Chapter Text
Emperor Hong Xiao, was lonely. Consort Li, the woman he loved, was dead. Jiang Yuan Bai, the man who guided him growing up, resigned and left for the country-side after his family suffered disaster. But the biggest contributor to his emptiness, was the loss of Xiao Heng. His best friend and the person he trusted most in this world, was away at war—with no guarantee to return. He felt utterly alone and isolated in his grief. Sure, he met with the court magistrates regularly, but he couldn’t trust them. He had other concubines to bed, but he couldn’t bring himself to enter their chambers. He met with his advisor’s, but it wasn’t the same. He missed the open dialog they shared over games of Weiqi. He missed having someone that understood his burden and shared it. He missed—having a friend.
He started to wonder if anyone understood how he felt, when an idea struck him. At first he considered the impropriety of it and so delayed in extending an invitation. Then he thought about how his friend might view his invitation. But after he turned the idea over and over again. He came to the conclusion that Xiao Heng would know he had no designs on his wife, and even remembered a time when Xiao Heng extended an invitation to him to talk to Jiang Li, himself. Even if it was before they were engaged.
So, he came up with a plan to avoid gossip and for good measure, he also sent a message to the front line, so Xiao Heng knew his new bride was safe with and from—him. To his surprise, in a return message, Xiao Heng’s only response was to tell him to try his hand at Weiqi against her.One of the women in his household spending time with the wife of his most trusted friend, no one would think twice. With this in mind, Hong Xiao asked one of his concubine’s to send a request for her company; and it was accepted.
Then one day two ladies and their maid servants happened upon him in the gardens, playing Weiqi by himself.
Jiang Li bowed and addressed him as protocol demanded. As he quickly waived it off, he noticed the lack of surprise on her face, in regards to their meeting. No doubt, he figured, she saw right through the ruse.
He gave her a small, reassuring smile and gestured to the seat across from him, “Join me.”
She gave him a smile he now recognized as part of a mask she often wore. He supposed, much like their mutual friend, she learned to protect herself and never give the game away. No wonder they were such a good match.
She took the seat, and they worked to reset the board. He watched her silently at first. Taking this opportunity to study the woman who managed to capture Xiao Heng’s heart, and save the country from a brutal fight for the throne. Objectively, she was quite beautiful. She was also intelligent and her skills in music were unmatched. He’d been fortunate to listen to her play a few times. No wonder she won over his closest friend.
She met his gaze, and gave him a knowing smile as she patiently waited for him to move first.
The Emperor quickly learned that Jiang Li was far more ruthless at Weiqi, then Xiao Heng was. Though, he supposed he should not have been surprised. He wondered if his dear friend at war, was silently laughing knowing his new wife was beating the Emperor at every turn. No wonder, he thought, she was able to accomplish what she did.
That first meeting, they played silently. After she won, he nodded to his concubine who sat nearby with the maid servants.
“Madame, would you like to join me for lunch another day?”
And so it began…