Picnic by the river

Springtime was finally warm enough. A hundred princes and princesses, cousins, aunts, and uncles left Chang’an and went down to the banks of the river. Beautiful women in embroidered silks, exotic headdresses, skirts of pearls. Delicacies were delivered from the palace. Flute and drum moved ghosts and gods. The prime minister was there, and people gave him plenty of room. They had to watch what they said because he was powerful and arrogant.