CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: PERSEVERANCE IS THE WAY OF A CONCUBINE’S GAME

Concubine Li was quite lucky; that very night, the Emperor summoned Yun Jiao to his chambers.

Her luck was such that if delayed another two or three days, Yun Jiao might have completely forgotten the promises she’d made.

Yun Jiao originally didn’t want to go.

She had eaten so much at the noon imperial banquet, she lay on the couch trying to digest with deep breaths, and by sunset, she still didn’t feel hungry. If she went to the Emperor’s chambers, she’d have to wash and groom herself from head to toe. This blessing should be given to someone else.

"The Emperor commands Attendant Lady Xi of Xianfu Palace to accompany him at Weiyang Palace at the hour of the dog."

After enduring ten sunsets, Yun Jiao conceded.

A fairy has some patience, but not much.

This probability of being chosen, one might think the entire harem had perished with only her left.

Xue Ya and Gong Mei joyfully dressed and groomed their mistress, bathing and changing her clothes. She had soft, beautiful black hair, and unlike other concubines who loved to use fragrant ointments, she preferred to tie it up simply, for a light and comfortable feeling.

When Yun Jiao arrived at Weiyang Palace, she saw the Emperor emerge from the inner chamber just after finishing reading memorials. He had changed out of his Dragon Robe and was wearing a robe of cloud-white, which made him appear even more coolly handsome.

"This concubine greets the Emperor."

"Hmm, come here."

Yun Jiao stood up and walked over, just in time to see the Emperor raise his hand to undo the buttons at his chin.

He had hands that were well-maintained, clean and slender, with distinct joints, suitable for drawing a bow and for teasing. Yun Jiao, who had been passively resisting her duty, was suddenly interested, staring intensely at the Emperor’s hands, too bad he only undid two buttons and stopped.

"What are you looking at?"

Xie Zhixing held her head, pressing her cheeks upward with both hands.

"Sister... Sister is looking at them..."

The little thing looked guilty.

Even racking his brains, Xie Zhixing couldn’t imagine she would be so fascinated by his hands unbuttoning that she found him delectable: "Stop daydreaming, come play Go with me."

Yun Jiao was surprised: "Emperor, wasn’t this concubine summoned to sleep with you?"

She hadn’t thought she’d be playing games!

"It’s not completely dark yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

Xie Zhixing was at a loss for words.

"It’s not that, it’s just this concubine doesn’t know how to play Go."

"Didn’t your father teach you? I recall your father is also an official in the court."

Yun Jiao said indeed he had not.

In ancient times, entertainment for girls in the inner chambers was limited. Yun Jiao didn’t enjoy embroidery, could play a little qin, but most of her time was spent with her father’s collection of books.

"Alright, I’ll teach you. Come and sit down."

Each palace had a set quota of white wax candles, and Attendant Ladies had few in their allotment.

So Xue Ya and Gong Mei would rush to finish their work before sunset, as doing needlework at midnight would hurt their eyes. In contrast, at Weiyang Palace, thick candles illuminated the room like daylight. Xie Zhixing let her sit in his lap, small as she was, he could easily encircle her with his arms.

"Emperor, please speak, this concubine is listening attentively."

Having said this, Yun Jiao prepared a mental archive.

She knew she wasn’t very clever, her memory was average, so to avoid annoying the Emperor, she saved a mental checkpoint, ready to start over if he showed any signs of impatience and listen to the teaching again, one-sidedly.

As expected, Yun Jiao didn’t understand the first explanation.

Xie Zhixing: "Then I’ll explain it again."

The second time, he broke down the basic rules of Go into simpler terms, but she still found it confusing, and being slightly nervous before the Emperor, it was good if she absorbed half of it.

Third time, fourth time, fifth time...

Each time, he filled in her gaps in understanding.

"This time, do you understand?"

On the sixth explanation, Yun Jiao confidently proclaimed she understood!

"Very good, then let’s play a round."

Xie Zhixing deliberately went easy on her, finding some enjoyment in doing so, making it more difficult for himself to let her, as a novice, win a round than defeating her completely.

He may have never wooed a woman, but who doesn’t know how if they put their heart into it.

Xie Zhixing was just about satisfied when he looked up, only to see her with a smug face, her smile nearly reaching the sky.

"Emperor," Yun Jiao’s cheeks were flushed: "Could it be that this concubine is a chess prodigy of a thousand years, ruined by my father."

The Emperor, is that it?

Mere Emperor Yan Chi!

She’s too arrogant!

Xie Zhixing: "..."

No way, why does this fairy look so mischievous? He bit his molars lightly, saying, "Since you’ve learned and had your fun, let’s do something else now."

This time it was Yun Jiao’s turn to refuse, she still wanted to play: "Emperor, just one more game!"

Xie Zhixing paused: "Very well."

The second round, he stopped going easy, and the black pieces Yun Jiao held were swiftly defeated.

Yun Jiao’s face slowly turned red.

Xie Zhixing chuckled lightly: "No more games?"

He thought she would refuse, unexpectedly, she shook her head: "This concubine still wants to play! This concubine won’t give up easily! Persistence is this concubine’s path in chess!"

Possessing tenacity is a commendable trait.

After raising his estimation of her, Xie Zhixing resumed playing, and soon the black stones were in a losing position again.

In the next moment, most of the pieces on the board disappeared.

Xie Zhixing was stunned and quickly realized, he could hardly believe his eyes—she actually used time-traveling backtracking to undo the game!

"Emperor, play your move quickly."

Seeing him hesitate, Yun Jiao urged.

"... Alright."

Xie Zhixing placed his piece steadily, but inside a storm raged.

Who could have thought this, such a fairy.

Even if not an immortal, one should be capable of turning the tide.

Yet using such an immortal ability to undo her moves!

Before undoing her moves, she talked about her path in chess with determination, her persistence was indeed real, persistently unscrupulous.

However, chess is like life, rebirth doesn’t make one smarter, Yun Jiao’s play remained poor. But Xie Zhixing reconsidered, it was just a leisure activity to bond, and she was a beginner, winning over her had no meaning. Since she so desperately wanted to win, he let her have her way, once more pretending to be defeated, retreating step by step, until the board was occupied by black pieces.

"This concubine has won back again!"

She put down the stones, taking a deep breath.

"Attendant Lady Xi is indeed clever."

Xie Zhixing shamelessly praised her.

"This concubine is somewhat sharp, back at Chuxiu Palace, I even took first place in the written exam."

Although it was also achieved by repeatedly reloading and trying again, it highlighted her beautiful quality of perseverance to the end.

Yun Jiao was better off not mentioning this.

As soon as she did, Xie Zhixing remembered, no wonder she practiced so many times on the day of the written exam.

He gathered the chess pieces, saying, "I thought you had no desire for victory or defeat."

So indifferent to rank and favor, yet so concerned about winning or losing on the board.

Yun Jiao blushed: "Maybe this concubine has a bit of talent in chess, I just don’t want to lose."

Xie Zhixing: "..."

Can an immortal please put away your divine powers?

Continuing this conversation, the Emperor could hardly resist being irreverent to supernatural beings in his heart, he took Yun Jiao’s hand, guided her to sit on the couch, and undid her hair bun.

It’s said thinking too much can turn one’s hair gray.

Yet the Yun Family’s long hair was so black and shiny as if it had never contemplated life.

"Emperor,"

Yun Jiao tilted her face upwards, eyes like a fawn looking at him: "Why are you so good to this concubine?"