao said: "That is the refined salt specially prepared for the master."

"how much is it?"

"A bowl of this salt costs about 100 wen. A bowl like this for the master costs about 500 wen."

"What?" Yun Yue was shocked.

This bowl of salt, less than half a pound, is so expensive. No wonder it is not a joke that people say they can't afford salt.

Yun Yue pondered for a moment, then said with sparkling eyes: "Third brother, how about I do business with you guys?"

"what business?"

"Making salt. Making fine salt that is not bitter and as white as snow."

"But this production method is time-consuming and labor-intensive."

"My method is different. It's simple. It requires less manpower and materials, and is cheaper than making coarse salt."

Yun Xingyao's breathing became rapid: "Are you serious?"

"Of course!" Yun Yue said confidently.

"How do you want to cooperate? What are the conditions?" Yun Xingyao sat up straight and said seriously.

Yun Yue nodded secretly to Yun Xingyao in her heart. As expected of her third brother who had a talent for business since childhood, he was able to learn the business very quickly.

"Yes, I don't want a share, I just want the salt you provide me at the lowest price. It should be lower than this bowl of salt. After all, the cost of making salt with the method I gave you is much lower than this."

Yun Xingyao thought for a moment and said, "Okay." If it really works, then there is no problem in giving Chengnan Prefecture the lowest price. After all, they are not making money from ordinary people. They can sell this fine salt to officials and rich people.

"Don't agree so quickly. I'm talking about more than just Chengnan Prefecture. Why do you think I'm going to stop at Chengnan Prefecture, third brother?" Yun Yue blinked mischievously, her tone full of domineering.