Late September, the eighth year of Hongzhi, Shuntian Prefecture, the eastern quarter of the capital.
September in the capital was golden, like the autumn sun in the heavens. Golden ginkgo leaves drifted down among vermilion walls and black-tiled roofs, while official sedans and household servants came and went in throngs, like floating clouds. The servants held their heads high, dressed in purple with golden caps, their feet treading through golden radiance, even their sashes fluttering with a drooping air of nobility.
This imperial capital's noble air shone bright and splendid; even the wealthy splendor of the rich Jiangnan could hardly compare. And when a light sedan came drifting along, the haughty servants of noble households all paused one after another. The faintly revealed imperial escort was not ostentatious, yet it could not escape their sharp eyes.
"Master, it's a sedan from the palace."
"A sedan from the palace? Someone from the palace is here?"
"Master, judging by the size of the escort... it is indeed someone from the palace. But only palace folk."
"Mm, palace folk... Silence!"
The official sedan painted with a qilin halted slightly. There was no obvious yielding of the way, but it did not move forward either. The servants lowered their brows and eyes, waiting as the palace sedan turned east, then went north along the banks of the Tonghui River, and they roughly had a guess.
"Master, the palace folk have gone to the Tonghui River, heading north..."
"Tonghui River, heading north? Oh! It's the Huitong Hostel post station... The Japanese tribute mission has just arrived, from Ningbo, once every ten years. It's said that this time the Japanese brought quite a few interesting barbarian goods. Every household is preparing to get a share and seek out some novel amusement. If anyone has the ability