Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Ziwei Palace of the Eastern Capital

For the people living in Chang'an, no matter what happens, the New Year must be celebrated properly.

This year's Lantern Festival was no different from previous years. Countless river lanterns drifted downstream, turning the canals that crossed Chang'an into shimmering rivers of stars. Unnumbered sky lanterns soared into the night sky, fluttering and flickering in the darkness. Elegantly dressed men and women sang loudly in the taverns, reciting poetry and exchanging verses, their laughter and applause echoing amid the clinking of cups.

Li Zhi once again brought his children quietly to the top of the Imperial City wall, watching his flourishing empire with a satisfied smile. Li Yuechen was nestled in his arms, wrapped in a thick fur cloak, with no worry of the cold. After gazing at the night lanterns for a while, Li Zhi smiled. "Chen'er, are you hungry? How about hotpot tonight?"

Before Li Yuechen could reply, Wu Zetian nodded in agreement. With the Empress having spoken, the children had no choice but to comply. Yet, Li Yuechen was a little frustrated. Hotpot without spice lacks soul, and after eating it so many times, it felt bland. There was ginger in the broth, but the heat of ginger was nothing like chili pepper.

Back at Yan Ying Hall, Li Zhi called for the hotpot to be served, lit the fire, and brought out the sliced lamb. While waiting, Li Yuechen wandered around Yan Ying Hall out of boredom, listening to Li Zhi and Wu Zetian chat.

Second Brother Li Xian crept up behind her, evidently trying to scare her. But Li Yuechen could already hear his muffled footsteps, so she pretended not to notice and walked a couple more steps ahead. Suddenly, she spun around and shouted, "Boo!"

"Ah!" Li Xian was startled, stumbling back and bumping into the bookshelf. With a loud crash, the bookshelf shook, and books tumbled to the floor.

Wu Zetian frowned, about to scold him, but Li Zhi stepped in, "Xian'er, are you hurt?"

"No, no, thank you for your concern, Father." Li Xian waved his hand, quickly squatting to pick up the fallen books. As he gathered them, he glanced up and whispered, "How did you know I was coming?"

Li Yuechen squatted to help him, replying quietly, "Second Brother, did you think I wouldn't hear you scraping the floor as you walked?"

As she spoke, she picked up a book, glanced at the title: "A Thousand Gold Recipes."

"A cookbook?" Li Yuechen murmured, idly flipping open a page. What she saw made her eyes widen in surprise. Several words stood out: "Prickly ash, spicy flavor..."

She couldn't even focus on the rest. Good heavens! Besides ginger and mustard, there was another spicy ingredient in this era?

She had no idea what it was, so she stood up and tossed the book to Li Xian, propped herself up on the table, and jumped over it. She ran to the hall entrance and beckoned to Zhang Chengxin, "Eunuch Zhang, come here!"

Zhang Chengxin bowed slightly, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"Do you know about prickly ash?" Li Yuechen asked.

"I do!" Zhang Chengxin nodded, "It's both a medicinal herb and a seasoning..."

Li Yuechen's eyes widened, "Is there any in the palace?"

"Yes!"

"Bring it here, let me see!"

Though he didn't know why she was suddenly so excited, Zhang Chengxin nodded, "Please wait, Your Highness. I will send someone to fetch it."

Back in Yan Ying Hall, Li Xian had finished tidying up the books and approached, "Why did you suddenly run out just now?"

"Second Brother, tonight's hotpot might taste even better!" Li Yuechen smiled, then hurried inside.

Li Xian stood there, baffled, uncertain what she meant.

Soon, Eunuch Zhang arrived with a small wooden box and presented it to Li Yuechen. "Your Highness, please look. This is it."

Li Yuechen examined it. It resembled Sichuan peppercorns, though larger. She took one and tasted it. It was indeed spicy, though not as pure as chili, and carried a hint of bitterness. Still, it was enough to satisfy her!

