Twelve days later, on an auspicious day.
Heaven smiled upon them. Thick mist shrouded the breaking dawn, promising warm sunshine later that day.
At the start of Mao Hour, the people of the Capital rose early, hanging ribbons and little lanterns outside their courtyards and laying the red brocade distributed by the court along the streets. Viewed from above in the early morning, the entire Divine Capital had become a sea of red, every street and alley overflowing with festive cheer.
Outside the towering Forbidden City, the civil and military officials stood in solemn attire. Behind the third-rank officials stood monarchs and kings from across the world: blond and blue-eyed, curly-haired and long-bearded, some even with pitch-black skin, all dressed in strange and unfamiliar clothing.
The officials of Great Ning truly had their eyes opened. The rulers of thousands upon thousands of nations, foreign lands, and tribes had gathered in the Capital. What an honor this was for the officials and people of Great Ning!
This was the emperor's prestige!
His divine might overshadowed the world, his power beyond compare. No one beneath heaven heard His Majesty's name without losing their nerve!
Amid the splendor of this day, the Divine Capital had become the seat of authority for the entire world!
Shen Huai'an, monarch of Goryeo, stood crowned among the crowd, looking around at the kings of the world. Fortunately, he had brought lavish gifts this time, or he would truly have been outshone.
Clang, clang, clang-
Deep, resonant bells rang out.
The main gate of the Imperial City slowly opened.
At that moment, emotion surged through the civil and military officials, and they could not help murmuring:
"The gates of the nine heavens open upon the palaces; the crowned and robed of ten thousand nations bow before the imperial