Yefutidaolu

Chapter 462 How hateful!

Lately, Old Chen, who runs a teahouse, has been feeling that the sky in this capital city seems... a bit cleaner.

It wasn't the weather, but rather that indescribable atmosphere.

The first noticeable change is the significant reduction in the number of idle thugs who loiter on the streets, eyeing wealthy out-of-towners. Previously, this street was always filled with familiar faces, either gambling at the alley entrance or striking up conversations with seemingly well-off outsiders, their words carrying a mix of soft and hard tactics. Now, it's as if many of these people have vanished overnight, and the remaining few are much more well-behaved. When you do see them, their eyes dart away, no longer as blatant as before.

Consequently, rumors of "honey traps" and "product switching schemes" have decreased in the market. Previously, tea drinkers would often chat about who had been scammed at a gambling den or who had lost everything buying fake elixirs. These past few days, such unpleasant stories have become less frequent, and the conversations among tea drinkers have shifted to more everyday matters and serious market trends.

Even his small teahouse business has been affected—not worse, but some of his "regular customers" have disappeared. There were two well-dressed, shrewd old men who used to frequent the place, always boasting about their connections and ability to get things done, tricking eager people into believing they could. These past few days, they haven't been seen at all.

"Boss, have you heard?" Zhang Shusheng, a regular tea drinker, lowered his voice, with a hint of mystery, "The higher-ups are serious this time! They say they're going to clean up the atmosphere in the capital, to... to give a certain big shot some leeway!" He pointed in the direction of the imperial city.

As Old Chen wiped the table, he mumbled an answer, "Really...that's a good thing, a good thing." But in his heart, he was a little worried. The wind was blowing really hard, and he wondered how long it would last. This place, Shen Du, was too murky. The filth that was cleaned up today might just reappear from some corner tomorrow.

However, at least for now, I feel more at ease walking on the street.

The cobblestone streets seemed exceptionally clean, washed by the night rain. The capital city remained the same, the floating islands as magnificent as ever, and the immortal masters still soaring freely. But on this ground, in the lives of these ordinary people, some things were indeed different.

But he also knew that this capital city was like the tea he had brewed for half his life. Once the foam on the surface was skimmed off, the taste underneath—whether it was bitter or astringent, mellow or rich—had to be savored slowly.

Who is behind this sudden "cleanliness," and whose decision was made on a whim? How long can it last?
Old Chen didn't know that he was just an ordinary cultivator. All he knew was that the sun seemed warmer than usual today, shining on the freshly washed bluestone slabs and reflecting the light so brightly it was almost dazzling.

But it's not all good news.

Some cheap goods obtained through gray channels are gone, and the prices of some items have increased.

For example, a type of tea he used to buy had questionable origins but was cheap. Now that it's out of stock, he had to switch to a slightly more expensive one, which only increased the price by a couple of cents. His regular customers couldn't help but complain.

"Old Chen, are you joining in the price gouging too?" a regular laborer asked, frowning.

Old Chen said helplessly, "There's nothing I can do, Brother Zhang. That old line... it's gone. The government is cracking down hard, who dares to go against the grain?"

During their exchange—

"Uncle Chen, good morning." Ma San, from the talisman shop next door, yawned as he removed the door panel and casually asked, "Have you seen 'Hearing the Wind' Li Da? He said he'd come to pick up the 'Heart-Clearing Talisman' he ordered this morning..."

Before Ma San could finish speaking, two cultivators dressed in low-ranking official robes arrived at Qinglongfang and posted a huge notice on the notice wall at the entrance of the neighborhood, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

The notice clearly listed dozens of prohibited fraudulent and forced sales behaviors, and included clear reporting channels and reward measures. It also listed several typical cases. The notice was stamped with the bright red seals of the Prefect of the Capital and the Patrol Office.

One of the typical examples is their neighbor, Li Da, who has the best ears.

This made Ma San look miserable. Was he going to lose the Tranquilizing Talisman?
But the customers nearby also started talking about it.

"Hey, are you serious this time? Rewards for reporting?"

"Who knows if it's just for show? What if the whistleblower letter ends up in the hands of the accused?"

"I don't think so. Haven't you noticed how much cleaner the streets have been these past few days? Even 'Black Tiger' and his gang who collect protection money have disappeared!"

