Chapter 145 Part 1

For a moment, Pei Xiaoyuan held his breath.

After leaving the pavilion door, Lan Tai lagged behind her by half a step and walked naturally beside her.

The two of them walked slowly under the covered corridor, heading outside while continuing their conversation, which reached Pei Xiaoyuan’s ears. At first, the topic was also related to the upcoming Captive Offering Ceremony.

With the end of the war, the Captive Offering Ceremony had become the most discussed issue inside and outside the court. Not only the palace, but also the people in the streets were excited and proud. They also regard the upcoming Captive Offering Ceremony as a continuation of the emperor’s longevity celebration that was suspended a year ago. The painting of Celestial Being and The Capital that was rumored to have been restored in the Chongtian Hall had once again become the focus of attention after a year.

This mural, originally created by Ye Zhongli, was destined to become a symbol of flourishing prosperity and grandeur of the Holy Dynasty from the day it was revealed. A single upheaval had shattered it like jade and pearls scattered into dust—countless glories destroyed in the fires of war. Though it had finally been restored to its original form and was about to be revealed to the world once more, it was again disrupted by a palace coup and border war. At last, today, the clouds had cleared, the mists dispersed, and it once again awaited the moment to show its true face. Like a peerless beauty whose fate had been plagued by misfortune—how could one not be moved to sigh in admiration and sorrow?

The only regret was that such a beauty could only be hidden within the emperor’s palace. Those fortunate enough to glimpse her face were no more than nobles, princes, and court officials. As for the vast multitudes of common people in this world, they could only gaze up at the towering palace walls, longing from afar for a legendary masterpiece that were beyond their reach.

On the day of the Captive Offering Ceremony, the emperor would host a grand banquet in the Chongtian Hall for all officials, vassal lords, and foreign envoys, bestowing honors upon meritorious officials. Even famed scholars from all over the world would have the opportunity to enter the palace and witness this moment of glory.

Lan Tai said that there was an illiterate but wealthy man who was obsessed with Ye-style paintings in the city. Although the paintings were no longer made by Ye Zhongli, it did nothing to dampen his burning desire. In order to see them with his own eyes, he spent a lot of money and bribed a large number of Chang’an scholars to spread his name. In just under a month, he had actually succeeded in slipping into the ranks of the “noted scholars,” and his name was even added to the list of invitees. It was at the last stage that he was discovered by an official from the Ministry of Rites, who removed him from the list and threw him into the Chang’an County Jail to serve as a warning to others.

“Now everyone is laughing at that person, a layman pretending to be elegant. To think he actually dared to dream of entering such a place.

“Princess, do you think this is absurd and ridiculous?” Lan Tai told the joke to the princess and laughed.

After hearing this, she gave a faint smile and said, “The action was indeed crude, but the original intent is not exactly a grave offense. Let the Chang’an magistrate give him a stern lecture and release him. There’s no need for excessive punishment.”

Lan Tai quickly agreed, and said sincerely: “The Princess is truly kind-hearted. It’s a great blessing for that person.”

She smiled again.

“Lord Ye once said that there are two kinds of paintings. One for personal delight, to express one’s aspirations—a kind meant only for close friends to see. The rest are painted for the eyes of others. His own paintings were no exception. Their value lies in being seen and appreciated by the world, that was the very heart of his intent when he painted. There are high and low quality paintings, but the viewers are not divided into high and low. For example, there is a mountain in front of you. Some people admire its majesty, while another might glimpse in it the path of reverence. But can we say the mountain favors one over the other? Or that the joy of the first is surely lesser than that of the second? If a painting is created only to be hidden away, locked in golden chambers and jade boxes, then no matter how beautiful it is, it becomes a bleak and joyless thing—something he would never have approved of.”

She recalled the casual conversation her grandfather once had with her on the road. The corners of her lips curled up slightly and her beautiful, crystal-clear eyes turned towards Lan Tai, who had slowly stopped in the corridor and was listening attentively.

“The painting that Lord Ye spent so much effort on was used to decorate the palace, which was probably against his wishes. The prosperity of Chang’an and the glory of the holy dynasty are all related to the people. But the people of the world have no chance to see this painting. Even if it had not been destroyed in the war, it would have been a great regret for him.

