Golden Water Bridge.
An arched bridge spanned a burbling river. Carved entirely from white jade, it gleamed beneath the sun like a dazzling jade belt, linking the inner and outer palace.
Beyond the Golden Water Bridge lay Fengtian Gate.
It was the only route the civil and military officials could take to court.
Under Great Yuan law, court assemblies were held twice a month, once at the beginning and once in the middle.
Ever since Emperor Wulie had been afflicted by a vicious illness and lost the strength to govern, the court's discipline had fallen into disarray, its rules reduced to empty formality.
After the Imperial Empress announced that she would rule from behind the curtain, she restored order to the court and increased the assemblies to three times a month, holding one every ten days.
On the day of an assembly, civil and military officials had to arrive at the palace before the mao hour. They waited in front of the Golden Water Bridge for the bell to ring, then entered the hall through Fengtian Gate.
There was still a quarter of an hour before they could enter the hall. The officials gathered in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing.
The scene looked harmonious, but the lines between the factions were unmistakable.
On the left stood the faction of remonstrating officials, led by the Censorate and Supervising Secretaries.
They scrutinized the officials, exposing and impeaching them. Their rivals mockingly called them "vultures and hyenas," a jab at how they fed on carrion and never let go once they had their teeth in something.
On the right stood the faction wielding real power, led by the Six Ministries.
The Ministry of Personnel stayed out of factional strife. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue, in particular,