A sixty-year cycle passed by before anyone noticed.
Forty years ago, the lands of Central Province welcomed a newly unified dynasty: the Great An Dynasty, founded by the Yang Family of Beiyuan Road. Its capital was built a hundred li west of the former Capital City, on the northern bank of several branches of the Nong River, and named Ding'an City.
Over those forty years, the founding emperor of the An Dynasty had succumbed to illness. The new emperor had been on the throne for twelve years, governing the nation through the Taiyan Sect's doctrine of "non-action" while secretly striking at local strongmen and powerful clans. The realm could be considered peaceful and prosperous these past years.
The An Dynasty followed the Dao Palace's old system of dating. It was now An Calendar 61, and the new year had just passed. Every region was busy offering sacrifices to their ancestors and the many gods and immortals.
Zhonghui County, the second day of the new year.
At the third quarter of Yin Hour, before dawn had broken, the entire Zhonghui City was already awake.
Outside the Wang Family compound, which occupied the entire western district of the city, dozens of servants were drawing water from a massive ancient well beside the canal.
Before the main gate of the Wang Family compound, servants splashed basin after basin of clear water across the green stone slabs, washing them until they gleamed. As countless droplets flew up, they reflected specks of light beneath the halos cast by the lanterns on either side of the main gate.
Farther ahead, along the main road stretching from outside the Wang Family compound to the heart of the city, someone stood every two zhang, lifting bucket after bucket of clear water to scrub the ground. The lanterns carried