"That's only temporary. Once the storm passes, things will go back to normal!"

Old Chen remained silent. He dared not interrupt in this matter; even if others weren't doing business, he still had to.

"Uncle Chen, the usual." At this moment, a simply dressed young cultivator greeted him with a smile; he was a regular customer.

"Alright, Master Lin, you look great today." Old Chen greeted him while he was busy.

The other party's usual custom is a pot of spiritual tea and two plates of snacks, which are quite expensive. Only disciples of immortal sects can afford to order such meals every day.

"Oh, and give me another serving of jujubes."

"Fire dates? Immortal Master Lin, is this some good news?"

“Yes,” the young cultivator known as Xiaolin said with a smile, his tone relaxed. “Before, when we took on a mission, there were layers of skimming off the top, and we barely made any money. We were always worried about being ripped off. These days, things have improved a lot. At least there are fewer overt deductions, and the rewards are more substantial.”

Old Chen smiled and told the waiter to hand over the items.

Someone else nearby said:

"I heard it was an imperial decree issued personally by His Majesty the Emperor?"

"Your Majesty? Hasn't His Majesty been ill for many years?"

"Hey, you didn't know that, did you? His Majesty has recovered! He even attended court a few days ago! This rectification of the political climate is the first thing a new official does after taking office... no, it's His Majesty's first act after his recovery!"

"Really? If it's true, then it's truly... the sun rising in the west."

People chattered amongst themselves, information circulating and transforming in its own unique way among the common people, but the core message remained largely the same—the capital city was indeed changing.

It was afternoon, and the warm sunlight filtered through the sparse bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on the winding white stone path.

This place is Qinghui Garden of the Imperial Academy. The garden has a floating island built by the water, with a babbling spring and fragrant flowers. In the several exquisite pavilions, students of the Imperial Academy, dressed in gorgeous Confucian robes or flowing Taoist robes, gather in twos and threes.

Most of them possessed an extraordinary air, their brows bearing the composure and nobility cultivated by aristocratic families or high-ranking cultivator clans. Exquisite spiritual tea and fruits were laid out before them. They were all scions of top families or powerful clans in the capital, and usually discussed matters of romance, profound philosophy, cultivation techniques, and supernatural abilities. But today, the topic inevitably circled back to the earth-shattering changes that had recently taken place in the capital.

However, the focus of their conversation was more on the figure deep within the nine-layered palace.

A young man could be seen wearing a brocade robe with cloud patterns, his fingertips lightly tapping the rim of a jade porcelain cup: "These past few days, the capital has been quite 'quiet'." His tone carried a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm. "When did the Prefect of the Capital and the people of the City Patrol Division become so diligent? They've even swept away the street thugs. They're really... swift and decisive."

Another man beside him said, “Why does Your Majesty ask when you already know the answer? The men below are merely following orders. This wind is blowing down from the Purple Palace.” He pointed meaningfully towards the direction of the imperial city, “His Majesty has just recovered from a long illness, yet he has already taken such swift and decisive action. It seems… he is determined to cleanse the world.”

Another robust and straightforward young man snorted, "Those maggots down there are fine to clean up, lest they tarnish the reputation of the capital. But behind this commotion... His Majesty's visit to court this time seems quite different from usual." He lowered his voice, "My ancestor was summoned to the palace for a meeting the day before yesterday, and when he returned, he looked solemn, saying only that His Majesty... has a very firm will."

The young man in brocade robes nodded slightly: "His Majesty has been ill for many years, and now that he has just recovered, he has used thunderous methods to intimidate both the government and the people. This is by no means as simple as just restoring the government. I have observed that in the recent court sessions, His Majesty reviewed the memorials submitted by Minister Li concerning taxes and mineral veins with great care, and even rejected two of them that were beneficial to... well, certain aspects."

His words were subtle, but everyone present understood that "certain aspects" referred to their aristocratic families.

Another man, his fingertips dipped in tea, casually traced lines on the stone table: "His Majesty is... consolidating power. Under the guise of rectifying social customs, he's both establishing his authority and winning over the people; on the other hand, he's testing the waters, observing the reactions of various factions. This purge, seemingly targeting the lower classes, is actually a warning shot. Those raided dens all have intricate connections with various factions; cutting off their sources of income and manpower weakens our reach."

Another young master frowned: "Isn't Your Majesty afraid of attracting...?"

