Amidst the ethereal mists and celestial treasures, a colossal palace sits in the heart of the imperial city, surrounded by billowing fog and the faint cries of strange beasts.

A figure suddenly appeared in front of the main hall.

"Huh? Where am I?? How did I end up like this?"

Dressed in the emperor's robes, Liu Hong, who was over forty years old, looked down at his body and stood there dumbfounded.

He then looked up at the magnificent and majestic palace before him, which resembled a celestial palace. The guards around him were all dressed in golden armor, holding long spears, and standing there respectfully.

"Your Majesty, the civil and military officials are waiting in the hall. You should go to court!"

Just then, a eunuch's voice suddenly rang out, and Liu Hong couldn't help but turn his head to look.

"Hmm? Zhang Rang?"

Upon seeing the eunuch suddenly appear beside him, Liu Hong couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Zhang Rang respectfully replied, "This servant is here!!"

"Where am I...? And what year is it now??"

Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings and Zhang Rang, who was over sixty years old, Liu Hong was completely bewildered.

"Your Majesty, this is the Imperial Palace, and this year is the thirtieth year of Jianning! What's wrong with you...?"

Zhang Rang looked at the emperor in surprise, not understanding why he would ask such a question.

"The thirtieth year of Jianning...?"

Liu Hong was dumbfounded. He had only been on the throne for less than a year, so how could it already be the thirtieth year of the Jianning era? Was he dreaming? Or had he time-traveled again? Besides, what historical record mentions a thirtieth year of the Jianning era?

"Your Majesty...? All the officials are waiting for you in the palace. Are you going to court today?"

Seeing the emperor still standing there, Zhang Rang couldn't help but remind him again.

"Okay, let's go!!"

Since he was already there, Liu Hong made the best of it. He glanced at the at least thousand steps and began to climb them. The gazes of the golden-armored guards on both sides of the steps followed Liu Hong.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Liu Hong finally arrived at the palace. With Liu Hong's arrival, the two huge palace doors slowly opened.

Immediately, Liu Hong stepped into the hall and slowly walked towards the imperial throne above.

The passing civil and military officials, like the guards outside, followed Liu Hong's slow movement with reverence in their eyes.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

After Liu Hong sat on the throne, all the civil and military officials bowed in respect.

"Gentlemen, you may dispense with the formalities!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"

After the greetings were exchanged, before Liu Hong could ask any questions, a military officer on the right stepped forward and respectfully said:

"Your Majesty, our 500,000-strong expeditionary army has returned in triumph. The Roman Emperor and all the Roman nobles and officials have been brought outside the palace to await Your Majesty's judgment!"

"An expeditionary force? The Roman emperor...?"

Liu Hong, seated on his throne, was momentarily stunned. What was all this about? Had they conquered Rome?

"Your Majesty, please advise on how to deal with those criminals...?"

Seeing that the emperor remained silent for a long time, the military officer couldn't help but ask.

"Announce!!"

Liu Hong then came to his senses and realized that it must be his Han army that had reached Rome and wiped them out. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Although he didn't understand what had happened, he still decided to take a look at this so-called Roman emperor.

"His Majesty has decreed: Summon all criminals of Rome to the palace!"

As soon as Liu Hong finished speaking, Zhang Rang stepped forward and shouted.

"Proclaim the Roman sinners to enter the Hall of Supreme Harmony!!"

“Announce…!”

As loud shouts rang out, a group of blond-haired, blue-eyed men and women dressed in criminal clothing were soon brought in by a group of golden-armored guards.

"This sinful subject pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty!!"

The middle-aged man with a thick golden beard, who was at the head of the group, looked fearful as soon as he entered the hall. He knelt down respectfully and bowed to Liu Hong on the throne. The men and women behind him followed closely behind.

Immediately afterwards, a diplomatic official translated their words.

"No need for formalities!!"

Liu Hong's authoritative voice resounded throughout the entire hall.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty!!"

Immediately, everyone stood up, bowing their heads and standing there respectfully.

What do you think of my Han Dynasty...?

Looking at the people who addressed His Highness as Roman Emperor and Roman nobles, Liu Hong couldn't help but smile, then looked at the diplomatic official.

The diplomatic officials understood and immediately translated Liu Hong's words to the Roman emperor and the others.

The Roman emperor respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Celestial Empire is a sacred land of God, a holy place longed for by all people. We sinners, unaware of the Celestial Empire's divine power, have overestimated our abilities. Now, we sinners wish to lead our subjects to submit to the Celestial Empire. We beg Your Majesty to forgive our sins..."

"Please forgive our sins, Your Majesty!!"

A group of Roman nobles and officials followed suit, begging Liu Hong for forgiveness.

Liu Hong smiled, glanced around at the civil and military officials in the hall, and asked in a deep voice, "What do you all think?"

"Your Majesty, now that Rome has fallen, and looking around, our Great Han has no more rivals. Leaving them alive is not a problem!"

The leading civil official stepped forward, and his words clearly showed that he did not take the so-called Roman emperor and his nobles seriously.

"We second that proposal!!"

A group of civil and military officials also chimed in in agreement.

Liu Hong, sitting on the throne, nodded. He could see that the reason why the civil and military officials chose to let these Romans go was not because of any so-called benevolence or righteousness, but because of their deep-seated confidence and disdain for everything.

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