"Only cats and thieves walk silently. So what are you doing here in the middle of the night, Chancellor? Isn't it discourteous to walk in on me at this hour?" Harrumphed Empress Yū Miko.
The venomous empress was not yet undressed and ready for bed, and she had dismissed all the palace servants, as though she was awaiting a guest. She still wore her voluminous yellow twelve layered dress hemmed with gold filaments, the borders of the collars and sleeves decorated with pearls and other precious stones. Her face was still powdered, eyebrows pencilled, and the weight of her glorious Phoenix crown was clearly straining her neck.
The vicious snake only took off her cloud nine shoes to rest her sore lotus feet into soft, satin slippers.(1) She was reclining on her left side into the green divan, her trailing coloured sash studded with jadeites unfurled across the divan and slithered down to the floor; and savouring her wine.
