Dao Equaling the Heavens

At that moment, Zhao Feng stepped down from the carriage and also arrived at the alley entrance, his bright yellow robe shining like the sun above, causing the crowd of commoners to tremble even more violently.

A gentle spiritual wind passed by Yu Hua's ears; she perceived people's hearts, sensing only fear.

She possessed a divine skill called Di Listening.

It enabled her to hear the sound of hearts and delve into causes and effects. However, due to the limitations set by Immortal Land on her powers, she could only hear the most intense thoughts of the heart.

These people were extremely fearful of Zhao Feng; they did not know his true identity, yet they feared anyone dressed extravagantly, as if their clothes were made of tiger skin.

Yu Hua, newly arrived in the mortal world, was not blind. She could see that Daqian was not as peaceful and prosperous as its people claimed. Smoke of conflict constantly rose at the plain's end, the area outside the city swarmed with starving denizens, while those inside indulged in outrageous extravagance.

This was her first true experience of the immense fear the common people held toward the Zhao family.

Zhao Feng's brow furrowed, a look of disdain showing uncontrollably in his eyes. He said, "In the Divine Capital of Bianjing, how can there be so many people dressed so shabbily and indecently? It's truly a disgrace to our culture."

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Fugui came out from the residence, startled by the scene outside. Upon spotting Zhao Feng among the crowd, he hurriedly knelt down and said, "Your servant, greets the Ninth Prince."

Working under Gu Wen, he had indeed seen Zhao Feng before, but unlike with Gu Wen, he generally had no right to speak to him directly.

Zhao Feng glanced at him and asked, "Why are there so many unkempt people gathered here? Are they refugees?"

Jiang Fugui broke into a sweat, fearful of being misunderstood as harboring refugees. He quickly explained, "Your Highness, these are all residents of the city, not refugees. At most, they can be considered unregistered locals—all from Bianjing."

Due to the population increase, Bianjing city had been expanding through the ages, but the pace of expansion couldn't keep up with population growth. Also, the Emperor constructed new palaces annually, continuously demolishing and encroaching upon civilian dwellings.

Over time, settlements similar to markets formed outside the city. The government even established administrative offices for these settlements, evidently starting to develop them toward the county level.

These citizens residing outside the walls of Bianjing City were called unregistered locals, living in the wilderness.

"Why stay here all this time?"

It was all because the Imperial Palace had been expanding year after year; the Emperor constructed new palaces annually. The city walls of Bianjing wouldn't expand themselves; demolishing civilian dwellings was natural.

By principle, the government should compensate, but often the compensation, after being exploited layer by layer, barely amounted to ten percent. They couldn't afford another house in Bianjing and didn't want to live outside the city as unregistered locals, so they ended up wandering the streets and alleys.

Jiang Fugui dared not speak the truth, hesitating for a moment before responding, "The water flow in the Water House fluctuates with the seasons. When it's high, there aren't enough hands; when it's low, there's no need for so many. Thus, Mr. Wen only retains a few strong men; the rest are outsourced."

Zhao Feng found this somewhat novel and asked, "What do you mean by outsourced?"

"It means hiring workers for just one day. The Water House doesn't employ them as permanent staff, this way they save a lot of money and can flexibly adjust manpower. That's why these people gather here, to pick up daily work."

Jiang Fugui replied, genuinely admiring his boss.

He was truly a genius in business, having saved so much money through outsourcing alone. Moreover, the more chaotic the times, the more abundant their supply of cheap labor.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Feng realized, aware of Gu Wen's talent in business, yet still amazed.

Then, with a sidelong glance at the white-robed goddess beside him, he frowned and said with disdain, "There truly is no trade without deceit, such exploitation of the common people…"

Without money, the commoners can't pay taxes, and the government cannot afford to drive people to desperate measures, after all, this is Bianjing. In foreign lands, taxation could devastate families, turning many who couldn't pay into outlaws taking refuge in the hills, but that wouldn't happen at the feet of the Emperor.

It wasn't out of the Emperor's benevolence, but rather because the common people were right there beside them.

Gu Wen was exploiting loopholes in Daqian's laws, something Zhao Feng, as a prince, naturally detested.

Jiang Fugui, his face full of forced smiles, kept apologizing, not daring to voice any complaint.

