Li Chengfeng shuddered and bowed respectfully to Zhao Hanqing. "Please enlighten me, Your Highness!"
Although it was the Crown Prince's question, Li Chengfeng would be a fool if he answered what was on his mind.
Sometimes, a leader's question was not a question, but a statement, a prelude.
As expected, Zhao Hanqing said, "I value two things the most in my life. One is family!
Since ancient times, people have said that there is no family in the imperial family.
But I don't believe it!
I think there is family in the imperial family!
I value this rare family very much, even though it's almost gone!
But the relationship between Father, my brother, and my sister still exists. I believe this without a doubt. I will not allow anyone to sow discord in the imperial family! "
Li Chengfeng did not know why Zhao Hanqing suddenly said this but he did not speak, only listening carefully.
Zhao Hanqing continued, "Father has four sons and three daughters. Among my sisters, I'm the most favoured.
Everyone thinks it's because I'm a reincarnated Golden Immortal but they don't know that I'm the purest and most lustful person in the entire palace! "
Ever since the assassination attempt on Zhao Hanqing, his guards had been strengthened several times over. Wherever he went, the guards in front of him would clear a path, driving away all the passersby that were a kilometer or two away. On the entire wide street, there was only a group of people walking along the street. The clatter of the horses' hooves reverberated on the street, clear to the ears.
Zhao Hanqing continued, "With Little Sister's background and conditions, as long as Imperial Father can get her anything in this world, she can do whatever she wants!
But I've never asked for it!
Even when she went to visit him, she went alone and never let Father make things difficult for us. "
Zhao Hanqing stared at Li Chengfeng. "Since she loves you, as her brother, I will support her. Let the world see that the imperial family is not heartless!"
Li Chengfeng groaned inwardly. He looked at Zhao Feiyue, who was following behind him with her head lowered. Her ears were red, and he could not bear to say it out loud. After all, she had risked everything to save him just to hurt her. Although it was the truth, even a man of steel would not do that!
Li Chengfeng smiled bitterly. "I think that's not your only reason, right?"
Zhao Han Qing nodded and said, "That's right!
The second thing that I value the most in my life is principles!
The first lesson that Gu's teacher taught Gu when Gu was very young was: Nothing can be accomplished without rules!
Without rules, there would be no order in the world. Without order, the world would be filled with unrest and injustice!
Upholding and protecting these rules and order is my principle! "
As he spoke, Zhao Hanqing pulled on the reins and stopped. He stared straight at Li Chengfeng, then waved to his left and right, gesturing for them to disperse.
Zhao Feiyue glanced at Li Chengfeng, then turned her horse to the side.
When it was just him and Li Chengfeng, Zhao Hanqing continued, "I'm sure you already know how I treat cultivators and cultivation sects.
Nowadays, Daqi's officialdom is corrupt, and the people are living in poverty. You've witnessed the tragedies in Tong 'an and Taiyang!
The officials were corrupt and incompetent, it was simply outrageous!
But have you ever thought that just because the officials are corrupt and incompetent, does the common people have to live like this?
No! "
As he spoke, Zhao Hanqing tightened his grip on the reins and stared at Li Chengfeng. "I rushed back to the Divine Capital last night but I received an imperial bulletin on the way. Do you know what happened near Spiritual Mountain in Spiritual State?"
"I don't know."
Zhao Hanqing said angrily, "There was a civil uprising there!
An official went to the village to collect taxes but was beaten to death by the people. Then, the people in the village rioted and it spread across the entire eastern region of Spiritual State!
Do you know why this happened? "
Li Chengfeng thought for a moment. "Because the taxes are too high!"
Zhao Hanqing nodded. "That's right, it's because the taxes are too high!
But have you ever wondered why the imperial court would impose such heavy taxes? "
Li Chengfeng replied, "Because Daqi, Dijon and Puppet have been fighting for years."
Zhao Hanqing sneered. "That's right, the years of fighting have drained Daqi's wealth. The entire Southeast has been squeezed dry, the people have no roof over their heads and they lack rice to cook!
But you have to know that although the imperial court is supporting the war in the Southeast, most of the resources and rations are raised by Soaring Sea itself!
Even without the Southeast's finances, Daqi's finances from the central plains, northern, southern and eastern regions are enough to support Daqi's operations and let the people live a good life!
But why were there still such exorbitant taxes and levies?
Is it just because the officials are corrupt? "
Li Chengfeng fell silent and did not speak.
Zhao Hanqing continued, "It's precisely because the cultivation sects do not pay taxes or serve as laborers!
This leads to large amounts of land in the world belonging to the cultivation sects. The more tax-free land the sects have, the less land they have to pay taxes on!
But Daqi's expenditure is increasing day by day!
If they can't increase income or reduce expenditure, they have to increase taxes! "
Li Chengfeng could not help retorting, "But even if there are no cultivation sects in the world, there will still be land annexations. It's either the nobles or the landowning households. How can you blame the cultivation sects for this?"
Zhao Hanqing nodded. "That's right!
There are many tax-free lands in the world. Not only are the cultivation sects exempt, but so are the royal family and officials of the third rank and above!
But Li Chengfeng, think about it. How many people are there in the royal family?
How many first-ranked officials are there in the world?
How many hundred-year-old sects are there in the world?
Once I give the order, I can make all the first-rank high officials fall from their horses!
But what can I do to the cultivation sects? "
Li Chengfeng did not speak. In fact, he knew what Zhao Hanqing was saying. This was indeed the crux of Daqi's problem!
It was a dead end!
Because no one could untie this dead end!
To untie this dead end, the entire cultivation world must be overthrown, or at least reshuffled!
And if he wanted to do that, he had to do something first!
To overthrow the Cosmos God Sect!
Because the Cosmos God Sect was the biggest beneficiary of the cultivation world, they would never allow such a thing to happen!
To overthrow the Cosmos God Sect, they must first defeat Imperial Tutor Chang Yuan!
But … defeat Imperial Tutor Chang Yuan?
This was an almost impossible task!
Because Chang Yuan had been the Imperial Tutor for as long as Daqi had been founded!
He was an old monster who had lived for more than five hundred years!
Moreover, he had never been defeated in his entire life!
The people of the world didn't even know how strong his Dharmic powers were and how high his cultivation level was!
Could it be … Zhao Hanqing wanted to kill Chang Yuan?
Was he crazy?!
Was he going to die with him?!
Li Chengfeng looked at Zhao Hanqing and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, do you want me to help you deal with these cultivation sects?"
Hearing this, Zhao Hanqing laughed out loud. Then, he looked towards Liu Sumei and said, "Do you know what touched me the most when she came to ask for my help?"
"Which one?"
Zhao Hanqing said, "She asked me, 'Do you know why Li Chengfeng risked his life to save you?'
I replied, 'Because I'm my sister's brother!'
She shook her head and smiled. 'No!'
Although Li Chengfeng and Zhao Feiyue were deeply entangled and bound together, the person he loved was not the princess. It was someone else. It was the love of his life that he had been entangled with for a hundred years.
He did not come to save you because you were the Crown Prince, nor did he want to curry favor with you.
It was because he felt that Daqi could live without him, but not without you, Zhao Hanqing! "
Li Chengfeng's heart thumped. He turned to look at Liu Sumei, suddenly feeling like he understood her. My parents gave birth to me, Sumei knows me best!