Once they had come to their senses, the imperial offspring immediately knelt and saluted. "Your sons and daughters pay their respects to Father, Mother, and the Imperial Concubines and Imperial Consorts!"
The Emperor said nothing. After hesitating for a moment, the Empress said, "Rise."
The Princes and Princesses answered in unison, "Thank you, Mother."
After rising, they did not dare lift their heads. They scattered to either side and stood with their heads bowed, eyes fixed on the floor, pretending not to hear the Imperial Concubines and Imperial Consorts vying for the Emperor's favor.
The Empress watched the imperial offspring, deeply puzzled. The Emperor's current dealings with his consorts were hardly appropriate for the children to witness. Though he usually doted on the Imperial Consort, he was not normally so outrageous. What was going on...
Just then, a procession of people filed in from outside.
Every one of them wore brocade caps and sable fur, with goldfish pendants and jade belts. Some carried themselves with scholarly grace, others with martial authority... They were the civil and military officials of the entire court!
The Empress was startled and immediately ordered, "Lower the curtains!"
Xiao Dan and the palace maids hurried over and let the curtains down.
The thin gauze curtains only obscured the view somewhat. The figures beyond blurred, but their movements and outlines remained discernible.
At that moment, the officials came to their senses. Seeing everyone around them awake, their expressions changed drastically, and they all dropped to their knees. "This subject is guilty! I beg Your Majesty for mercy!"
This was the imperial harem. As outside officials, they had trespassed into the palace quarters—a grave offense against the throne!
All the officials now lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to make a sound.
The matter was grave, and