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The painting depicts Lady Shen refusing her seat, with Emperor Wen and the empress seated nearby and Yuan Ang holding a tablet. This scene conveys the conflict of Lady Shen being asked to relinquish her seat, Yuan Ang’s remonstration, and the emperor listening attentively. Though the expressions and gestures of the figures remain calm and solemn, the gaze shared between Emperor Wen and the armed guards watching Yuan Ang adds a subtle tension, highlighting the interaction between ruler and minister as the painting’s core focus.
