Adult Tang Dynasty: I, the Scoundrel, Fully Support the Empress

Chapter 29: Guan Yinbi’s Undergarment and the Birth of Refined Salt

Guan Yinbi left the estate with a complicated expression on her face.

It wasn’t that Su Yang’s oil massage had scared her—it was just that the whole experience had stirred up memories of Li Er.

The thought that he was nothing more than a heartless man had never felt stronger.

After all, she had been with Li Er since she was fourteen, standing by his side through countless trials and hardships.

And yet, what had she gotten in return?

Yes, she had been granted the title of Empress and ruled as the mistress of the Eastern Palace, but in recent years, she might as well have been exiled to the Cold Palace. Compared to the ever-favored Consort Wei, she was practically invisible.

Especially after she took Su Yang in as her sworn brother—she didn’t care about the court’s whispers accusing her of keeping a secret lover. Outsiders would think whatever they wanted. But what truly broke her heart was that even Li Er saw her that way.

That was what hurt the most.

Did he really not trust her anymore?

Lost in these thoughts, Guan Yinbi left the estate in a hurry, so much so that she didn’t even realize she had forgotten to take her most intimate piece of clothing with her.

……

“Ha…”

“Well, would you look at that?”

“I haven’t even started making my move… and an opportunity just dropped straight from the heavens?”

Su Yang watched her departing figure with a bright, amused smile.

It wasn’t hard for him to guess what she was feeling.

After that moment of physical closeness, his dear sworn sister’s defenses had clearly begun to crumble.

It made sense, though.

Even if she was the mistress of the Eastern Palace and should have had a strong mindset, at the end of the day, she was still a woman—a woman who longed to be cherished by her husband.

But Li Er’s heart belonged entirely to Concubine Wei now. He had no interest in looking back at the wife who had stood by him all these years.

Thinking of this, Su Yang quietly stashed away the undergarment she had left behind.

…

A few days later, Su Yang was fully prepared to begin extracting refined salt.

Thanks to the system’s detailed instructions, his chances of failure were minimal. Sure enough, his first attempt was a complete success.

As he gazed at the crystal-clear salt on the table, Su Yang couldn’t help but break into an ecstatic laugh.

Because he knew, without a doubt…

With this refined salt, he had the key to opening the doors of the most powerful financial empires.

“The literary world is just too niche.”

Su Yang muttered to himself. Sure, he had earned the title of ‘Immortal Poet,’ and for now, his name carried great prestige. But in reality, his fame was limited to the literary circle. It didn’t extend to the entire empire.

Especially not to the military commanders who held true power.

And as time went on, his popularity was already starting to wane. Many of those who had once sought to befriend him had begun to withdraw, fading into silence.

The reason was obvious.

They had been warned off by Zhangsun Wuji.

Everyone in Chang’an knew that Su Yang and Zhangsun Chong had an unresolvable grudge. Worse yet, he had even offended the Crown Prince, Li Chengqian.

Naturally, those in the literary world had to think about their own futures. If they insisted on associating with Su Yang, they could easily find themselves blacklisted by Zhangsun Wuji.

But once refined salt was introduced, everything would change.

Salt was a strategic military resource in ancient times—extremely valuable. And refined salt was on a whole different level. It was something military commanders would go mad for.

And once they tasted food seasoned with refined salt? There would be no going back.

The coarse, bitter salt of the era was barely edible. But with refined salt, every dish would be transformed into a delicacy.

…….

That day, Su Yang carefully packaged his refined salt and sent samples to the high-ranking officials and nobles who had once visited him. He wanted them to experience true flavor for themselves.

As expected, the results were exactly what he had anticipated.

The moment the refined salt touched their food, the dishes changed completely. The difference was night and day. Compared to what they had been eating before, the flavors were on a whole new level.

The nobles were utterly stunned.

And before Su Yang could even think about promoting it, word of the miraculous refined salt spread like wildfire through the upper-class circles. Eventually, the news even reached the depths of the imperial palace.

Before long, everyone was talking about this incredible new seasoning.

Some were even willing to pay a fortune just to get their hands on it.