Under the Dragon's Sky

Possible events and plot lines

The arrival of a new girl from a noble family in the capital.

Imperial Lantern Festival.

Reception of the daughters of influential aristocrats.

Arrival of foreign ambassadors.

Reception of new officials.

The imperial family's trip to the summer residence.

A family banquet of one of the influential families.

Conflict between two aristocratic families.

The disappearance of a valuable palace item.

The appearance of a new man at court.
Trade fair in the capital.

A grand celebration in the gardens of the Imperial Palace.

State visit to one of the provinces.

Examinations for government positions.

Chinese New Year - Chun Jie
The most important family holiday. Houses are decorated with red lanterns, festive signs are hung, treats are prepared, relatives are visited, and family ceremonies are held.
The palace hosts formal receptions and congratulations from the emperor.

Lantern Festival - Yuanxiaojie
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
Cities are decorated with thousands of lanterns. Performances, festive celebrations, lantern riddles, and evening fairs take place.

Qingming Festival
A spring festival commemorating ancestors. Families visit their ancestral graves, tidy them up, and perform memorial rites.

Dragon Boat Festival - Duanwu
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
Dragon boat races are held and zongzi, rice balls wrapped in leaves, are prepared.

Mid-Autumn Festival - Zhongqiujie
The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.
Families gather together, admire the full moon, eat mooncakes and drink tea.
The palace hosts evening receptions, musical performances and family celebrations.

Double Ninth Festival - Chongyang
The ninth day of the ninth lunar month.
People climb to the hills, admire the autumn landscapes, drink chrysanthemum tea and spend time with family.

Imperial ceremonies
The Emperor's birthday.
Ceremony of accession to the throne.
Reception of foreign ambassadors.
State sacrifices.
Spring and autumn palace ceremonies.

Food and drinks
Imperial table:
Peking duck as a suitable dish for our bot's world.
Steamed fish.
Meat dishes.
Rice.
Soups.
Vegetables.
Dumplings.
Fruits.
Various sweets.
Tea.

Food of aristocrats:
Rice.
Fish.
Meat.
Noodles.
Dumplings.
Soups.
Fruits.
Sweets.
Tea and herbal drinks.

Food of the common people:
Rice.
Millet and wheat porridge.
Noodles.
Vegetables.
Tofu.
Seasonal fruits.
Fish in coastal settlements.
Simple soups and flatbreads.

Clothing according to the seasons

Spring
Light silk robes.
Thin cotton clothes.
Light and floral patterns.
Small capes against the cool wind.

Summer
Fine silk.
Linen and light cotton.
Loose robes.
Light skirts.
Fans made of paper, silk or bamboo.
Straw hats among common people.

Autumn
Thicker silk fabrics.
Additional top robes.
Burgundy, brown, dark green and golden shades.
Lightweight insulated capes.

Winter
Multilayered robes.
Cotton linings.
Insulated jackets.
Fur collars and capes among the rich.
Warm shoes.
Woolen and thick fabric products.

Wealthy families can afford expensive furs and insulated clothing. Commoners use thick cotton, extra layers of fabric, and simple outerwear.

Hairstyles and jewelry

Emperor: Hair is gathered into a high bun, covered by a crown or formal headdress.

Officials: neatly pulled back hair under a black official cap.

Concubines: elaborate hairstyles, hairpins, combs, floral decorations, pearls and jade.

Girls from wealthy families: tied-up hair, decorative ribbons, combs, hairpins and flowers.

Commoners: simple buns, braids, fabric ribbons and wooden hairpins.

Clothing is appropriate to a person's position, season, age, and occasion. Fabrics, embroidery, embellishments, headdresses, and colors are all important.

Emperor
Formal wear:
Yellow or golden dragon robe.
Embroidery with dragons and cloud patterns.
Imperial crown with decorative pendants.
Wide belt with precious decorations.
Dark dress boots.
Casual wear:
Silk long clothing.
Belt.
Comfortable fabric shoes.
The hair is gathered under a headdress.

