Because the Imperial Consort wanted to keep things secret, Zhang Maoquan made his arrangements quietly and in the dark, like a thief. Just circling names on the roster took him the better part of a day.
The staff attending the banquet, or even those serving in the vicinity, had to be clean and tidy. They couldn't look shabby; they had to be a credit to the Imperial Consort.
The palace maids serving at the banquet were an even greater priority. They had to be nimble and efficient, have a clean record at the traveling palace, and be comely in appearance.
After selecting the personnel, he had to inspect them personally. Then, following the Imperial Consort's instructions, he shuffled them around, reordered them, and divided them into groups. There would be large groups of six and small groups of two, allowing them to both help and supervise each other.
