Chapter 59: Then We Are No Different from the Heavens

Many buildings in the Sky-Hanging Capital were already built to the utmost luxury, soaring and towering majestically.

Yet, when Chen Zhi'an followed those bailiffs along the twelve-li-long Qilin Avenue, past a stretch of red walls half-concealed by green shade, he caught his first sight of the Great Yu Imperial Palace.

Since the founding of the Great Yu four hundred and eighty years ago, the imperial palace had undergone several rounds of repairs and expansions, evolving into a sprawling behemoth.

Those towering palaces seemed to pierce straight into the clouds, their opulent jade tiles and beast-ornamented eaves gazing out in all directions. The sunlight beat down upon them, reflecting off the golden glazed tiles so that the entire complex seemed to shimmer with a golden radiance.

The city towers soared high across the center of the heavens.
Ascending to gaze out, one overlooked the desolate wilderness.

"So this is what they call a hundred-foot-high pavilion," Chen Zhi'an muttered to himself in wonder. Compared to such magnificent architecture, the steel-and-concrete high-rises in his memory still fell far short.

However, lacking an imperial summons or a decree bearing his name, Chen Zhi'an naturally could not enter the Sky-Hanging Palace through the main gate, nor even through the side doors.

Aside from the Grand Imperial Gate, the Sky-Hanging Palace possessed another fifteen formal gates and thirty-two auxiliary side doors. The doors designated for the inner court, the household department, and various offices numbered as many as three hundred and sixty.

Chen Zhi'an entered the Sky-Hanging Palace through one of these minor southwestern side doors.

Upon stepping inside, the vista before him was a long corridor that seemed to stretch on infinitely.

"Mr. Chen, please keep your gaze lowered as you walk and refrain from looking about," cautioned the middle-aged official who had escorted him.

Chen Zhi'an followed behind the two men for a full half-hour before the view suddenly opened up, revealing a grand palace before them.

A plaque bore the characters [Yufu Palace].

So described by the verse: *The nine-tiered palace gates are cold with morning frost, the ten-li terraces shine bright under the sinking moon.*

The palace before his eyes rose in overlapping layers. Though short of nine tiers, it still possessed four or five, adorned with numerous pavilions, terraces, and towers that exuded an extraordinary air of dignity.

After enduring layer upon layer of thorough interrogations, the three finally stepped inside.

"The imperial splendor truly lives up to its reputation," Chen Zhi'an thought to himself, admiring the scenery of Yufu Palace.

"Our exalted mistress bears the title of Linglong. Once you are granted an audience, you must address her as Princess Linglong; take care not to commit any breach of etiquette," the middle-aged official reminded him once more.

"Princess Linglong?" Chen Zhi'an could not help his astonishment. Not only among the people of Great Yu, but even throughout the other six states and the smaller nations of the world, there was hardly a soul who had not heard of this princess.

Passing by winding streams and meandering waters, alongside several pavilions and terraces, they soon approached the main hall.

Suddenly, Chen Zhi'an heard a voice inquiring ahead:
"Who is that person? Why is there a young man from outside the palace within Yufu Palace?"

Turning his head slightly, he spotted a woman seated beneath an octagonal pavilion not far away.

The woman was draped in a kingfisher-patterned brocade and feather-satin cloak, wearing a gold-threaded fine gauze skirt paired with a thin silk robe. Free of any excessive jewelry, with a single touch of rouge between her brows, she possessed a breathtaking beauty.

Her status appeared exceptionally lofty. Sitting alone in the octagonal pavilion, she was attended by four maidservants and two eunuch stewards in green who stood by in bowing postures, while another eight maids waited outside the pavilion.

Upon her question, one of the eunuch stewards immediately stood up and walked toward Chen Zhi'an's direction.

The middle-aged official escorting Chen Zhi'an let out a bitter laugh and hurriedly went to meet him.

After a brief, whispered exchange, the eunuch steward returned to the octagonal pavilion.

"Reporting to the Commandery Princess, the newcomer is a painter personally summoned by Her Royal Highness the Princess. With the Grand Audience Festival approaching, this painter is destined to serve as the Princess's personal artist for the occasion," the eunuch steward reported meticulously.

The woman addressed as the Commandery Princess furrowed her brow.

"My brother is currently away from the Sky-Hanging Capital, and my sister-in-law the Princess is truly being somewhat careless. Yufu Palace is the private residence of the Princess; naturally, there are numerous taboos to observe. Is it proper for such a young man to wander in and out of Yufu Palace? Does it conform to decorum or decency? What manner of background does this painter have that he can simply enter the palace?"

The eunuch steward remained bowed, not even daring to gaze upon the hem of the Commandery Princess's skirt, and simply replied:
"Reporting to the Commandery Princess, this Mr. Chen holds an official noble rank as an Eighth-Rank Chiyi Lang. According to palace regulations and under the direct summons of the Princess, his entry into the palace is entirely within the rules."

