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firstchaptertranslations · 6 years

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The Emperor Plans, The Minister Executes: Chapter 2

Gu Bing knelt there, soaked through all over with cold sweat. In that moment, it felt as if he were back in the drawing room in his maternal uncle’s house.

Several days a year, his younger self would go kneel there, receive a few scraps of silver from his maternal aunt, endure a round of everyone’s mockery, then silently leave, alone. After that was a crude dwelling, a single lamp, and classics, essays, and poetry.

That sensation— of being pitied and held in contempt, of having no more power over his own fate than a floating bit of algae.

He was long used to it, and thus able to endure it.

“Do you know why I picked you alone, out of the several hundred examinees ranked within the three tiers?” the man on the dais asked idly.

“This commoner does not know, Your Highness.”

“You’re a Retainer of the Crown Prince now. Don’t call yourself a commoner anymore.”

Gu Bing’s brows knitted. Retainer of the Crown Prince was a sixth-rank second-class position, better than what even many scions of good families could hope for. This good fortune had arrived so quickly that it left him fearful.

“Should you not express your gratitude?” The man on the dais chose a forbidding wording, but his tone of voice was so gentle as to seem a touch careless.”

“This minister thanks Your Highness for your generosity.”

A fine-featured handmaid went back and forth, topping up teacups and waving a fan. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

Gu Bing sighed inwardly. “Most likely the show of myself I made at the banquet at the Apricot Garden amused Your Highness--”

The other man startled. “You remembered my voice all this time?”

Gu Bing shook his head. “Your Highness’s voice is akin to the cry of the dragon and the call of the phoenix, but I didn’t recognize you by voice.”

The man on the dais stood and ambled his leisurely way down. Gu Bing saw the train of his robes trailing on the ground, embroidered with cloud patterns, like the lavish ripples of light atop Daming Lake.

“Tell me more.”

“In fact, I realized during the banquet itself. There were three main points of notice.”

“What three points?”

Gu Bing hesitated for a moment before replying deferentially. “First, Your Highness was youthful and magnificent, and of handsome bearing. No one less than a scion of the great families could’ve obtained the clothes you wore. Second, Your Highness had keen knowledge of the affairs at court. You even knew that Zhou Qi was going to the Prince of Jingxi as an aide. I doubt an ordinary princeling would’ve had the ability and interest. Third, no ordinary ministerial family could have employed the servants who blocked my way and asked after my name that day.”

The Crown Prince mulled over this for a moment, then clapped and laughed. “You really are a meticulous thinker, Gu Bing. I’d forgotten that several of my servants are the kinfolk of fallen ministers, tattooed as punishment and sent into the palace to serve the emperor’s family. Looks like I really was right to keep you.” The Crown Prince half-turned and eyed Gu Bing, then sighed. “But I really didn’t choose you because I found you amusing. Rather, I… never mind, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I didn’t expect you to be like this either.”

His words left Gu Bing bewildered. All he could do was obediently answer in the affirmative. “This minister fears he presents an incommodious sight to your imperial eyes.”

But the man didn’t spare him another glance. He only said, “After this you’ll be at my side attending upon me. Naturally you’ll be moving into the Crown Prince’s residence, the East Palace. You must be tired today— go retire and rest. Come to the inner court tomorrow at quarter past the fifth hour to await me.”

Gu Bing arrived at the courtyard neatly dressed before five the next day, neatly dressed, only to find that the tutors of the Crown Prince’s Academe, the Secretary of the Crown Prince, and even the Grand Guardian and Grand Tutor, were already lined up there, all present and accounted for. Even though everyone wore new court robes, they more resembled rows of wilted, sickly trees.

The Secretary of the Crown Prince was a rather forbidding man. “Minister Gu.”

Gu Bing immediately bowed, afraid to even raise his head. Secretary was a fifth-rank first-class official position, a full three grades higher than his own.

“Having just entered officialdom, I fear you possess little understanding of the court, let alone the East Palace. His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and kind in character, and treats his subordinates with great generosity. But this does not mean we ministers can grow careless. The East Palace morning meeting is at the fifth hour, after which His Highness must attend court at Liangyi Palace at quarter to six, so ministers should arrive here by three. You’ve newly passed the exams, Minister Gu. Do not make the mistake of sinking into idleness in your youthful prime!”

Spittle flew as Secretary Huang spoke; Gu Bing’s head sank lower and lower, almost burying itself into the dust too deep to pull back out.

