The first step to winning his heart

Everyone in and around the Peony Pavilion grew busy, clearing the snow outside the rooms and the slippery slush from the steps.

The courtyard lanterns were hung anew, leaving everything ready for the emperor's arrival.

Thinking of what lay ahead, Wen Yunmian could guess why the emperor was coming here so late at night.

Her lips curved as she silently leafed through the book in her hands.

When Jun Chenyu arrived, Wen Yunmian heard the voices outside offering their greetings.

Wen Yunmian rose from her couch. The eunuchs and Imperial Guards accompanying him took their places beneath the Peony Pavilion's covered corridor.

Whenever the emperor went out, however near or far, attending eunuchs and Imperial Guards always followed at his side.

Once Jun Chenyu entered, Wen Yunmian gently bent her knees in greeting. "Your concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty."

Jun Chenyu approached and drew Wen Yunmian to her feet. "Why are your hands so cold?"

Although charcoal fires burned inside the Peony Pavilion, its warmth fell far short of that in Chanyang Palace.

Jun Chenyu paid little attention to this. He sat down and noticed the book lying open on the table.

"What are you reading?" His tone was even, as though he were merely asking in passing.

Wen Yunmian smiled. "With nothing to occupy me, I read Cao Gui's Discussion of War in the Zuo Zhuan and found it quite interesting."

Jun Chenyu picked up the book.

He felt that a woman like Wen Yunmian could possess only limited talent, even if she had some.

After all, the women of the harem had always been this way. Few could truly find their way into his heart.

They would willingly learn a smattering of whatever they thought might please him, but it was merely a means of winning his favor and catching his eye.

Jun Chenyu never took such things to heart.

"Do you have any insights? Let me hear them."

Wen Yunmian's lips curved in a radiant, captivating smile. "Cao Gui possessed outstanding military ability. He was a rare talent. Without him, Qi might have struggled to emerge victorious in the Battle of Qi and Lu. It shows how much suffering from warfare a fine commander can spare the common people."

Jun Chenyu's gaze deepened as he looked at her, surprise stirring within it.

He had never imagined that the soft, alluring Noble Lady Yan could display such remarkable talent and speak with such assured eloquence.

Yet her words had struck so deftly at the very heart of his concerns.

Jun Chenyu agreed. "You are quite right, my dear consort."

"The rain and snow are quiet tonight. Would Your Majesty care to play a game of Go with me?"

"You can play Go as well?"

Wen Yunmian gave a lively smile. "Why not try and find out?"

She could sense that Jun Chenyu had come today with little interest in pleasures of the bedchamber. Most likely, his visit had something to do with General Qin Zhao.

Counting the days, it would not be long before the Qin Clan returned victorious and basked in renewed glory.

Sure enough, Jun Chenyu accepted Wen Yunmian's suggestion. He, too, wanted to dispel the weariness of a full day spent attending to affairs of state.

Yun Yang and Yun Fei served hot tea and set out the Go board, then quietly withdrew from the warm chamber, leaving the two of them alone.

The burning charcoal crackled softly, and a delicate, pleasant white magnolia fragrance filled the room.

Black and white stones gradually multiplied upon the board.

At first, Jun Chenyu had been faintly amused, as though he were simply teasing her.

Little by little, however, the amusement faded from his eyes.

He raised his long, phoenix-shaped eyes and saw Wen Yunmian holding a white stone between slender, jade-white fingers, her eyes lustrous as lychees as she calmly studied the board.

The bright, welcoming candlelight of the warm chamber seemed to bathe her in a soft glow. There was a perfectly measured confidence about her.

Jun Chenyu had never seen this side of her.

Before Jun Chenyu could ponder it further, her lovely voice accompanied the placement of the final stone, drawing him back to the present. "Captured."

Jun Chenyu came to his senses and saw that his black stones had indeed been captured by her white ones. He paused, then curved his lips in a quiet laugh.

Wen Yunmian saw the surprise and keen interest in his eyes.

She had never seen this in Jun Chenyu's eyes before, and beneath that interest lay a barely perceptible trace of admiration.

"Have you ever heard of Prince Yi?"

Wen Yunmian's eyes were clear and cool. "His Highness Prince Yi is Your Majesty's full brother. I have heard a little about him."

"He often travels beyond the palace and is an accomplished Go player. He was the only person who could beat me. Now there is you as well."

Jun Chenyu watched her intently. Much of the frustration that had clouded his features upon his arrival had now dissipated.

"Then has Your Majesty heard of the Chess Lady?" Wen Yunmian looked at him with smiling eyes.

Jun Chenyu raised a brow. "Who is she?"

"A master player among the common people." Wen Yunmian returned her white stones to their jade container. "She was the only person who ever came close to defeating me. Now Your Majesty is another."

Her voice was gentle and playful, her bright, mischievous eyes those of a little fox.

When they began another game, Wen Yunmian placed a stone and suddenly asked, "When Your Majesty arrived today, I noticed a hint of worry between your brows. Is something troubling you?"

She knew how to distinguish between understanding gentleness and seductive softness, and controlled both with precision.

At a moment like this, for instance, Wen Yunmian showed not a trace of her alluring sensuality. She would not choose an unsuitable time to seduce Jun Chenyu; that would only invite his distaste.

Now she was like a quiet blossom that understood his words, as though anything he told her would receive an answer and bring him emotional comfort.

"You even noticed my mood?" he asked unhurriedly as he studied the board.

Wen Yunmian smiled and lowered her eyes, her tone shy. "Your Majesty is the man I love and cherish. How could I fail to notice?"

Jun Chenyu's lips curved. After placing a black stone, he asked without raising his gaze, "You suffered an injustice over the matter with the noble consort last time, and I have not visited you for several days. Do you not blame me?"

"How could I?" Wen Yunmian gazed at him earnestly, her eyes so full of devotion that they seemed to have room for him alone.

"Your Majesty confined Her Highness the noble consort for my sake. To me, that is already an immeasurable favor. All I wish is to remain somewhere a little closer to Your Majesty. Even a glimpse of you from afar would leave me content."

Jun Chenyu studied her delicate, fair face.

She could not see through Jun Chenyu's thoughts, but she could guess what the emperor wanted.

That was enough.

With affection in her eyes, Wen Yunmian curved her lips and continued playing.

Jun Chenyu had recognized her ability.

His heart, undisturbed for so long, began to stir for Wen Yunmian.

He realized just how learned and richly talented she was. Beneath her guidance, the stones moved with effortless mastery.

Wen Yunmian knew that from this moment onward, she would no longer be merely a dispensable plaything in his harem, there to relieve his boredom and entertain him.

The first step to winning his heart was to make him take her seriously.

"Your Majesty still has not told me what is troubling you."

Jun Chenyu's sharp, stern brows lowered. "We have won a victory on the front lines. The commander who led the battle is the noble consort's elder brother."

"That is good news." Wen Yunmian's eyes shone. "Should Your Majesty not be pleased?"

Jun Chenyu gazed at her. As ever, the emperor kept his joy and anger from showing. "To reassure the commander, I may have to lift Consort Shu's confinement and restore her authority to assist in managing the six palaces. But if I do, I fear you will have to suffer an injustice."