Chapter 365 - 301, Start Working in the Palace
Imperial Palace Gate, Duan Gate, Chengtian Gate.
Only after passing the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Earth and Grain Altar, and exiting Chengtian Gate, was one truly out of the Imperial Palace. Without the watchful eyes of the Jiefan Guard and the Yulin Army, one could walk more briskly.
Chen Ji led Zaozao, while Xiao Man carried Wu Yun.
Under the night sky, the two of them walked west along the wide Chang’an Street. Moonlight spilled onto the road, and the Imperial Capital was far less bustling than Chen Ji had imagined. There were neither throngs of people nor brightly lit streets.
"Why is it so deserted?" Chen Ji looked back at the endless Chang’an Street behind him.
Laughing, Xiao Man said, "If you want excitement, Master, you need to go to East City. The Eight Great Hutongs and Dashlan never rest at night. We live in a place full of officials and gentry; who dares to be noisy here?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment. "How about we move to East City in the future?"
Hurriedly, Xiao Man replied, "No, no. Better a bed in West City than a room in East City. Who would give up a place in West City to move to East City, full of traveling actors, old gangsters, tattooed ruffians, and swindlers—all of Lower Nine?"
Chen Ji laughed and asked, "Then where do you think we should live?"
Xiao Man tilted her head in thought. "If Master becomes a high-ranking official in the future, we could get a house on Chessboard Street. It’s close to the Imperial Palace Gate, convenient for morning court; many Ministry officials rent houses there. If Master enters the Official ranks, we’ll have to live on Fuyou Street or Xuanwu Gate Street."
Chen Ji chuckled. "You’ve got it all figured out?"