Yet, internally, he almost cursed: 'The money earned, doesn't it all end up in your pockets anyway? At least Mr. Wen gives people a meal to eat. Working for the government, not to mention a meal, you might even have to bring your own supplies and money.'

Officialdom and commerce, officials and the people, merchants and the people—all contradictions eventually lead back to the Zhao family, that Lord Emperor.

Yu Hua, the immortal, took everything into her eyes, saw cause and effect, and perceived people's hearts.

The Emperor's family expanded the palace endlessly, while the officials exploited the people in the process. Eventually, it was the merchants who ended up being seen as good people.

This so-called royal family didn't deserve to rule.

In contrast, the destitute Gu family was able to protect the citizens.

Yu Hua and Zhao Feng entered the Gu Residence one after the other.

The interior was expansive and grand, with more than a hundred servants and maids kneeling on both sides. Every step they took was on a path paved with bluestone tiles—an extravagant sight to behold indeed.

She was certain that the descendants of the Gu family lived in luxury, at the very least the Zhao family had ensured their wealth. What remained was beyond Yu Hua's control as she was merely a representative of the sect in the mortal world; the real authority lay in the hands of the True Monarchs within the sect.

Just as Zhao Feng was merely a representative of the Zhao family. The real power was held by the Lord Emperor in the palace.

Although the decision to strip the Gu surname of opportunities was made internally within the sect, as a mortal representative of The Three Pure Ones and being shaded by the sect, she also had her karma involved.

Regardless of the sect's internal decisions, she only wished to be at peace with her conscience. Compensating out of her own pocket was one way, ensuring the livelihood of his descendants was another.

"Where is Gu Wen?"

Seated in the main seat, Zhao Feng looked around and asked; the attendant Jiang Fugui, who was beside him, replied, "Mr. Wen caught a cold yesterday, and the doctor is still treating him. I have already sent someone to summon him."

"Have him hurry, let's not keep the immortal waiting."

"Yes, I'll go fetch him right away."

Jiang Fugui hurried off, while Yu Hua seemed not to notice Zhao Feng's attentiveness and turned to ask a maid next to her, "How is Gu Wen faring in the residence?"

The maid froze for a moment, unsure why this immortal suddenly inquired about how their master was doing. Was she a distant relative?

"Mr. Wen has a regular lifestyle, rising at ten and retiring at five, enjoys practicing health exercises, eating, and fighting crickets…"

Living in the residence were mostly poor sheltered people with low educational backgrounds; the small maid, clutching her fingers, narrated clumsily with coarse phrases, making Zhao Feng and his servant Feng Xiang chuckle lightly.

"Has he taken a wife?" Yu Hua's voice was gentle and casual, a common greeting, yet had a different nuance when inquiring about a peer of the opposite gender.

The social customs were conservative, filled with complex rules and ceremonies, but these weren't the concerns of those outside conventional society.

The atmosphere turned a bit strange.

The maid couldn't help but take another look at Yu Hua, whose voice did not sound like that of an elder.

"The master has never married, nor does he frequent the pleasure districts; no maid in the household has been favored by him, which should make him a good match…"

Yu Hua simply nodded slightly.

During these days among the mortal elites, while they appeared bright and magnificent on the surface, many were tainted with unspeakable filth underneath. Speaking of Zhao Feng, the unsavory karmic ties within his household were discomforting.

Wives and concubines in abundance, many favored courtesans. He thought he was well-concealed, but he couldn't escape the all-seeing eyes and ears.

That a descendant of the Gu family still maintained his chastity was rare indeed and made him a good match, possibly suitable for introducing to disciples within the sect...

Yu Hua remembered the Outer Disciples, many of whom were indolent and vulgar, some of whom would be demoted to return to secular life each year. These individuals wouldn't completely detach from the sect and wouldn't willingly lead a mundane life. They would pin their hopes on the next generation, marry relatives of some disciples, or even elders.

Thus, entangled roots were formed, making up various large families at the foot of the mountain, managing the wealth and laws of ordinary people. Dynasties like the Daqian were just products of special periods and locations; the outside world did not offer mortals the chance to become emperors.

With her endorsement, descendants of the Gu family with aptitude could enter the Yuqing Sect, not to mention families of disciples of The Three Pure Ones, even the disciples themselves would likely deign to join.

The elite were always a minority; in the cultivation world, the vast majority of cultivators were at the stages of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment.