Book 31 - Chapter 1 – Tang Emperor Li Yuan (1/2)
Chapter 1 – Tang Ee at the Dong Da Si was covered with Iuards, all were carefully selected, everyone had the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear; tall, straight, bulky, and dauntless Their co Mu Guan Xiaoran knew hi his na the sword hanging on his waist, and then under wang Mu’s escort, he stepped over the threshold and climbed into the hall
On the north side of the hall, there was a ros; outside the as the garden where the snoas still swirling in the sky Leaning against the as a row of more than a dozen imperial tutor chairs, separated by s in therosy-colored plain clothes, his skin hite as snow, his countenance was delicate and handsolance Xu Ziling recognized hi Nation’s Revered Nine Five [ie the most revered position of the Emperor (Courtesy of kofvscapcom and Akolaw)], the Li Clan’s supreme leader Li Yuan Not only because of the position he was sitting in, but overnment official’s attire; so in contrast, his casual clothes actually gave prominence to his revered position
Li Yuan’s handsome expression appeared to be a little tired, but under his thick eyebrows, his eyes were still bright, clear, and es like particular longing and pursuit of the future expression Even though he was sitting in the chair, his waist was still straight and firnificent build appeared to have eventhe teacup were fine, slender, and steady His entire body emitted out-of-the-ordinary stalwart power As the master of a clan, certainly his spirit was out of the ordinary
Intuitively Xu Ziling sensed that he did not like to show off his e down and koing, while saying, “Xiao”
Out of the four cabinet ht, other than Feng Deyi, Xu Ziling recognized another man, which was Pei Ji In the past, when they stole the account book froshi+p and delivered it to Li shi+min, the two boys had the predestined affinity to share adeclined Li shi+ainst hi over the world [see Book 4 Chapter 1]
With poised bearing, Li Yuan put down his teacup and spoke indifferently, “You may rise for Zhen [I, used by an ejunMu and two Iuards retreated outside the hall
Xu Ziling slowly rose He stood up with both hands hanging by his side; his expression was deferential
Li Yuan’s eyes, e his head, he said, “This isn’t the I at your bearing and movements, I know that your body and bosoe, not at all an ordinary[a term used by the e, is there any specific cherished desire?”
Swept by his acute gaze, Xu Ziling’s body instantly generated reaction; only then did he realize that this master of a clan’s martial art skill was really unfathomably deep; no wonder he was able to raise sons like Li shi+min, Li Yuanji, and so on He respectfully replied, “Mo Wei only wishes to be able to do well asinstructed, in order to repay his kindness of recognizing s I do not have any extravagant desire”
He has been watching Pei Ji’s reaction; as long as he could not see through his real identity, he could be considered passing the first Chang’an’s hurdle
Expressing his overbearing quality as the Clan Master, Li Yuan tossed his head back and let out a long laughter “Very well!” he said, “Zhen isQing, you have witnessed Wu’s [also ‘I/er-battle Please tell Zhen everything, do not leave out any detail”
Inwardly Xu Ziling breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Li Yuan did not suspect hi to plan
The Great Tang’s Imperial Palace constituted two sections, the Imperial City and the Palace City The forovernencies, the latter here the royal faovern the county and live their everyday life
In betas a public-square-styled big street, which width reachedacross east to west All the change of e i prisoners, and so on, were held here; hence it was also called ‘the outer imperial court’
The Iates, located on the north-south central axis
Exactly due south at a distance fro De [lit highest virtue] Gate, which was connected to the Ver’an, the Verate of the Palace City was the Cheng Tian [lit carrying the heaven] Gate The section of street connecting Cheng Tian Gate and Vermillion Bird Gate was called the Heavenly Street
Black Tortoise [lit Xuan Wu, see also footnote Book 30 Chapter 11] Gate was the ate was the Palace City’s rear courtyard, the ‘West Inner Park’
The Verates formed the principal axis of the Imperial City and the Palace City, which were fortified by strong defensive structure and strict security guards
Furthermore, the Xuan Wu Gate was the location of Iuards headquarters; it had robust ain control over the Xuan Wu Gate would be akin to gaining control over the Imperial Palace, even the entire capital
The Palace City was consisted of three sections In the [2] Palace, and on the east was the East Palace
Taiji Palace here the Tang E The East Palace was the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng’s dwelling place The western Yeting Palace was Li shi+min’s home Li Yuanji’s Wu De Dian [lit martial virtue palace hall] was located inside the ‘West Inner Park’ north of the East Palace
Inside the Taiji Palace, there were a total of sixteen main halls; the yi [heaven and earth/yin and yang] Hall, Gan Lu [sweet nectar] Hall, and Yan Jia [extended praise] Hall, all were built on the central axis between Cheng Tian Gate and Xuan Wu Gate
Taiji Hall was also known as ‘Zhong Chao’ [ within the Great Tang Palace Each month, on the first two day of the overn Yi Hall, acting as the ‘Nei Chao’ [inner royal court] Only a small nu with strategic decision – were entitled to enter and participate in the national politics and major affairs, which in many cases were discussed in here first Only after the decision has beenChao’ and discussed by who, the Divine Doctor, along with Chang He and Feng Liben, entered the Iate of the south side of the Imperial City
On both sides of the street, official institutions stood in great nu Si [overn [lit provincial governht there were Tai Miao [grand ancestral shrine], Shaofu Jian [Minor Treasurer Supervisor], Du Shui Jian [lit capital water-work supervisor], Dong Gong Pu Si [lit east palace servant office], and so on
He paid special attention to the Du Shui Jian, sie of all the ay traffic in Chang’an, hence it had very ie
Although he had not even seen the Yue Ma Bridge’s shadow, he already had firm believe that the entrance to the buried treasure was e, otherwise the treasure would have been discovered early on
When entering the public-square side street dividing the I spectacular scenes, he was still in awe of the grandeur of this long street in public-square style dividing north and south, and passing through east to west – that he gasped in a above the Cheng Tian Gate He could i any celebration outside the imperial court, the Emperor and his nobles would ascent onto the upper level of the Cheng Tian Gate to preside over the asse
He thought, ‘One day, the person ascending the upper level to preside over the celebration will be , and not Li Yuan or any person from the Li Family’
The three dishtness] Gate outside the East Palace, and stepped into the East Palace The East Palace guards were in forht
Passing through the Zhong Ming Gate, they reached the Xian De [proate was theJiao [lofty teaching], Li Zheng [beauty upright], Guang Tian [light of the sky], Cheng En [continuing grace], and so on, palaces On both sides there were Yichun Yuan [proper spring courtyard], Chong Wen Guan [lofty culture (office) building], Jixian Guan [a and pavilions
Xian De Hall here the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng received the civil and military officials, as well as supervisors of the country and govern received Sha Tiannan, father and sons, at the Yichun Courtyard