A/N: First DW fanfiction! So, first thing's first;a bit of backgroung info. Throughout the entire Jin story of DW, Jia Chong always seemed like that dark, emo kind of guy. This story is the reason why he's like that, or at least personified as that. Enjoy! And, btw, I did my research, so the characters are historically accurate (at least Wikipedia claims that).

The sun was due to rise in a couple more minutes from now. Jia Chong, currently the secondary strategist of Jin, was still sound asleep in his canopy bed, the colors of Jin hanging above his head, casting beautiful shadows upon his face and leaking into his very dreams. His body was already coming out of sleep, for he had been waking up at this time for the longest time. Once the first ray of sunlight shone through the window,strategically placed in the east, and onto his pale face, he woke up with a smile on his face, welcoming the new day. And at that time, he was beginning to wake up on instinct. The sun was on his face, warming his seemingly cold cheeks. He wiped his eyes of the tire that seemed to cling to his eyes. He crawled out of the very comfortable bed, and walked to his kitchen. He grabbed a loquat, one of his favorite fruits, and smelled it's sweet emanation before taking a bite. It was a beautiful day outside. It would be a sinful waste to just sit inside his relatively caliginous house. Sima Yi would be waiting for him at this time. He hurried to his personal water fountain outside and fetched water for his bath and for his later meal. It seemed like every one else below him was doing the same thing as well. After his bath, he donned his clothes, noting that it was fairly warm, and should dress appropriately for the weather. He knew he was ahead of his everyday schedule. Every morning he was to report to Jin when the sunstone's shadow was northwest, no later. The sunstone outside was very far away from the time he was supposed to be at Jin, so, he walked as leisurely as possible. By the time he got there, he would still be early. Maybe he could even start writing, or even read a couple of the books in the Sima's library. They were notorious for their magnificent book collection. They had epics, poems, so much more, as vast as one could even imagine. He walked in through the decorated wooden doors of the Sima Manor. The teal and cyan colors of the manor seemed to leap from the walls and danced before his very eyes. He took in the sight before instinctly walking toward the grand library. The shelves were stocked with many pieces of literature from authors like Ban Biao and Li Qingzhao. Artwork hung on the walls. Great pictures of generals of the past and beautiful wilderness, teeming with cranes, pandas and marine life. In the entire Sima Manor, this was his favorite room to be in. The engrossing odor of the decrepit paper, the look of the aged ink that danced on the paper in beautiful, atrementous strokes. Chong now knew the meaning of life and beauty. There was more to it than disputing asininiously. There was love somewhere intertwined in there. He heard light footsteps on the cold stone. He turned to see a woman dressed in the same colors as him; black and blue with an attenuate cardinal necklace around her neck with what looked like a family name carved into the charm that rested on her breastplate.

"I see you have a love for the arts as well." Her voice was as pure as silk, woven into an elaborate design. She smiled while walking towards the quiet man. "You must be Lord Jia Chong. I am Li Wan, daughter of the ambitious Li Feng. I've heard much about you, My Lord." Chong returned the smile.

"Likewise, Lady Wan." She drew closer and closer until she could see what he was reading, prior to their conversation.

"You were reading the Book of Han? A classic I must say." She shuffled next to him, taking the rather large book from off the reading desk. "Oh, this is my favorite part." She looked into Chong's livid eyes with excitement. He read with her, amazed that there was another person in the world just like him. The same love for the same authors, poets, and artists. Not only that, she was pulchritudinous-beautiful. The way her extensive hair whipped with a turn of her head. The way her skin was as milky white as the moon itself. She was more dazzling than the most beautiful woman, Diaochan. Wan's beauty would outshine Diaochan's. Wan continued to be enthralled in the book as Chong continued to stare at her, drinking in her beauty.

"Lady Wan?" Chong asked softly, trying to get her attention. She turned her head, her hair waving like ripples in water.

"Yes, My Lord?"

"I would like to invite you to go on a stroll with me in town." Wan set the book back down on the desk.

"I would love that, My Lord." She looked into the ashen ingresses that formed his eyes buoyantly. The spring breeze wafted the smell of cherry, orange and peach blossoms across the town which the two lived.

"It's beautiful out today." Wan stated, feeling the tranquil and refreshing breeze dance across her face and through her hair. Wan spotted her favorite teahouse. "My Lord, there's my favorite teahouse. I'm actually hungry. I went without breakfast this morning."

"Absolutely, Lady Wan." He took her hand as they walked up the stairs to the teahouse. There was a woman standing outside, her hair in a neat bun and her clothers were pink with an embezelment of gold and flowers.

"Lady Wan, you're back! We missed you yesterday. What can I get you this morning?" Wan smiled warmly at the woman.

"I'll have a rice bowl. My Lord, do you want anything?" She looked to her new consort. He shook his head. "And that'll be all, Yue. Thank you." Yue bowed and submited it to the man who made the food. There were blankets underneath a cherry blossom tree right next to the little shop.

"Please, have a seat in the shade of our tree. Make yourselves comfortable. Your rice will be ready soon, My Lady." She bowed as the two walked to the blanket. Wan moved her long hair in front of her before she sat down, so she would not be sitting on her own hair. Chong looked out among the foliage, the distant land and streams that were so far away but seemed so close. "Your rice, My Lady." Yue came out with a bowl on top of a saucer. She set it down in front of her on the blanket. "Be careful, it's very hot, right out of the pot. Enjoy."

"Thank you, Yue. You never disappoint me." Yue bowed and left the two alone.

"Lady Wan, may I ask what you were doing in the Sima Manor this morning?" Chong inquired, leaning back against the base of the tree.

"Lord Sima Yi requested that I talk with him. My brothers are unavailable today, so father sent me." Wan answered, eating a bit of the rice, enjoying the subtly sweet taste of the steamed rice.

"I see. May I ask the topic of the discussion?" Chong further inquired.

"Something along the lines of marriage."

"Elaboration, please?"

"I'm to be married to a general of war a fortnight from now. I don't know if I've met the gentleman yet." She finished the rice and took two coins of five out of her pouch to pay for the meal.

"Whoever he may be, he is blessed to be engaged to a woman as beautiful as you are, Lady Wan." Chong stated, taking her hand and wishing her the best. She thanked him by giving him a small peck on the cheek. "We had best be heading back to the manor then, since we both have business to attend to there." He noticed that he was still holding her hand and let go. She smiled at his foolishness.

"It's okay, My Lord. I don't mind. I feel comfortable around you." She reclaimed his hand, not caring about who it is she is to marry. At least not now.