Chapter 749: Plucking Stars Pavilion

Before arriving at Yingtai Isle, the King, just like Wei Shen who had never seen the aerial map, thought it was merely a summer garden. Because there were no other buildings around for reference, zooming in and out on the map he could not discern any trace of Yingtai Isle's majesty.

Following Zhao Zhuge into Ningwu Gate, the King, this son of heaven, finally gained a slight understanding of the royal garden produced by Mengmeng.

Here the mountains, waters, pavilions and towers, steps, tiles, corridors and pillars—all embody the order of imperial authority.

The majesty of the imperial family runs through this isle from start to finish.

Zhao Zhuge smiled and said, 'This uses grand architecture to write the doctrine of imperial supremacy.' 'This garden has never been merely a place to escape the heat; beyond the emperor's court it is another silent landscape of rivers and mountains. Standing high to oversee the masses, standing correct to command heaven. Within this small garden lies the majesty of emperors and the foundation of all under heaven.'

As far as the eye can see, the walls are upright, the courtyards spacious, branches grow without slant, forms are free of disorder—a perfect miniature of the realm's rivers and mountains.

Wei Shen listened with starry eyes, feeling shocked and excited, and deeply happy for the King. He realized Zhao Zhuge truly was a talent; even if the King had wealth, to remodel a garden like this was one of a kind in the world. Before he could voice his admiration, the King already clapped his hands there, shouting approval.

"Good, good, good, well said!"

Wei Shen: ……

"You'll ruin the atmosphere."

"I finally understand why you had me summon the Guangling envoy to Yingtai Isle." Even though the Ziwei Palace is exquisitely beautiful and majestically imposing, the people of Guangling have seen it from outside before and heard of it years ago from others. But this Yingtai Isle that embraces heaven and earth still exudes warm air! The key is, it's huge! Enormously huge! Ordinary private gardens offer a view with every step, exhausting the scenery after a hundred paces, confined to a single courtyard; this imperial garden of the heavenly family occupies an immense area, boundless and vast. Standing on this isle, there are no borders, no end.

Zhao Zhuge nodded and smiled.

Yingtai Isle cannot be mentioned in the same breath as a feudal lord's garden.

Even if the Prince of Guangling and the Jin Clan were richer, they could not build this in a short time. The construction of this project mainly relies on the five thousand technical worker NPCs distributed by the system.

They had barely stepped inside when the grand architecture tripped them up; just as Zhao Zhuge paused his explanation, Master Xiao Jin had already slipped away, and the King had to quicken his pace. In his heart he shouted for the ten‑thousandth time, 'This is only the tip of the iceberg, just the tip!'

This garden is perfect for raising Xiao Jin and Zhetian!

When an ordinary emperor pays a visit, with a garden this large one would normally have to ride in a carriage or on horseback, but this fellow… his legs are wound up like springs.

He dashed into the main road at a speed not slower than Master Xiao Jin's, and in the blink of an eye he too had vanished…

Wei Shen glanced at Zhao Zhuge with a hint of embarrassment; the other's expression unchanged, he said, 'It seems Your Majesty doesn't need a guide for now—shall I take Young Master Wei and Commander Ling for a stroll?'

Excellent.

Hearing the King say this was their new home, Xiao Jin eagerly rushed out to inspect the new territory; the King blocked Xiao Jin at the foot of Liuyun Cliff, where Xiao Jin shamelessly clambered onto his back. Seeing them meet, the Zhetian in the sky unceremoniously descended to perch on the King's shoulder.

This garden is such a leg‑killer that even relying on Xiao Jin for transport, the King spent half a day before finishing the tour.

Along the central axis stand three south‑facing halls: Qianyuan Hall, Chongjing Hall, and the most strictly regulated—Taihe Chengrui Hall. Their functions are respectively the small court audience, his daily activities and study, and the grand court audience and reception of foreign guests.

Then come countless inner chambers, waterside pavilions, viewing towers and gazebos, even Buddhist halls and temples—everything one could wish for.

After gaining a basic understanding of Yingtai Isle, the King began to allot the gardens. First he arranged scenic spots for his aunts and elder sisters, then for his worthless younger brothers. Officials were easy to accommodate—they all gathered around Ningwu Gate, closer to the offices.

As for him, he wanted to live in the Plucking Stars Pavilion atop Liuyun Cliff.

Who would have a pile of comfortable palaces and not live in them, choosing instead to dwell on a mountain‑top viewing pavilion? Only this diligent King—who let Xiao Jin climb mountains as if they were flat ground?

Wei Shen only caught up with the King at dinnertime, hearing that he had left the proper emperor's residence, the Yude Palace, to choose the highest viewing pavilion; his cousin, squinting in the sunset, strained to make out the lofty tower faintly visible on Liuyun Cliff, seeming to reach the heavens, and found it hard to put into words.

He thought he would never again go to the King to mooch meals; in the scorching summer, climbing the mountain several times a day—would he even survive? And this was supposed to be escaping which kind of heat?

Before he could voice his complaint, he heard the King cheerfully invite: 'Living alone in such a lofty tower would be lonely for me too; cousin, why not stay with me?'

The cousin finally showed an exasperated expression, 'I just have one question—when is Xie Yuan arriving?!'

The King: ……?

Well… he intends to move in before Xie Yuan arrives.

Although the King's summer‑retreat party set out together, in the end the King led the way and everyone went their own routes; the groups that left the city at the same time split into three batches. The lightning‑fast batch, like the King, had already arrived a day earlier. The second batch consisted of a swarm of officials bogged down with paperwork, and finally the slowpoke batch was the imperial carriage blocked by assassins.

Xie Yuan had a pile of things to handle, still reviewing documents on the carriage, completely unaware of how much Wei Shen was thinking of him.

Then the second batch still hadn't arrived, while the fourth batch was already on the road.

Li Xu went daily to the Grand Minister of Rites to report in, receiving the same excuse each time; though his thoughts were deep enough to keep him steady, the others who came with him inevitably complained, even suggesting they simply turn back to Guangling—originally it was Baili Jing who had written them the letter, but when the people arrived he was nowhere to be found.

If the northern borders hadn't subdued the Xiongnu and the Tufa, he might not have been able to stay so resolute. Now, hearing the rumors among the populace, he cannot help but wait here for Baili Jing.

Hearing that the imperial carriage had left the city for some summer retreat, even the composed Li Xu dropped a cup. That very day the Grand Minister of Rites finally sent word with a definite answer: His Majesty would relocate to Yingtai Isle, and would meet him there, allowing him to set out.

The Guangling envoy held back their anger and followed out of Youzhou City.