The procession outside was no doubt of someone of great power, judging from the many gongs that Zhang Chao could tell that it was someone of great import. But then again, in Luoyang, most families that have a decent-sized house has an entourage that would greatly rival a king.

Therefore, no one in the house gave it any great mind whenever a large procession moved around the house or was heard near the house. However, today was different. The procession seemed to have stopped in front of the house. Zhang Tie tensed up. Was this the Liu clan here again? To force him to give up his son? 

Zhang Qin stared at the door in a tired manner. Were the debt collectors here to make a scene again? Zhang Chao on the other hand, closed his book, taking a sip from his teacup and narrowing his eyes. Is it time at last?

The door burst open, Hou Ning's face was pale, trembling at his knees. From the open doors, a legion of soldiers stood there, as a man in imperial robes decorated with dragons and the sun. 

"Master! Mistress! T-The Emperor is here! The Emperor is here!" Hou Ning shouted as he scrambled into the main hall. Zhang Tie and Zhang Qin stood up immediately, kneeling in front of his own masters. 

The couple knelt down immediately, with Zhang Tie grabbing his son and making kneel on the ground instantly as the music entourage started playing a song that signalled the arrival of the Emperor.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Emperor Jian Kang was dressed in nobles' robes, but his shoes had patterns of that of the dragon, which only the emperor was allowed to wear. Anyone attempting to do so was regarded as encouraging sedition or even harbouring treasonous intentions. He stepped into the house, scanning the environment.

"How thrifty of this family..." He remarked as he scanned the barren walls and simple plants that seem to have been kept neat by amateurs. Walking into the hall, Zhang Tie shouted loudly as he kowtow-ed.

"Zhang Tie, Head of the Zhang clan! Pay his respects to his Majesty! Long live his Majesty! May he live long!" Zhang Tie yelled as his forehead touched the floor. Zhang Qin kowtowed as well, "Your servant, Zhang Qin, pays her respects to his Majesty. Long live his Majesty! May he live long!"

Zhang Chao kept silent as he knelt. Zhang Tie moved to quickly teach his son how to pay his respects but Emperor Jian Kang raised a hand to stop it.

"He is only a child, he can learn this later and slowly," the Emperor smiled as he automatically moved to assume the seat of the head of the family before remarking, "All of you may rise!"

As all of them stood up, and not daring to look at the Emperor, moved to sit at the seats on the left. 

"All of you are good servants to the dynasty and the empire. I am here to ask you to do more and I am here to hear your grievances." Emperor Jian Kang said as he held up the letter that Zhang Chao wrote on his own invention.

Zhang Tie and Zhang Qin narrowed their eyes as they scanned the letter with the flowing calligraphy.

"Yes, Your Majesty! I, Zhang Chao, has much to say!" 

The young boy stood up and knelt before the emperor.

"It is you?" The shocked Emperor exclaimed as the entourage whispered furtively amongst themselves.