The eunuch steward's response addressed only whether her entry was within the rules, not daring to touch upon the question of decency.

"A Chiyi Lang? There are noble officials of such sort?" The Commandery Princess slightly knitted her brows.

Without a word from her, the two officials who had brought Chen Zhi'an into the palace could only stand before the rockery, not daring to advance even a single step.

Chen Zhi'an was truly gaining a broadening perspective.
"Just what status does this Commandery Princess hold? Isn't Yufu Palace the domain of Princess Linglong?"

***

As he harbored these doubts, his peripheral vision caught the Commandery Princess unhurriedly picking up an exquisitely crafted pastry from the table, placing it into her mouth, and chewing it slowly and thoroughly.

Not until her throat moved as she swallowed the pastry did she speak:
"For a young man to enter Yufu Palace is fundamentally a breach of rules. Setting aside the fact that Princess Linglong is a married woman, even an unmarried princess would not disregard propriety to this extent."

Chen Zhi'an grew increasingly bewildered, questioning once more within his mind what the background of this Commandery Princess might be.

Then, a recollection flashed through his mind—words previously spoken to him by Chu Muxye.

Chu Muxye had said that a giant gluttonous beast sat upon the clouds overlooking Great Yu in the Sky-Hanging Capital, hoodwinking the imperial ears and eyes, employing vile sycophants, fostering merciless officials, and covering the heavens with a single hand, plunging the court and the wild into an increasingly terrifying and oppressive silence.

Only later did he realize that the "gluttonous beast" spoken of by Chu Muxye was none other than the Duke of Anguo, a man under one person and above ten thousand.

The daughter of the Duke of Anguo had also been conferred the title of Commandery Princess.

Counting the power brokers of Great Yu, the only person who could act with such unbridled audacity within Princess Linglong's Yufu Palace was undoubtedly the daughter of the Duke of Anguo—the reigning [Commandery Princess Yuxia]!

Two years ago, the Duke of Anguo had personally knelt and pleaded with the Zhaofu Emperor, begging for Princess Linglong to be betrothed to the Duke's eldest son, a request the Zhaofu Emperor had readily granted.

And this Commandery Princess Yuxia was none other than Princess Linglong's sister-in-law.

***

Princess Shangqiu was seated on a chair carved from rare Qiuyin wood, peeling a tribute tangerine in her hands.

Once peeled, she handed the fruit to Princess Linglong, who reclined on a imperial couch beside her.

Princess Linglong lay half-propped on the chair, eyes closed in rest. Her figure lived up entirely to her title—slender and exquisite, with every curve proportioned to absolute perfection, captivating the soul.

She casually accepted the tangerine peeled by Princess Shangqiu and placed it in her mouth. Her crimson lips parted slightly, exuding an indescribable, delicate charm.

The peaceful afternoon light, perfectly balanced between motion and stillness, was suddenly interrupted by a hurried palace maid who rushed in.

"Your Highness, that Mr. Chen has entered Yufu Palace and happened to run into Commandery Princess Yuxia drinking tea in the octagonal pavilion..."

There was no need for the maid to continue.

Princess Linglong and Princess Shangqiu already understood that Wei Lingyu was undoubtedly seizing an excuse to vent her resentment over Princess Linglong's refusal to grant her an audience.

While the two mistresses remained silent, a senior maid beside them frowned and rebuked the messenger:
"I instructed you repeatedly—did you fail to tell them to avoid the Raindrop Pavilion?"

The maid dropped hurriedly to her knees. "I gave explicit instructions, and the official escorting Mr. Chen did indeed steer clear of the Raindrop Pavilion. But who could have foreseen that Commandery Princess Yuxia, perhaps growing weary of staying in the Raindrop Pavilion for days on end, would relocate to the Watching Waves Pavilion just moments ago."

"Shangqiu," Princess Linglong suddenly spoke.

Princess Shangqiu lowered the tangerine in her hand and sighed. "Sister, you know Wei Lingyu's temperament. She has come seven or eight times, and you have consistently refused to see her. She must be utterly furious inside, and this Mr. Chen has unfortunately run right into her wrath."

As she finished speaking, Princess Shangqiu suddenly realized something and asked, "Sister, is this Mr. Chen the same Chen Zhi'an from Sunan Prefecture?"

Princess Linglong nodded with her eyes closed.

Princess Shangqiu accepted a warm damp towel handed to her by a maid behind her, wiped her hands, and stood up.

"I will go fetch Mr. Chen. Let us hope Wei Lingyu does not go so far as to make things difficult for an ordinary painter."

***

Before the Watching Waves Pavilion, the eunuch stewards, the palace maids, and even the two officials all kept their heads lowered deeply, silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to draw a single heavy breath.

The Commandery Princess, however, maintained a composed expression as she consumed another piece of pastry. "There are painters aplenty in this world, yet I have never witnessed Princess Linglong employing such a youthful artist to paint her portrait for the Grand Audience Festival. At such a tender age, how fine can his brushwork possibly be? Go tell him to leave the palace. As for Princess Linglong, I shall personally find her a master of calligraphy and painting with an illustrious reputation."

