In the Capital, at the Taiji Hall.
As the morning light flickered, the Jinluan Hall was wreathed in the rising smoke of sandalwood. The Emperor sat upright upon the dragon throne, while Empress Dowager Lü listened to state affairs from behind a lowered pearl curtain. Officials of both the civil and military ranks stood in rows on either side, discussing matters regarding the requisition of grain.
Junior Vice Minister Liu of the Ministry of Rites, holding an ivory court tablet, bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, over these past two days the Imperial Guard has been requisitioning grain everywhere in the city, but with very little effect. Instead, many soldiers have taken advantage of the chaos to loot, and public grievances are boiling over. This simply cannot be done..."
Chapter 261