The palace of the Great Yan, in its overall layout, bore a striking resemblance to imperial palaces of previous dynasties. To the left and front of the main palace complex stood the Ancestral Temple and the Altar of Heaven, for the worship of deities and ancestors. To the right and front was the Altar of Soil and Grain, representing the land and sustenance, and by extension, the empire itself.
With the administrative halls situated in the front and living quarters in the rear, the former comprised three grand halls – the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony – where the Yan Emperor held court, conducted state affairs, and presided over grand ceremonies. The Hall of Supreme Harmony was also known as the Golden Throne Hall. The latter consisted of three palaces – the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union of Heaven and Earth, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility – which served as the residential quarters for the Yan Emperor, the Empress, their consorts, princes, and princesses.
Numerous smaller pavilions and halls were scattered throughout the complex.
Decorative elements such as stone lions, sundials, auspicious incense burners, and bronze tripods were all present in abundance.
The pavilions and towers were characterized by winding corridors, eaves that seemed to peck at the sky, each embracing the terrain, and intricately interlocking structures.
In truth, these pavilions and towers within the Yan palace complex were built upon the foundations of the previous dynasty's structures. In times of chaos, human lives were as ephemeral as blades of grass; if lives were so easily discarded, then buildings, too, suffered the ravages of war. Consequently, the remaining palaces of the former dynasty were largely in ruins.
Only in recent years had Emperor Murong Xi of Yan embarked on extensive construction projects. Thus, the current Yan palace did not house a great many buildings. While most were fashioned after those of the Central Plains, they retained distinct Xianbei characteristics. Within the halls, one could faintly discern the presence of numerous tent-like structures, yurts, felt dwellings, and canopies, all bearing the hallmarks of Xianbei culture.
The sky, like a yurt, enshrouded the boundless wilderness.
It was rumored that Emperor Murong Xi often conducted state affairs from within a golden tent or indulged in revelry with his consorts, palace maids, singers, dancers, and entertainers.
"His Majesty has decreed that all officials shall enter the hall!"
Early one morning, the palace gates of Yan were thrown open. Officials, with loud pronouncements, directed the more than a hundred civil and military officials waiting outside the gates to enter the palace and attend the imperial audience.
Among those honored was Zhou Fugui, a meritorious official.
Upon the White Tiger Battalion's triumphant return to Youzhou under Zhou Fugui's command, Murong Bolie ordered the battalion to encamp outside the city. He also granted the White Tiger Battalion permission to enter the city in rotation for recreation, while Zhou Fugui was to reside within Youzhou city, awaiting an audience with Emperor Murong Xi.
Murong Bolie's decision to have Zhou Fugui reside alone in the city, separate from the officers and soldiers of the White Tiger Battalion, served another purpose: the handover, or rather, the relinquishment of military authority.
This was a Yan custom, designed to prevent military commanders from becoming too powerful, particularly during intervals of peace or during lulls in conflict. Han officials, in particular, were subject to even stricter scrutiny.
The prevention of military overreach was a concern for most dynasties, to varying degrees.
Among the more than a hundred civil and military officials present were Xianbei, Di, Qiang, and Jie tribesmen, as well as Han officials. However, the Xianbei constituted the majority. After entering the palace gates, the officials formed two columns and proceeded along the bluestone-paved path. Zhou Fugui, fully armored and with his hand resting on his sword, walked at the very end.
The Yan court permitted military officials to wear armor and carry swords within the inner court.
This was Zhou Fugui's first time entering the Yan imperial palace since his arrival in this world. As he walked, he couldn't help but glance around with curiosity.
"Nothing more than this!" Zhou Fugui thought dismissively.
The not inconsiderable scale of the Yan palace did not greatly interest Zhou Fugui. Only the halls and tents with their Xianbei characteristics piqued his curiosity somewhat. While he had never eaten pork, he had certainly seen pigs run before. In his previous life, he had seen diagrams or models of the imperial palaces of various dynasties, such as the Xianyang Palace, Changle Palace, and Weiyang Palace. He had personally witnessed the Forbidden City, ranked ninth among the ten great palaces, which was far grander and more magnificent than this Yan palace.
However, according to Zhou Fugui's understanding, the Xianbei people were largely engaged in warfare both before and after the establishment of the Yan dynasty. War was a "gold-devouring beast," and therefore, to construct a palace of this scale, an untold amount of people's wealth must have been plundered. It was not difficult to imagine the Yan court relentlessly exploiting the populace and pillaging the treasuries of other nations.
Zhou Fugui had been conscripted into the army, and subsequently, he had traveled south from Youzhou. Along the way, he had witnessed widespread famine, everywhere the cries and moans of the displaced, everywhere the suffering and struggle of the starving masses.
The common people across the land lived in misery, with widespread desolation.
Yet, the Xianbei royalty, high officials, and noble lords lived in such opulence.
This further solidified Zhou Fugui's negative impression of the Xianbei Yan, and his rebellious thoughts began to take root.
Of course, at this point, Zhou Fugui's rebellious sentiment was merely a nascent spark, something that had to be deeply buried within his heart, not even to be uttered in his sleep.
From ancient times to the present, the chances of success for any rebellion were exceedingly slim. The vast majority ended in defeat, death, and the annihilation of their families.
And Zhou Fugui, at this moment, possessed no money, no manpower, and no territory. With what could he rebel? With air, or with mere bravado?
The only army that felt somewhat close to him, the White Tiger Battalion with its two thousand men, had had its military power stripped away by the Yan court.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui's idea of rebellion might remain a lifelong dream, something to be indulged only in the quiet solitude of the night.
