4:00 AM: The Emperor had to wake up at 4:00 AM. This early rising was known as ch’ing chia, meaning "Requesting His Majesty to hold court." After waking, the Emperor proceeded to the main hall to attend the morning court session with high-ranking officials. Once the session ended, he returned to his private chambers for a short rest.

7:00 AM: The Emperor had his official breakfast at 7:00 AM during spring and winter. However, in summer and autumn, breakfast was served an hour earlier at 6:00 AM. During the meal, the Emperor selected officials' name cards from a tray prepared by the eunuchs. After breakfast, he opened and read the memorials submitted by ministers and officials.

Noon

At midday, the Emperor held a second court session, primarily to review and approve reports regarding local affairs throughout the empire. More than 100 memorials were submitted daily from various regions of the country.

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: After lunch, the Emperor had a period of relaxation. He might compose poetry or enjoy the imperial gardens.

3:00 PM – 7:00 PM: The Emperor resumed reviewing and handling memorials. Once he examined and approved them with his red ink signature (chao pi), the documents were sent back to the Ministry of Rites and then forwarded to the respective local administrative units.

8:00 PM: The Emperor had a light dinner or some refreshments. By this time, all official duties were completed, and he could retreat to his private chambers for rest.

"No one in any dynasty of China ever lived a more rigidly controlled court life than the emperor of the Ch'ing. Due to strict observance of traditional conventions of the court, the freedom of the emperor was far less than that of an ordinary man."

Su Chung (the name given to Japanese-American Yokiko Toshima, when she married a man whose family had close ties to Emperor Puyi) from her book Court Dishes of China, first published in 1965. [1]