I served as Li Bai's page.

Tongtian Palace is located south of Shangqing Palace. After breakfast, Yuan Danqiu and Yuan Yan had to fulfill their Taoist duties by meditating with the Palace Master in the main hall.

Li Bai led me out of Shangqing Palace and towards Ziwei City. Ziwei City truly lived up to its reputation as the former capital city center. The buildings on both sides were antique and elegant, grand and majestic. We arrived at the gate of Tongtian Palace, the Mingzhengjiao Hall, which was personally supervised by Wu Zetian. It is the symbol of the Eastern Capital and is built entirely of wood. It is currently the largest wooden structure building.

"Young master, is this the Mingtang? What a magnificent empress!"

Li Bai was also astonished by the magnificence of the Mingtang Hall, saying, "Who says women are inferior to men? This is the proof. It not only continued the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty but also ushered in a new era."

"Young Master, you must be referring to the prosperous Kaiyuan era."

"Yes, it is our era. We are in the most powerful period of the Tang Dynasty. Countless people with lofty ideals have struggled for it to achieve what we have today, and I am also striving to become one of them," Li Bai said.

Li Bai led me to stand in front of the Tongtian Palace, which is the Mingtang, formerly known as the Wanxiang Divine Palace, and now called the Tongtian Palace.

The Mingtang (Hall of Brightness) has three levels. The bottom level is square, symbolizing the four seasons. The middle level is dodecagonal, symbolizing the twelve two-hour periods of the day (子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥), and is topped with a round canopy supported by nine dragons. The upper level is twenty-four-sided, symbolizing the twenty-four solar terms of the year: Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Beginning of Summer, Lesser Fullness, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Lesser Heat, Greater Heat, Beginning of Autumn, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumn Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost's Descent, Beginning of Winter, Lesser Snow, Greater Snow, Winter Solstice, Lesser Cold, and Greater Cold. A golden phoenix sits atop the top level, supported by a massive tree with a circumference of 15 meters, running vertically through the entire structure.

The Tongtian Palace has four gates, with three stone staircases on each side. The widest one in the middle is the main path, while the two slightly narrower ones on either side are auxiliary paths. From the day the Mingtang was built, it was open to all people, setting a precedent for ordinary people to visit the imperial palace.

Li Bai and I entered the Mingtang Hall. The grandeur of the hall and its magnificent decorations were unparalleled elsewhere. One could imagine the spectacular scene of nine hundred people dancing in Wu Zetian's "Grand Music of the Divine Palace" within its walls. After touring from the first to the third floor, Li Bai, unable to contain his excitement, said to me:

"Yuehua, I want to write an essay, 'Ode to the Mingtang,' to express my feelings at this moment."

"Alright, let's go back to Shangqing Palace and write it," I said.

Li Bai grabbed my hand and hurriedly walked towards the door. When they passed the wine shop, he even asked me to buy a jar of wine, which he then hid in the backpack I was carrying.

We returned to Shangqing Palace, where Yuan Danqiu and the others were still performing their rituals under the guidance of the presiding Taoist priest. Li Bai and I went back to our room. I laid out paper, brush, and ink for Li Bai, and he took out some wine, drinking and writing at the same time. An hour later, a magnificent "Ode to the Mingtang" lay before me:

"In the past, the Emperor Tianhuang announced the completion of Mount Tai, changed the era name to Qianfeng, and began construction of the Mingtang, establishing the General History. At that time, the construction was not yet complete. He lamented the distant and unreachable divine power. Empress Tianhuang continued the work, and Emperor Zhongzong completed it. Thus, the sons of the people came to uphold the great undertaking of ten thousand sacrifices. For the Emperor Tianhuang was the one who initiated the creation, and Emperor Zhongzong was the one who upheld the will of Heaven. Successive sages compiled this work, and its great achievements are recorded in history. Your subject, Bai Mei, respectfully writes this eulogy. The words are as follows:"

……

Behold the grandeur of the Mingtang Hall, so abrupt and shrouded in mist, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, like the primordial energy of antiquity gathering in the void. Rugged and towering, lofty and imposing, it resembles the opening and closing of the gates of heaven and earth. Then, it rises majestically from the rugged cliffs, its towering heights and vast expanse awe-inspiring grandeur. It crowns all kings with its glorious achievements, illuminates all things with its magnificent writings. Its indistinct form seems to open into the void, its presence echoing through the rocky cliffs. It is comparable to the Heavenly Pillar of Kunlun Mountain, soaring into the nine heavens and draped with clouds.