Now he heard a series of rustles. The palace handmaids walked out in a line, with Crown Prince Xuanyuan Zhaomin standing in their midst. In an instant, everyone in the inner court was kneeling on the ground.

Gu Bing hurriedly knelt too, feeling sore of back and dizzy of head.

Xuanyuan looked at his gathered subordinates and smiled a little. “You have a voice like a great bell, Minister Huang Yong. You must be in fine health, if I could hear you a mile away.” Secretary Huang hurriedly begged his pardon, but Xuanyuan waved him aside. “Xiao-Gu only just arrived, and he’s had to work a good deal lately with the examinations. I was the one who told him to come at a later hour. With the chilly weather lately, I want to push the time of the meeting back fifteen minutes from now on, and everyone can get more sleep. What do you think, Grand Tutor?”

Gu Bing couldn’t resist raising his head. Xuanyuan looked cheerful, his phoenix eyes half-shut with his smile, like an enlightened old fox. Where was the slightest shadow of his wild, willful self from the banks of the winding river a few days ago?

As he woolgathered, he spotted Xuanyuan’s gaze suddenly turn toward him. His lacquer-black eyes could suck in souls. Hurriedly, Gu Bing lowered his head.

The corner of Xuanyuan’s mouth curved. He directed everyone indoors.

After the meeting, Gu Bing’s head spun with the multitudinous official position names and relationships— something something Attendant Liu was Chancellor Wang’s brother-in-law, something something Senior Minister Shi’s protege Zhao Zixi was the cousin of His Majesty’s current favorite Consort Zhao, something something Grand Tutor Su’s son was serving as Inspector in Huizhou, but due to an unhappy relationship with his father had gone over to Senior Minister Shi…”

How fortunate that he sat next to another Retainer named Wu Yong, who dragged Gu Bing into his incessant chatter. The buzz of his secret-sharing made Gu Bing’s head hurt. His face was turning pale.

Xuanyuan banged on his table somewhat impatiently. “So, after all that talk, how are we going to arrange for Third Brother to depart the capital as a regional prince? We still haven’t settled on how to respond to my Emperor Father. Can’t everyone give me one unified answer?”

“The Third Prince’s mother occupies a lowly position in the harem. The title of Prince of Lingnan should be good enough for him.”

“You don’t understand, his mother is cousin to Senior Minister Shi’s daughter-in-law!”

“And what do you know? Senior Minister Shi’s son favors Lady Ru.”

Xuanyuan laughed. “I know, you all write a petition and give it to me, right now. I’ll bring it to court afterward.”

Immediately, a clerk distributed sheets of paper. Gu Bing hesitated for a moment, then began to write. Wu Yong beside him snuck a glance, then frantically tugged at him. He was easy to lip-read: Are you crazy?

Gu Bing shook his head, and had the clerk bring up his response.

Xuanyuan’s gaze swept down the page. He gave a cryptic little smile and rose to attend court.

#the emperor plans the minister executes #bl translation #chinese webnovel #danmei

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marymperezga · 5 years

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Top 15 Mayan Ruins & Archeological Sites You Should Visit In Mexico

The Best Mayan Sites in Mexico!

Mexico Culture

One of my favorite parts about traveling in Mexico are all the interesting ancient Mayan ruins to explore. Here are the best Mayan archeological sites that you don’t want to miss!

Maya is a lifestyle; a community of settled people who have inhabited areas of Mexico and Central America since around 1800 BC.

Many people assume the Maya were wiped out — which is not the case.

The Maya community today totals around 7 million people who live by the traditions and are still native speakers of the Mayan language – rather than Spanish which now dominates the countries in which they reside.

However Mexico is littered with crumbling Mayan cities built by their late ancestors, pyramids of stone abandoned for various reasons and left to be overtaken by the jungle.

Many Mayan ruins have been excavated and opened to the public — but some, in particular, stand out.

After living in traveling through Mexico for the past 2 years, I wanted to share some of my favorite Mayan ruins & archeological sites in Mexico.

Learn a little bit about the history of these incredible ancient pyramids and historic sites before you explore them on your next trip to Mexico!

Mayan Ruins Mexico Map

How To Use This Map

Above you’ll find a map of the best Mayan Ruins in Mexico. Click on the top left of the map to find separate layers marking the route and points of interest. You can hide and show different layers, or click icons on the map to see the names of places I mention in this travel guide. “Star” the map to save it to your own Google Maps, or open the map in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy!