"Afraid?" The first one interrupted him. "If His Majesty were afraid, he wouldn't have acted today. He has been bedridden for many years, yet he remains fully aware of the court and local affairs. Such forbearance and shrewdness are not easily matched. Now that he dares to act, he must have something to rely on. But what exactly is that...?"

Meanwhile, the other students of the Imperial Academy also formed their own groups—

“Brother Ji, your family is in charge of all the crafts and has the best information network. Do you know how His Majesty’s health is now?” a scholar dressed in brocade robes asked.

The member of the Ji family who was asked shook his head and sighed, "It's hard to say. The requirements for imperial items have become increasingly stringent lately, especially for elixirs and some precious materials that nourish the soul. The demand is enormous, and the quality requirements are extremely high. But whether His Majesty has truly recovered... is beyond our knowledge. We have only heard that when His Majesty holds court, his voice is full of energy, and his majesty is even greater than before."

"Could it be that His Majesty has turned misfortune into blessing, and his cultivation has improved even further?" some speculated.

“It may not be a blessing.” Another true disciple from a great immortal sect pondered, “My master once said that the injury His Majesty suffered back then was no small matter, involving the very foundation of the Great Dao. To ‘recover’ in such a short time, and to be even more forceful and ruthless than before… this in itself is suspicious. Perhaps… he used some extraordinary method, at a great cost, so he needs to maintain a strong stance to stabilize the situation.”

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought. If His Majesty had indeed traded some price for a temporary "recovery" and a strong position, then this reorganization was more like a strategy, a radical means to regain power and suppress opponents as much as possible within a limited time.

"In any case, a storm is brewing." The Ji family member looked at the pond outside the pavilion, ruffled by the wind. "His Majesty's move is no small matter. Next, we will see whether each family goes with the tide or... goes against it. Within the Imperial Academy, things may seem calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging. We must all be careful with our words and actions and observe the changes."

Everyone nodded silently. They knew that the fate of their families, and even the entire dynasty's structure, could be dramatically changed by the will and methods of the one on the dragon throne.

The students' discussions gradually subsided, but the solemnity and scrutiny that permeated the air grew even stronger.

The sky over the capital has indeed changed, and the winds of this change are quietly blowing from the sky above the Imperial Academy, which symbolizes the future of the empire, to every corner.

------------

As dusk settled, Li Zoufang was on the terrace of an elegant little building in the capital, enjoying a drink with Gao Jian.

From here, you can see most of the night view of the capital city.

Li Zoufang was clearly in high spirits. He personally poured Gao Jian a glass of amber-colored spirit wine, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and relief. He raised his glass and pointed to the scene of thousands of lights and orderly activity downstairs, his voice tinged with emotion:
"Brilliant insight! Look! Look at this capital city!" His gaze swept over the city patrol soldiers who patrolled on time and in orderly steps: "How much change can a wise and virtuous ruler, a truly diligent and capable monarch, bring?! In just a few days, the atmosphere has been completely renewed!"

In his eyes, the capital city seemed to have been infused with a new soul at this moment:
His Majesty, ruling with absolute authority, displayed an unparalleled magnanimity, forcing those powerful families who had held sway for many years to temporarily retreat and conceal their claws.

In the imperial court, all officials were respectful and obedient, and government orders were carried out without hindrance.

In the city, ordinary people lived in peace and were no longer oppressed by evil spirits.

Everything was moving towards the orderly "golden age" he envisioned! This was practically his lifelong political ideal, which was becoming a reality at a visible speed!

“Everything is going smoothly! This is the proper atmosphere!” Li Zoufang downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, as if the frustration of dealing with powerful families over the years and the worries when the emperor was seriously ill were all compensated for at this moment.

Gao Jian looked at his excited expression, neither agreeing nor refuting.

He simply raised his glass as before, slowly drinking the expensive spirit wine, the spicy and mellow liquid sliding down his throat. Then, he turned his gaze to the "perfect" scene outside the building, which Li Zoufang had praised so highly.

The lights were dazzling, the floating islands shone brightly, and the crowds were bustling. Everything looked much cleaner and more orderly than before.

He still wore a smile on his face, but deep in his eyes lay a frozen lake.

This emperor... really...

Gao Jian silently and clearly said to himself:
How hateful!

(End of this chapter)