Prince Qi's Residence
Prince Qi spat out the green salt water. He had spent all of yesterday drinking with his guests and had returned dead drunk. Only when dawn was almost upon him had he finally managed to wake.
His consort hurriedly had servants attend to his washing and dressing. When breakfast was served, Prince Qi barely ate a little before asking, "Are today's tribute gifts ready?"
His consort smiled. "The gifts were all prepared the day before yesterday. These formalities may not determine whether we are filial, but we cannot afford to be careless."
"Quite right." Prince Qi nodded.
Today was the day of the New Year's Tribute. It did not necessarily fall on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, but always took place around this time. The Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory calculated the date together and notified the officials and nobility.
Everyone of fourth rank or above had to attend, including princes and dukes who ordinarily did not need to appear at court.
This custom dated back to Former Wei, and included a palace banquet. Since Great Wei's reign had lasted 484 years, the initially simple rules had gradually grown cumbersome during its middle and later years.
By the final years of Great Wei, the Imperial Palace alone held several large and small banquets every day over the year-end festivities and afterward. Attending the whole round left everyone exhausted in body and spirit.
When Great Zheng was founded, its founding emperor cut through the complexity, restoring the simplicity of Emperor Shizu of Great Wei's time, with a few minor changes.
At first, the gathering had been intended to bring together the meritorious officials who had helped conquer the realm, so they could share the joy of the season before the year's end. Now that