A Short History Of The Maya

Agricultural people by nature, the Mayan civilization harvested crops such as maize and beans, clearing jungles for farming as they developed more sophisticated techniques to expand their production.

Spiritually, the Maya worship more than 150 Gods who they believe their Kings are related to; with one God ruling over every subject associated with their lives, for example, the God of Rain, the God of Agriculture, and the God of Death.

Though it may seem complicated to us, this extensive list of deities actually resulted in huge advances in math and astronomy plus the development of the famous Mayan Calendar.

Although the original Maya Empire was destroyed many centuries ago, the Maya people still exist today.

The modern-day Maya hide in plain sight, so to speak, living in Mexico while keeping much of their own traditions and culture from the past.

Best Mayan Archeological Sites In Mexico

History lesson over, it’s time to dive into the multitude of ancient Mayan ruins – and there are quite a few, with around 200 different sites in Mexico alone! Over 4000 spread around Central America.

Work is still ongoing to uncover some of these, as archaeologists are actively engaged in extracting and understanding the secrets of ancient Maya, buried beneath a combination of thick jungle and time.

I’m going to help cut down this number for you, and share what I think are the 15 best Mayan archeological sites in Mexico. Let’s go!

1. Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins

The Famous Ruins of Chichen Itza

One of the greatest Maya cities in Mexico was Chichen Itza – a sacred city which covers around six square miles and was once home to hundreds of buildings which were built in both the classic Maya period and the later Maya-Toltec period.

Chichen Itza is probably the most visited Mayan ruins in Mexico, since being named one of the New Wonders of the World. The highlight is Kukulkan Pyramid which stands at 75 feet tall and built for astronomical/sacrificial purposes.

Perhaps one of its biggest draws for tourists is the twice-annual equinox when the setting sun creates shadows on the pyramid steps that resemble the body of a serpent.

Chichen Itza can get crowded with tour buses, but if you pick up a sunrise skip-the-line ticket, you can basically have it to yourself for a while. ➜ BOOK IT HERE

➜ Read My Free Guide To Chichen Itza

2. Coastal Ruins Of Tulum

El Castillo Pyramid in Tulum

Just a few hours away from Chichen Itza is the iconic walled city of Tulum perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Tulum’s ruins feature a beautiful Caribbean beach (that you can swim at!), with incredible views all around.

Tulum was a major trading and religious center for the Maya between the 11th and 16th centuries. They traded turquoise, jade, cotton, food, copper bells, axes, and chocolate.

Because of Tulum’s prime location along the touristic Riviera Maya coast, it gets a lot of visitors. The site isn’t that big either, so it can get super crowded mid-day.

My favorite part of the Tulum ruins is the Temple of the Frescoes, where you can still see painted murals inside!

➜ Read My Free Guide To Tulum’s Ruins

3. Maya Ruins Of Coba

Climbing the Pyramid at Coba

Just 40km west of Tulum you’ll reach Coba — one of my favorite Maya ruins in Mexico. Covering 80 square miles and featuring 5 large lakes, Coba is a less popular destination with a real air of mystery about it.

Though archaeologists believe it may one day be one of the largest Mayan excavations, right now it remains mostly untouched so visitors can engage their imagination to dream up the story behind the many mounds and pyramids.

To really appreciate the natural spectacle that is Coba, visitors can still climb 120 steep stone steps to the top of Nohoch Mul – the tallest pyramid in the peninsula – and gaze out over the jungle-covered ruins.

➜ Read My Free Guide To Visiting Coba

4. Palenque

Majestic Palenque Ruins

The Mayan ruins of Palenque are steeped in historical significance, and today stand as part of a UNESCO Heritage site surrounded by great trees and wildlife.

One of its highlights is the Temple of Inscriptions, which was built by King Pakal’s first son and provides records of over 180 years of the city’s history.

As well as its historical information, the temple is also home to King Pakal’s tomb, with humidity in the burial chamber so intense that the walls drip with water and individuals can only enter with special authorization.

5. Calakmul Mayan Ruins

Calakmul Ruins in Campeche

The Mayan ruins of Calakmul house two very large pyramids and an extensive system of reservoirs that once provided water to 50,000 Mayans.

Located far away from most tourist attractions in the heart of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, a massive protected jungle near the border of Guatemala with wildlife like howler monkeys and jaguars.

