<blockquote>Wei Ying first hears about the ball over dinner.
"They're trying to marry off Second Prince," Fourth Uncle says, through a mouthful of stew. "There is going to be a ball, for all the gentry." "Everybody who's rich and titled, who's got a son or daughter the right age, will be invited. Second Prince will pick someone out."
"He's probably very stuffy and full of himself!" Wei Ying snorts. "I pity whoever has to marry him!"
(In which Wei Ying, a fugitive from justice, sneaks into the palace, steals from the imperial family, and eats his words.
AKA, yet another Cinderella AU.)</blockquote>
