So what if I have a few billion concubines while I'm cultivating immortality?

"My lord, now that the cultivation technique is complete, when will you go into seclusion to attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?"

Luo Qingluan asked softly, her eyes filled with expectation and concern.

Qin Xiao slowly shook his head: "The path to Nascent Soul cannot be achieved through solitary cultivation. When I was deducing the cultivation method, I realized that one must fuse the imperial destiny, the will of all living beings, and one's own path into one. However..."

His gaze swept across the bustling palace outside the hall, and his voice deepened slightly: "I have been in seclusion for decades, leaving all worldly affairs and state matters to the Grand Secretariat and Qingluan. Although the Great Yong is now peaceful and prosperous, the people only know about the new policies of the court, but they do not know that I, the emperor, am still alive. The imperial aura is gradually fading, and the will of the people is even more out of reach."

Fairy Yaoguang seemed to ponder this: "In ancient times, there were emperors who cultivated the 'Way of the People,' gathering the power of faith to strengthen their spirits. What Your Majesty said is similar in principle. However, this power of faith can only be gathered by the genuine love and devotion of the people; it cannot be forced."

"That's exactly right."

Qin Xiao rose, walked to the palace gate, and looked at the distant marketplace. "I must return to the mortal world so that the people know me, believe in me, and respect me. Only by truly winning the hearts of the people can I use this power to break through to the Godhood realm."

Yu Fengling blinked: "So, is my husband going out of the palace? Like the emperors in those storybooks, traveling incognito?"

"It's not just about traveling incognito."

Qin Xiao turned around, his eyes gleaming. "I will travel among the people as emperor, alleviate their suffering, display divine miracles, and spread blessings. At the same time, I must also take action in the court, so that the world knows that I am still in power."

He looked at Luo Qingluan and Yu Qingyi: "Qingluan, Qingyi, from today onwards, you will temporarily take charge of the court and handle daily affairs. I will appoint the cabinet to assist you, and you will be informed of any major events."

"Yes," the two women replied in unison.

"Zi Yan." Qin Xiao looked at Xiang Mu Zi Yan again. "Your alchemy skills have reached a state of perfection. I need you to refine a batch of basic pills such as 'Disease-Curing Pills' and 'Body-Strengthening Powders'. The effects do not need to be too strong, but the quantity must be large. I want to distribute medicines among the people to benefit them."

Mu Ziyan smiled gently: "Your Majesty, I understand. The first batch can be refined within three days."

"Anning and Changle, you sisters are skilled in controlling the wind and fire. During my tour, you are responsible for keeping an eye out for any evil spirits causing trouble or cultivators disturbing the people. If you find anything, deal with it promptly."

Li Anning and Li Changle exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We will definitely protect the people!"

"Yaoguang".

Qin Xiao finally looked at Fairy Yaoguang, "You have the deepest understanding of the Star Array Dao. I need you to set up a 'Manifestation Array' that covers the capital and surrounding prefectures and counties. Once the array is completed, it can trigger celestial phenomena and display divine miracles when I need it."

Fairy Yaoguang nodded: "This is not difficult. I will make the arrangements immediately."

"As for the phoenix feather."

Qin Xiao looked at Yu Fengling, who was full of anticipation, and said, "You are the most clever, so you will accompany me on this incognito tour as a form of training."

"Very good!"

Yu Fengling's peach blossom eyes lit up, and she beamed with joy.

Qin Xiao added, "Wuya and Yunli will continue to oversee the outer court, selecting and training new talents. My trip will last from a few months to a year or two, so I entrust all matters in the palace to you."

Everyone responded in unison and went off to carry out their orders.

Three days later, everything was ready.

Mu Ziyan refined three large boxes of basic pills, each containing over a thousand pills, enough for tens of thousands of people.

Fairy Yaoguang set up the "Zhou Tian Manifestation Array" around the capital. Qin Xiao only needs to use the Imperial Jade Seal as a trigger to activate the array, causing the starlight to fall, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Luo Qingluan and Yu Qingyi are already familiar with the court's procedures, and the Grand Secretary has received a secret decree from Qin Xiao to provide full assistance.

That morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Qin Xiao changed into an ordinary blue scholar's robe and a square scarf on his head, looking like a traveling scholar.

Yu Fengling disguised herself as a page, wearing a blue robe and a small hat to conceal her stunning beauty, revealing only her bright, expressive eyes.

The two left quietly without alerting anyone.

Stepping out of the palace and into the streets and alleys of the capital, the hustle and bustle of people hits you.