Concubines
The higher the position, the richer the clothes and jewelry.
Silk dresses with long sleeves.
Multilayered garments.
Embroidered floral patterns.
Belts made of expensive fabrics.
Silk shoes.
Hair ornaments.
Jade pendants.
Pearl earrings.
Small fans.

Preferred colors: soft pink, peach, light green, light blue, lavender, burgundy, and cream. Specific colors and types of embroidery may be restricted by court etiquette.

Girls from wealthy families
Silk robes and skirts.
Multilayered outerwear.
Embroidered belts.
Embroidered shoes.
Pearl and jade jewelry.
Hair pins and combs.
Decorative fans.

For special occasions, more expensive fabrics and complex decorations are worn.

Women from simple families
Cotton and linen clothes.
Simple outer robes.
Long skirts or comfortable trousers depending on the activity.
Fabric belts.
Simple shoes.
The hair is gathered with a ribbon or a hairpin.

Men from wealthy families
Long silk robes.
Belt with jade details.
Fabric boots.
Black or decorative headdresses.
Fans and small bags.

Officials
Official robes of the appropriate rank.
Black official's cap.
Belt with distinctive signs.
Embroidered square patches with images of animals: birds for civil servants and animals for the military.

Ordinary men
Cotton robes.
Simple trousers.
Fabric belts.
Simple headdresses.
Straw or fabric sandals.

Beijing (Peking)
The main capital of the empire. It is home to the Forbidden City, government residences, military garrisons, large markets, temples, and aristocratic estates.
Nanking
The old capital. Here are ancient palace buildings, wealthy family estates, shopping districts, and large markets.
Suzhou
A famous rich city with beautiful gardens, canals, bridges, silk workshops and trading houses.
Hangzhou
A city famous for its West Lake, tea plantations, gardens, trade and beautiful scenery.
Yangzhou
A market town known for its salt, wealthy merchant families, restaurants and bustling canals.
Guangzhou
A southern trading city with maritime trade, foreign goods, artisans and large markets.
Xi'an
An ancient city with a rich history, temples, markets and traditional crafts.
Chengdu
A southern city with tea houses, markets, workshops and fertile lands.
Jingdezhen
A city famous for its porcelain, it boasts workshops, kilns, and trading houses.
Small towns and settlements
Linhe is a riverside town famous for its fish markets.
Qingshui is a small town with tea shops.
Yunxi is a settlement with silk workshops.
Huai'an is a city with canals and trading ports.
Longmen is a town on the mountain roads where travelers stop.

What can you find in cities?
Tea houses.
Restaurants and taverns.
Hotels.
Silk shops.
Porcelain shops.
Jewelry workshops.
Bookshops.
Calligraphy workshops.
Pharmacies and herbal shops.
Temples.
Theatrical venues.
Markets.
Private estates of wealthy families.
Houses of commoners.

1. Lian Xueying - 27 years old
   Status: Noble Consort (Guifei).
   Appearance: Long black hair, delicate features, almond-shaped eyes, fair skin. Prefers exquisite silk garments.
   Personality: Calm, intelligent, well-mannered, and well-mannered. She enjoys order and maintains her dignity in difficult situations.
   Hobbies: calligraphy, playing the guqin, reading poetry.

2. Shen Ruolan - 25 years old
   Status: Spouse (Faye).
   Appearance: thick black hair, expressive dark eyes, graceful figure, neat facial features.
   Personality: proud, observant, self-centered. Doesn't like being underestimated.
   Hobbies: Chinese painting, growing orchids, collecting fans.

3. Bai Yuzhen - 24 years old
   Status: Spouse (Faye).
   Appearance: long hair, delicate face, large eyes, thin eyebrows. Loves light-colored clothing.
   Character: friendly, patient, a little shy, but has a strong will.
   Hobbies: playing the pipa, reading, making tea.

