Eunuch Power
You might be wondering why in the world Dai Quan had so much power in the last translation post.
It’s pretty obvious when you look at the text itself:
可巧這日正是首七第四日，早有大明宮掌宮內監戴權，先備了祭禮遣人來，次後坐了大轎，打道鳴鑼，親來上祭。
It just so happened that this was the fourth day of the first seven day mourning period. Early that morning, Dai Quan, the Chief Imperial Eunuch of the highest level of the palace, sent someone ahead with sacrificial offerings. He then arrived in a large sedan chair, preceded by people who beat a gong to clear the way, and presented his sacrifice personally.