"Dingling... dingling... dingling..."
"Before the sky had even cleared, wine banners fluttered outside the singing houses."
"The doors creaked open, old guests departing, new ones arriving!"
"Make way, make way..."
"Come, come, newly arrived silks from Jiangnan! Don't miss out, don't miss out..."
"Lu's family's goose, duck, chicken, and rabbit innards, lungs, and conger eel buns!"
"Free tasting of Ruilong tea from Zhu Kulou Tea House..."
"Xiangquan wine, Tianchun wine, and Yaochi wine from Niulou are free to taste! That's impossible, but for every cup you buy, you get one free!"
"Please come in, sir. Would you like to dine or stay? We have just received three beautiful young women from Suzhou and Hangzhou. You've come to the right place."
"In the land of joy, one holds one's dear one."
"Meeting someone, it's exactly two years of happy reunion. Like a gamble, six sets are matched. Towards Mount Wu, I go through and through. Like fish and water, our love is deep. Leaning on the painted balcony, twelve times, I lean again and again. Two days without seeing you, you are constantly in my heart. I ponder divining, always hoping for your return. I offer three fasts of purity. Wishing for an eternal shared quilt. In my dream, I am suddenly startled awake; dreams, too, have a beginning and no end."
"What a lovely person, her lips a deep red, her cheeks lightly powdered. Meeting under the flowers, I hurry, afraid of being guessed. Leaving behind a pair of small embroidered shoes. I return with a stitched sock. A half-Zen black cloud with a golden phoenix hairpin. Walking, walking, embracing, we are held close, nestled together, unable to part."
"..."
Led by palace eunuchs, the more than a hundred Yan officials passed through an arched gateway and arrived at a place that stunned them all. It was as if they had arrived at the wrong destination, finding themselves in the most bustling marketplace of Youzhou.
On either side of the Yanfu Palace, they saw a dense array of shops, with buildings standing shoulder to shoulder. There were tea houses, wine taverns, food stalls, butcher shops, temples, and government offices.
Within the shops, specialized vendors offered goods such as damask and silk, jewels and spices, paper effigies and horses for worship. Beyond that, there were medical clinics, cart repair services, fortune tellers, and beauty parlors. Every trade and profession imaginable was represented. The larger shops displayed colorful banners above their entrances, proclaiming their wares and attracting business. The streets teemed with people, a constant flow of merchants, scholars observing the streetscape, officials on horseback, hawkers calling out their goods, the families of officials in sedan chairs, itinerant monks carrying baskets on their backs, foreign travelers asking for directions, children listening to storytellers, wealthy young men carousing in taverns, and elderly beggars by the city walls. Men and women, old and young, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, people from all walks of life and all professions were present. Transportation included sedan chairs, camels, ox carts, rickshaws,太平车 (Taiping carts), and flat-headed carts – all kinds of vehicles, a complete assortment.
What a scene of prosperity and liveliness!
In addition to the various shops and the countless vendors hawking their wares along the street, the Yan palace even housed brothels and pleasure houses...
On the upper and lower floors of these establishments, filled with the gathering of beauties, stood many young women at their entrances and exits. Each was heavily made up, adorned in a dazzling fashion, their beautiful faces welcoming visitors, vying to charm and attract the countless philanderers and eager suitors.
Waves and melodies, from taverns, tea houses, and shops, of revelry, laughter, music of strings and pipes, sounds of hearty drinking, and even lascivious talk, were ceaselessly heard. These sounds transformed the usually solemn and magnificent Yan palace into a place of extraordinary clamor and excitement, resembling the most bustling market of Youzhou, or a pleasure quarter where wealth was squandered.
Numerous foreign merchants and travelers, leading camels, horses, and livestock, moved about the marketplace in a show of ostentation.
"What are you looking at?" a eunuch asked, observing the astonished expressions of the officials, and then added with a smug tone, "This is His Majesty's decree: those of the highest status should also share in the joy of the people."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Fugui felt a wave of nausea, almost vomiting up the meal he had eaten at the fifth watch.
Was this what they called sharing in the joy of the people? The people of Yan were starving, yet he established this mock market within the palace and called it sharing joy with them? It would be remarkable enough if it didn't disturb them.
Zhou Fugui thought disdainfully.
Zhou Fugui and the others continued forward, passing through the "marketplace" and arriving before a massive golden tent. From within, they heard the melodious sounds of music and singing. Inside and outside the tent, a scene of singing, dancing, and a prosperous era unfolded.
"Your subjects pay homage to the Great Chieftain, Chieftain Amuru!"
Zhou Fugui, along with the other Yan officials, entered the golden tent. Standing amidst the crowd, he paid his respects with Xianbei customs and then secretly raised his head to observe the scene within.
He saw a portly man, over fifty years old, wearing a golden crown and golden robes, reclining on a貂皮 (marten fur) cushion. His brow was dark, his eyeballs yellow, and his eyes drooped with bags like pockets. Even more striking was his large belly, resembling a bucket filled with ten catties of water, comparable to a woman in her tenth month of pregnancy.
This person was, of course, Emperor Murong Xi of Yan. Seated slightly behind him was a young and beautiful woman. She wore a brightly colored fur robe, with a finely embroidered short vest draped over her shoulders, and her headdress was ornate and solemn, inlaid with various gemstones.
"You've arrived? Watch the play and drink some wine first," Emperor Murong Xi said lazily, waving his hand. He then picked up a goblet of fine wine from the low table and drank it in one gulp. A palace maid beside him refilled the goblet.