This was Shu He's first time entering the Daming Palace. The Hall of Earthly Tranquility was currently the Empress's primary residence; though called her main bedchamber, it was actually a vast and opulent Buddhist shrine.
There were numerous Buddha statues here, all kinds of bodhisattvas and buddhas filling the walls of the inner hall.
The Empress was receiving them in the side hall of the shrine. A faint fragrance of incense lingered throughout the entire hall—not exactly unpleasant, but those unaccustomed to it would still find it a bit unusual.
Chapter 721