At the 2019 Beijing Spring Art Auction, an imperial edict from the Emperor Kangxi dated 1716 surfaced. The edict, written in vermilion ink (known as the “Red Edict”) and sent to Europe, inquired about the whereabouts of Western envoys who had been dispatched to Rome years earlier and had since disappeared. Its origins have long been a mystery, as it is not mentioned in the official historical records. Why did the Emperor send Western missionaries as imperial envoys? What was their mission? This book uses the “Red Permits” as a starting point, carefully explores the interactions between the early Qing court (particularly Kangxi), and the group of missionaries in Beijing represented by figures such as the Adam Schall von Bell (or Tang Ruowang) and Ferdinand Verbiest (or Nan Huairen). It uncovers a period of deep engagement between China and the West. The western missionaries engaged with extensive levels of Chinese society, from emperors and high-ranking officials to common peddlers and corvée. These interactions were interwoven with cultural clashes, personal grudges, international competition, and palace intrigues. Through intensive reading of both Chinese and Western materials, the author offers original insights into key historical issues such as the early Qing Calendar Case, the Chinese Rites Controversy, and Yongzheng’s prohibition of Christianity. The book challenges long-standing historical narratives such as “closed-door policy,” “tributary system,” and “clash of civilizations,” making it a work that combines academic rigor with broad accessibility.