Chapter 00177: Royal Separate Garden
# Royal Separate Garden
Chapter 177
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 177: Royal Separate Garden
Even the corners that seemed unknown to others appeared to escape his observation.
The corner behind the cabinet had already grown mold and sprouted a bit of moss.
A spider under the bed was busy reinforcing its web, which already had two victims caught in it.
In just a few breaths, he had thoroughly explored his guest room.
Clearly, there were several excellent inns and guest rooms in Shihuan City, yet in the unseen dark corners, it was so... unclean.
Hmm, there were also two copper coins lying in the cracks of the floor.
As a beginner, he still felt quite at ease, so he attempted to extend his divine sense once more, wanting to explore the world outside the room.
The wall on this side of the door was thick, and his divine sense could not penetrate it, so he redirected to the window.
His mind suddenly cleared, as if breaking free from some shackles, the scene in the room became vivid, even clearer than before.
He Lingchuan was overjoyed; he had actually reached the "Entering Trance" state with just a thought, which meant his divine sense had jumped out of the constraints of his body and expanded widely.
He "saw" the Medicine Ape squatting beside the enlarging Alchemy Furnace, performing hand seals to refine pills; Mao Tao was tidying up things in the courtyard when he suddenly discovered a metallic gleam in the tree roots and hurriedly dug it out with a dagger.
It turned out to be a small piece of scattered silver, and Mao Tao smiled widely, taking a bite out of it.
At that moment, He Yue walked in, looking around: "Where's my brother?"
Mao Tao answered on his behalf: "The eldest is practicing; he doesn't want to be disturbed."
"Can you urge him a bit? We need to set off soon," He Yue said before walking outside, basking in the sunlight.
He Lingchuan still wanted to follow, but as his divine sense expanded into the sunlit ground, he felt a sharp pain in his head, as if pricked by needles, and couldn't help but let out an "ah" sound.
The sound echoed in the guest room, and he automatically withdrew from his meditative state.
He Lingchuan held his head, the pain still lingering.
This was the consequence of being greedy and reckless.
A beginner's soul was still fragile; although the sun was only an hour from setting, the true fire contained within was not something he could bear.
A lonely soul exposed to sunlight would instantly turn to ashes; his living soul was slightly better, but he still had to be careful not to let joy turn to sorrow.
He Lingchuan shook his head.
Wasn't it said in the Meridian Opening Technique that the failure rate for the first "Opening of the Heavenly Eye" was as high as eighty percent? He had accomplished it easily and even attempted "Entering Trance," succeeding as well.
Doesn't this mean that his soul is much more resilient than others?
It seemed only natural, after all, he had a fragment of soul from two lifetimes.
He Lingchuan happily pushed the door open and walked outside.
Mao Tao hurriedly greeted him: "Eldest, you finally finished your practice; the sun is almost setting!"
"Tell the innkeeper to bring water; I want to take a bath."
Mao Tao responded and was about to walk out when He Lingchuan looked at the tree roots on the ground and suddenly said, "Cats and dogs love to urinate and mark their territory in such root gaps."
Mao Tao's face turned green instantly, bending over to spit for a long time.
Before he could straighten up, He Lingchuan kicked him in the calf: "Hurry and get me hot water!"
"Yes."
Mao Tao felt nauseous and confused, wondering why the eldest said such things for no reason; could it be that he had peeked at him through the door crack?
Thinking of this, a shiver ran down his spine.
At this moment, Madam Ying also sent someone with a set of brocade clothes for the eldest son to change into quickly.
He Lingchuan washed off his sweat and odor with hot water, re-tied his hair, and looked like a spirited young man again.
The washing banquet specially arranged by the Zhu family for Zhu Xiuer would be held after dark.
...
"Is the Luming Garden really on the mountain?" Madam Ying lifted the curtain of the carriage to look outside.
It was dark, and the mountain scenery was gone; only the dark outline of Bijiashan remained.
The family traveled by horse-drawn carriage along the winding mountain road, but it was not a narrow path; rather, it was a wide road that could accommodate three carriages side by side.
The snow had stopped in the afternoon, and the accumulated snow on the ground had been cleared, revealing the black stone-paved road beneath.
The carriage moved exceptionally smoothly, no less than in the city.
As night fell, large fire basins were set up on both sides of the road for lighting and guidance.
Madam Ying leaned out of the carriage window and saw that ahead, besides the blazing fire basins, there were many points of light moving along the mountain shape, forming a long line—various families and clans were invited to the Luming Garden, each carriage hanging a lantern.
Each point of light might represent the various nobles, clans, and wealthy families residing in Shihuan City.
Madam Ying tightened her rabbit fur cloak and exhaled a puff of white vapor: "How many families are going up the mountain tonight?"
Assistant Liu was also in the carriage, explaining the current situation to the He family.
He leaned out to take a look and then pulled back, laughing: "The royal relatives, national relatives, and wealthy families in the capital have many properties in Shihuan City. This is the secondary capital; the rules are fewer than in the capital, and the residences are close to the river, making it comfortable to live in. Plus, Lord Zhu specifically chose the Luming Garden for the banquet; I think half of the noble relatives in Shihuan City will come."
"Luming Garden?" Madam Ying asked curiously, "Is this place very special?"
"Of course it's special."
Assistant Liu pointed his thumb up the mountain, "This is one of the royal separate gardens."
The He family was somewhat surprised; He Yue couldn't help but ask: "Lord Zhu can actually hold a banquet in the royal separate garden?" And to so grandly showcase a family celebration, the emperor didn't punish him?
