My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

Chang'an, the secret chamber of the Cui residence.

Several people sat around a rosewood table: Cui Cheng from Qinghe, Lu Yuan from Fanyang, Zheng Hong from Xingyang, Wang Xian from Taiyuan, and Li Song from Longxi.

The flickering candlelight reflected the arrogance in the expressions of the men.

"Hmph, Li Shimin certainly knows how to create momentum. He thinks he can make us flock to him just by saying it's from the celestial realm?"

Cui Cheng picked up his wine cup, his fingertips tracing the patterns on the celadon porcelain, his tone full of sarcasm.

"Our Cui clan ancestral hall houses a mutton-fat jade tripod passed down from the Wei and Jin dynasties. It was a gift from the Wang and Xie families. It is warm, smooth, and translucent, far more valuable than any so-called glass fairy object."

Lu Yuan stroked his beard and nodded in agreement.

"Brother Cui is absolutely right. The glass cups that Western Region merchants send as tribute every year are piled up in my Lu family's warehouse so high they could be used as firewood. Although they are not as flawless as rumored, they are not necessarily much worse."

"I think Li Shimin simply wants to use the name of 'divine objects' to get us to donate money and goods, and at the same time demonstrate his legitimacy as the Mandate of Heaven."

Zheng Hong sneered and tapped the table with his fingertips.

"All talk of 'divine protection for the clan' and 'cultural blessings' is just nonsense to fool the ignorant! The Zheng family has been noble for generations, relying on the merits of our ancestors and the talents of our descendants, not on some illusory object."

"Even if that glass truly comes from the celestial realm, does it mean it can elevate the Zheng family's social standing by another rank?"

Wang Xian picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.

"To put it bluntly, the royal family is short of money and is too ashamed to forcibly requisition it, so they came up with this gimmick."

"My Wang family owns thousands of acres of fertile land and hundreds of shops in Bingzhou. We have more than enough money. Why should we join in that commotion?"

"Besides, if Li Shimin really obtained a divine artifact, why would he sell it? It's probably just a fake made by craftsmen to fool us."

Li Song, a member of the Longxi Li clan and of the same lineage as the imperial family, spoke with an even more arrogant tone.

"My ancestor, the Flying General Li Guang, is auspiciously blessed in our blood. Why would we need external protection?"

"That so-called 'Wenqu Pagoda,' even if it truly possesses divine blessings, is only fit to be a decoration for ordinary noble families."

"We, the five surnames and seven noble families, are the rightful heirs ordained by Heaven. We have no reason to bow down to a royal artifact that has been hyped up."

Cui Cheng put down his wine glass and glanced at everyone.

"What you all say is very true. Li Shimin's move, seemingly bestowing immortality, is actually an attempt to manipulate us."

"The more he hypes things up, the less we should do as he pleases—otherwise, wouldn't we become a laughingstock, saying that our five clans and seven noble families rely on the imperial treasures to maintain our prestige?"

"good!"

Lu Yuan replied.

"When his magical artifact goes up for auction, we will all stand aside and see how Li Shimin handles it!"

"I refuse to believe that without the support of my five noble families and seven prominent clans, his worthless glass can still fetch an astronomical price!"

Inside the secret room, sarcastic remarks rose and fell, as several people took turns criticizing Li Shimin's "divine object from the celestial realm" as utterly worthless.

Then, Cui Cheng smiled and clapped his hands.

Immediately, someone brought the dishes up.

The others looked puzzled.

"Brother Cui, what do you mean by this?"

Cui Cheng smiled slightly.

"This is made with the imperial jade-infused salt. Why don't you try some?"

"Imperial Jade Liquid Salt?"

Wang Xian was slightly taken aback and quickly asked.

"Could it be that the salt Li Shimin obtained from the celestial realm, made from pure salt from overseas immortal mountains, steamed and dried nine times, with the effect of cleansing the marrow and purifying the body, and enlightening the mind?"

"good!"

Cui Cheng smiled and nodded.

Zheng Hong was somewhat surprised.

"But I clearly remember that Li Shimin hadn't put it up for sale yet!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Cheng smiled slightly, looking completely at ease.

"You wouldn't know this, would you? The palace has already started using it, and I also obtained this salt through some means."

As Cui Cheng spoke, he had someone bring over a jade jar.

"Please observe, everyone..."

Cui Cheng lifted the lid of the jade jar.

Everyone looked over.

The salt grains in the jar were as white as frost and snow, each one as uniform as broken jade, and they gleamed with a warm luster under the candlelight, without a trace of gray or yellow or impurities.

Even the most discerning Zheng Hong couldn't help but move closer.

"This...this is really salt?"

Wang Xian reached out to touch it, but fearing it would be beneath the dignity of his noble family, he hovered his fingertips over the mouth of the jar, his tone full of disbelief.

The salt consumed in his residence was produced by the Hedong Salt Lake, which was already the highest quality salt in the entire Tang Dynasty, but its color was still whitish and slightly yellow, and it could not compare with this salt at all.

Seeing the reactions of the others, Cui Cheng raised an eyebrow and smiled, put the lid on, and pointed to a steamed sea bass in front of him.

