Heading to Li Palace

Heading to Li Palace

Luo Luo had the bloodline of the White Emperor and its characteristic trait of ample zhenyuan.  Having instructed her at the National Precept Academy for the past few months, she reached the upper stage of the zuozhao realm.  If the yao race’s advancement is similar to that of a human’s, then she is probably also on the verge of entering a perilous stage of her cultivation.

Thinking up this point, Chen Chang Sheng began having feelings of regret and trepidation; if something were to happen to Luo Luo, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.  He now had a deeper understanding of entering the tungyou realm, and more importantly, he also had medicine.

Having thought of this, he immediately got up and raced towards the small wooden lodging at the front entrance and asked Jin Yu Lu, “When will Luo Luo… Her Highness get to leave Li Palace and go outside?”.

Jin Yu Lu, who was in the midst of drinking, found Chang Sheng’s actions to be rather puzzling. He lightly squinted his eyes while passing ginkgo seeds to his mouth and asked, “What’s wrong?”.

Chen Chang Sheng saw Yu Lu’s expression and thought to himself that it must be troublesome to arrange matters and said, “I have something I need to tell her, therefore I need to see her… if it’s not possible, then could I trouble Your Grace to help me pass on a letter?”.

Jin Yu Lu threw the seeds into his mouth, and while chewing, he answered in a murmuring and muddled voice, “That’s all?”.

Chen Chang Sheng was slightly confused, what did he mean by “that’s all”?

“If you want to see her, then just go, there’s no need for me to pass on a letter.”

Jin Yu Lu raised his wine cup and drank it in a single gulp and subsequently began clicking his tongue at the burning sensation.

Chen Chang Sheng became even more confused, staring blankly and questioning, “I’m... allowed to see her?”.

“Her Highness is at Li Palace and therefore she cannot leave, this is for her own personal safety, but you are Her Highness’ tutor and therefore not a threat.  If you want to see her, then go to Li Palace, who would stop you?”

“Your Grace, why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“You never seem to leave the grounds of this National Precept Academy, so I presumed you wished to concentrate on your own cultivation.”

“Your Grace…”

“What is it?”

“I… thank you…”

“I’m not feeling any sense of gratitude.”
…..
…..

It was already late and therefore unsuitable for travelling to the Li Palace, thus, the next morning, in the early hours, scant before the fifth hour, Chen Chang Sheng took a break from his usual routine and woke up early.  He subsequently roused Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po from their respective slumber and used rousing scents on Jin Yu Lu, who was still feeling the aftereffects of his drinking.

Metallic wheels, rolling upon the azure stones, sending out a clackety racket as a horse-drawn carriage rolled by, its passengers: two humans and two yao, headed towards Li Palace.

Li Palace was the residence of the Pope and the heart of National Precept, it had also long been held as an equal to the Imperial Palace.  Situated in the western sector, it covered a vast expanse that was visible from even a distance of over 10 li; from Neo-North Bridge, you could still make its countenance.

In the year 1573 of the Radiant Calendar, the National Precept was founded, 800 years had already passed.
Yet, from the time the Heavenly Scriptures descended, and the door to the Radiant Path first opened to the continent, its history could be considered over 10,000 years in length.
The Li Palace, as a monument to the National Precept, was naturally sublime.

The palace complex occupied an expanse that was seemingly endless, with a divine avenue that was wide enough to accommodate the passage of eight carriages running side-by-side.  The main palace where the Pope resided was situated in the deepest region, with an expansive white stone clearing before it, littered with dozens of lesser buildings and structures that collectively formed the wider complex.

The Li Palace sub-Academy was also situated within this palace complex, but it was structured slightly differently from what people would normally expect.  Though it was a member of the six Ivy League academies, 13 Jade Departments and Ancestral Temple, it was also comfortably integrated with the palace, akin to both being one and the same, with the palace aptly being referred to as 'Academy city' by some.

A noted attraction of the capital, the ‘Li Palace Ivy’, was partially referring to the three academies linked through a single wall that was bounded in seemingly endless vines.  Though the main attraction referred to the greenery surrounding the main palace of the Pope.

Chen Chang Sheng and the others left the National Precept Academy before the skies had even begun to brighten.  By the time they reached Li Palace, it was half past five, which was the time for morning meals, Jin Yu Lu marvelled at the youth’s scheduling of time and couldn’t stop himself shaking his head while smiling in bemusement.

At the outermost perimeter of Li Palace, there were countless stone pillars of a height beyond 30 odd metres, with a width that would require several men to completely encircle. Each pillar was distanced hundreds of metres from each other and upon a cursory glance from afar, seemingly ordinary, yet from a close distance, the uniformity of the pillars gave a sense of indescribable grandeur.

Upon getting closer to the pillars, Xuan Yuan Po discovered that the pillars did not contain a single seam or joint, and became mildly slack-jawed with awe; each pillar was carved in whole from a single piece of rock.  From where did the crafters of these pillars find such large, flawless rock in the quantities needed, and how did they manage to transport said rocks to the capital?

With the morning wind flowing across, and rays of sunshine streaming from above; the stone pillars with nothing in between them; above the pillars was nothing except the empty skies, akin to nothing being able to obstruct their reach to the heavens above.  Occasionally a stray bird would flutter across, yet this could do nothing to detract from the calm scene before them.

Yet, these pillars were the entrance to Li Palace.

If someone were to enter the palace grounds without permission, or after the grounds were closed, they would activate the wards that are in place, though what kind of wards were placed, is a mystery to all, since for countless years, no one has dared to trespass Li Palace, with the last time the wards were triggered being too distant for memory.