Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 229, Section 228: Moving the Palace to Ganquan
After all the furniture, decorations, and ornaments were arranged, the relocation of the palace officially began.

First, the Grand Astrologer selects an auspicious day and time, then incense is lit and an altar is set up to worship the gods and ancestors.

The Queen's golden edict was not only enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, but it had also been sent to the ancestral home of Yongcheng by express courier at the time of her investiture. Now, after the sacrificial offerings and all the procedures were completed, Qin Shi was finally led into the Ganquan Palace.

To be precise, we entered the main hall of Ganquan Palace.

The architecture throughout the Qin state reflected a unified aesthetic.

Whether appreciating men and women or objects, size comes first, and only then is beauty considered.

For example, the Ganquan Palace at this time, even if it was not as vast as the 2.78 square kilometer Ganquan Palace that was rebuilt in the Han Dynasty, was still 1000 mu.

The Southern Palace, where Qin Shi briefly resided, was merely a small side hall.

The entire area of ​​Ganquan Palace is equivalent to that of the entire Forbidden City.

Such a vast area, even excluding the side palaces and residences of Lady Chu and Lady Zheng, would have been enough for the Qin Dynasty to set up ironworks, glassworks, and a Taoist palace...

However, all three of these locations had some strategic implications and inherent dangers, so they were still arranged on the south bank of the Wei River, not far from Xianyang Palace.

Qin Shi stepped into the newly renovated main hall.

At this time, the pepper, which was more valuable than gold and pearls, had not yet been transported by camel bells from the Western Regions, but the palace had already obtained Sichuan pepper and mud from Sichuan to make pepper walls.

Because of its many seeds and fragrant aroma, it is considered a purported elixir for boosting yang energy, and thus it was indispensable in the Queen's residence.

During the Qin Dynasty, such symbolism was irrelevant, but pepper paste could repel insects and prevent moths, and the fire walls in winter would emit a faint warm fragrance, which was very necessary for palaces with mostly wooden structures.

Moreover, the understated luxury within the palace extends far beyond this.

Given Ji Heng's personality and the abundance of forest resources, towering beams and pillars rose from the ground, with giant trees carved with gold and inlaid with jewels, and jade pendants and gauze curtains hanging down from the beams.

Silk ribbons swayed gently, the fragrance of orchids wafted through the air, and maids dressed in plain clothes waited quietly by the side; the aura of supreme power was intoxicating.

The bright light streaming through the glass windows made this spacious palace appear both bright and dreamlike.

Qin Shi then reminisced about his half-day visit to the Forbidden City...

Fortunately, the king is no longer in the Song or Qing dynasties.

Otherwise, one could only look at the narrow, cramped palace, listen to the hawkers' cries from just a wall away, and endure the occasional pig from Bianliang bumping into the palace...

Each of these possibilities, if applied to Ji Heng, would likely break his defenses.

Qin Shi chuckled to herself as she made the connection, but she had to admit that the furnishings of Ganquan Palace were exceptionally well done, and had a different feel from Lanchi, which she liked very much.

After passing through the main hall and walking along the corridor, you will see a well-maintained autumn grass pond.

The grass sprouts covering the ground are yellowish with a hint of green. The withered life has not yet conveyed the breath of late autumn to the tender sprouts, so the two colors intertwine, creating a vibrant sense of life.

There are still large clumps of reeds by the pond. The reed flowers have not yet flown, and only the deep yellow reeds with a hint of green can be seen swaying in the wind.

There was a rustling sound in the grass as a patrolling guard emerged from within, carrying a spear, followed by two wild ducks.

This made Qin Shi understand Ji Heng's aesthetic sense perfectly.

After all, who would prefer a cramped, cage-like environment where not even a single tree dares to be planted, when they can live in such a vibrant place?

The pond is only about 10 acres in size. Now in late autumn, the slightly dried-up water surface has only a few withered lotus leaves left. Under the bright sunshine, it has a unique poetic and picturesque charm.

Wu Zi explained from the side, "Next spring and summer, this grassy pond will again have water chestnuts that the Queen loves to eat, and after a while, the lotus roots underneath will also be able to be harvested."

"There are also many fish and shrimp in the pond, which can be supplied locally. However, the quantity is not large and the quality is not as good as the carefully selected ones from Shanglin Garden."

Qin Shi was already very satisfied: "I like it very much, thank you for your trouble."

Nowadays, there are one or two such ponds in various palaces:

One reason is for the convenience of getting water nearby.

Secondly, and most importantly, it served to prevent fires from breaking out in Xianyang Palace.

