Huang Duzhe nodded. "Of course! People came here to risk their lives, not throw them away. Even though they're Cultivators and won't be poisoned by the local grain and meat right away, no one can handle eating it long-term. If they didn't ship in food from outside, they really couldn't survive."
Zhao Ci was a little surprised. "You seem to know this area pretty well."
"Heh!"
Huang Duzhe smiled. "To be honest with you, Your Highness, when my father was still alive, he was a junior official here. I grew up with him in Qingyang County. Otherwise, how could a commoner like me ever get into the palace guards?"
"Oh..."
Zhao Ci nodded thoughtfully. The palace guards were mostly from major clans. Even if they weren't from the seven great Merit Clans, they were still rich or noble.
After all, serving before the Emperor was equivalent to a promotion in official rank.
A dog in the palace is more valuable than a wolf in the mountains. It's the same principle.
