The celebration in the City of a Thousand Joys was an old tradition, much like the Empire's New Year celebrations. Of course, every country had similar traditions.
The reason was simple: winter had arrived, and people were sitting around at home with nothing to do. They had to find something to occupy themselves, didn't they?
It was also a source of pride for the Sashans. After all, it represented their art and their culture—well, until this time, anyway.
For many Sashans, this year's celebration in the City of a Thousand Joys was distinctly awkward.
After all, the theme of this celebration was to celebrate the Empire, and the Empire had already annexed the Sasha Alliance. To the Sashans, the Empire was their conqueror. Singing their conqueror's praises as the conquered was obviously uncomfortable.
Of course, it would have been one thing if the Empire had demanded it. Instead, their own people had arranged all this to curry favor, which made it even more uncomfortable. If the Empire had used its power to force them, they could have swallowed it. But the Empire hadn't even said a word, and their own people were already rushing to flatter it. Did the Sasha people's dignity mean nothing?
Those involved in arts and culture valued their reputations. Better to die standing than live on their knees, as the saying went. Most residents of the City of a Thousand Joys had some artistic sensibilities, so many were less enthusiastic about this year's celebration than in previous years. Some even seemed to be staging a silent protest.
But that had nothing to do with Li Wei. As the conqueror, he had no need to consider the feelings of the conquered. I've already annexed you, and now I'm supposed to treat you like royalty?
*Do you think