Hour of Shen, fifteen minutes past.
Dang!
Dang!
Dang!
The clear sound of the bell echoed across the top of Saint Emperor Mountain.
At the moment the bell rang, the Emperor emerged from the palace, dressed in black sacrificial robes, followed by a group of civil and military officials, flanked by the Crown Prince and several other children of Zhao Ji.
As he was about to proceed to the Circular Mound Altar, Zhao Ji glanced around and frowned, saying, "Why hasn't the Empress arrived yet?"
Originally, women were not allowed to participate in the heaven worship ceremony, but the Grand Ancestor Qin Zheng of the previous dynasty changed the old rules, allowing women to participate—though only the Empress. He said that the Emperor and Empress worshiping the heavens together further demonstrated their sincerity to the heavens.
This tradition was later continued by the Great Song Dynasty.