"Back in the day, the founding emperor surrounded Bijiashan, releasing deer, rabbits, pigs, and sheep here, along with a small number of wolf packs as a hunting ground. The buildings on the mountaintop were called Luming Garden."
Assistant Liu spoke incessantly, clearly well-versed in this story: "By the time of the late emperor, there were already three royal hunting grounds near the capital; the other two were closer to the palace and larger. The old man said there were too many hunting grounds that were not utilized, so why waste them? He simply opened the Luming Garden in Shihuan City to the public. As long as it was a dignified and high-ranking official, they could rent the Luming Garden for banquets, but the price is much higher than the large restaurants in the city."
He added: "However, there are imperial chefs stationed in the Luming Garden, and everything from utensils to regulations is of a high standard, so this place is extremely popular; at least half a month in advance is needed to book."
Expensive is good; even the emperor dines, sleeps, and hunts here, so the Luming Garden is naturally a symbol of high-end luxury, no wonder the powerful and wealthy flock to it.
Madam Ying sighed: "The late emperor is so down-to-earth?"
He Chunhua remained silent, but He Lingchuan snickered.
Madam Ying glared at him: "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, I just saw that the carriage ahead has its lantern extinguished, and the driver can't seem to light it."
He Lingchuan pointed ahead casually, only to realize that the carriage looked a bit shabby and small, resembling a rented civilian carriage, standing out from the others on the mountain road.
Which fallen noble family is this?
Madam Ying knew her eldest son was talking nonsense, but He Lingchuan grabbed some melon seeds from the table and started cracking them, smiling without speaking.
Only the youngest son kindly reminded her: "Mother, this indicates that the late emperor is practical. Since the flood disaster in Hongchuan sixteen years ago, the national treasury has often been in deficit. I heard that in recent years, the expenditures have exceeded the income, and the deficit is growing larger."
When it came to finances, Madam Ying blinked, understanding.
So it turns out the country is out of money, and the late emperor had to rent out the royal separate gardens.
"Don't underestimate the income from the Luming Garden."
Assistant Liu laughed, "I heard that just last year, it earned two hundred thousand taels of silver."
Madam Ying was moved: "It really is a golden goose!"
"The wealthy people in the capital are really overindulgent... cough, robust!" He Lingchuan asked Assistant Liu, "Whose carriage is ahead?"
Assistant Liu leaned out to take a look and shook his head: "There are no family emblems, and the lantern has no surname; the carriage is also rented from a carriage and horse shop, so it’s probably a minor official. Tonight's banquet is a gathering of celebrities, a good opportunity for the common people to cling to the powerful."
Bijiashan was not high, with an elevation of less than sixty zhang, and they quickly reached the end of this winding mountain road.
The He family dismounted, and directly opposite was the main building of the Luming Garden.
It went without saying, the grandeur was magnificent, brightly lit, and at this moment, it was bustling with distinguished guests.
As everyone turned around, another beautiful scene unfolded:
Down the mountain, thousands of lights were shining.
The Luming Garden was built on the giant Eagle Beak Rock near the mountaintop, from where one could basically overlook the entire Shihuan City.
As night fell, this bustling secondary capital had already lit up.
From the mountaintop, it looked as if stars had fallen to the earth, and jade towers descended upon the land.
The smell of smoke and fire wafted towards them.
Madam Ying exclaimed: "I feel like I can see pedestrians moving on the street. Oh, that building seems to be the inn where we are staying."
He Lingchuan exhaled, suddenly understanding why the nobles loved to hold banquets at the Luming Garden.
In the capital, no one could live higher than the emperor.
This feeling of looking down on all beings and surveying the vastness was something reserved solely for the monarch.
He was informed that the Minister of the Imperial Household, Zhu Xiyan, had come out to greet them, cupping his fists towards He Chunhua and saying to his granddaughter Zhu Xiuer: "Aren't you going to thank your savior?"
Zhu Xiuer gathered her skirts and bowed to He Chunhua and his wife, as well as to the He Lingchuan brothers.
When Madam Ying waited for her to straighten up, she stepped forward to hold her hand warmly: "Why so many formalities! You’ve traveled with us for half a month and finally returned home; are you happy?"
Zhu Xiuer was filled with emotion: "The weary bird returns to its nest, finally having a place to rely on."
He Lingchuan looked at her adorned with jewels, the rouge covering the yellowish hue on her face, making her look extremely healthy.
Zhu Xiyan led the He family into the Luming Garden, seating them at the left middle table in the main hall.
They were the distinguished guests personally welcomed by the host; Madam Ying chatted and laughed with tonight's protagonist, Zhu Xiuer, warmly and intimately, making it hard for others not to notice.
Next to them, the announcer called out: "Governor He Chunhua of Xia Prefecture brings his family!"
Thus, the He family became the focus of the entire venue.
Countless people in splendid robes and tall hats shouted greetings, surrounding them.
He Lingchuan looked around, seeing countless smiling faces welcoming him, and he could only smile back.
After smiling dozens of times and chatting dozens of sentences, responding in a formulaic manner, his face became stiff, and he had to break free from the crowd.
He Lingchuan squeezed out of the crowd and slipped into a corner, vigorously patting his facial muscles.
The people of Shihuan were truly enthusiastic.
He Yue appeared from somewhere and stood beside him, holding a wine jug and cup.
He Lingchuan waited for him to pour a cup for himself before asking: "Can you drink?"
"Everyone enjoys it, what’s there to be afraid of?" He Yue laughed, "Besides, where does Mother have the time to care about me now?"
(End of Chapter)