Liang Shixian had already been shaken silly by Shansier's elaborate welcome ceremony.
After such a fright, he suddenly felt that his seventh-rank county-magistrate skin wasn't thick enough to stand before the master of this household at all.
Their identities weren't even in the same league.
If he hadn't been carrying such a heavy responsibility… he would've gladly turned around and run back out. But as he thought about the disaster victims he saw along the way—people living in misery, clinging to life by a thread—he straightened his spine.
The people suffer. The county is a sea of bitterness.
And I… I am the only one who can save them.
No retreat. Forward!
He fixed his official hat, smoothed the wrinkles of his robe, tugged at his belt, straightened his posture, then turned to his advisers and the yamen runners.
"You all wait here. No one acts without orders."
Then he followed Shansier up the stairs to the highest floor of the watchtower.
Inside the hall sat a young woman, elegant and dignified, dressed in a gleaming white gown, seated perfectly straight, expression calm and noble.
In truth, Gao Yiye was panicking so hard she was about to faint. She was just a village girl—facing the county magistrate was like staring at a mountain. She never imagined she'd sit upright like a madam receiving a high official.
Luckily… she had trained for this moment.
The more dignified I sit, the more respect the world gives to Dao Xuan Tianzun.
She repeated it over and over, holding her composure with sheer willpower.
Liang Shixian saw her and thought:
She doesn't even glance at my official robes… To her, a seventh-rank county magistrate is nothing. A thousand-year old clan's madam must've met nobles like counting beans.
His heart tightened.
Hold the aura. If I show weakness, negotiations fail.
The two sat facing each other from a polite distance, both maintaining stiff, formidable presences.
Shansier stepped in smoothly:
"This is our master's First Madam. And this is the newly appointed county magistrate of Chengcheng—Lord Liang Shixian."
Gao Yiye dared not speak. She gave a tiny nod. "Mm."
Liang Shixian thought:
What a posture… Just an 'mm' and I'm dismissed.
Shansier continued, "Lord Magistrate, may I ask your purpose in coming?"
Liang Shixian skipped all pleasantries and spoke directly:
"When I arrived in Chengcheng, I learned the county had just suffered bandit attacks. Inspector Cheng Xu fought bravely and slew the bandit leader Wang Er, restoring peace. But after the battle, Chengcheng lies in ruin. Disaster victims fill every road… I saw empty homes, starving people—my heart… my heart truly…"
His voice cracked. Tears glimmered at the corner of his eye.
Dao Xuan Tianzun, watching through a magnified camera view on his phone, narrowed his eyes.
Is this man a corrupt official who acts well… or a good man who truly grieves for the people? Hard to tell yet.
Liang Shixian sighed, then shifted tone:
"This humble official had no choice but to visit. The county's tax silver remains unpaid. The granaries have been looted by Wang Er's bandits. Even a clever woman cannot cook without rice. If we are to save the people, we must seek aid from the wealthy families…"
At this, Shansier instantly understood:
Tax apportioning.
Tax apportioning had existed since forever—normally used to push the tax burden onto the poor so the rich paid less.
But this Liang Shixian was doing the opposite—trying to push the unpaid taxes of the poor onto the rich.
This was reverse-apportioning.
Wait.
No—this was restoring the natural order.
Shansier stood there, stunned.
Dao Xuan Tianzun outside the box also froze for a moment.
Neither expected an official who actually reversed the usual corruption playbook.
Liang Shixian saw Shansier's stunned face and wasn't surprised. He frequently startled people—precisely because he never stood on the same side as the corrupt officials.
He'd been sent to Shaanxi because he offended the eunuch faction at court. They hoped the emperor would let him die quietly in this political dead-end.
The eunuch faction wanted him dead.
But he refused to give up.
Liang Shixian lifted his hand, gesturing to the window.
"Madam, your Li family is wealthy beyond measure. You've built this grand fortress. Even your tenants are well-fed and rosy-cheeked. Heaven itself favors your land with rain. Since you are so blessed, it is right that you shoulder heavier responsibility. If the county's starving people must still pay taxes, they will surely revolt. Once rebels gather, they burn and kill without mercy. Many wealthy estates have already been destroyed."
His voice dropped into a cold warning:
"With your family's wealth, you are the prime target for any uprising. Do you truly fear nothing? Why not spend a little silver to calm the people? Consider it buying peace."
Honestly, what he said made sense.
Even Shansier felt the logic.
He himself had urged Zhang Yaocai not to pressure the people for taxes.
But just a moment ago… Dao Xuan Tianzun said—
Yiye turned her head slightly and shook it.
A signal.
Shansier snapped awake. The deity had spoken.
But he didn't understand. Dao Xuan Tianzun was always benevolent, always saving people, never refusing charity—yet this time… he refused?
Two reverse tactics in one day left Shansier's brain smoking.
His face stiffened. "Lord Liang, I'm afraid… this request is one our Li family cannot accept."
Liang Shixian was unfazed. Nobody gives money easily. He expected rejection.
He pressed on:
"If the people starve, they will rise. If they rise, they will burn your Li estate. If you won't help them survive, what protects your family? Think carefully. This is taking money to avert calamity."
Again… very reasonable.
Shansier wavered.
Then Dao Xuan Tianzun's voice descended again:
"Tell him this:
We will not pay taxes. Not a single copper shall fall into the hands of corrupt officials.
But we are willing to give grain—every grain must go directly into the mouths of the people.