"Want to try some?"

Lu Yuan took the first bite of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

This taste... is definitely different.

I don't know if it's just psychological or if there's a real difference.

Lu Yuan's pupils contracted sharply, and the confidence he had shown in saying "broken glass is worthless" instantly deflated by more than half, but he still stubbornly insisted on sticking out his words.

"It's just that it's been purified a bit better; it's nothing special, a divine object from the celestial realm."

Even so, I couldn't help but pick up another piece with my chopsticks.

Zheng Hong frowned, took a bite, and his expression instantly became complicated. He said in a muffled voice.

"It is indeed better than regular salt, but there's no need to show off like this."

Li Song slowly picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth.

"It's acceptable, but the rumors circulating in the immortal realm are far too exaggerated."

After saying that, he picked up a few more slices and continued to criticize as he ate.

"That's all there is to it!"

Cui Cheng took in the expressions of the others and felt secretly pleased.

All that money I spent wasn't wasted!

He slowly closed the jade jar, speaking in a nonchalant tone.

"I wonder what your plans are for the auction three days from now."

Lu Yuan's hand, which was stroking his beard, suddenly stopped. A barely perceptible hint of urgency flashed in his eyes, but he still spoke defiantly.

"Hmph, no matter how divine an object is, it's just an artifact. My Lu family doesn't care for it."

Zheng Hong also snorted coldly.

"Exactly! Even if it were true, the Zheng family would never join in the fun and make a fool of themselves in front of Li Shimin!"

"good!"

Everyone looked at Cui Cheng.

"My Cui family certainly won't go!"

Cui Cheng smiled slightly.

"I only heard Li Shimin say that the magical object was extremely wondrous."

He picked up his glass and took a sip.

"I don't know exactly how magical it is. I've only heard that the Wenchang Pagoda can display the shadows of sages' writings."

"Li Shimin also said that divine objects recognize their owners and can only be obtained by those who are destined and have the strength. Without the destiny, no amount of money will be of any use."

"Fate? Strength?"

Lu Yuan repeated in a low voice, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

Zheng Hong suddenly stood up, then sat down again, repeating this several times before finally letting out a heavy groan.

"I'm definitely not going."

Wang Xianqian chuckled twice and echoed.

"Brother Lu and Brother Zheng are absolutely right! Without the support of our five clans and seven noble families, could his worthless glass have sold for such a high price? It's nothing but a bluffing trick!"

"In that case, let's all agree not to go!"

Cui Cheng smiled.

"nature!"

The others said in unison.

After the secret room session ended, the group still stood tall and proud, exchanging greetings and saying, "Let Li Shimin try to carry water in a bamboo basket."

But as soon as they stepped out of the Cui residence, their arrogance turned into a hint of impatience, and they walked much faster than when they came to get into the carriage.

As soon as Lu Yuan got into the carriage, he growled at the accompanying steward.

"Quickly! Have the accountants inventory the warehouses tonight! The batch of rubies from the Western Regions, the three teahouses in Jiangnan, and the land rent just collected in Bingzhou—all must be converted into cash within three days! Five hundred thousand taels, not a penny less!"

The butler trembled in fright and was about to ask why when Lu Yuan glared at him fiercely.

"Don't say anything! Just say it's to expand the salt pond's share."

He leaned against the car wall, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his cuffs.

……

As soon as Zheng Hong's carriage turned into his own street, he lifted the curtain and angrily berated his confidant.

"Sell off all the unused items in the clan, as well as the calligraphy and paintings from the Wei and Jin dynasties, except for the handwritten works of our ancestors! I want to see 600,000 taels of silver piled up in the treasury within three days!"

The confidant hesitated.

"Patriarch, those treasures are the legacy passed down from our ancestors..."

"Foundation?"

Zheng Hong sneered, his eyes filled with determination.

"A divine object that can protect and bless the clan is the true foundation of an enterprise!"

"As for not going? How could they not go? If the Glazed Seal is snatched away by someone else, how will the Zheng family maintain their foothold in Chang'an in the future?"

The same applies to the others.

After seeing everyone off, Cui Cheng immediately dismissed his attendants and gave instructions to his trusted confidants.

"Count the 800,000 taels of silver I secretly prepared again."

"Also, have someone keep an eye on the other families' movements. Whatever amount they raise, we should raise 100,000 taels more!"

The trusted aide bowed and replied, "Master, didn't you say before that the Cui family wouldn't participate?"

Cui Cheng's lips curled into a sly smile.

"Saying we won't participate is just to lower their guard! How could I, Cui Cheng, miss out on Li Shimin's divine treasure, and the prestige of the five clans and seven noble families?"

Cui Cheng placed his hand on the jade jar containing salt.

"Anyway, my family's foundation is there. It's just a little bit of silver. It's not like I can't earn it back."

"What if Li Shimin's things aren't as miraculous as they seem?"

Cui Cheng smiled.

"Whether it's miraculous or not, we should prepare the money first! If those celestial treasures are truly that wondrous, we certainly can't miss out!"