章 60: Chumo

Dongboyou, East China

On the night of a full moon, hundreds of maids and thousands of warriors had been gathered in a wide field of the Royal Palace. A ceremony was about to be held before a pagoda shrine. The drums started beating and then a number of armored men wielding thin swords along with veiled women started a dance in front of the shrine. 

On the left side, there was a row of stairs leading to a balcony filled with cascading decorated chairs as well as lit lanterns. The Royal Family and ministers sat in accordance to their ranks and some of the chairs were still empty, in particular the grandest chair that had the design of a golden dragon. On the opposite side of them, was another balcony where dozens of shrine maidens as well as several eunuchs wearing white silk robes.