She spoke casually to one of the eunuch stewards.

The eunuch steward broke out in a cold sweat. Without uttering a word, he dropped to his knees, slamming his head heavily against the ground.

A dull thud echoed out, yet the eunuch steward did not even groan as he prostrated himself.

"Useless trash, not even daring to pass along a message," Commandery Princess Yuxia glanced at him dismissively. "Though since your mistress gave no orders, I suppose you cannot entirely be blamed."

"Bring brush and paper," she commanded offhandedly.

The eunuch steward immediately retrieved brush and paper from a box outside the Watching Waves Pavilion, arranging them meticulously.

Just as he reached to grind the ink, the Commandery Princess shook her head. "Writing a single character requires no ink-grinding."

Picking up the brush, the Commandery Princess penned a single character upon the paper, then folded it up.

"Take this to the painter," she instructed casually.

The eunuch steward lifted the sheet of paper with both hands, descended the Watching Waves Pavilion, crossed the stone steps, and approached Chen Zhi'an.

"Her Excellency has issued a command. Please take a look at this slip of paper, sir," the eunuch steward said, his voice pitched high and exceedingly polite.

Yet at the temples of the eunuch steward, Chen Zhi'an clearly perceived beads of rolling sweat.

Living beside royalty was truly like sleeping beside a tiger; serving this Commandery Princess had reduced them to soaking sweat and extreme tension.

Chen Zhi'an took the paper. The instant it touched his hand, he felt a surging, oppressive aura rush directly toward him, threatening to invade his soul and consciousness!

Subconsciously, Chen Zhi'an invoked the image of Nan Liujing within his mind.

A radiant, majestic thought surged up from his depths, and in an instant, that violent aura was completely shattered and dispelled by the brilliant radiance emitted by the visualized figure of Nan Liujing!

"This Commandery Princess... is truly somewhat vicious."

Chen Zhi'an's expression remained unchanged. Without even glancing toward the Watching Waves Pavilion, he simply continued to unfold the paper.

In the distance, Princess Shangqiu was hurrying over with two maids.

She arrived just in time to see Chen Zhi'an open the paper.

Recalling Wei Lingyu's habitual tactics, Princess Shangqiu's brow furrowed deeply, and she called out loudly:
"Do not open it—"

Her warning, however, came a step too late; Chen Zhi'an had already unfolded the paper entirely.

Lowering his gaze, he saw a harshly scrawled character written upon it: *Scram*.

Scram?

Chen Zhi'an stared at it in abstraction.

Inside the Watching Waves Pavilion, the Commandery Princess clapped her hands in amusement. Uncaring of Chen Zhi'an's fate, she pointed toward Princess Shangqiu and laughed, "Shangqiu, you are too late. This painter has been reduced to a fool unable to hold a brush; how is he to paint now?"

Princess Shangqiu stood frozen in place, stamping her foot in frustration.

"Wei Lingyu... This painter is innocent! Why must you always..."

Wei Lingyu raised her chin, a smile gracing her face that rendered her beauty all the more striking. "When the Heavens are enraged, causing rivers to burst their dikes and mountains to collapse, are the afflicted mortals innocent? Shangqiu, when will you ever understand... to the vast majority of mortals in this world, we are no different from the Heavens!"

Taking a deep breath, Princess Shangqiu finally found the composure to cast a careful glance at Mr. Chen.

"To think Mr. Chen is so young!"

Dressed in azure robes, Mr. Chen stood tall and straight with a well-proportioned build. His complexion was as fair as jade, yet his physique was robust and sturdy, rendering him strikingly handsome and remarkably distinguished.

Because of this, Princess Shangqiu felt an even greater sense of regret.

Wei Lingyu, meanwhile, clasped her hands behind her back, humming a tune as she stepped out of the Watching Waves Pavilion and headed elsewhere. Having vented her resentment toward her sister-in-law, her mood had grown vastly lighter.

"Fetch a royal physician well-versed in the Dao of divine essences to Yufu Palace immediately."

Seeing that Wei Lingyu had departed, Princess Shangqiu hurried over, stopping not far from Chen Zhi'an.

Yet before she could draw close, she suddenly saw Chen Zhi'an move...

He turned the white paper over, inspected it for a moment, shook his head, and muttered softly:
"This handwriting... is dreadfully ugly."

Princess Shangqiu parted her lips in shock. "You're unharmed?"

Chen Zhi'an finally looked up, asking with genuine puzzlement, "Should I be harmed?"

Princess Shangqiu let out a breath of relief.

Chen Zhi'an, however, turned his gaze toward the Watching Waves Pavilion where Wei Lingyu had just departed.

*To the vast majority of mortals in this world, we are no different from the Heavens!*

That sentence still echoed in his ears.

Silently within his heart, he thought:
"I really want to tear that damn Commandery Princess's mouth apart."