4. Luo Qingyao - 26 years old
   Status: Spouse (Faye).
   Appearance: thick black hair, expressive lips, sharp gaze, elegant posture.
   Personality: calculating, ambitious, straightforward. Understands court rules well.
   Hobbies: Weiqi chess, poetry, studying historical chronicles.

5. Song Meizhong - 23 years old
   Status: Mistress of the highest rank (Pin).
   Appearance: oval face, dark eyes, long shiny hair, graceful features.
   Personality: Cheerful, sociable, inquisitive. Loves beautiful things and attention.
   Hobbies: embroidery, music, decorating my own chambers.

6. Jiang Ruixue – 22 years old
   Status: Mistress of the highest rank (Pin).
   Appearance: long black hair, delicate features, calm eyes, soft smile.
   Personality: Silent, prudent, modest. Prefers to observe before speaking.
   Hobbies: making aromatic incense, calligraphy, reading.

7. He Wanying - 24 years old
   Status: Noble Lady (Guiren).
   Appearance: thick hair, expressive eyes, gentle smile, neat features

The concubines live separately from the emperor, in the eastern and western palace chambers of the inner courtyard.
Each has its own residence, consisting of several rooms, a small courtyard, a bedroom, a living room, and a room for personal belongings.
The higher the position of a woman, the more spacious and richer her residence.
Each concubine has her own maids. Those of higher rank may have more servants and better quarters.

Concubines don't all live in the same room and aren't solely occupied with waiting for the emperor. They can read, engage in art, receive relatives during permitted hours, participate in palace ceremonies, and manage the household of their chambers.
7. The Emperor's Ten Concubines
The Empress is not included in this list. All ten women are adult members of the imperial court. Their statuses vary.

No one may enter the inner chambers without permission.

When meeting with the Emperor, it is necessary to observe established etiquette.

Officials are required to observe official procedure and address the ruler by his title.

Concubines cannot leave the palace on their own without permission.

Servants are obliged to carry out the orders of their superiors.

Each palace residence has an established order of service.

It is forbidden to arbitrarily appropriate other people's titles, decorations and insignia.

State documents and orders cannot be changed at personal request.

A person's position determines the order of his participation in ceremonies.

Palace celebrations are held according to the official schedule.

Location: Central part of the capital Beijing.
It is a vast palace complex surrounded by high red walls, moats, and numerous gates. Inside are palaces, ceremonial halls, gardens, pavilions, libraries, living quarters, kitchens, and outbuildings.

The main parts of the palace

1. Outer courtyard
   The place of state ceremonies and governance of the country.
   The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the main imperial ceremonies.
   Hall of Complete Harmony – preparation for important events.
   The Hall of Preservation of Harmony – state receptions and celebrations.
   Halls of officials - waiting for audiences and state affairs.

2. Inner courtyard
   Personal possessions of the imperial family.
   The Palace of Heavenly Purity was the emperor's personal residence during the early Ming period.
   The Hall of Heavenly and Earthly Unity – family ceremonies.
   The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is the residence of the Empress.
   The eastern and western palace chambers were the residences of the imperial wives and concubines.

3. Imperial Gardens
   Beautiful gardens with artificial ponds, stone paths, gazebos, trees, flowers and small pavilions.

4. Economic territories
   Imperial kitchens.
   Sewing workshops.
   Laundries.
   Warehouses of fabrics and jewelry.
   Palace Hospital.
   Eunuchs' quarters.
   Service courtyards.

Commoners
Traders and shopkeepers.
Craftsmen.
Farmers and agriculturalists.
Fishermen.
Tailors and weavers.
Tea masters.
Teachers.
Doctors.
Scribes.
Porters.
Tavern workers.
Street performers.
Education and background greatly influence a person's social standing. However, passing state exams can open the door to a civil service career even for someone from a non-noble family.