Street vendors hawking breakfast, peddlers driving donkey carts, craftsmen hurrying to work, women carrying vegetable baskets...

Everyday life in the city, the everyday scenes of life.

Qin Xiao had not experienced ordinary life so closely for decades.

"Husband, where should we go first?"

Yu Fengling lowered her voice and looked around curiously.

"Let's go to the teahouse."

Qin Xiao smiled slightly, "That place is a gathering place for all sorts of people, and its information network is the most efficient."

The two casually walked into a teahouse called "Juxianlou" and found a corner by the window to sit down.

The waiter quickly served tea and several plates of snacks.

Several men who looked like businessmen were sitting at the next table, talking loudly:

"Have you heard? Grain prices in Jiangnan have dropped again this year. It's said the imperial court promoted a new rice variety, which increased the yield per mu by 30%!"

"It's not just in Jiangnan; several northern prefectures are also implementing it. That Grand Secretary is truly a capable minister; over the past few decades, he has implemented new policies, and the lives of the people have become much better."

"Speaking of which, it seems like our Emperor hasn't shown up for quite some time, has he? The Grand Secretary has been presiding over court assemblies all along."

"Who knows? His Majesty has neglected state affairs for many years, but with the cabinet in place, things haven't gotten chaotic."

"I heard from the palace that His Majesty is diligently cultivating Taoism, seeking immortality!"

"Cultivating Taoism? Wouldn't that make one a tyrant? Abandoning the country to seek that elusive immortality..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! How dare you say such a thing?"

Qin Xiao listened quietly, his face remaining expressionless, but inwardly he sighed.

The common people only knew the cabinet, not the emperor.

Some even regard him as a foolish ruler who neglected state affairs in pursuit of immortality.

How can such an impression generate aspirations?

Yu Fengling heard it too, and glared angrily at those people, but Qin Xiao stopped her with a look.

"Let's go."

Qin Xiao put down the tea money, got up and left.

Over the next few months, Qin Xiao took Yu Fengling all over the Great Yong.

They had been to the slums in the south of the city where the poor lived, and had seen beggars in tattered clothes.

He also visited the bustling East Market and witnessed the extravagant spending of people.

He even sneaked into gambling dens and brothels at night, witnessing the despicable scheming and corruption that took place in the shadows.

Qin Xiao discovered that while Dayong appeared prosperous on the surface, undercurrents were surging beneath.

The new policy is good.

However, when implemented at the local level, the results are inevitably distorted.

Some officials deceived their superiors and misappropriated relief funds.

Powerful landlords seized land, forcing farmers to sell their children.

Some martial arts masters even abused their power to bully ordinary people.

"My lord, these people are utterly despicable!"

Yu Fengling was so angry when she saw a vegetable farmer who had been injured by a martial arts master that she was about to teach him a lesson, but Qin Xiao stopped her again.

"No rush."

Qin Xiao's gaze was profound. "To address the root cause, we must start from the source. Moreover, what I want is not only to punish the wicked, but also to let the people know that it is I, the emperor, who is standing up for them."

half a month later.

Qin Xiao returned to Hejian Prefecture, which was 300 miles from the capital.

Hejian Prefecture suffered from floods this summer, with several counties submerged and tens of thousands of people affected.

Although the imperial court allocated relief funds, Qin Xiao saw along the way that the disaster victims were still starving and dressed in rags.

"Didn't the imperial court distribute disaster relief grain? Why is it still like this?" Yu

Feng Ling looked at the emaciated children by the roadside, her eyes reddening.

Qin Xiao's expression darkened slightly: "I'm afraid not all the disaster relief funds have reached the people."

He secretly investigated and indeed discovered that the prefect of Hejian colluded with local gentry to resell most of the disaster relief grain privately, only taking out a small portion as a formality.

The disaster victims could only receive a bowl of porridge each day, so thin that you could see your reflection in it.

Three days later, in Hejian Prefecture, at the Prefectural Government Office.

Prefect Zhao Dekun was drinking and making merry with several wealthy men in the back hall. The table was laden with delicacies, a stark contrast to the miserable plight of the disaster victims outside the city.

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the yamen.

"Who dares to trespass into the government office?!"

The bailiffs' shouts rang out, followed by several muffled groans, as if someone had fallen to the ground.

Zhao Dekun frowned: "What's going on?"

Before he could finish speaking, the lobby door was pushed open by an invisible force.

A scholar in blue robes walked in slowly, followed by a handsome pageboy.

It was Qin Xiao and Yu Fengling.