After a long silence, staring at Yang Hong, who was calmly drinking tea, Yang Zhong broke the silence after much thought.
"Little Six, I know you want to learn martial arts, but it's truly impossible. Even if I were to pass the throne of Great Sui to you in the future, practicing martial arts would still be impossible. This matter is too significant, involving heavenly mandate and the life and death of billions of people."
"Why?" Yang Hong looked at Yang Zhong strangely. This was the second time he had mentioned heavenly mandate. Practicing martial arts was apparently more difficult than becoming emperor!
"I can't explain much, but we have conclusive evidence that you absolutely cannot practice martial arts," Yang Zhong explained with a serious expression, yet still failed to clarify.
"Hong'er, this matter... is of great importance. It is not something my Yang family can decide, nor can even the Upper Sect of Great Sui decide," Yang Jian added, simultaneously hearing a new term – Upper Sect.
"What is an Upper Sect?"
"Sects, cultivation sects, cultivation sects thousands of times more powerful than ordinary martial arts sects." Yang Zhong and Yang Jian did not hide this fact, stating it in unison.
"Cultivation? True cultivation? Immortal cultivation?" Combining this with his new realm, Yang Hong guessed.
"Yes~" Yang Zhong and Yang Jian exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously. They both felt regretful; such an intelligent descendant unable to practice martial arts, and later unable to cultivate, was a true pity.
Yang Hong asked no further questions. Drawing upon novels he had read in his previous life, he could deduce that the Five Directions Dynasties were merely blood food raised by immortal cultivation sects. Their existence was to provide resources, population, and even lives for these sects. Ordinary people were like ants before cultivators, utterly defenseless. Although this was conjecture, Yang Hong felt it was likely accurate. Thus, he decided not to ask more but resolved to develop his strength in secret.
He stood up and walked towards the second floor. "Imperial Grandfather, Father, please follow me."
Yang Zhong and Yang Jian's eyes lit up, and they immediately followed. Arriving on the third floor, Yang Hong pointed to a room. "That room stores the main grain seeds, rice and wheat. Rice yields 600 jin per mu, double the current yield. Wheat yields nearly a thousand jin per mu, triple the current yield."
"Hiss~ This is excellent!"
"Heh heh~" Yang Hong sneered disdainfully and pointed to the adjacent room. "Inside are vegetable seeds, including cucumber, peas, cabbage, and other greens, a total of 9 types of crops. The yield is at least double the current."
"Hong'er is truly talented!" The two emperors bowed slightly towards Yang Hong upon hearing his explanation. As emperors, they understood the importance of grain the most. Doubling the yield of so many crops was equivalent to saving the common people, comparable to Shen Nong himself.
Yang Hong merely nodded faintly. Such yields were insignificant. Not to mention Yuan Lao Shi's hybrid rice, even crops like corn, sweet potato, and potato yielded more than his improved varieties. However, he had not encountered these three crops, nor were they recorded in any agricultural texts. Perhaps they simply did not exist in this world.
The two emperors surveyed the third floor, seeing less than 20,000 jin of superior seeds. Although they felt it was a bit little and regrettable, they were still overjoyed.
"Hong'er has truly solved my father's great difficulty this time. Later, I will certainly choose a gentle and virtuous principal consort for you." Hearing Yang Jian's words, Yang Hong rolled his eyes and remained silent. Were the rewards from his father and grandfather only focused on women?
Yang Hong was unaware that he had been framed by Yang Zixuan. Yang Zixuan had mentioned in the training camp that Yang Hong liked tiger penis. When Yang Zhong sent various aphrodisiacs, Yang Hong happened to be researching winemaking, so he accepted all of them. This inadvertently left Yang Zhong and Yang Jian with the impression that he was a lecherous individual. And so, it turned out this way.
Yang Zhong and Yang Jian roughly calculated the area of Yang Hong's current courtyard. Leaving enough seeds for one season, they busily ordered the guards to transport the superior seeds. Watching the guards effortlessly carry thousand-jin loads, Yang Hong's heart stirred, thinking of the hard labor of farming. He then looked at the concubines and their maids toiling in the warm shed. A few who harbored unrealistic hopes, upon seeing the Retired Emperor and the Emperor arrive together, picked up hoes and started tilling. However, their efforts were largely performative.
A smile tugged at the corner of Yang Hong's mouth. He said to the two beside him, "Imperial Grandfather, Father, since you don't allow me to practice martial arts, then I won't. However, to cultivate the fields in my courtyard faster and plant crops, please send people to teach those concubines martial arts."
"This..."
"No problem, absolutely no problem." Yang Jian hesitated, fearing Yang Hong might secretly learn. Yang Zhong, however, readily agreed. The two dared not let Yang Hong make any further demands and quickly departed, their objective achieved.
Outside the Cold Palace, Yang Zhong said a word to Yang Jian, who was still frowning. "Xuan Nü Gong."
"Father, I understand." Upon hearing this term, Yang Jian's eyes brightened. Xuan Nü Gong was a cultivation technique that only women could practice, and it was an advanced one. However, only women could practice it. Even eunuchs would suffer qi deviation if they attempted it. For normal men, it would result in a 100% chance of explosive death, without exception. The two still guarded against Yang Hong, even tacitly agreeing not to tell him the name of this technique or its prohibitions. While they wouldn't bear to see Yang Hong die, they feared Yang Hong practicing martial arts even more.
The next morning, a charming nanny, around 40 years old, entered the [Ignored Pavilion] to begin teaching the seven concubines and all the palace maids. Even Xiao Cao received cultivation qualification, and Zhou Guiren, a top-tier master, was also required to switch her cultivation method. Moreover, the nanny publicly stated the martial art's name was "Jia Yi Shen Gong" (Wedding Dress Divine Skill), a technique suitable for dual cultivation.
"Heh heh, these father and son truly intend to bind me with women." Hearing the name and explanation of the technique, Yang Hong became even more agitated. At the same time, a flicker of expectation arose within him. *Cough cough~ This is a normal man's expectation.* For this, Yang Hong paused his two opportunities to find special plants and evolve spiritual plants through灌顶 (guàn dǐng - a ritualistic bestowal of spiritual energy or knowledge). Instead, he specifically cultivated some ordinary vegetables of grades 4-7 to supplement their meals. He also increased the scale of his winemaking. This cemented Yang Hong's image as a lecherous individual in the minds of the Emperor, the Retired Emperor, and anyone privileged enough to know about Yang Hong.
However, with the supply of Yang Hong's three types of quick-aging wines and special vegetables, the six concubines who had never cultivated, along with 15 palace maids who had never cultivated, all reached the level of low-grade martial artists within half a month.
"Many thanks to the Sixth Prince." These individuals were not fools and knew perfectly well the speed of normal cultivation. Even with abundant resources, it would take at least two to three months to reach the entry level and enter the low-grade tier. Such rapid entry into martial arts within half a month was impossible even in the three great sects.
"No need to thank me. Cultivate well in the future, and protect me." Looking at the seven stunning beauties before him, Yang Hong felt it was worth it for the first time. "A feast for the eyes, worth it."