Jinghe Year Sixteen, the thirtieth day of the first month.
Spring came earlier to the Southern Capital than to the Northern Lands.
More than half a month had passed since the Lantern Festival. The last lanterns had been cleared from the streets, and the willow branches along both banks of the Qinhuai had begun to show a faint green.
Outside the city, the plum blossoms had all fallen, while tiny buds swelled on the peach branches.
Streams of melted ice flowed beneath the city walls, their tinkling waters bringing news of spring to the city.
The "Monthly Ordinances" of the Book of Rites said: On the day of the Beginning of Spring, the Son of Heaven personally leads the Three Excellencies, the Nine Ministers, the Feudal Lords, and the great officers to welcome spring in the eastern suburbs.
Spring was coming.
The "Monthly Ordinances" of the Book of Rites recorded the rite of welcoming spring: the Son of Heaven led his officials to welcome spring in the eastern suburbs, in accordance with the seasons of heaven.
The imperial palace, the Eastern Warm Pavilion.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Directorate of Astrology had just withdrawn.
With the Beginning of Spring approaching, the Directorate of Astrology had presented the Spring Greeting, and the Ministry of Rites had submitted the Spring Welcoming Ceremonial Protocol.
The emperor and empress received congratulations and bestowed Spring Banners, all according to precedent.
Every observance was complete, beyond reproach.
Afterward, the empress departed to conduct the harem's spring-welcoming rite separately.
Upon the Imperial Throne, only the emperor remained, gazing at the Spring Banners without speaking for a long time.
Though the Spring Banners were red, like the New Year's Peachwood Talismans, there was no warmth at all in the emperor's heart.
"Wang Cheng."