Married to the World

That year, thirty-three imperial edicts arranging political marriages were issued from the Divine Capital. The vermilion palace gates closed behind them with a dull thud.

Everyone under heaven said that these sons being married off were no different from water poured out: once gone, they would never return.

No one knew how many blades were hidden in those bridal palanquins. The thunder of iron hooves came from the horizon in Yan Zhou. In a secluded mansion in Jiangnan, someone placed a stone on a Go board. On a cliff in the Southern Frontier, a young eagle was pushed off.

That year, thirty-three princes were married off.

Later, all of the world came back to them.