After all, apart from the rammed earth foundation and stone brick walls, the rest of this large, sprawling wooden building is flammable and easily burned.

Therefore, the Qin state had already made preparations in four places since the construction of the Xianyang Palace began.

Qin Shi then instructed, "There's no need to wait until late autumn. Let's harvest a section or two of lotus root today and serve the King and me a dish of lotus root slices with vinegar tonight."

The dry air of late autumn is perfect for these cool and refreshing dishes, which are both invigorating and appetizing. Wandering slowly around Ganquan Palace, I noticed another secluded palace complex in a corner ahead, but it was located outside Ganquan Palace.

"Which palace is this?"

It looked really remote; after going around two more palace walls, it seemed like we were about to leave the area of ​​Xianyang Palace.

Wu Zi explained, "This is the residence of Qi Zi Dan and Fei Qing. The Queen always walks in front of it and does not pass through Gan Quan Palace, so she did not notice it."

She replied, "I have noticed that the Queen is quite concerned about these matters of the people's livelihood, so this place is connected to the palaces of the ladies of the harem."

He added, “Although the gates are easily accessible, the General of the Palace Guard has arranged for heavy guards here, and the palace is strictly guarded. If the Queen wishes to summon someone, it will be much more convenient.”

With such a large palace, it seems difficult to maintain adequate security.

However, in reality, after years of war between various states, the only way to assassinate the Qin emperor was to find a way to meet with the king.

After all, three or four people patrol the reed beds by the pond every day.

Although the pond was covered by lotus leaves and water chestnuts in summer, the banks were heavily guarded by soldiers. Even if someone were hiding there, they probably wouldn't have a chance to show themselves for ten days or half a month, so what good would it do?
Qin Shi was quite relieved about this.

She walked through the entire Ganquan Palace, from the Queen's private treasury and the servants' quarters to the palace kitchen, the duty roster and rest areas, and the firewall maintenance area...

I wrote down the directions for each one.

And her bedroom.

It is not yet cold, so the palace walls are not yet lit. But everything in the room is perfectly at ease and pleasing to the eye.

There was also the glass tree presented by Lady Naba, which Qin Shi did not value. However, the artisans of the glass workshop wanted to prove the queen right, so they presented a new one with more beautiful branches, a taller tree, and more dazzling gemstones.

Now it has been placed in a corner of the bedchamber by the Red Maiden, serving only as decoration.

She looked at her high, soft pillows before asking again:

"Where are your lodgings? And where will the eunuchs, servants, and guards keep warm? Have they all been arranged?"

The woman replied in a low voice, "Everything has been arranged."

"The Queen is kind and benevolent, and everyone in the palace knows that nowadays, not only the servants but also the newly arrived servants and attendants have heated kang beds for their rest."

In the past, due to the limited supply of firewood and charcoal, the temperature would likely have been only slightly warm.

But now, with open-pit coal mines operating throughout the Qin state, even before winter has arrived, the Xianyang Palace has already been filled with cartloads of coal.

These palace maids and servants will probably have a mild winter this year.

Qin Shi smiled and said, "That's good."

She then noticed two or three more spacious palaces beside the main palace, all exquisitely and ornately renovated, which piqued her curiosity:
What is the purpose of this place?

Even the banquet area was arranged in the front hall. And these palaces looked very well maintained, not like places that were not used.

Chi Nu and Wu Zi laughed together.

"Now that the Queen is residing in Ganquan Palace, the future princes and princesses will need to be placed nearby."

In short, the children's room.

Qin Shi shook his head: "It's kind of you to plan ahead."

However, she did a good job and was very satisfied.

Therefore, he smiled again and said, "A reward."

　The Qin Dynasty was too short-lived, and there is very little information available, so the names of all the palaces in Xianyang Palace are not even clear yet, and writing them down would be messy.

　　Therefore, I consider Ganquan Palace to be the palace of the Queen or the Empress Dowager for easy distinction. (Refer to Ganquan Palace and Changning Palace, where Empress Dowager Xuan resided). Its specific location is on the south bank of the Wei River, and it is also known as the Southern Palace of Xianyang.

　　[This is not a direct connection to Ganquan Palace on Ganquan Mountain (that one dates back to the Han Dynasty, and the location has changed), please understand (I've been searching myself to the bone!)]

　　In the Qin state, palaces served multiple functions, including politics, military affairs, religious rites, and residence. They were not only the living quarters of the emperor but also important carriers of national strategy and ceremonial activities.

　　Therefore, the entire Xianyang Palace complex is enormous and has a short history, so it cannot be recorded clearly, like the Forbidden City, with each hall meticulously documented.

　　(End of this chapter)