Chapter 1

The reigning emperor loved Go and kept many players at court.

I entered the palace disguised as a young man and became his favorite.

My name was Bai Jianqing. I was only seventeen, yet already the most celebrated of the palace players. Everyone addressed me as Master Jianqing.

All Chang’an spoke of Master Jianqing in his white robes, playing by moonlight, his austere beauty as cool as a crescent moon. Opponents would stare at his face and forget to make their moves.

No one knew that I wanted to be more than the emperor’s favorite Go player. I wanted to become his favorite consort.

Only then could I make those who deserved to die pay with their lives.

That evening, Emperor Pei Chengxing came to the Palace of the Clear Heart for our customary game—and stopped short.

So did every guard behind him.

Master Jianqing, usually so reserved and self-possessed, was sitting under a tree in the courtyard, reeking of wine. Arms wrapped around my knees, I stared blankly into the night.

Pei Chengxing was a young emperor with little patience for rigid etiquette. Since I was his favorite player, he found my behavior entertaining rather than disrespectful.

“Well!” He burst out laughing.

“Jianqing, you’re always so solemn, so utterly expressionless. Who knew you turned into such a dazed little fool when you were drunk?”

Wine had reddened the corners of my eyes, lending a touch of color to my cool features. I spoke as though through a haze.

“Your Majesty… I’m a very good dancer. Would you like to see?”

He laughed so hard he could barely straighten up.

“Jianqing, you really are drunk.”

I tipped up my face and persisted. “Would you?”

Taking it as a bit of amusement, he said, “Yes. Someone fetch the musicians. Let them accompany Jianqing.”

I shook my head. “I never need accompaniment. I can play the music while I dance.”

Now he was interested.

“Oh? Can you indeed?”

I rose and poured wine into several glass cups, filling each to a different level.

He smiled and shook his head, certain I was only fooling about.

Then I spread my sleeves and began to dance.

Pieces of jade hung from my sleeves. As I moved, I struck the cups with them. The clear notes of jade against glass joined one another, gathering into a melody.

Pei Chengxing stared.

Night lay deep around us. Only my white robes unfurled in the darkness, rising and falling with the music like a branch of white pear blossom opening in the dark. The sight was almost painful in its beauty; even the stars seemed to dim.

Suddenly there was a clatter. One of the guards behind him had been staring so intently that he dropped his lantern.

The guard fell to his knees at once and begged forgiveness.

Pei Chengxing did not punish him.

He stood transfixed by the dance and its ringing cups. His own wine cup had tipped, spilling over the back of his hand, but he had not even noticed.