Visitors can still climb to the top of these structures and take in the surrounding tropical forests, the expanse of the central plaza and the multiple palaces that lie around it.

Of all the Mayan sites in Mexico, this one is my personal favorite. You can get lost for a full day exploring the site, and due to its remote location, there aren’t many visitors.

➜ Read My Tips For Visiting Calakmul

6. Monte Alban

Massive Site of Monte Alban

Monte Alban was one of Mexico’s first pre-Colombian cities, after being founded around 500 BC and supported primarily by agriculture through centuries of development and changing populations.

The city is located in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, spanning a great many cultures as it remained inhabited for 13 centuries. It’s also a UNESCO world heritage site due to its historical influence.

Monte Alban is a popular destination for tourists as much of the city is still intact; including temples, tombs, palaces, an astronomical observatory, and even a historical ball court which would have hosted games of Ollama (similar to football).

7. Teotihuacan

Beautiful Ruins of Teotihuacan

The impressive ruins of Teotihuacan outside Mexico City is another mix of culture, with the initial founders still unknown despite features from a variety of cultures apparent in its design.

Items and artifacts found within the city ruins suggest that it was once home to some of the more elite individuals of Maya and other cultures, making for an interesting historical analysis into the city.

Teotihuacan’s main attraction is the Pyramid of the Moon, which hides a plethora of secrets that are slowly being revealed as archaeological digs continue – years ago researchers discovered the bodies of animals and humans that had been treated to awful brutality in what is assumed to be a ritualistic sacrifice to the Gods.

Visiting the city today, you can explore the Citadel (large open plaza surrounded by temples), the Avenue of the Dead (the main road across the city that aligns with the setting sun once a year) and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon – some of Mexico’s largest structures.

8. Ek Balam

Ek Balam Archeological Site

Another favorite set of ruins in the Yucatan, near Valladolid, is Ek Balam, meaning Black Jaguar in the Maya language.

You can spend the day exploring and climbing around the site before enjoying a dip in the beautiful X’Canche – a cenote sinkhole full of fresh crystal-blue water.

Ek Balam is also the location of King Ukit Kan Lek Tok’s tomb, which lies within the largest pyramid – standing alongside 45 other ancient structures.

Some of the main highlights are the walls surrounding the site, the views from atop of the highest pyramids and buildings, and the incredible works of art and calligraphy plastered on the walls of some of the remaining buildings.

➜ Read My Tips For Visiting Ek Balam

9. Uxmal Ruins

The Mayan Site of Uxmal

Uxmal is a set of Mayan ruins located near the Mexican city of Merida, on the West side of the Yucatan Peninsula.

In ancient times, Mayan high priests would perform ceremonies (including sacrifices) atop the religious structures in Uxmal – many hundreds of steps above the ground.

According to Mayan legend, Uxmal’s rounded Pyramid Of the Magician was magically built overnight during a series of challenges issued to a dwarf by the king of Uxmal.

Maya priests doubled as astrologers, and Uxmal was built and designed using astronomy to track the cycles of the moon and the stars. It was also used as a sign of power, as they used their superior knowledge to coincide religious ceremonies with natural phenomena such as the eclipse.

Gazing out over the ruins today, you really do get a sense of the detailed design and work that went into creating this great religious city.

➜ Read My Tips For Visiting Uxmal

10. Edzna

Edzna translates in Mayan to “House of the Itzas”, which has led many to believe that this particular city was the initial home of the Itza family – before they moved on to found the iconic Chichen Izta.

Edzna is somewhat of a mystery in many ways, and this contributes to why it is such a great stop on any road trip through Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Though Edzna was a major city at one point in Mayan history (around 200A), in 1450 it was fully abandoned – with no obvious reason why. Edzna was then “rediscovered” in 1907, and today plays host to a daily Evening Light Show which lights up the city ruins.

When visiting Edzna, make sure to visit the Gran Acropolis, the Temple of the Masks – which showcases two masks, one honoring the Sunrise God and one the Sunset God – and the imposing Palace that faces the Gran Acropolis and is a residential building that runs from the North to the South.

11. El Rey

One of the smaller communities frequented by the Mayans is El Rey – which is actually located in the heart of Cancun. Visiting these ruins can take less than an hour if you’re short on time.

El Rey is considered a temple complex and, when compared to some of the other city ruins, is fairly unspectacular. There are none of the tall pyramids we come to expect with Maya communities, and the architecture is simple and low key.