She immediately turned, dashed to the hotpot, grabbed a handful and tossed it into the still simmering broth.

"Chen'er, what is that?" Li Zhi asked.

"Heh, prickly ash." Li Yuechen ran to Li Zhi, offering him the box. "Add this and the hotpot will taste much better!"

"Is that so..." Li Zhi smiled, "We'll wait and see!"

After adding the ingredient, the broth remained unchanged in color, but soon began bubbling vigorously. When Li Zhi saw it was nearly ready, he waved his hand, "Alright, let the feast begin."

The family gathered around the table and officially began the meal. As Emperor, Li Zhi was first to take a slice of lamb, dip it in the sauce, and eat it. He immediately nodded, "Indeed, as Chen'er said, the flavor is much improved."

Wu Zetian followed, and Li Yuechen impatiently took a piece of lamb, dipped it, and tasted it. The slight spiciness made her close her eyes in delight. In her heart, she sighed—after six years in this world, she finally tasted spice again!

Though the flavor wasn't as pure, at least it was there. Li Yuechen felt moved. The other siblings also noticed the prickly ash made the hotpot taste better, their appetites growing, each sweating as they ate.

Seeing them, Li Yuechen couldn't help but smile with pride. Now they knew what soulful hotpot tasted like! The soul might not be complete, but it was a start.

…

After the Lantern Festival, preparations began for the journey to the Eastern Capital.

Luoyang wasn't far, but in this era, the roads were difficult, and with the Emperor traveling, the entourage numbered over a thousand. The procession was grand but slow.

Inside her carriage, Li Yuechen lifted the curtain to look outside, feeling she could run faster herself. Over a millennium later, traveling by car and obeying the law, it would take just three or four hours. As it was, they'd likely arrive by month's end.

During the journey, Li Zhi and Wu Zetian spent most of their time in their carriage, occasionally stepping out for a walk when in good spirits. Li Yuechen returned to her own carriage, pulling young Shangguan Wan'er in with her as an excuse.

After a bumpy half month, they finally arrived at the Eastern Capital in early February.

Li Yuechen was playing a hand-clapping game with Shangguan Wan'er when she heard Fulai's voice outside, "Your Highness, the Dingding Gate is in sight."

"Alright."

After responding, Li Yuechen took Shangguan Wan'er's hand and stepped out of the carriage. She wanted to see what this place looked like a thousand years ago.

After stepping out and looking up—she saw nothing! Only the towering city wall grew closer, but what lay within was out of sight. She couldn't stay outside the carriage for long; once they entered Dingding Gate, she'd have to return inside. If she wanted to see anything, she'd have to lift the curtain.

Still, the massive city walls alone were awe-inspiring! Armed soldiers patrolled atop, and flags of various colors and designs fluttered in the wind.

As they neared the gate, Fulai reminded her, "Your Highness, it's time to return to the carriage."

"Alright."

Li Yuechen replied, reluctantly allowing Fulai to carry her back to the carriage.

With the army clearing the road ahead, there were no merchants or commoners to be seen, making the journey dull.

Seeing Li Yuechen standing by the bed, lifting the curtain to peer outside, Shangguan Wan'er grew curious and joined her. Xiao He beside them cautioned, "Your Highness, better not look outside, just in case..."

"It's fine, we're entering the city now. What danger could there be?" Li Yuechen waved her hand dismissively.

Xiao He could only remind her to lower the curtain a bit.

As the carriage passed through Dingding Gate, Li Yuechen saw fully armed soldiers lined up in two neat rows, clearing the central road. The main avenue was as impressive as Chang'an's Vermilion Bird Street, and by sight, exceeded a hundred meters in width!

Behind the soldiers, commoners watched solemnly as the carriages entered the city gate. Naturally, most eyes were on the Emperor's procession ahead; few glanced at Li Yuechen's carriage.

As in Chang'an, the road was flanked by walled neighborhoods, no shops in sight. After a while, Li Yuechen lost interest and stopped looking.

