Northern Chang'an, Great Tang.
Princess Zhaoyue's Residence stood at the end of Vermilion Bird Avenue.
Its construction had caused quite a stir.
The Ministry of Works had mobilized over three thousand craftsmen, all of whom ate and slept on the construction site.
To surprise Jiang Yuechu, the emperor had specially dispatched imperial guards to seal off the surrounding hundred zhang, strictly forbidding unauthorized people from approaching.
Rumors had swept through the city like wind and rain. The common people knew only that a residence was being built there, not what wonders lay within.
Today, this mysterious residence finally shed its concealing curtains.
Upturned eaves soared above carved beams and painted pillars.
A tower every five paces, a pavilion every ten.
The main gates stood three zhang tall, carved entirely from crimson, thousand-year-old fire-sinking wood, with studs made from the finest South Sea pearls.
The two guardian stone lions were not fashioned from mortal-grade stone, but from whole, naturally formed blocks of warm jade spirit stone, faintly radiating a gentle white glow.
Looking farther inside-
Water had been diverted into the gardens, winding through channels where wine cups could float.
White jade paving lay smooth as a mirror. Along the winding corridors grew artfully arranged exotic flowers and rare plants that fortunes could scarcely buy outside.
The main hall's roof was covered in the finest glazed tiles. When the morning light struck them, the entire residence glittered with dazzling brilliance.
How could this be a mortal residence?
Even a heavenly palace brought down to the mortal world could hardly surpass it.
More and more citizens of Chang'an gathered to look, blocking the long street so thoroughly that not even water could pass.
Gasps rose one after another.
Favor of this magnitude had never been heard of in all the ages.
Great