Chen Ji once thought that having an audience with the Emperor would be like the scenes in movies he had watched, where a eunuch would lead him through gray tiles and red walls to the Imperial Palace paved with green gold bricks, and he would answer whatever the Emperor asked.
The reality was more rigorous and grandiose than he had imagined.
In the Ning Mi posthouse guestroom, Zhang Xia meticulously explained the protocols to Chen Ji: "Tomorrow, officials from Honglu Temple will first come to check your grooming... Which outfit do you plan to wear? Bring it here for me to see."
Chen Ji took out a black high-collared robe from his luggage: "Will this do?"