“Now this painting, is it not the same? I actually have an idea. When the time is right, I will ask His Majesty for permission to allow the common people to visit. But unfortunately, even if this matter can be realized, the number of people who can see it will probably be only one or two out of ten thousand.”

As she spoke, she also smiled and shook her head.

Lan Tai stared at her quietly and said slowly: “Princess, you are willing to understand the people’s feelings and share happiness with them. As long as you have this heart, it will be a blessing for the people of the world. On their behalf, I would like to thank the Princess.”

After he finished speaking, he bowed respectfully.

She asked him to stand up and said with a smile, “You have worked hard these days. Now that you have finished your work today, you should leave the palace early and have a rest. I won’t see you off.”

After she finished speaking, she continued to walk forward until she reached the end of the corridor, where Yang Zai’en and her attendants were waiting to accompany her back to her palace.

Lan Tai looked at her back, and suddenly, as if remembering something, he caught up with her again and called out, “Princess, please stay!”

She stopped and turned around.

It turned out that Lan Tai was asking regarding the consecration of the Zhenguo Bell Tower scheduled for tomorrow.

The Zhenguo Bell Tower stood beside Kaiyuan Gate, known as the foremost western gate of Chang’an. It was built during the founding of the dynasty and the construction of the capital, upon the advice of a famed diviner—said to possess the power to comprehend the will of Heaven. The tower rose to nine stories high, spanning a circumference of one hundred zhang, taller even than the city walls. Its base level was called the Heavenly Dome Hall, a name that alone hinted at its palace-like construction. On the top of the ninth floor, hung a colossal bronze bell weighing thousands of pounds. When struck, its sound could stir the entire city. At the time of its construction, it was the height of grandeur and magnificence. Standing beneath it, one would feel as small and insignificant as a speck of dust.

For all those entering Chang’an through Kaiyuan Gate, before even setting foot in the city, the very first structure to meet their eyes from afar was this tower.

The name Zhenguo (Guarding the nation) was a reference to the Yong’an Hall in the palace, symbolizing the hope for the country’s stability and everlasting peace, for the protection of the realm and the well-being of the people. Since the founding of the dynasty, though the land had endured several earthquakes, the tower had never once been damaged. Each night, when the lamps within the tower were lit, it shone resplendently, its brilliance reaching all four gates. Linked to the Yong’an Canal, the area surrounding the tower formed pools of gathered water, lined with willows. Nearby stood the bustling West Market and countless temples and Daoist sanctuaries, all richly adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, walls adorned with murals. In spring and summer especially, the scenery was breathtaking—so much so that Zhenguo Tower gradually became one of Chang’an’ favorite spots for the people to enjoy seasonal outings.

However, like the Yong’an Hall, this magnificent tower—along with all the prosperity and glory it had come to represent—was also destroyed during the upheaval at the end of the Jingsheng’s reign.

When the emperor returned to power, the century-old building was burned down by the rebels, leaving only half of its remains, charred black. It was said that the huge bell was also taken away by the rebels to be melted down and made into weapons. Over the years, the emperor no longer wanted to repair it, and the surrounding area gradually fell into disrepair.

Just last year, when the border war was at its height, the people—fervent in their prayers for the country—eagerly hoped for the tower’s restoration. They began donating of their own accord. The County Magistrate of Chang’an, carrying this public sentiment, submitted a memorial to the court, which responded with approval and allocated funds in support. Though the project was overseen by the magistrate, Lan Tai was also involved.

“The main structure of the tower is now complete, and the new bell has been hoisted to the top. Tomorrow is an auspicious day according to the almanac, and a ceremony will be held—a consecration ritual led by esteemed monks. I believe the Princess is already aware of this; I had submitted a memorial some time ago.”

Lan Tai stepped forward and continued, “Just a few days ago, the magistrate came to me, hoping the Princess might grace the occasion with your presence and join in the celebration. But with matters piling up these past few days, I… shamefully forgot to relay the message!”

After he finished speaking, seeing that she did not agree immediately, he explained further.

It turned out that although the tower had been repaired and painted, the murals in the Heavenly Dome Hall had not yet started.

