The 15th day of the eighth month of Jia Ning's 32nd year, Mid-Autumn Festival.
The rooster crowed.
Chen Ji slowly sat up from the bed.
He had had a long sleep and a long dream.
In his dream, the Ning Dynasty had electric lights and air conditioning, airplanes and high-speed trains. He stood on Chang'an Street, watching time fly by, crowds of people coming and going like a shuttle, and the sun, moon, and stars spinning in the sky.
He saw the pavilions and towers on Chang'an Street collapse, and then tall buildings rise from the ground, Chengtian Gate became Tianan Gate, and finally, rows of beggars disappeared, as did people dying of hunger on the streets.
Chen Ji stared blankly for a long time, then laughed at himself: "What am I thinking..."
He went out, slung a carrying pole over his shoulder, and strollingly stepped out of Silver Apricot Garden.
