It was late in the evening, and a large semicircle of the sun was still lingering on the horizon. 

A group of peculiar looking people were approaching the east gate of the Forbidden City. The men were dressed in shabby animal skins, the women were wearing rough linen, and some children were running around barefooted. Over hundreds of people were there.  

The guards at the city gate felt queasy at the sight of them. Where did those country bumpkins come out from? They are dressed so shabbily. It’s obvious that they are from some poor places.  

“Stand there! Get in line and wait to be inspected!” a guard shouted.

He found their appearances too bizarre. How could he allow just any Wang, Li or Chen to enter the Forbidden City, the capital of the empire?

PA!

Just as he finished his sentence, he was slapped in the face and felt his head spin and sparks fly across his eyes. 

He was most shocked that it was the guard commander who hit him!  

“Sir, why...” the guard asked in a trembling voice.

The guard commander ignored him and hurried over to the...