Chapter 1478: 1478: An Embarrassing Combination

Chapter 1478: Chapter 1478: An Embarrassing Combination

Ouyang Feifei also noticed Luo Ziling and Yang Qingyin walking hand in hand. Her expression shifted slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. She spoke first, “It seems perseverance pays off—you two really ran into each other at the Daming Palace ruins.”

“Perhaps it’s a tacit connection. I guessed she might be visiting the Daming Palace ruins today,” Luo Ziling said while trying to let go of Yang Qingyin’s hand.

To his surprise, Yang Qingyin tightened her grip, refusing to let go.

“You and him seem to share some tacit understanding as well. He came chasing me, and you followed him—they both led us to this encounter.” Yang Qingyin glanced calmly at Ouyang Feifei, who was also dressed meticulously in classical attire. Her tone was serene and unperturbed. “It seems everyone has worked hard for this.”

“Since we’ve come to the ancient capital, we might as well explore together. Having some company isn’t a bad idea,” Ouyang Feifei said, flashing a smile at Luo Ziling. “I actually considered inviting you out this morning.”

Yang Qingyin didn’t respond but released her grip, directing her gaze at Luo Ziling, seemingly waiting to see how he would reply.

Luo Ziling felt a bit awkward but ultimately replied, “I wanted to find Qingyin earlier, so I didn’t inform you.”

Ouyang Feifei said nothing and simply looked at Luo Ziling quietly.

Three beautiful women standing around one handsome man—this scene had already drawn the attention of nearby tourists.

Although winter break hadn’t ended, there were still quite a few visitors to the Daming Palace ruins park, and passersby couldn’t help but cast their gazes toward them.

“Let’s explore together—it’s rare to be out like this,” Yang Qingyin broke the silence after a moment. “Besides, we already have someone willing to be our free guide.”

Since Yang Qingyin had said so, Luo Ziling naturally agreed.

After thinking for a bit, Ouyang Feifei didn’t protest either, nodding to indicate her agreement.

Ye Xiaoli joined them soon after, forming a temporary small tour group with four women and one man.

“Let’s check out the museum. The Daming Palace Museum always has something unique,” Yang Qingyin suggested, willing to include Ouyang Feifei in their excursion. Ouyang Feifei didn’t refuse either, which made Luo Ziling feel relieved. He immediately proposed visiting the Daming Palace Museum.

Although such a group dynamic felt somewhat awkward, the outward harmony wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The miniature Daming Palace scenic area was only a short road away from the Daming Palace ruins museum—a walk of less than 200 meters.

The museum was built semi-underground.

The five of them descended the stairs toward the entrance, catching the attention of everyone around.

With their impressive poise—whether Luo Ziling, Yang Qingyin, Ouyang Feifei, Wang Qing, or Ye Xiaoli—their arrival added a palpable weight to the atmosphere. Particularly Yang Qingyin and Ouyang Feifei, whose elegant, classical attire exceeded the charm of television stars in costume dramas, naturally attracting the gaze of others.

However, none of them paid attention to the stares. Eyes straightforward, they followed closely behind Luo Ziling, entering the museum.

The primary exhibits of the Daming Palace Museum consisted of artifacts unearthed from the ruins and displays of the palace’s history.

Inside the exhibition hall was a television wall, broadcasting images of the entire Daming Palace, including the changing scenery throughout the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

“An emperor owning such a vast and picturesque palace is enviable in itself,” Luo Ziling couldn’t help but remark, staring at the wall where the Daming Palace’s seasonal transformations were slowly unfolding. “The Daming Palace is truly massive—its area equals that of three Versailles Palaces, four Forbidden Cities, twelve Kremlin Palaces, thirteen Louvre Palaces, and fifteen Buckingham Palaces combined…”

Before he could finish, Yang Qingyin interrupted, “Not to mention the three thousand concubines in the imperial harem!”

“Haha.” Feeling slightly embarrassed, Luo Ziling shot a glance at Ouyang Feifei. Seeing that she was simply gazing up at the changing imagery on the television wall without reacting to the comment, he relaxed and smiled before replying to Yang Qingyin, “In ancient times, warfare was frequent. During the late Sui Dynasty, out of a population of over fifty million, only fifteen million remained by the time the Tang Dynasty was established. Most of the deceased were men, creating a severe gender imbalance back then. That’s why the practice of having multiple wives and concubines became prevalent—otherwise, many women wouldn’t have been able to find husbands. To accelerate population recovery, there were even laws mandating that girls marry by the age of fifteen. If I’m correct, in the Tang Dynasty, women over eighteen who remained unmarried would face penalties.”

At this point, Luo Ziling, smiling, teased the four women around him, “If this were the Tang Dynasty, you’d all be considered old maids. Your parents would have to pay fines for daughters like you who were still unmarried after the age of twenty.”

“Why don’t you invent a time machine and travel back to the Tang Dynasty,” Ouyang Feifei suggested sarcastically.

“Traveling back to the Tang Dynasty would indeed be fascinating,” Luo Ziling ignored Feifei’s mockery and Yang Qingyin’s disdainful glance, continuing enthusiastically. “At least, from Zhenguan to Kaiyuan, the Great Tang was the world’s most powerful nation. Its influence was even greater than America’s today. ‘Nine heavens open palace gates, countless envoys kneel before imperial crowns.’ During that era, Tang’s armored cavalry roamed the length of the Tianshan Mountains and the breadth of the Gobi Desert. The territories of the Anxi, Anbei, Annan, Andong, and Beiting Protectorates now mostly lie outside our borders. In its prime, Great Tang’s domain exceeded twenty million square kilometers, commanding respect from all around, drawing tributes from countless foreign nations.

Back then, Han people held the highest status, and visiting Hu People rarely dared to behave arrogantly. Moreover, the unyielding spirit of Han sons of those times was unmatched by later generations. Li Bai’s poem ‘Hu People No Longer’ is the most authentic portrayal of that courageous spirit. The many frontier poems during the Tang Dynasty also show how martial the Han people were. It was an era unrestrained, allowing full expression of individualism. The Tang army’s conquests and territorial expansions earned the empire its legendary reputation, while the brilliance of Tang poetry uplifted Han culture to an unparalleled pinnacle. Experiencing such a passionate and vibrant era would undoubtedly be thrilling.”

Hearing Luo Ziling speak this way, Yang Qingyin’s face showed a hint of emotion, her gaze toward him becoming somewhat different.

“Do you think life was comfortable back then? Could you even adapt to that era?” Though Ouyang Feifei was momentarily moved by his speech, she continued with a sarcastic retort. “Forget television, movies, and cell phones—the food options were meager. And the imperial examination system—do you think you’d stand out?”

“In a vertical comparison, Great Tang certainly can’t measure up to the present day. But in a horizontal comparison, it could command the world’s admiration. What I yearn for is the bold spirit of Han men back then, as well as the openness and inclusivity of that era,” Luo Ziling noticed that some others had been drawn over by his words and tactfully brought the conversation to an end. “Alright, alright, let’s continue with the tour. If you want to hear me boast, I can keep going.”

“That perspective does sound extraordinary—better informed than even someone like me who specializes in history,” Yang Qingyin refrained from mocking Luo Ziling further and instead praised him. “Your insights are unique—we chose the right guide today. We definitely ought to have invited you along.”

With those words, she reached out and took hold of Luo Ziling’s arm.

Witnessing the pair behave like this right in front of her, Ouyang Feifei’s expression shifted once more.