Winter nights turn dark early.
However, Shengjing was bathed in bright lights, engulfed in the jovial festive atmosphere of the New Year.
From New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival, the city gates were flung open, allowing free passage for pedestrians, granting the commoners a boon, and giving those small business owners an extra push to hawk their wares zealously, hoping to make a tidy profit and have a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
For the commoners, the open city gates of the Imperial City were naturally a good thing. But for the Commanding Officer of the Imperial Guard, it spelt trouble!
