"From ancient times to the present, there have been plenty of disasters around Mount Tai. Could it have been one of the common folk?"
The Prime Minister speculated from the side.
Cao Guo sighed. "A poor soul, whoever it was. Have someone clean the grave and make offerings... Then erect a stele. It should say... Never mind. Write nothing!"
"Your Majesty wishes to erect a blank stele?"
The attendants beside Cao Guo were all astonished by his words.
Cao Guo nodded. "That's right!"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone went to carry out his order. He himself continued up Mount Tai. He had thought the mountain's imposing heights would make the climb arduous, but when he reached the summit, Cao Guo found he wasn't all that tired. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, was completely worn out.
"Your Majesty, there's a palace ahead!"
The Grand Marshal pointed toward the palaces on Jade Emperor Peak and spoke to Cao Guo.
The Prime Minister caught his breath and said, "Emperor Guangwu of Han, Emperor Zhang of Han, Emperor An of Han, and others all came to Mount Tai to perform the Feng Shan Ritual. It's only natural there would be a palace here."
"Unfortunately, I haven't achieved the kind of merit they did."
Cao Guo sighed, then turned to look at his ministers. "Remember: this visit is not to perform the Feng Shan Ritual on Mount Tai."
"We will remember, Your Majesty!"
Everyone nodded.
As they drew near the palaces, Cao Guo noticed something strange.
He frowned and asked those around him, "If pavilions and towers aren't repaired and maintained, how long can they last?"
"Twenty years at most, I'd say."
The Prime Minister and the others knew little about it. Their servants cleaned their homes every day.
Cao Guo