The palace gardens remind me of the Khanid gardens I saw on the estate of House Deritan - a former duchess of Fekhoya, fallen from grace, and presently of unknown whereabouts. And, of course, it also reminds me of the beautiful example on display at Luna's "Gardens of the Empire" exhibit. I would advise our new members to visit if they get the chance to do so.
In the Khanid custom gardens are seen as places to come to rest and meditate, to get away from the business of the day, and to spend some time focusing on what matters most. Their style is less formal and rigid, less rectilinear than classicist Dam-Torsad gardens, and the element of random encounter is allowed to come into play. Walking along the twisting stone paths, one finds strangely shaped rocks, carefully shaped ponds with water lillies, patches of the whitest sand, manicured shrubs, Khanid maple trees, and tiny trees that have clearly been tortured to remain small while still looking natural.
The eye is both guided inward and outward. Inward, towards the center of the Duke of Youledian's garden, a lone giant Emperor's tree presides over its surroundings. It is visible from nearly every corner of the garden, and symbolizes the dominance of a Holder over their holdings.
To the south, the garden borders the edge of the mesa on which the palace is built, so looking outward one sees the vast landscape from high above. An ornately sculpted stone balustrade at the edge of the steep escarpment is low enough to allow for some degree of vertigo in those standing next to it. As the mesa rises high above the city, and due to the restrictions in height of the buildings below, the view is not obstructed.
According to the riddle, one has to find the "stench of sin" in these gardens. Is there anything that looks as if it would disturb the meditation? If there is, I cannot see it.
I have a requested an audience with the Duke, as I have heard that he is around in his palace for a few weeks, and gives audiences every Sunday.