In the second year of Zhenguan!
Tang Dynasty, Chang'an!
A massive black rift suddenly appeared high in the sky. Within it, countless bolts of purple lightning flashed without cease, like savage electric serpents!
Seeing this, the people of Chang'an below fell to their knees in terror, crying out, "Heaven's punishment has descended!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
"The sky... the sky... the sky has split open!"
A palace attendant, frantic and at a loss, rushed before Li Shimin, who was handling state affairs in the Hall of Establishing Governance, and prostrated himself on the ground!
"Utter nonsense! How could the sky split open?"
Suddenly interrupted, Li Shimin fixed his bright, piercing eyes on the attendant after hearing his words, trying to discern anything unusual from him!
"It... it's true, Your Majesty!"
"Inside... inside that gaping tear in the sky, purple lightning keeps flashing out from time to time!"
"Now... now, all the people of Chang'an have fallen to their knees, constantly kowtowing toward that tear in the sky, muttering things about 'Heaven's punishment'!"
Hearing the heartfelt terror laced through the attendant's words, Li Shimin raised his brows, quickly rose to his feet, and strode out of the hall!
The moment he looked up, his pupils contracted sharply, and his face was instantly filled with shock!
"Could it be... could it be that Heaven truly means to punish me?"
"Could this be retribution for what I did at Black Tortoise Gate?"
Before long, the civil and military officials of the court all entered the palace of their own accord. Even Empress Zhangsun, the virtuous empress for all ages, along with the princes and princesses, gathered one after another!
Everyone raised their heads to look at that terrifying rift, their faces full of fear and awe!
Quite a few veteran ministers even seized