The Hidden Currents in the Purple Palace

At Three Quarters past Yin Hour, the Forbidden City was shrouded in the blue-gray gloom before dawn.

On the white jade steps outside the Hall of Celestial Worship, the night dew had yet to disperse. Inside the hall, it was so quiet that the dripping of the bronze clepsydra could be heard.

Rumble~

The fifth watch drum sounded, and guards bearing halberds pushed open the heavy vermilion doors.

The officials filed in according to rank, their expressions beneath their black gauze hats all dark and unreadable.

The usual rules for the imperial morning audience were that all officials gathered outside the palace gates at Chou Hour to await court, dressed in official robes and carrying their "Yapai."

Once the bell rang from the Meridian Gate tower, they formed ranks according to rank, civil officials on the left and military officials on the right, crossing the Golden Water Bridge to the square before the Meridian Gate.

Then eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial would lead the way with fly whisks, while the emperor rode in his palanquin to the Meridian Gate.

At that moment, bells and drums rang together, and the palace guards and strongmen cracked the silent whips three times. The sound was like thunder, and everyone stood at attention. An official of the Court of State Ceremonial would call, "Enter the ranks!" Officials of fourth rank and above entered the hall, while those of fifth rank and below stood in the square at Dan Chi...

In short, the rules were severe.

When presenting a memorial, one had to "recite it in a loud voice." Private submissions or rambling speeches would both earn an impeachment from the censors.

Anyone who committed a breach of ceremony would be impeached and fined the very next day.

The officials had long since grown