Novels online

Chapter 670: Huaqing Palace is Rebuilt!

By late October, winter had already arrived.

Cold winter rain drifted from the sky.

And winter was precisely the best season for soaking in hot springs.

In a carriage, protected by a large retinue of guards, Gao Yiye slowly drove into Xi'an, heading straight for the back courtyard of the fertilizer shop.

The Heavenly Lord, carrying a birdcage, had been waiting for her for a long time.

A mischievous smile played on Gao Yiye's face. "Oh my, this Heavenly Lord statue isn't as finely crafted as the one at Xiaolangdi," she remarked.

Li Daoxuan chuckled. "This is the initial prototype, of course, it's not as refined as the updated version."

Gao Yiye laughed, gesturing playfully at his figure. "The build is the same, though! I even made a set of knight's robes for the prototype on the way here."

As she spoke, she leaned closer, helping Li Daoxuan undress and change into the new knight's robes. This new outfit was even more exquisite, resembling the young prince's attire worn by Michael Miu's Yang Kang during the martial arts contest for a spouse. Truly, it was stunningly handsome.

Li Daoxuan was quite pleased with the outfit himself, cheerfully admiring his reflection in the mirror. "Yiye, your tailoring skills are truly excellent."

Just as they spoke, the shop suddenly grew noisy. A crowd of wealthy merchants had gathered at the entrance of the fertilizer shop, all talking at once.

Gao Yiye asked, "Oh? What's happening outside?"

Li Daoxuan laughed. "Today is the grand opening of our hot spring resort! I've kept it a secret from them, never announcing its location. They've grown impatient and want to follow us there today, eager to check in on the very first day of business."

Gao Yiye chuckled. "Haha, then I've arrived at just the right time! I can go enjoy the hot springs!"

"Mhm, let's go."

Li Daoxuan, still carrying the birdcage, took his "wife's" hand. The two walked out of the fertilizer shop side-by-side. The street outside was packed with merchants and officials, a dense crowd filling the entire thoroughfare.

However, the Prince of Qin's heir, Zhu Cunji, was conspicuously absent from the immediate throng. As the esteemed heir to the realm's foremost princely domain, he found it beneath his dignity to jostle with merchants and minor officials. Thus, his carriage waited on a different street.

He was certainly going, but he wouldn't push his way through the crowd.

This was his "class separation" from the ordinary wealthy class.

"Li Yuanwai, please lead the way!"

"My whole family, wife, children, and elders, are all here. We're all eager to see the resort together!"

"Heh, I'm planning to write some fine poems this time."

Li Daoxuan and his "wife" boarded their carriage.

His carriage was specially made, far sturdier than ordinary ones, with rubber-wrapped wheels and pulled by eight large horses. This elaborate setup wasn't for show; it was because he was simply too heavy. Without such reinforcement, a regular carriage would likely break under his weight.

However, to others, such an arrangement undoubtedly appeared as a grand display.

The merchants and minor officials privately thought: "This Li Yuanwai's carriage setup is far too ostentatious, perhaps even exceeding his station? Ah well, it's none of our business."

A vast procession of carriages, accompanied by the servants and retainers of various dignitaries, formed a truly immense and astonishing train.

Leaving Xi'an, they traveled dozens of miles to the east.

Li Daoxuan hadn't told them where the hot springs were. The dignitaries, possessing good self-control, didn't ask, simply following along.

As they continued, Wu Shen seemed to recognize something. "The path we're on," he mused, "isn't far from the Huaqing Palace ruins, is it? We even came here for a spring outing this year."

Shi Kefa suddenly recalled, "Yes, yes, the Huaqing Palace ruins! When we came this spring, it was nothing but broken walls and overgrown weeds, truly a mournful sight. Thinking of the prosperous Han and Tang dynasties compared to the present desolation, this humble official can't help but feel a deep sadness..."

The two were immersed in their melancholic reflections.

Deliberately lingering at the back, never joining the main throng, Zhu Cunji was speaking with his consort in his grand carriage. "It looks like we're nearing the location of Huaqing Palace," he remarked. "This hot spring resort Li Yuanwai mentioned, it couldn't possibly be Huaqing Palace, could it? It's a complete ruin; how could anything be built there?"

His consort whispered, "Could he be playing a trick on us? All these people traveling dozens of miles, only to end up as a huge joke."

Zhu Cunji frowned. "While this Li Yuanwai might lack a certain refinement, he is a man of substance and wouldn't play such a prank. Still, bringing us here feels peculiar. If we pass the Huaqing Palace ruins and he still doesn't reveal our destination, we shouldn't follow any further. It wouldn't be safe to go too far."

Just as he finished speaking, the merchants at the very front began to shout loudly, "Wow! Wow! Huaqing Palace! Huaqing Palace has been rebuilt!"

Zhu Cunji exclaimed, "What?!"

Wu Shen and Shi Kefa, who were ahead, also froze, startled. "What?"

Everyone quickly rushed forward a short distance, rounded a patch of woods, and found their view opening up. Looking ahead, they saw a magnificent complex of buildings in the distance, with black tiles and red pillars, intricately carved railings, and elaborate eaves, exuding exquisite beauty.

Wu Shen and Shi Kefa were instantly dumbfounded. "This spring... this spring it was still barren land!"

Zhu Cunji also pulled back his carriage curtain, staring blankly from a distance, an embarrassing sound escaping his lips. "The Huaqing Palace ruins... they've become this beautiful?"

His own Qinwang Mansion was quite beautiful, but he lived there every day and had grown tired of it. Now, seeing a splendid new palace rise before his eyes, he might not have fully understood its grandeur, but he felt profoundly moved.

Zhu Cunji immediately mounted his horse, galloped forward, and rode to the very front of the procession, drawing level with Li Daoxuan's carriage. As they moved, he asked, "Li Yuanwai, isn't your resort built just a little bit... beyond your station?"

"Not at all," Li Daoxuan chuckled. "While it may outwardly resemble a palace, in truth, it's merely an inn—just a particularly beautiful one. There's absolutely nothing like imperial yellow robes inside, no dragons or phoenixes, nothing of the sort. Absolutely not."

Hearing him, Zhu Cunji finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He had genuinely feared there might be something inappropriate within. For commoners, it might not matter, but as a prince, he had to be extremely careful. If he were to accidentally sit on a bed resembling an imperial dragon bed, or wear imperial yellow clothing adorned with dragons... the Embroidered Uniform Guard might arrive to arrest him the very next day.

The group arrived at the resort entrance. Several neatly dressed attendants stood by, promptly taking Zhu Cunji's horse, then guided Li Daoxuan, Zhu Cunji, and their retinues inside.

From the outside, it had already appeared exceptionally luxurious, but stepping inside, the sense of awe was truly remarkable.

Throughout the resort, there were buildings resembling ancient palaces: a palace here, a tower there, pavilions in front, gardens behind. Covered bridges wound through misty rain, creating a scene as beautiful as a painting.