As she was about to head out, Jiang Lingxi put on a pair of gold-rimmed non-prescription glasses she had found, meeting Shen Yunqing’s gaze. "If we’re performing, might as well go all out. How do I look?"
While she turned to check herself in the mirror, Shen Yunqing allowed himself a few more glances. When she turned back, he quickly resumed his usual demeanor, "Quite impressive."
"That’s good, let’s go."
Downstairs, when it came to assistants driving for their bosses, Jiang Lingxi glanced at Shen Yunqing, who opened and closed the car door for her, and silently fastened the seatbelt in the passenger seat.
This task seemed unnecessary.
The vehicle left the residential area, smoothly heading north. Unconsciously, the skyscrapers had been replaced by somewhat shorter historical-style buildings. The flow of people and cars on the road decreased significantly, and the view expanded.
Before she could ask, an explanation came from the side, "This area is already considered a scenic zone. Major spots are closed to tourists on Mondays, so it’s less crowded. It’ll get busy again after today."
With fewer people around, Jiang Lingxi decisively rolled down the nearby window and looked at the buildings alongside the street.
Though they mimicked ancient styles, they weren’t entirely devoid of modern traces upon closer inspection.
After looking for a moment, she withdrew her gaze.
Shen Yunqing, although driving, kept the corner of his eye on the side. Noticing a touch of disinterest on Jiang Lingxi’s face, he pursed his lips and said, "About a kilometer ahead, there’s a genuine millennia-old building with a relatively well-preserved street."
Despite the thousand-year passage and rapid changes, the city’s transformation can be described as earth-shattering.
However, some historical proofs have been attentively preserved by those with a heart for them, leaving precious historical heritage for future generations.
Jiang Lingxi vaguely felt that the road ahead seemed familiar. Hearing Shen Yunqing, she immediately thought, "Is it Wanchao Street?"
"Yes." There was a hint of imperceptible amusement in Shen Yunqing’s voice.
He still remembered how this street’s name was conceived by the then Emperor.
A thousand years ago, Dayin, widely respected, had neighboring countries all bowing in allegiance.
Every year, kings of these vassal states, even princes and princesses from other nations, would go to Dayin’s capital to pay respects to the Emperor. The street in front of the Yinhe Palace was a mandatory route for these visitors.
Hence, His Majesty renamed the original Changping Street to the grand name Wanchao Street, meaning visits from myriad dynasties.
And history recorded this name. The original name, Changping Street, perhaps only known to scholars studying Dayin history, is mostly forgotten.
Jiang Lingxi shifted her gaze back out the window.
She wasn’t fond of naming things, even a panda cub she picked up once was named by someone else. Wanchao Street was the only name she ever changed.
Unexpectedly, after a thousand years, only this street remains preserved.
She couldn’t quite tell what she was feeling at this moment.
But the car was stopped before entering Wanchao Street by uniformed guards on the roadside.
It wasn’t until Shen Yunqing passed a green-covered ID from the open window that the car was allowed through.
With the ID retrieved, Shen Yunqing noticed the gaze lingering on it, and instead of putting it back in the car’s storage, he altered his course.
Jiang Lingxi raised an eyebrow but unceremoniously took it.
Opening it revealed a two-inch color ID photo, not much different from the person. Beneath were name, position, affiliated unit, and certificate number details.
She glanced at the photo again before closing it, "Do you always have to show this to go in?"
Jiang Lingxi nodded in understanding, "Wanchao Street also doesn’t allow entry on Mondays."
The car slowly drove onto the bluestone-paved road.
After enduring millions of years of natural elements and vehicular passage, even the hardest bluestone was worn smooth.
However, with the car moving slowly, Jiang Lingxi noticed an increase in carved patterns on the stones, which weren’t there a thousand years ago.
"One is for anti-slip, the other is for aesthetics."
Jiang Lingxi: "I didn’t ask, yet you knew."
Shen Yunqing remained silent.
Though he inhabited a similar body, perceiving subtle actions and expressions of the sovereign was a basic skill for a minister. Moreover, he harbored deeper thoughts.
A not particularly long street, the car took nearly a quarter of an hour.
Jiang Lingxi looked at the vibrant flowers and buildings lining the street, feeling somewhat melancholic.
No matter how well-preserved, in her eyes, there were still significant differences.
She recalled secretly sneaking out of the palace with Qing Yuan, often visiting this Wanchao Street.
This was the most prosperous area in the entire Dayin capital, representing Dayin’s image, never feeling dull even after a full day of strolling.
And now, only these immobile, lifeless buildings remain, for those a thousand years later to remember that somewhat resplendent history.
Passing through Wanchao Street, they crossed a long jade belt stone bridge. Without needing Shen Yunqing to point, Jiang Lingxi already saw Yinhe Palace standing ahead.
Yinhe Palace was built against Cuiping Mountain, the architecture layered upwards, not in a luxurious style but with an imposing dignity.
Especially now, without tourists and only a few patrolling staff, the absence of crowd and noise left only the architecture’s imposing presence and the aura accumulated over millennia.
Jiang Lingxi looked up at the towering gate of the Imperial City, right before her, and couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
In her past life, she regretted not being able to return to the Imperial Court alive, dying of illness on the way. Never did she expect to revisit this place one day.
Perhaps this fulfilled her regret in an unusual way.
The car didn’t enter through the main gate but was let in through a side entrance after another ID check.
"Ahead is the office area; we need to get a temporary work pass."
Jiang Lingxi nodded, knowing this temporary pass was for her use.
However, looking at the familiar buildings ahead, Jiang Lingxi thought if she wasn’t mistaken, this was where the Internal Affairs Officials used to work.
Unexpectedly, a thousand years later, this yard still serves the same purpose.
After parking, as she exited the car, Jiang Lingxi put on her non-prescription glasses again.
Walking up to the office door, a middle-aged man, also wearing glasses, rushed out from inside, nearly bumping into them.
Shen Yunqing immediately raised his hand to protect Jiang Lingxi, his gaze narrowing, lips pursed, looking slightly displeased.
Jiang Lingxi, naturally glancing towards the man blocked by an arm in front of her, froze upon seeing the situation.