Though the underworld has its own rules, they are not like those of the human world.
Whether king or commoner, noble or servant, or even livestock, one becomes an independent soul upon entering the underworld after death. They are not bound to anyone, despite any lingering ties to the world of the living, for here, it is considered a new beginning.
The rules of the underworld appear to favor kings and nobility, for these souls receive plenty of incense and offerings after death. However, they also bear greater burdens.
Why did those who died around the same time as him disappear as soon as they entered the underworld?
Because their sins were heavy, and they were dragged straight into Hell for punishment.
Zhao Changyu stood out for his public spirit; in this life, he was worthy of heaven and earth and the people. Otherwise, like his colleagues, he would have gone straight for a three-year tour of Hell, unaffected by whatever offerings were burned for him on earth.
