Deposed? I couldn't be happier! I wouldn't even be a dog to the crown prince.

"Click".

With a crisp metallic click, the door to the luxury suite on the fifth floor of the State Guest Hotel was slowly pushed open by a servant.

Marcellus held his breath, his eyes, which had seen countless gold and silver treasures in Constantinople, now seemed to be scrutinizing a miracle.

He took a step, and the moment his toes touched the ground, he froze.

Thick, soft, and delicate.

It's a comfort that travels directly from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.

He looked down and saw a red and white wool carpet from the Western Regions spread out beneath his feet. The stitches were so tight that not a single seam could be seen, and it was even several times more exquisite than the most expensive tapestry in the Roman Senate.

"This...this is actually for stepping on?"

Marcellus muttered to himself, his heart aching so much he almost wanted to take off his boots and hold them in his arms.

Prince Peroz had rushed to the window and let out a suppressed gasp.

"Marcelos, look at this wall! It's transparent!"

Marcellus hurried over.

The entire wall was made entirely of a single, transparent, and flawless piece of huge glass.

The sunlight poured in unobstructed, illuminating the room brightly.

He touched the cold, smooth surface with trembling hands.

In the West, glass is a jewel adorning crowns and a treasured wine glass for nobles.

But in the Tang Dynasty, this incomparably precious "gem" was actually luxuriously placed on the wall to block the wind?

Marcellus looked back at the room, feeling a tingling sensation in his cerebral cortex.

The walls are covered with exquisite wallpaper featuring delicate floral patterns.

The furniture has straight, powerful lines, exuding an industrial aesthetic that transcends its time.

There was no pungent paint smell; instead, there was a faint sandalwood fragrance.

"Distinguished guests, please wash up first. His Highness has prepared hot towels and warm water for you."

The official leading the way pointed to a pristine white door in the corner, a faint hint of superiority playing on his lips.

Marcellus took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

That was a separate space called the "washroom".

What met the eye was a blinding expanse of white.

The walls and floors were all covered with a smooth, mirror-like white ceramic tile.

He stopped in front of the huge glass mirror, looking at his disheveled beard and shocked face reflected in it.

He had never seen such a clear mirror.

In Rome, even the best bronze mirrors could only reflect a blurry outline.

But in the Tang Dynasty, he could even count every single wrinkle on his forehead.

"My God...every single item here, if taken back to Rome, could start a civil war."

Marcellus smiled bitterly, his gaze falling on the strangest-looking white porcelain base in the center of the room.

The thing looked like a chair with a backrest, but it was hollow inside.

Behind it was a towering water tank, with an exquisite silver chain hanging down beside it.

He recalled the official's instructions, and his heart began to race.

This special envoy, who was used to grand occasions, actually felt an extremely strong sense of unease in front of this white porcelain bucket.

He tried somewhat clumsily.

When it was all over, with a feeling of almost piety and trepidation, he pulled the chain.

"Splash—!"

Accompanied by a tremendous roar of water filled with surging power.

Marcellus was so frightened that he jumped up on the spot, still clutching the chain tightly in his hand.

He stared in disbelief as a powerful stream of fresh water swirled out from the inside of the porcelain bucket with an unstoppable momentum.

No blockages, no residue.

In just a few breaths, the filth that was originally disgusting disappeared completely with the water.

The bottom of the porcelain bucket was refilled with crystal-clear, fresh water.

There wasn't even a trace of odor left in the room.

The only cool sensation is the movement of air.

Marcellus stood there, stunned.

His mind conjured up images of the so-called "public toilets" of Constantinople.

There, even nobles had to endure the stench and wait for slaves to clean their excrement with wooden buckets.

And the Tang Dynasty...

The Tang people had actually used such ingenious pipes to directly expel this filth into the ground.

This is not just about wealth, it's a complete generational shift in lifestyle!

This is the ultimate boundary between barbarism and civilization!

He rushed out of the washroom and bumped into Prince Peroz, who was just coming out of the room opposite.

The Persian crown prince was holding a ceramic toothbrush that was marked "Made in the Tang Dynasty," looking utterly dejected.

"Marcelous, what you just did..."

"I saw it too, Peroz."

Marcellus interrupted him, his voice hoarse.

"I finally understand why the Tang army was able to destroy everything at sea with those fire-breathing iron pipes."

"A country where even the toilet is designed with such elegance and sanctity."

"What kind of truths are they holding in their minds?"

