The stars were all in their proper places, the dragons were behaving for once, and the rivers down below were flowing obediently without flooding anybody. The universe, in short, was a bit dull.
The Jade Emperor, ruler of all above, sat on his golden throne tapping his fan against his knee. “I’ve made mountains,” he sighed. “I’ve made oceans. I’ve even made pandas — which was my most inspired idea, if I may say so. But I’m bored.”