According to the old tradition, the interior walls of the tower were to be adorned with paintings of the wise kings from the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors—Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang—meant to serve as moral instruction for the people, but unexpectedly many problems occurred. First, the scaffolding became unstable, and the lead painter, Zhou He, fell from it within a few days of starting the work. He injured his arm and could not continue, forcing the replacement with another court painter. Yet scarcely two days after the new painter arrived, there was a sudden fire within the tower. Though it was discovered in time and quickly extinguished, it caused considerable alarm.

The Magistrate of Chang’an suspected that ordinary men were not capable of subduing the tower’s imperial aura. With the day of the triumphant return and the captive offering ceremony fast approaching, he was eager to see the project completed—so that all who passed through the Kaifeng Gate might witness the renewed majesty of the Zhenguo Tower. Thus, in haste, he selected an auspicious day to perform a rite of spiritual consecration.

Moreover, although he had also invited an eminent monk, he still hoped that the princess would come tomorrow to reassure the people.

After hearing this reason, she seemed to laugh involuntarily, but after pondering for a moment, she nodded and agreed: “Alright, it happens that I’m not busy tomorrow, I’ll go.”

Although he tried his best to suppress it, Lan Tai still showed a hint of joy in his eyes. He bowed and said, “I will escort the Princess tomorrow.”

She smiled and nodded, then without stopping, she went down the corridor, accompanied by her entourage, and gradually walked away. The hem of her green magnolia skirt swayed away from sight and disappeared completely.

The next day, in order to avoid alarming the people too much, the princess left the palace and went through the north city wall, exiting from the nearest city gate to the Kaiyuan Gate.

Lan Tai led a team of guards and waited there early. The princess soon arrived at the Zhenguo Tower in her carriage. Upon her arrival, the Magistrate of Chang’an and his entourage, who had been waiting outside, stepped forward to greet her and escorted her inside. The presiding master of ceremonies also brought his disciples to pay their respects. She returned the courtesy and then took her seat—a couch arranged in the second-floor gallery of the Heavenly Dome Hall. In front of the gallery railing, there were no other barriers save for a semi-transparent purple gauze curtain that had been drawn before her seat, symbolically setting her apart from those below. The master climbed onto the open-air podium in the center of the square in front of the tower and began the ritual sermon, facing both the princess behind the violet veil within the tower and the assembled faithful who had gathered in the square.

Although her trip was extremely low-key, word of her presence still spread like wildfire.

The reconstruction of the Zhenguo Tower was closely related to the petition of the common people, and as such, even before the princess’s arrival, over a thousand citizens had already gathered to take part in the consecration ceremony. The square outside the tower was packed with those eager to receive the master’s blessings. When news spread that the princess herself had arrived, the crowd was overwhelmed with joy and knelt in welcome. The word quickly spread farther—soon, not only did ordinary locals from nearby neighborhoods rush over, but even many merchants from the West Market closed their shops to join in the ceremony.

When the princess was young, she lived among the common people. After returning to the court and helping the emperor govern the country, she listened to the people’s opinions, and understood the people’s feelings. Thus, the people all loved and respected her. It was also rumored that the princess was stunningly beautiful. Those who had seen her before wanted to take a closer look, and those who had not seen her wanted to see her true face even more.

The ritual was not even halfway through when the Kaiyuan Gate area was already crowded with people, especially the area near the Zhenguo Tower. If Lan Tai had not been prepared and informed the Jinwu Guards in advance, and had dispatched many guards to guard the intersections and maintain order, afraid even the nearby trees would have been climbed by curious people.

Pei Xiaoyuan blended into a quiet corner of the square before the Zhenguo Tower. Through the crowd of people in front of him, he stared at the figure sitting behind the purple gauze curtain in the gallery on the second floor of Zhenguo Tower. The figure was hazy, as if shrouded in a layer of lavender clouds. When the breeze stirred the gauze, it drifted gently like incense smoke, mingling with the scent of sandalwood. Sunlight filtered through the space between the gallery’s pillars, falling across her temples and the formal palace attire she wore. Though she sat perfectly still, her figure shimmered faintly with flickering golden light.

She looked like a goddess, untouchable and unattainable, only worthy of being admired by all being in the world.

He was now just one of those beings.

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