Chapter 632: Baili Meng, a New World

The Wusun and Hengshan groups were both staying at the South Hua Gate Tower, the place specially set aside for waiting to hear the proclamation; the Wusun group was also making their first visit to the Central Plains, they didn't understand the situation, and thought the imposing city walls and the Purple Forbidden Palace were the strength of the Central Plains dynasty, only feeling shocked in silence. But as a vassal prince, the Prince of Heng still didn't know what kind of place Youzhou is?

The King of Heng has reigned for five generations, his ancestors painstakingly managed for five generations, yet compared to Youzhou it's like heaven and earth— is that reasonable?

Upon entering the grand gate of the Purple Forbidden Palace, Baili Meng already had a hundred thoughts arise in his mind, each one overturned in turn.

In short, Youzhou is really weird!

Baili Jing was enfeoffed at the age of six—just reckon how few years that has been—and the entire city of Youzhou has been completely transformed; upon entering the Northern Border even the imperial highway leads straight to Youzhou, the manpower and material resources involved he could not possibly calculate at once, he only felt it must be an enormous number. The two groups were originally as urgent as a ten‑thousand‑fire emergency, but after arriving at the Purple Forbidden Palace and being violently shaken in heart and mind, they had already gone off course.

Waiting for the attendant to announce them, the two groups met in a daze, then followed the little eunuch behind him to the Orchid Terrace Hall.

Along the way they greatly broadened their horizons—what they had seen outside the gate was truly just the tip of the iceberg.

The Orchid Terrace Hall is not part of the inner palace, but it stands on the far shore of the great lake in the garden, a fine spot where opening a window yields a full view of the lake scenery. They passed through the majestic halls of the former dynasty, through countless exquisite corridors and walkways, crossed the lake, and wandered awhile in the garden where every step offers a scene, finally seeing a splendid hall half‑extending into the lake—this is the Orchid Terrace Hall where the king daily reads and conducts affairs.

Baili Meng kept a calm face, but his mind was shaken to numbness—who could tell the scenery of Youzhou from that of Jiangnan along the way? Moreover, Jiangnan's present architecture differs from this Purple Forbidden Palace by a hundred and eighty thousand miles.

Here Baili Jing has evergreen plants that stay green all year round; he could already imagine how beautiful the scenery would be when the summer flowers bloom romantically. The Wusun people from the Western Regions were practically dropping their jaws—they had never seen such luxurious halls. Baili Meng saw two of them completely dazed, and only then did he feel he had regained a bit of face.

The little eunuch led them to the Orchid Terrace Hall; just as they stepped through the side gate and hadn't yet had time to take in the interior of the courtyard, they looked up and saw a huge brown bear sitting beneath the corridor—this fellow, seated, was already almost as tall as a person!

The Wusun man walking in front let out a string of incomprehensible cries, then stumbled back several steps. The Hengshan retainers accompanying Baili Meng rushed forward to shield him……

Tong Chen almost couldn't help rolling his eyes, "…Please don't panic, this bear is His Majesty's beloved pet, raised from infancy, it's spiritual! It's extremely gentle and never attacks people on its own." What he didn't say was, "Do you even deserve to catch the gaze of Lord Winnie?" Look, he's been intently chewing corn, not sparing a glance your way—what are you yelling about? Don't dramatize yourself!

When everyone heard it was the king's beloved pet, they breathed a sigh of relief. After all, there are many rumors about Baili Jing's beloved pets, and it's normal for a bear to have slipped through the net.

"Please wait here, I will go report to His Majesty…"

After Tong Chen left, the two groups began standing at the doorway, casually checking out the main hall of the Orchid Terrace Hall. Although the king didn't take them seriously and didn't even invite them to wait in a side hall, they had no time to complain, really couldn't be bothered—their eyes weren't enough to take it all in.

Up close the building is even more exquisite! I never imagined there could be such a house in this world!

While everyone was looking dazzled, there was movement at the hall door—a golden‑haired creature like a young colt, or what? It sprang out from inside the hall, and as soon as it appeared it sniffed, then fixed its gaze on the tender corn in Winnie's paw……

This aroma, it's spiritual—what a fine thing!

Little Gold lunged forward and bit onto the half‑ear of corn still bearing kernels, refusing to let go. Winnie also had opinions about the newcomer; he only obeys Elder Bai Ze, only gives Elder Bai Ze a warm blanket and guard duty—this new golden‑haired creature had better not dream of stealing his stuff!

A bear and a canine barked and clashed over the half‑ear of corn, as if these two creatures had been starving since a famine year and had never eaten corn in their lives; the marble pillars before the hall were rattling……

The two groups of distant visitors stared dumbfounded—just what did that little eunuch say earlier? Gentle? Where is it??

The king was inside speaking with Wei Shen when Wei Shen suddenly became alert and stood up, "Oh no, the earth is moving!"

The king carefully sensed, "No, someone is tearing down my Orchid Terrace Hall!"

This is utterly outrageous!