On the other side, after sending Zhao Yun, Lü Zhen, and Dong Zhen back to the Cai residence, Liu Hong also returned to the palace.

"Zhang Rang, send word to Cheng Yu, tell him to investigate a few people!"

Afterwards, Liu Hong explained in detail to Zhang Rang the features in the restaurant that resembled those of Romans.

"Here you go!"

Zhang Rang agreed and then quickly left.

After Zhang Rang left, Liu Hong thought for a moment, then got up and walked towards the Lantai Library.

The Imperial Library not only housed a vast collection of books, but also records and documents of foreign envoys' audiences with the emperor throughout history.

In Liu Hong's memory, the ancient Romans and the Han Dynasty had interacted, and perhaps records about the Romans could be found there.

When the officials on duty at the Imperial Archives learned of the emperor's sudden arrival, they quickly led their men out of the palace to greet him.

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

"No need for formalities. I've come here to inquire about the situation in the Great Qin. You may go and find out!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, please wait a moment!"

The official from the archives respectfully agreed, and then led the group to begin searching carefully.

Before long, the official on duty came to Liu Hong with a scroll of bamboo slips and a piece of brocade yellow cloth.

"Your Majesty, please look!!"

Liu Hong nodded, then unfolded the bamboo slips and began to examine them carefully.

The bamboo slips record that in the ninth year of Yanxi, which was two years before Liu Hong ascended the throne, a fleet claiming to be from Daqin landed in Rinan County of Jiaozhou and came to Luoyang to pay homage to the emperor of Daqin.

(According to the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, in the ninth year of the Yanxi era, King Andun of Daqin sent an envoy from Rinan to present ivory and tortoiseshell, which was the first such tribute.)

However, Emperor Xiaohuan's health was already very poor at that time, and he was unable to receive the other party at all.

In addition, the court at the time was in a state of panic, so naturally no one paid attention to these envoys from the distant Western empire. They simply drafted a letter of goodwill and presented a batch of silk before sending them away.

After reading the records on the bamboo slips, Liu Hong couldn't help but shake his head.

Then his gaze fell upon the brocade, which was the letter of state from the Roman Emperor Antoninus.