Lin Feilu looked left and right in the mirror, feeling very satisfied. After she was done dressing up, she said excitedly, “Take me out for a stroll.”
It was said that the Song Empire’s imperial palace was full of the magnificence and beauty that the world had to offer. Simply put, it was like a paradise on earth, so she had longed to see it.
Tingchun and Shixia bowed in response, accompanying her out of the Yong An Palace and introducing her to the various other palaces.
She was also considered to have grown up in a palace of her own, so her vision and the knowledge she had weren’t low by any means. Still, after seeing the palace of the Song Empire herself, she understood why the previous Emperor indulged not in political affairs but in pleasure.
It really complied with Du Mu’s phrase ‘five steps to the first floor, ten steps to the pavilion; reaching an unadorned corridor, the birds perched on the high eaves of the mansion'(1). Looking around, the flowers were clustered like clouds, the tiles were made of jade and the walls were inlaid with gold. The entire place seemed to be fit for a celestial being, almost as if there were too many underlying sights that the human eye couldn’t see.
(T/N: Du Mu is a very famous poet, revered for his ability to write captivating poetry. This line in particular comes from one of his poems where he described the naturally picturesque scenery around him from the balcony of a building. On a side note, I’m pretty proud that I managed to make the English one rhyme)
Was Song Jinglan still human?
Living in such a beautiful palace, how can you not indulge in pleasure and only concentrate on political affairs?!
His restraint is really admirable!
She lingered and listened to Shixia’s introduction, “The Princess’s Yong An Palace and His Majesty’s Lin An Palace are closest to each other as the two are divided only by this road. The Yong An Palace and the Lin An Palace are located in the main palace, whereas most of the other palaces are empty now. “
Lin Feilu thought for a while and asked, “Where’s the Empress Dowager?”
She had never heard Song Jinglan mention his mother, but she must be an extraordinary person to be able to remain seated unchallenged in the position of the Empress Dowager. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been a big problem since ancient times, so she had to understand his mother’s situation to develop suitable future strategies.
When Shixia heard her question, she replied respectfully, “The Empress Dowager lives in the Chonghua Palace, which does not belong to the area of the main palace,” She lowered her voice and continued, “The beauties in the palace also live near the Chonghua Palace. Usually, no one from there is allowed to step even a single foot into the main palace, so the Princess remains the only one thus far.”
Lin Feilu nodded thoughtfully, “Since we’re all here, let’s go to the Lin An Palace to have a look.”
Tingchun and Shixia’s expressions suddenly became terrified as they hurriedly said, “Princess, no! The Lin An Palace is the place where His Majesty usually resides and rests. If you are not summoned, you must not go there!”
Shixia said with a lingering trace of fear on her face, “Your Highness, there is something that you do not know. A few years ago, a Concubine took her initiative and went to the Lin An Palace to see His Majesty with some snacks she made herself. Before she even entered the Palace, she was dragged away and imprisoned in the Internal Criminal Division. In a few days, that Concubine had…”
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