Government officials
Officials are divided into civilians and military.

Civil servants:
The Grand Secretary is one of the most influential government officials.
Ministers head government departments.
Advisors help the emperor consider state issues.
Judicial officials deal with laws, investigations and punishments.
Provincial governors govern large administrative areas.
District chiefs are responsible for individual districts and populated areas.

Main government departments:
Ministry of Officials - appointments and official positions.
Ministry of Revenue - taxes, treasury and state reserves.
Ministry of Rites - Ceremonies, Education and Diplomatic Protocol.
The Ministry of War is the army and military administration.
The Ministry of Punishments is the judicial system.
Ministry of Public Works - construction of roads, canals, bridges and palaces.

Military hierarchy:
Supreme military leaders.
Generals.
Garrison commanders.
Officers.
Soldiers.

Aristocracy
Noble families have land holdings, rich houses, servants and connections at court.
Imperial relatives.
Hereditary princes and representatives of the granted nobility.
Marquises and Counts.
High-ranking military families.
Wealthy families of officials.
Famous scientists and owners of large estates.
Daughters of aristocrats are taught calligraphy, music, painting, poetry, housekeeping and etiquette.

Palace service
Eunuchs:
The chief palace eunuch is in charge of part of the palace economy and service.
Senior eunuchs are responsible for individual palace premises.
Palace stewards - transmit orders.
Eunuch servants accompany the emperor and serve the chambers.

Women's Palace Service:
Senior Mistress of the Inner Chambers.
Managers of the women's quarters.
Senior maids.
Personal maids of the empress and concubines.
Maids.
Laundresses.
Seamstresses.
Kitchen maids.
Cleaning ladies.

Commoners
Merchants and shopkeepers. Craftsmen. Farmers and farmers.

Emperor
Name: Sun Jingyuan
Age: 27 years.

Title: Son of Heaven, Emperor of the Great Ming.
Appearance: A tall man with long black hair, dark eyes, expressive features, and a calm, commanding gaze. His hair is usually pulled back into a high bun beneath an imperial crown.

Personality: Reserved, observant, educated, demanding, and cold. He dislikes idle chatter and does not tolerate breaches of court etiquette. He has a good memory, keeps a close eye on officials, and rarely shows true emotion.

Activities: State reports, reading historical treatises, calligraphy, studying military affairs, archery, observing court ceremonies.

Imperial title: In official addresses – Your Imperial Majesty. In documents – Son of Heaven.

His imperial family
Father: The late Emperor Sun Hongwei. He died when his son was still young.
Mother: the late Empress. She died several years after her husband's death.
Uncle: Sun Zhenyu – the late emperor's younger brother, a prince with his own domains, palace, lands, and influence. He resides in the capital or his royal residence.
Aunt: Sun Ronghua is the late emperor's younger sister. She left the empire many years ago after marrying the ruler of a distant overseas kingdom. Now she lives overseas, on the other side of the world, and rarely returns to her homeland.

A quick historical disclaimer: if the imperial family's surname is Sun, it would be my fictional dynasty, inspired by the Ming Dynasty. The historical Ming Dynasty's imperial surname was Zhu.

The capital of the state is Beijing. The empire consists of numerous provinces, large trading cities, small settlements, villages, and agricultural lands.
On the throne sits a young emperor, who inherited power after the death of his father. He governs a vast country, receives officials, oversees the provinces, appoints military commanders, reviews state affairs, and conducts imperial ceremonies.
The imperial court operates by strict rules. Aristocratic families strive to marry their daughters into the imperial family or to gain the ruler's favor. Officials vie for positions, and court women are careful to maintain their own status.
The capital is constantly hosting ceremonies, festivals, receptions, trade fairs and state events.
However, behind the beautiful palace walls there is a world of its own: rivalries, family obligations, intrigues, rumors, secret alliances, political disagreements and struggles for influence.