The Son of Heaven had no private affairs.
This was an ancient maxim passed down in the Zhou State. From it arose a series of rules governing the Son of Heaven, one of the most important of which concerned his marriage.
King Zhao of Zhou had been Luo Su's student, and King Yi of Zhou had been Luo Cheng's student. These relationships were almost those of father and son, yet both sovereigns' marriages had been entirely political, with no room whatsoever to choose someone they liked.
The last king who had doted on Bao Si, King You of Zhou, was already dead.
In truth, however, political marriages were not confined to the Son of Heaven of Zhou. Most nobles married to forge alliances, and Luo Jing's marriage was now no different. The only distinction was that Liu Heng had thrust a whole group of talented, beautiful young women upon him, among whom he could always find one or several he liked.
Luo Jing left the Imperial Palace somewhat bewildered and began considering the political implications. He still remembered his father's assessment of the emperor years ago-a man born to be emperor, whose every word and deed, even his unintentional actions, carried political significance.
Luo Jing's marriage had major political implications, second only to the choice of empress.
He was a staunch imperial loyalist and the son of the former regent.
The political resources of Marquis Ying Luo Yi and Marquis of Shouguang Luo Chen had all fallen to him, and even many of Marquis of Anyang Luo Cai's resources were in his hands.
He was one of the stabilizing anchors of the court, and his standing in the Great Han today was even higher than the Crown Prince's.
The Crown Prince might still be deposed, but his position could be