However, what El Rey does provide is a sense of real history, as you walk amongst the structures and learn how it connected to come of the other Mayan cities nearby – both for trade and for worship pilgrimage.

El Rey is a nice one to visit if you are after some undisturbed exploring, and the nearby Museo Maya will fill the gaps for you in terms of the history and culture of the Mayan communities.

12. Chacchoben

Next up are the ruins of Chacchoben near Mahahual – one of the most popular sites of the Mayan era. Unlike many of its smaller counterparts, Chacchoben has only a portion of the site open to the public.

Many of the original temples are still standing in their ancient condition, awaiting restoration. The city was home to the largest community in its region by 360 AD, and was considered by the Mayans as the center of their ceremonious activity.

The Gran Basamento was the Maya’s most important ritual plaza. Surrounding the ruins is a deep jungle which is now home to a huge variety of plants and creatures, including jaguar, puma and tapir – if you’re lucky – making for an exciting day out!

Another thing to look out for is the traces of red around the base of the temples and structures – proof that these buildings were once coated completely in red paint – though the unrelenting sun is gradually causing further degradation to this as time goes on.

13. Templo Mayor

Continuing our exploration into the major cities of the Mayan era, we now reach the Templo Mayor – Spanish for “The Greater Temple” which was once considered the center of the Maya universe.

Templo Mayor is located in present-day Mexico City, considered part of Tenochtitlan and historically dedicated to both the God of War and the God of Rain and Agriculture.

The ruins stand next to an expansive cathedral, and it is said that stones from the temple were used in the construction of the cathedral; linking Mexico City’s levels of history.

Templo Mayor itself was once the scene of both coronations and human sacrifices – with the blood of the sacrifices supposedly feeding the two Gods to whom the temple was dedicated.

14. Izamal

The Pyramid at Izamal

Izamal was an important Mayan pilgrimage site containing one of the heaviest pyramid structures in all of Mesoamerica. It had its own glory days early on, before Chichen Itza took over around 900 AD.

Eventually invaded by the Spanish, Izamal remained a place of importance to the Mayans and the Spanish built a large religious complex which is still a pilgrimage site even today for Mexican Catholics.

In 1993 the site was even visited by Pope John Paul II! There are some interesting annual festivals here which fall in April, May, August and December.

If you pay Izamal a visit, make sure you keep your ears open, as the Maya language is still very much the chosen mother tongue in and around the “yellow town”.

15. El Meco

Cool Ruins Outside Cancun

El Meco is a set of smaller ancient Maya ruins that aren’t well known located just North of Downtown Cancun. There’s even a 41-foot high pyramid!

These ruins were probably related to Isla Mujeres and an important port for the Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula.

To find them, head up Avenida Lopez Portillo (aka the Cancun-Puerto Juarez road) in a rental car, taxi, or collectivo bus. The site is located at KM 27. The ruins are just off the road on the left.

Other Important Mayan Sites

While much of the historic Maya empire was based in present-day Mexico, you can still find many ancient Mayan cities in countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize too.

If you plan to continue your travels to these parts of Central America, I also recommend you stop by sites like:

Tikal – Guatemala

Tikal is one of the largest Mayan settlements in the Americas, located in Guatemala’s Peten basin and Tikal National Park. It was probably called Yax Mutal when it was a thriving city.

The Great Plaza is particularly impressive, flanked on the east and west sides by two great temple-pyramids.

Caracol – Belize

The Mayan site of Caracol in Belize was built around 330 AD, becoming one of the most important political centers of the Maya lowlands through 600-800 AD.

Copan – Honduras

The Copan Ruins feature large open plazas, as well as many altars and monoliths. It is also home to the world’s biggest archeological cut, revealing many layers of the floor beneath the Great Plaza.

It’s also home to the Hieroglyphic Stairway Plaza, with the longest known Mayan inscription (made up from over 1800 glyphs).

Mysteries Of The Maya

So there you have it – a snapshot of Mayan history, told through fifteen different ancient archeological sites.

In spite of the attempted modernization of the world around them, Maya communities have largely succeeded in preserving their identity and traditions; making them somewhat of an attraction for the many tourists who flock to their neighborhoods – both past and present.

Visiting Mexico without seeing at least a few of these historic archeological sites would be a shame, so make sure to pick a few and experience some history and culture on your next trip to Mexico!

Travel Planning Resources For Ek Balam

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Car Hire is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Yucatan Suggested Reading: The Maya: Ancient Peoples & Places

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