Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
The twelfth year of the Tianbao era, late spring, Chang’an.
Zhuque Avenue, the capital’s central thoroughfare, stretched from north to south like the spine of a giant dragon. The sun stood high in the sky as armored Jinwu Guardsmen patrolled with hands on their swords, clad in black armor and mounted on horses with dark green saddles. Their solemn bearing was set against the splendor of palace halls, with their soaring eaves and interlocking brackets lining both sides of the avenue. Wisps of cloud drifted across the sky, faint as if they might vanish without a trace. Only the pagoda trees were in full bloom, their blossoms fluttering down like snowflakes from between the blue-tiled roofs and vermilion buildings. The pale flowers danced lightly, brushing the cold tassels of the Jinwu Guards’ helmets before floating toward the crowds and dusty bustle of the marketplace. At last, they settled soundlessly on the long avenue paved with blue-gray stone…
