September 20th.

Today is the grand court assembly held every ten days.

Apart from the officials, all the imperial relatives and in-laws in the capital gathered outside the Southern Palace. Even foreign generals such as Lü Bu, Gao Shun, and Dong Zhuo changed into their court robes.

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

The gates of the Southern Palace were opened wide, and civil and military officials, led by Chen Fan and Dou Wu, entered the palace one after another.

Upon entering the palace, everyone was momentarily stunned.

The sentries on both sides of the road leading to Chongzheng Hall had all been replaced by the Imperial Guards.

"What's going on? Why did His Majesty suddenly summon the Imperial Guards to the palace?"

"Perhaps something big has happened?"

"I heard that an envoy from the Western Regions came yesterday. Is it related to this?"

"I think so!"

As the officials walked toward the Chongzheng Hall, they whispered among themselves.

Before long, the officials turned through Chongzheng Gate and arrived at the square in front of Chongzheng Hall.

Upon seeing the two formations of two thousand Imperial Guard soldiers on either side of the square, the officials were once again taken aback.

Although the officials who entered the Chongzheng Hall were in turmoil, they all kept their mouths shut.

For a moment, Chongzheng Hall was unusually quiet.

Before long, Liu Hong, dressed in imperial robes, arrived in the hall surrounded by several eunuchs.

After exchanging greetings, Liu Hong sat calmly on the imperial throne, saying nothing, but instead turned his gaze to the outside of the hall.

Seeing this, the officials wisely stood still and did not submit any memorials.

A moment later, Liu Hong withdrew his gaze and then turned to look at Zhang Rang beside him.

"Zhang Rang!!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Rang, who was standing to the side, understood and quickly stepped forward, shouting loudly:

"The envoy from the Kingdom of Shanshan requests an audience!"

The guards at the palace gate then shouted, "The envoy from the Kingdom of Xuanshan has come to pay his respects!"

The officials finally came to their senses, but many still couldn't understand why the emperor would make such a grand display just to receive an envoy from a small country.

The shouts of the envoy from the Shan State of Xuan Shan reached the palace gates through the guards and soldiers.

Officials from the Court of State Ceremonial, who had been prepared in advance, arrived at the palace gates with envoys from the Kingdom of Shanshan.

Looking through the palace gates, the envoys from Shanshan were all stunned.

Looking at the Imperial Guard soldiers holding long spears and standing upright on both sides of the road, everyone's faces showed a shocked expression.

An official leading the delegation ahead wore a proud smile.

"Everyone, let's not delay any longer, let's go quickly!"

"Oh well!"

The head envoy, Mu Lang, finally came to his senses and followed the officials from the Court of State Ceremonial into the palace.

As soon as the group entered the palace, the Imperial Guards soldiers guarding both sides of the road all turned their heads to look at them.

These Imperial Guard soldiers had all participated in the suppression of the rebellion not long ago, and each of them exuded a palpable killing intent in their eyes.

"What... what is this?"

Mu Lang and the others were startled by the gazes of the Imperial Guards soldiers and stopped in their tracks, not daring to move.

An official from the Court of State Ceremonial explained with a smile, "Envoy Mulang, please do not be alarmed. This is a gesture of welcome from our Great Han Dynasty!"

"I see....!"

Upon hearing this, Mu Lang breathed a sigh of relief and then wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Then the Shanshan delegation followed behind the Honglu Temple officials, and under the watchful eyes of a group of soldiers, walked towards the Chongzheng Hall.

Although the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial explained to them that the soldiers were only there to welcome them.

However, the soldiers' thick armor, the weapons gleaming in their hands, and their almost tangible gazes still instilled a sense of dread in them.

After walking for a while, Mu Lang and the others breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Chongzheng Gate ahead.

The journey they had just taken was truly agonizing for them.

Mu Lang, who had relaxed a little, was immediately frozen in place as soon as he turned into Chongzheng Gate.

At this moment, the Imperial Guards soldiers, arranged in two square formations in front of Chongzheng Hall, were also staring intently at them.

Looking at the two square formations arranged in rows and columns, the people of Shanshan Kingdom changed from shock to fear and awe.

In their lifetimes, they had never seen such a well-organized formation. In their eyes, even if the entire army of Shanshan were mobilized, they would not be able to withstand these Imperial Guard soldiers.

Swallowing hard, Mu Lang and the others followed the Honglu Temple officials even more cautiously toward the Chongzheng Hall.

After the palace guards thoroughly searched the people from Shanshan, Zhang Rang emerged from the palace.

Looking at the envoys from these foreign lands, Zhang Rang nodded amicably.

"His Majesty has decreed that the envoy from Shanshan Kingdom be summoned to an audience!"

After saying this, Zhang Rang turned and walked into the hall, with Mu Lang and the others following closely behind.

Upon entering the palace, Mu Lang and the others were taken aback when they saw Liu Hong on the throne. They had heard that the new emperor of the Han Dynasty was not old, but they did not expect him to be so young.

Just as Mu Lang and the others were stunned, Dong Zhuo, who was in the ranks of military officers, looked at Mu Lang with murderous intent in his eyes.

"How dare you! You don't even bow before my Emperor?"

Dong Zhuo's fierce shout echoed throughout the hall. Mu Lang, who had just come to his senses, then realized that everyone in the hall was looking at him with angry expressions.

The gaze of the young emperor on the throne, in particular, sent a shiver down Mu Lang's spine for no apparent reason.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!