Prince Peroz leaned heavily against the doorframe, the last glimmer of ambition to restore his kingdom in his eyes completely extinguished.

"Before this city, the former glory of Persia is like the soil in the ground."

"Marcelos, the Tang Dynasty is too strong."

"So strong... that we don't even have the courage to be jealous."

They changed into cotton bathrobes provided by the hotel.

The incredibly soft and comfortable touch almost brought tears to the eyes of these two warriors who had worn cold iron armor for years.

They stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at Chang'an under the night sky.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

With a few soft sounds.

The uniquely designed biogas streetlights on both sides of the street lit up simultaneously in an instant.

Those were thousands upon thousands of bright lights.

They converged into a dazzling golden dragon, adorning the entire city of Chang'an like a galaxy fallen to earth.

Changan.

The city that never sleeps.

There is no darkness, no fear here.

Only the ever-burning flame of industrial civilization remains.

"Let's go! We'll go and request an audience right now!"

Marcellus turned around abruptly, his expression becoming extremely anxious.

"We can't wait a moment longer!"

He hastily dressed and rushed out of the room with Peroz.

When they ran down the elevator (although it was just a hand-cranked mechanical lift) and rushed to the front desk in the lobby.

Several low-ranking officials from the Court of State Ceremonial were already standing there on duty.

"My lord! My lord, I beg you!"

Marcellus disregarded his status and presented a very thick parchment document bearing the seal of the Roman emperor with both hands.

His posture was so humble that he was almost invisible, and he was even trembling slightly.

"Marcellus, the special envoy of the Great Roman Empire, requests an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty!"

"No! I'd be willing to kneel before the Crown Prince's carriage for an entire day just to see him!"

Prince Peroz followed closely behind, holding the Persian royal jewel box, the last heirloom of the Persian royal family, on his head.

"Peroz of Persia, I beg the gods of the Great Tang to have mercy!"

The official lazily accepted the letter of credence and casually flipped through it.

That look in his eyes was as if he were looking at an extremely ordinary piece of draft paper.

"To pay an audience?"

The official smiled and pointed to a huge mahogany counter next to him.

On the counter, various documents, each more than half a person's height, were neatly stacked.

"See that? It was delivered yesterday; it's a letter of credence from various countries in India."

He turned his hand and pointed to the other side.

"Those were just received this morning; they are visiting letters from Frankish, Bulgarian, and other countries in the far west."

The official patted Marcellus's credentials, his tone so flat it was utterly suicidal.

"The line of people who want to see His Highness the Crown Prince could stretch all the way from the Vermilion Bird Gate to the Qinling Mountains."

"Whether it's the emperor or a prince, once they arrive in Chang'an, they must follow the rules."

"Go back and line up."

"There are still delegations from thirty-two countries waiting ahead of us."

Marcellus looked at the mountain of official documents and felt his heart clench.

Is this the Tang Dynasty?

All nations submit, and even the gods bow their heads.

Even for these powerful nations that wield influence in the West, they are merely numbers in a queue here.

"Sir, how long will we have to wait?"

"Prince Peroz asked in despair," he replied.

The official pondered for a moment, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"It depends on luck."

"Your Highness has recently been researching a wonderful thing called the 'internal combustion engine'."

"If he's in a good mood, he might be able to see you next month."

"If he wants to take a long nap..."

The official shrugged and said nothing more.

Marcellus and Peroz exchanged a glance and could only sigh deeply.

They could only obediently retreat upstairs, sit on the comfortable carpet, and look out the window at the dazzling lights that made them tremble.

wait.

That was the ultimate awe they could express towards this great empire.

At this time.

A secluded courtyard on the east side of Chang'an City.

Li Chengqian was lying on a specially made shockproof rocking chair, resting with his eyes closed.

Wu Meiniang tiptoed over and covered him with a thin down comforter.

"Your Highness, those foreigners are terrified."

The little girl covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her big eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I heard that the Roman envoy almost carried our toilet back into the house just now."

Li Chengqian didn't even open his eyelids, only the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"You can't even handle this?"

"When the expo opens in a few days, I'll show them something even more amazing."

He shifted to a more comfortable position.

"Let them wait."

"I have no interest in seeing these bumpkins until I've harvested enough of their wealth."

The night breeze was slightly cool.

The technology tree of the Tang Dynasty is quietly climbing higher once again in this peaceful night.

The eyes of the entire world are now fixed on this place called Chang'an.

Longing for it.

Trembling.

waiting.

The next time truth will smile upon us.