Meanwhile, over to the Hall of Gathering Elegance, amid rolling clouds of perfumed incense, the glow of bright oil lamps and burning candles, and the gentle melody of the lutes so superbly performed; the guests were speaking merrily, a tinge of impatience in their furrowed brows nonetheless, for both the Empress and the Emperor still did not arrive—tardiness was certainly an Imperial family's privilege.
Upon the raised platform, at the high table were two special sandalwood chairs, one was an ornate gold chair with dragon symbols for the Emperor, and the other phoenix-decorated was for the Empress. On the right of the Emperor's chair, in a pear-wood chair, currently sat First Prince Taizong.
A gaggle of young maidens clustered in front of the dais, and they giggled behind their fans, heads tilted to one side flirtatiously while staring at the First Prince with more excitement than a moth outside a lighted window.