Not long after, Xiao He at the door lifted the curtain for a peek, then turned to remind, "Your Highness, sit tight, we're nearing Tianjin Bridge."

Li Yuechen agreed, but crawled to the carriage door, secretly lifting the curtain to look ahead. The first thing she saw was the enormous Ying Tian Gate, and her eyes widened.

It was enormous! Ying Tian Gate was even larger than the Danfeng Gate of the Daming Palace! On both sides, three outcropping towers spread like wings, forming a massive "U"-shaped structure with three grand archways. By sight, the east and west wings were over a hundred meters long, and the height rivaled a dozen-story building.

Li Yuechen's mouth fell open, and she muttered, "Wow!" It was hard to imagine how people of this era had built such magnificent structures.

Though Danfeng Gate had amazed her before, she hadn't expected the Purple Palace to be even more awe-inspiring!

Like the Daming Palace, Ying Tian Gate had red walls and green tiles. Perhaps due to age, the tiles had darkened to a deep green. Below, the foundation built of gray-white bricks rose sharply, pushing a two-story gatehouse dozens of meters high!

Their carriage had yet to cross the bridge, but her gaze pierced the central imperial road, through the Qianyuan Gate, and onto the Qianyuan Hall beyond.

Since her birth in Daming Palace, this was the second time Li Yuechen felt the magic of this era. Facing such grand architecture, she could only marvel inwardly at its magnificence.

Beyond Ying Tian Gate lay the Luo River, which crossed Luoyang—known as Luo Shui in this era. A stone bridge over fifty meters wide spanned the river like a gigantic turtle shell, linking both banks. The stone paving in the center was as wide as the imperial road through Ying Tian Gate, stretching straight into the imperial city. On either side of the bridge stood two multi-story towers, mirroring the gate's outcropping towers, creating harmony.

The procession slowly ascended the stone bridge. Traveling with the Emperor, they could enter via the central imperial road.

Passing through the massive Ying Tian Gate, they entered a vast plaza. Directly ahead stood the Qianyuan Gate.

At this point, they had entered the inner palace. Li Zhi ordered the carriages to stop and, together with Wu Zetian, stepped out.

Seeing their father alight, Li Yuechen and the other children followed suit, coming before Li Zhi and Wu Zetian to pay their respects.

Li Zhi wrinkled his nose and stretched his shoulders, discreetly easing the stiffness from sitting. Then he scooped up Li Yuechen, laughing heartily, "Come, follow me inside!"

Inside Qianyuan Gate and before Qianyuan Hall, Li Zhi set her down. The ministers were already waiting inside; it would hardly be proper to carry his daughter further.

Li Yuechen had been born here, though as an infant, she had never left the hall and remembered nothing clearly. Now, returning, she resolved to explore.

"Father, may I look around?" Li Yuechen asked.

Li Zhi replied grandly, "Chen'er, wander as you wish. If you want to live in any inner palace, just tell me!"

Wu Zetian protested, "Your Majesty, how can you spoil her so?"

"No harm, no harm!" Li Zhi, now entirely besotted with his daughter, waved it off. "Chen'er can do as she pleases!"

Li Yuechen raised her fists, "Father is mighty!"

With that, she turned and ran off to see if there was an inner palace she liked.

As for her brothers—wishful thinking! Men could never live in the harem, not even the Emperor's sons! Her two sisters would stay with her anyway.

Watching Li Yuechen disappear, Wu Zetian shook her head. "Your Majesty, are you not afraid to spoil her?"

Li Zhi turned and grinned, "All these years, aside from being lively, do you see any sign that Chen'er is spoiled?"

"Well..." Wu Zetian considered. Indeed, apart from a lack of decorum, Li Yuechen had no real faults.

Seeing her deep in thought, Li Zhi chuckled, taking her hand, "Don't worry. Chen'er has more sense than you think! Come, let's enter the hall."

With that, he led her into the grand hall to receive the ministers.