When Spirit Hall's carriage entered Heaven Dou City, its envoy made no attempt to hide his identity. Spirit Hall emblems hung on both sides of the carriage. Once inside, he did not head to the Spirit Sanctuary. Instead, he sent in his calling card and requested an audience with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was now serving as regent.
Qian Renxue had just returned from the Imperial Palace when the message reached the Crown Prince's Residence. Only a few days had passed since the Palace Coup. Although the palace guard had been replaced and every department had reconfirmed its responsibilities, the matters requiring her personal attention only kept growing. Xue Ye was still recuperating, but the Regency Edict had already been formally issued. Orders concerning the City Defenses and reports from the provinces—documents that once had to go before the emperor—now landed on her desk first.
After reading the calling card, she did not have the envoy taken to the side hall normally used to receive Spirit Hall personnel. She arranged an audience according to the protocol for a formal envoy.
Half an hour later, the envoy entered the main hall of the Crown Prince's Residence. Only a few officials responsible for protocol and recordkeeping remained. Qian Renxue still wore Xue Qinghe's appearance and dark everyday robes befitting a crown prince. Several unfinished military reports lay to the right of her desk; on the other side sat the Regency Seal, which had barely left its surface lately.
As the envoy entered, his gaze lingered for an instant on the seal. He quickly bowed according to Tiangou protocol. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Qian Renxue raised a hand, allowing him to dispense with ceremony. "Why has the Papal Hall sent someone at a time like this?"
"His Holiness the Pope has sent a