Eternal Peace Palace
A young eunuch returned from outside. This was a road he traveled often, familiar beyond measure, but the moment he drew near, he froze. Here, sentries stood every three steps and guards every five—all Imperial Guard Corps soldiers, each standing rigid as nails, staring straight ahead without letting their eyes wander. The air was steeped in grim austerity.
The young eunuch was so frightened he did not dare move. Then he spotted a familiar eunuch waving at him and saying, "Don't stand there. Eternal Peace Palace is being repaired. Don't block the way."
Only then did the young eunuch see the piles of tiles and stones before the hall. Craftsmen pushing wheelbarrows were drenched in sweat, yet none dared stop for even a moment.
Scaffolds had been erected on both sides before the hall, level with the main hall itself. People stood on every platform, forming a ring around it. Since they were first repairing the exterior, only two hundred people were working above.
The remaining three hundred bustled below like diligent ants, endlessly carrying in materials from outside.
Not only guards stood outside the hall; there was also a large number of eunuchs.
They were there to prevent the craftsmen from offending the nobles. The security was watertight, and every so often someone would bark out a reprimand. Yet because of the mistress of Eternal Peace Palace's orders, no whips were used; they merely urged them on with words.
There were so many craftsmen that, even though they deliberately kept their voices low, this tranquil hall had become as noisy as a market crossing.
"Her Majesty has said that if you can finish repairing the roof of the front hall before sunset today, every one of you will receive a reward! Her Majesty has even specially