……

How can it compare to the Qin, Zhao, Wu, and Chu states, vying for grandeur and extravagance, building the Epang and Congtai palaces, and constructing the Gusu and Zhanghua palaces? Without proper sacrifices and solemn rites, they merely obscure the moon and pierce the clouds. From this perspective, they are unworthy of praise. How much more so compared to the magnificent beauty of the Jade Terrace! Daring to praise the beauty of our nation, I thus composed this eulogy:

The lofty and majestic hall opens to the heavens, its splendor constructed from the grandest of materials. Lofty and imposing, it encompasses the imperial palace and the sacred altar. The sun shines brightly, unleashing wind and thunder. Ancestral sacrifices are performed with solemnity, the king's rule is vast and boundless. It governs the eight directions, connecting the nine realms. Its four gates open, welcoming all nations; auspicious signs are examined, and virtuous talents are promoted. It stands solemnly as a royal residence, secure and enduring for a thousand years!

I was utterly astonished, and with trembling hands I held up the poem, saying:

"We will present this poem to the Emperor, so that he may witness your unparalleled talent."

After finishing his poem, Li Bai let out a long sigh, stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at Luoyang, the eastern capital, saying:

"I hope His Majesty can understand my thoughts."

At this moment, Yuan Danqiu and Yuan Yan returned to their room. When they saw the article on the table, they were both stunned.

Yuan Danqiu said, "The Emperor is currently in Luoyang. Let's find someone to present this poem to him."

Upon hearing this, Li Bai and Yuan Yan also became interested, and the three of them discussed what kind of person they should ask to present their poems.

After lunch, Yuan Danqiu and Yuan Yan went to do their homework with the abbot of the temple. Li Bai and I had nothing to do, so I copied the poem again and put it in my bag.

Li Bai took me for a stroll in Luoyang. We learned that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was staying at Shangyang Palace. When we arrived at Shangyang Palace, the guards were very strict, and it was not a place that ordinary people could approach. Li Bai had no choice but to give up.

As dinnertime approached, we headed back towards Shangqing Palace. Just as we reached the temple gate, Yuan Yan came out, pulled Li Bai aside, and said, "Brother Taibai, let's go for a drink."

"No, there are rules in the temple; you can't get in if it's too late," I said.

"If we can't get in, we'll stay at an inn outside. Don't worry, your young master has plenty of ways to handle things. You don't need to worry about him being stranded," Yuan Yan said.

"Yuehua, go back now. Don't wait for us tonight," Li Bai said to me.

"Alright, then you two better watch yourselves." After I finished speaking, I watched Li Bai and Yuan Yan walk hand in hand down the main street of Dongdu City. I turned around and went back to Shangqing Palace.

Yuan Danqiu was copying the *Tao Te Ching* in his room, preparing for the next day's lessons. Seeing me return alone, he said:

"Did they go drinking again?"

"Yes, they both like to drink; they're really kindred spirits."

Yuan Danqiu put down his pen, stood up, and said, "Never mind them, let's go eat."

I followed Yuan Danqiu to the dining hall, where the Taoist priests served us food and asked, "Master Yuan, will the famous Taoist Wu Yun be giving a sermon to us tomorrow?"

"Yes, His Majesty specially invited him to Shangqing Palace to explain Emperor Xuanyuan's Tao Te Ching to us," Yuan Danqiu replied.

I said, "Wasn't the *Tao Te Ching* written by Lao Tzu, Li Er?"

"Fool, Emperor Xuanyuan is Laozi Li Er. Our dynasty regards Li Er as its ancestor, hence the title Emperor Xuanyuan," Yuan Danqiu explained to me.

I nodded thoughtfully and said, "My young master probably doesn't know that the famous Taoist priest, Master Wu, is going to give a lecture. I'll have to have the young Taoist priest hold the door open for him tonight."

Yuan Danqiu tapped my head and said, "All you ever think about is your young master."