Published: August 25, 2025
Chapter 286: The Prince’s Mansion
Prince Xin’s Mansion was not located within the Imperial City but was built in the Southern District. After traveling by carriage for an hour, Han Li and the others finally arrived at the entrance of the Southern District.
The residential styles in the Southern District were noticeably different from those in the East District, where the Qin Estate was located. Most buildings here were formal and standardized in design.
The status and rank of the residents here could be easily discerned just by looking at the size and style of their homes.
All the residences in this area were constructed by the government and strictly allocated to officials according to their rank and noble titles. No one dared to expand or renovate their homes arbitrarily, as doing so would be a violation of regulations.
As a member of the imperial family and a noble with a prince’s title, Prince Xin’s residence was naturally one of the most prestigious in the Southern District.
The mansion’s grounds were even larger than the Qin Estate, making it a truly colossal property.
When the carriage stopped in front of Prince Xin’s Mansion, Han Li immediately sensed the grand aura of worldly prestige that only high-ranking officials possessed.
The main gate was about five to six zhang high and three to four zhang wide, entirely covered in thick brass plating. The door was studded with dozens of huge nails, making it look both magnificent and solemn.
On either side of the nearly one zhang tall steps stood two fierce bronze lion statues, polished to a gleaming shine, their whole bodies brilliantly lustrous and strikingly eye-catching.
But what impressed people the most about Prince Xin’s Mansion was the sixteen impeccably armored imperial guards standing on the steps outside the gate. These guards were specially borrowed from the Imperial City’s imperial garrison by Prince Xin to prevent any unexpected incidents during large gatherings.
The mansion’s steward was a lean old fellow who, standing in for Prince Xin, wore a broad smile as he greeted every new guest on the steps, not daring to neglect a single visitor.
By now, dozens of carriages of various sizes had gathered in front of the mansion, almost filling up the entire courtyard.
On the huge bluestone steps before the gate, five or six guests who had yet to enter the mansion were chatting with each other. All were dressed elegantly and moved with grace, clearly people of high status.
Seeing all this, Qin Yan straightened his clothes and descended from the carriage in a calm and composed manner.
Han Li scanned the surroundings carefully, detecting the presence of immortal cultivators, and then felt reassured enough to get down as well.
As for the young masters and young ladies of the Qin Family, they had all disembarked the moment the carriage stopped. They were now standing excitedly in front of the mansion, chatting animatedly.
Han Li glanced at the guests still on the steps and noticed that except for the younger generation of the Qin Estate, most of the other guests had brought along their children or nephews.
“Could it be that all these young people were invited by that so-called young prince? Or perhaps Prince Xin’s Mansion is deliberately gathering these young people here under this pretense,” Han Li pondered, feeling puzzled. He looked at Qin Yan, who, with furrowed brows, clearly shared the same surprise.
“Grandfather, let’s enter the mansion! The young prince and the others are waiting for us!”
A sixteen or seventeen-year-old young master of the Qin Family, seeing that the old gentleman was still standing by the carriage without moving, nervously stepped forward after encouragement from his brothers and sisters, speaking up cautiously, worried he might be scolded by Qin Yan.
“Alright, understood. Everyone, let’s go inside!”
To this young master’s astonishment, Qin Yan nodded casually and kindly agreed. This made him feel somewhat favored and he excitedly returned to his peers.