The Emperor Draws Lots

As the crowd speculated and mused, the noise outside drew closer.

"They're here!"

In most cases, if it wasn't an especially auspicious year, the Emperor, his royal family, and palace officials celebrated the event in the palace, away from the commoners. 

The Emperor would take part in the festivity alongside his people only on rare occasions. 

By no means was this such a year, but His Majesty had decided to celebrate together with the common folk. At that moment, His Majesty and the palace officials were waiting atop the Jade Dragon Platform in the temple's plaza. This platform was in the shape of a circle and connecting it to the ground were three separate stairs, each with the same twelve steps. Surrounding the Jade Dragon Platform were imperial guards, so forget getting onto the platform, commoners couldn't even get close to it. They could only gaze upon His Majesty's through the gap between the imperial guards.