The clouds at the edge of the sky were a dismal gray, the hour was not yet clear, showing a pale whiteness of dawn. Li Ping'an, who had ridden through the night, finally saw a residence ahead, a grand manor with definitely three sets of courtyards.
"Let's first stop at this residence for lodging and rest for a day; after refreshing overnight, head to Chang'an early tomorrow!"
Having made up his mind, Li Ping'an spurred his horse, rushing towards the manor,
"It's already been abandoned!"
There was a plaque above the manor's gate inscribed with "Zhengqi Manor", clearly crafted by a renowned artist. Though it was all in ruins and filled with a ghostly aura, the architecture, with its drooping lotus-shaped column bases and elephant-nosed beams, the painted rafters and carved beams, and the grand mansion itself, had once belonged to a wealthy family.
