Li Zian and Shen Tianshu started a little late, so when they arrived in Lishan County, it was already past lunch time.
The two of them ate a bowl of noodles on the roadside and asked the stall owner about the way to the back.
They couldn't directly inquire about Sanli City, but they wanted to inquire about Jiuli Luoyan Lake, which was further north.
"Why are you going to Jiuli Luoyan Lake? It's too cold now, and there's nothing to see there. You should go when the weather is warm." The stall owner felt puzzled after hearing this.
"We are going to visit relatives." Hearing this, Li Zian glanced at Shen Tianshu beside him and said with a smile, "I just married a daughter-in-law and I am taking her to visit the elders in the family."
"Oh, that's no wonder!" The stall owner glanced at Li Zian, and he was probably thinking that it would be difficult to find a wife with someone like this, so he enthusiastically pointed the way to the two of them.
"How long does it take to get there from the county?" Li Zian asked again, "If we leave early tomorrow, can we walk there at night?"
"I'm afraid it's a bit difficult." The stall owner shook his head and said, "There were a lot of mountain roads here, and they're not that easy to walk."
He thought for a while and suggested: "Actually, if you have eaten, you can set off and walk more than twenty miles north to a big new town.
"It's more than twenty miles long, but this road was just built last year. Although it's not as good as the official road outside, you can still walk quickly if you drive a mule cart."
"You can stay one night in Daxin Town and get up early the next day. If nothing else happens, you will definitely be able to reach Jiuli Luoyan Lake before sunset."
"Thank you, shopkeeper." After the two of them finished eating the noodles, they decided to follow the advice of the shopkeeper and set off without taking a rest.
Sure enough, the next section of the road was very easy to walk, and the two of them successfully arrived at Daxin Town before dark.
Daxin Town is not a big town. The only inn was actually a teahouse. There were only two guest rooms, and it seemed that no one had stayed there for a long time.
I heard that someone wanted to stay in the hotel, so the shopkeeper asked his waiter to clean it up, and then he could barely stay in the hotel.
Not to mention the musty smell in the room, even the bedding was damp. It was far worse than the previous herringbone room.
But thinking that they would be able to go to Sanli City tomorrow, Li Zian and Shen Tianshu did not find fault.
And now that it’s getting further and further away, there’s really no room for being picky.
After getting up the next day, the two of them had a bowl of wontons at the store next door and continued on their way.
Sanli Town is located between Daxin Town and Jiuli Luoyan Lake. They actually have plenty of time today.
However, firstly, the environment of the inn was worrying, and secondly, they were worried that the mountain road would be difficult to walk, so the two of them chose to set off early.
Sure enough, as the stall owner said, we started to enter the mountains soon after leaving Daxin Town. Although there were always mountain roads, the road conditions were never very good, so the mules couldn't go too fast.
Fortunately, the air in the mountains is very fresh, and the scenery is very different from that near Wuchang Mansion, which very well calmed the two people's impatient moods.
Although Li Zian came to Sanli City for the first time, he had heard about it from Concubine Fengrong.
Sanli City is located at the junction of three towns. Although it is called a city, it is actually the old residence of the Chen family.
Judging from its name, you can imagine how big the Chen family's old house is.
Although they had heard about it for a long time, when they actually arrived at the foot of the mountain and looked at the mountain gate halfway up the mountain, Li Zian and Shen Tianshu still took a deep breath.
What kind of old house is this? It's a walled city that's easy to defend but hard to attack!
"As expected of a family of military commanders, this old house is truly amazing." Li Zian said with emotion.
Shen Tianshu looked at the surrounding terrain and nodded in agreement.
Sanli City was built in the middle of three peaks, with the mountain gate spanning halfway up the two previous peaks.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, you can vaguely see the rows of buildings built against the mountain behind the mountain gate.
Li Zian said: "Grandma also asked us to take Mrs. Chen to the palace. I think the defense of the Chen family is much tighter than that of the palace.
maybe because
Like them, who have never seen the world, there are too many people who stop and stop to look at Sanli City.
So when the two of them stopped on the official road and looked at Sanli City whispering to each other, no one paid attention to them.
But when they turned off the official road and were about to go up the mountain, people dressed as servants came out from the side and blocked their way.
"This is private property, and outsiders are prohibited from trespassing."
Li Zian said: "We are here to see Mrs. Chen."
"Meet our old lady?" After seeing Li Zian's appearance, the servant frowned slightly and asked, "Who are you? Where are you from? Why do you want to see our old lady?"
Li Zian took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to him.
"Please, please give me the letter to Mrs. Chen. She will definitely see us after reading the letter."
The servant took the envelope doubtfully and saw that there was a wax seal on the seal. It was probably not used casually to fool people.
"Then wait here for a while and don't wander around." The servant said and hurried back with the letter.
Li Zi'an and Shen Tianshu waited and waited below, but they still didn't see their servant come back.
Shen Tianshu asked worriedly: "Why haven't you come back yet? Could you have just taken the letter and left us alone?"
"If the letter is gone, can we still see Mrs. Chen?"
"Don't worry, wait and see." Li Zian is not too worried about this. The Chen family has always had a very upright family tradition, and the servants should not do such things to deceive others.
After waiting for almost another stick of incense, the servant finally came back panting.
When he came back this time, the servant had a smile on his face, and he bowed and said: "Please come in, our old lady said, you two are distinguished guests from afar, I will take you to see the old lady.
"Just leave the mules and cart here, someone will take care of them."
After following the servant up the stairs and entering the mountain gate, Shen Tianshu's eyes widened instantly.
Although I had already vaguely glimpsed the scene in the city at the foot of the mountain, what I saw after entering the mountain gate was really shocking.
Buildings are built layer upon layer on the mountain. From here, the highest house looks like a toy.
The winding steps shuttle between buildings and trees, like a giant dragon hovering looming in the clouds.
No wonder it took so long for the disciple to deliver a letter to Mrs. Chen just now. How many steps do we have to walk to get to Mrs. Chen’s residence?
Looking at the endless steps, Shen Tianshu couldn't help but feel a little frightened. He doubted whether he had the physical strength to walk up it?
Fortunately, as soon as the servant said hello, someone came over immediately carrying a carriage.
"Both of you, please take a seat. The mountain roads here are difficult to walk, and outsiders are not used to it when they first come here. The old lady's residence is relatively high, so it is better for the servants to carry her up."
Li Zi'an and Shen Tianshu sat on the shoulder cart and were carried up the mountain by the Chen family's servants.
The main peak, which carries all the buildings in Sanli City, is actually higher than it looks from the bottom of the mountain.
When he finally got off the carriage, Shen Tianshu felt as if he had stepped on the clouds under his feet.
