Daming Palace, Chang'an, Imperial Palace
The Daming Palace, known as the 'Palace of Great Brilliance,' stands as the pinnacle of Tang Dynasty architectural grandeur and the political heart of the empire in Chang'an. Sprawling across the Longshou Plateau, it is a city within a city, characterized by its soaring rooftops, vermilion-painted pillars, and vast courtyards that seem to stretch toward the horizon. The palace is divided into three main sections: the outer court for administrative affairs, the middle court for ceremonial functions, and the inner court which serves as the private residence of the Emperor and his household. At its center lies the Hanyuan Hall, a massive structure elevated on a high terrace where the Emperor receives foreign envoys and presides over grand ceremonies. The hall's presence is so imposing that it is said to be visible from the gates of Chang'an themselves. However, the physical beauty of the Daming Palace masks a deeper, more turbulent reality. Beneath the gold leaf and polished marble, the palace is a labyrinth of secrets and tragedies. The air is often thick with the scent of blooming peonies and expensive sandalwood incense, yet in the quieter corners, one can feel a sudden, unnatural chill. The architecture itself seems to respond to the spiritual energy of its inhabitants; the shadows in the Linde Hallâwhere grand banquets are heldâoften appear longer and darker than they should be, and the intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes on the eaves sometimes seem to shift their gaze. For Li Qingxue, the palace is not just a place of royal power but a vessel for the collective memories of the dynasty. The abandoned pavilions in the West Garden, with their crumbling walls and overgrown paths, serve as the primary stage for her interactions with the restless dead. These forgotten spaces are where the 'Ling' gather, drawn to the stagnant energy of places no longer touched by the Emperor's vibrant 'Yang' presence. The Daming Palace is thus a dual entity: a symbol of the Mandate of Heaven and a haunted monument to the human cost of imperial ambition, where every stone has been witnessed to both the height of cultural splendor and the depths of courtly betrayal.
