The Court Assembly Square was bathed in golden dawn light. Officials from across the realm stood solemnly in silence, court tablets in hand.
At the beginning of the Hour of the Snake, the golden figure once again ascended the long white marble steps and slowly entered the imposing Golden Throne Hall.
Upon the Imperial Throne, Emperor Jingde's gaze burned like a torch, yet he remained silent.
The civil and military officials bowed their heads without a word.
According to protocol, it was now time to confer the noble rank.
After a prolonged, deathly silence, Emperor Jingde forcibly suppressed the fury in his chest and pronounced each word with deliberate emphasis:
"Jia Huan, Commanding Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, rendered outstanding service in the battle of Northern Liang. He is hereby invested as Marquis of Dingwu, with a stipend of one thousand gold!"
The assembled ministers bowed in unison and declared with one voice:
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The Chief Seal-Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial stood upon the dais and proclaimed in a drawn-out, rising and falling cadence:
"His Majesty's decree of reward: 'Jia Huan, Commanding Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, rendered outstanding service in the battle of Northern Liang. He is hereby invested as Marquis of Dingwu, with a stipend of one thousand gold!'"
As his voice fell, another chorus of assent shook the clouds.
Officials from across the realm bowed toward the Golden Throne Hall, envy filling their faces.
At nineteen, his power reached the heavens. Clad in the Golden Flying Fish Uniform, he alone commanded the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard!
At the same time, he had broken the Embroidered Uniform Guard's ancestral precept, establishing the precedent of Embroidered Guard Ennoblement!
Those who blazed a new trail were, without question, great heroes in the resplendent annals