Paku estimation hit a bull's eye. The messenger he sent did arrive at the imperial city in less than two days despite the vast distance between the two places.
Having verified his identity, the messenger went straight into the imperial palace.
Of course, the journey from that point onwards wouldn't be smooth. Whether he likes it or not, he will have to endure a lot of bureaucracy.
He first had to check in with the Hall of External Affairs, register his identity with the Imperial Records Office, and have his letter of origin validated by the Office of Seal.
Each of these steps involved waiting, questioning, and signing. Sometimes more than once.
And even then, he couldn't simply walk into the emperor's court.
An audience had to be requested, scheduled, and approved.
This was a natural development for an empire that had existed for hundreds of years. If seeing the emperor was so easy, where would the prestige be?
