Over the next few days, Li Yan moved into the "Qing'a King" Residence. The estate lay amid green mountains and clear waters, sprawling over an immense area so vast that even Li Yan was inwardly startled.
There truly was a towering mountain peak a thousand zhang high in the rear garden, while on the western side of the residence lay a verdant lake spanning more than thirty mu. Its surface glittered with rippling light, and a painted pleasure boat was even moored upon it.
From south to north, the entire courtyard was a maze of deep courtyards within deep courtyards. Emerald cypresses carpeted the grounds, spirit birds wheeled through the air, and little bridges arched over flowing water, embraced by clusters of tender green banana trees. Mist drifted and surged above the streams below.
At the center of the courtyards stood an enormous platform paved with smooth blue-green boulders, like a grand martial training ground, covering more than twenty mu.
The platform was encircled by towering ancient trees. Their dense green shade spread wide, while their massive crowns thrust toward the heavens, brimming with vigorous life and gnarled strength.
Within the surrounding grove of ancient trees, eight roads extended from the forest according to the Eight Trigrams, each leading toward the central platform.
Over the past few days, crowds had busied themselves on the platform, arranging rows of tables and chairs and temporarily erecting a high stage.
As for Li Yan, his daily life consisted of helplessly enduring one tedious etiquette lesson after another in the main hall at the rear of the residence.
At last, the day of the "Qing'a King" Residence's opening ceremony had arrived. Early that morning, the gates were flung wide amid a barrage of firecrackers, the great doors opening to either side.
The gates