*Special thanks to @Sel_Murf for the Gloden Ticket*
The hour-long drive from the heart of the city, with its concrete skyline, to the outer edges passed in silence as they left the bustling streets behind for more open spaces filled with snow.
When the car finally slowed, an immense wrought-iron gate came into view, blocking the vehicle from rolling forward.
Two guards dressed in dark tactical gear, with automatic rifles slung across their chests, stepped forward.
The driver rolled down his window, and one of the guards bent at the waist, scanning the back seat. He noticed that Vice-President Emily Blanch of Crowns Hotel was with a young lady.
After confirming, he gave a hand signal, and the heavy gates parted automatically, and the car rolled smoothly onto the grounds.
Cixi's jaw slipped open when the Crown Palace came into view; it truly resembled a palace. She pressed her hand against her mouth, staring through the tinted window.
