The Empress Dowager had everyone add a little extra for the ladies to throw, and now in the inner palace, apart from the Empress Dowager, the Noble Consort holds the most power!
Without an Empress, the Noble Consort is the greatest in the harem. She and the Empress are separated only by a single rank.
So, seeing the Empress Dowager add some items for the ladies to throw, she also had her servants prepare more.
Seeing this, the other consorts followed suit.
After all, winning at ring toss is quite difficult. Adding more is merely a futile gesture, as no one would claim them.
So why not appear generous in front of the Empress Dowager?
The ring toss was arranged in a relatively open area of the garden, where many young ladies were playing.
After all, everyone was throwing items brought back by nobles. Winning meant keeping them—who wouldn't want to?
Of course, some disdained participation, viewing it as a test, a way for the Empress Dowager to see who could resist temptation.
