The Taihe Hall was decked out in lanterns and colorful banners. The high-ranking officials of the Third Grade and above, along with the vassal kings and princes summoned to the capital, were dressed in formal attire, their faces glowing with a radiant, almost divine aura.
From the hour of the Rooster (5:00 PM to 7:00 PM), palace maids danced in endless circles, as if this grand feast were destined to last forever. Everyone smiled, exchanging toasts, and as each musical piece concluded, they offered auspicious words to the Supreme Ruler of the world seated upon the throne.
Yet, when their eyes fell upon the empty seat to the left of the Great Xia Emperor—the place of honor below the Three Judicial Offices—a trace of anxiety flickered in their expressions. They wondered how this situation would be resolved. It went without saying whose seat that was.
Chapter 516