276: I have decided to love all under heaven.

During the journey to the imperial palace, the convoy gradually merged with several other transport teams along the way.

As the number of escort teams increased, the originally heavy atmosphere became more relaxed.

The laborers rarely had such opportunities to interact, so they naturally struck up conversations, and the topic quickly focused on the origins of the items they were each escorting.

One laborer asked first: "Where did the items you are escorting come from?"

"Is it the property of disgraced officials too? Prime Minister Su has dealt with quite a few disgraced officials over the past ten days or so."

"No, our batch of goods was taken from the national treasury."

"How about you?"

"We just came from the Grand General's mansion!"

The tone of the laborer who answered was filled with irrepressible pride.

In the past, small figures like them from the bottom of society wouldn't even have had the qualifications to approach the Grand General's mansion, yet now they could walk grandly into that majestic residence.

"The Grand General's mansion! There must be a lot of treasures inside!"

"It's more than just a lot of treasures!" another laborer said, gesturing as he spoke, "The Grand General's mansion has carved beams and painted rafters, jade inlays and gold plating; there are jewels everywhere."

"The maids and wives in the mansion are all as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal, absolutely stunning!"

"And the batch of items we are escorting is only a portion; there is at least half more to come."

Having said that much, the laborer didn't say more, because as far as he knew, the Grand General's wives were probably also going to be packed up and sent to the imperial palace later.

It wouldn't take long before they, along with the wives and daughters of the disgraced officials, would all soon become the Emperor's concubines.

After all, their current Your Majesty had a liking for this sort of thing.

It was just baffling why Prime Minister Su had suddenly started currying favor with this nominal Puppet Emperor.

Returning to the topic, the previous description of the Grand General's mansion left the surrounding laborers in awe.

The image of that incredibly luxurious mansion involuntarily surfaced in their minds, as if they were already there themselves.

"Isn't that right! That was the Grand General..."

"Ahem, that former Grand General certainly hid quite a few rare treasures."

"He actually wanted to become a master of Immortal Ascension too! Therefore, he collected many items that only masters of Immortal Ascension could use! He used them secretly inside the mansion."

"Guess if the former Grand General succeeded in his Immortal Ascension?"

This question immediately sparked a heated discussion among the laborers, and they were all visibly excited as they surrounded the topic of "Immortal Ascension."

If the former Grand General could succeed in Immortal Ascension, didn't that mean they also had a chance to become masters of Immortal Ascension?

Some said it was possible, while others said it was not.

In short, opinions varied.

Soon, they hurriedly pressed the laborer who had made the revelation earlier, asking if the former Grand General had succeeded.

Amidst a crowd of expectant gazes, the other party continued the story: "I heard from the former Grand General's servants that he seemingly really succeeded!!!"

"Hiss! The former Grand General actually became a master of Immortal Ascension!"

"Then... what happened next?"

Someone asked impatiently, and the laborer just glanced at him with a strange expression.

"After that, well, the former Grand General died."

Amidst the crowd's conversation, time slipped away quietly, and before they knew it, they had arrived before the towering gates of the Dynasty imperial palace.

Sunlight filtered through the magnificent palaces, casting dappled light and shadows, making the imperial palace look exceptionally solemn and majestic today.

Soon, some laborers noticed that the guards standing watch at the palace gate were all unfamiliar faces.

They all exuded an indescribable aura; the laborers felt a chill involuntarily just from looking at them from afar.

That feeling was like facing a group of fierce bandits who had just been recruited, making one feel truly afraid.

"Who are these people?" a laborer muttered softly.

"Never seen them before; I guess they were arranged by Prime Minister Su."

Facing these strange guards, the laborers were all a bit at a loss, standing there uneasily.

Fortunately, these guards did not make things too difficult for them; they simply checked the convoy a few times, and after confirming there were no abnormalities, they waved them through.

The convoy continued to move forward, and would soon reach the harem where the Emperor resided.

The scene in the harem stunned the laborers, as if they had walked into a magnificent fairyland, with elegant pavilions and gardens filled with vegetation.

Before them were countless concubines in brocade and fine clothes; they giggled and chatted, as delicate as a hundred flowers, their laughter as crisp as silver bells.

Unfortunately, most of them had large, protruding bellies, and there were many children playing in the surrounding gardens.

Five mighty and solemn armored soldiers stood in prominent positions, guarding all of this.

"Hiss, our current Your Majesty is truly too fierce."

The laborers couldn't help but exclaim in their hearts; looking at the pile of the Emperor's walking achievements, it would be a lie to say they weren't impressed.

Gradually, the convoy stopped in front of a magnificent palace; the building before them was grand and majestic, inspiring awe.

This was the current Emperor's sleeping quarters—the White Palace.

It wasn't originally called the White Palace, but the Hening Palace, and it was renamed by the Emperor a few years ago.

In front of the palace, two Duke Tangs Mansion Guards, along with a group of guards replaced by the System's "fodder troops," were already waiting.

Not only here, but the guards throughout the entire harem had now been replaced by "fodder troops." With their presence, not only was the harem safer, but there was also no need to worry about the house being stolen.

They wore solemn expressions, and after confirming the status of the convoy, they signaled the laborers to leave quickly.

After the laborers retreated, someone among them quickly went to report.

Harem, Five-Colored Garden.

At this moment, Zhao Kaishan—oh no, he should be called Zhao Zheng now—was leisurely accompanying his children in a garden in the harem.

The young children were playing, and it was very joyful.

Looking at his own flesh and blood, Zhao Zheng secretly made up his mind that he must build up the Tianli Dynasty well.

His own children could enjoy wealth and honor in this imperial palace and grow up safely and happily, but what about the children of the common people?

Looking at the innocent children before him, Zhao Zheng secretly swore in his heart that he must make the Tianli Dynasty prosperous and let all the people in the world live good lives.

He wanted to implement benevolent governance, be diligent in administration and love the people, and strive to build the Tianli Dynasty into a powerful nation that everyone could admire.

He longed for the day when all the people in the world could be well-fed and clothed, and even have the opportunity to embark on the path of Immortal Ascension, achieving a true era of peace and prosperity.

"Since I have changed my name to Zheng, I should naturally take the ancients as my example. Even if the road ahead is filled with thorns, I will never retreat, even if my body is shattered."

Zhao Zheng decided; he would have great love for the world.

He wanted to be a benevolent sage monarch who implemented benevolent governance, was diligent in administration, loved the people, and worked hard to govern.

He wanted to become a great Emperor admired by the Dynasty, and even the entire Yunting Domain!

He wanted to build a perfect, sacred otherworldly utopia!

With the System in hand, he believed that he would definitely let all the common people and Mortals have food to eat, and let everyone be able to afford the path of Immortal Ascension!

There will be a time when the myriad phenomena sing of peace, celebrating a prosperous era for billions of years!

...

Just at this moment, a Duke Tangs Mansion Guards rushed over and said respectfully: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the items you wanted have been delivered!"

Zhao Zheng's thoughts were pulled back to reality; he gently touched his children's heads, bade them farewell one by one, and then, under the gaze of the crowd, quickly returned to the White Palace.

Slurp, hehehe, it's lottery time...