The two jade pendants lay side by side in the box. Whether broken or intact, they looked exceptionally lustrous and beautiful in the lamplight, like a silent comfort from the distant north.
Fortunately, he was about to return.
But in fact, he was more afraid in his heart than anyone else. Because this “cold chest, backstab” scenario had also happened between him and Fu Shen seven years ago.
Just as Yan Xiaohan was constantly drifting and struggling in self-intimidation and self-comfort, a small black dot suddenly appeared in the distance, with one person and one horse galloping closer. The newcomer was a dark-skinned youth who did not dismount even when approaching the crowd, but shouted, “Master Yan, please come with me, the general is about to arrive!”
Yan Xiaohan’s breath instantly relaxed, a big stone falling from his heart, and he rushed out first following that youth.
Before others could react, the two had already darted far away. The Northern Yan cavalry horses were incomparable to ordinary horses, and only Yan Xiaohan could barely keep up. In the end, the formation was no longer a formation, with the two leading and a long “tail” of people and horses tumbling behind.
The youth led them westward, and when Yan Xiaohan saw the blurry outline of buildings in the distance, he understood why Fu Shen would propose a seemingly unreasonable request on such an important day.
The high platform rose from the flat ground, with majestic halls, the setting sun casting oblique light on the glazed tiles, creating layers of brilliant golden radiance. From afar, it seemed built of gold, hence the name “Golden Terrace”.
The “Golden Terrace” was ancient. In the past, King Yan of Yan honored Guo Wei, built a palace and studied under him, placing a thousand gold pieces on the terrace to attract scholars from all over, thus gaining its name. At the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Founding Emperor wanted to emulate King Yan’s deed, raising a high terrace in the capital’s suburbs, building a palace, naming the terrace “Golden” and the hall “Qilin”. The main hall displayed eighteen portraits of founding meritorious officials to commemorate their achievements.
Subsequent emperors followed this practice, and generations of civil and military officials considered having their portrait in the Golden Terrace Qilin Hall an honor.
