From CEO to Concubine

Smoke circled in the air of the main chambers of Wushan Abode, such a familiar sight that Xiao Fu derived a strange sense of comfort from seeing it curling out from behind the lattice screen where their godfather was currently taking a bath. 

Lately, Xiao Fu's dreams had taken a haunting turn, no longer filled with sultry laughter and coy glances from knowing eyes. Instead, the smoke that was ever-present had turned into the mists that covered the West Lake in the south and their godfather had become lost in its depths, distant like the blue mountains that lingered out of reach. 

In his sleep, Xiao Fu would try to get to him, clutching with desperate hands at thin air until he realised he was too far out into the water and had forgotten how to swim. 

It was never a good feeling to choke awake, chest heaving with the exertion of coughing up water that didn't exist. 

He didn't want to think about what this could mean. The last time Xiao Fu had experienced nightmares, his parents had died in a blaze set by his father's debtors and he had been sold into the palace by his greedy uncle in exchange for a paltry sum that he had no doubt gambled away in a week. Addiction ran in that side of the family. 

But Xiao Fu didn't believe in premonitions. Or at least, he didn't want to. 

Shaking his heavy thoughts from his mind, he carried a tray of desserts over, reaching out to slide them onto a small round side table with a mother-of-pearl inlay on its surface. Wushan Abode might not belong to any concubine but at the behest of the previous emperor, it was furnished as lavishly as a palace befitting of an imperial noble consort. Not even Noble Consort Li, who was the most senior in rank in the current harem, had access to all the luxuries that could be found here. 

But their godfather hadn't cared for the previous emperor's efforts to win him over. Rare vases were used as umbrella stands, hairpins worth their weight in gold strewn over a dresser like they were nothing more than cheap straw. Every time Xiao Fu saw how their godfather disregarded these displays of affections from the previous emperor, he felt a vicious surge of triumph. But it quickly faded away into gnawing despair when he realised that their godfather didn't treat him any differently either. 

Liu Suzhi, Director of the Department of Ceremonies and the de facto Head of the Thirteen Inner Palace Departments wasn't capable of love. Xiao Fu had nearly driven himself mad just by fantasising about what he couldn't have, the ugly possessive voice in the back of his mind reminding him that their godfather might have spurned the previous emperor but at least the previous emperor had had the chance to hold him in bed. 

Unlike Xiao Fu, who couldn't even address him by name for fear of incurring his wrath. 

"Brat, you're distracted today." Their godfather only ever addressed his godsons by this unflattering pet name when they were completely alone. It was a sign of their closeness but Xiao Fu couldn't appreciate it because it reminded him of the nature of their relationship. Besides, it wasn't unique. Xiao De was called the same thing too, their godfather's laziness exhibiting itself in every respect that it could. 

Xiao Fu bowed even though their godfather couldn't see him clearly from behind a translucent silkscreen. He could hear the quiet trickling of water as their godfather stirred in the tub and didn't dare to let his gaze linger on the silhouette that was illuminated by faint candlelight. 

"In response to Godfather, Xiao De dropped by earlier on to pass a message from his little master. He was ridiculously secretive and kept insisting that we keep this as confidential as possible." 

"Oh? What of it?" There was a hint of curiosity in their godfather's voice that tickled against Xiao Fu's heart. He loved it when their godfather's interest became piqued and his meaningless languishing sharpened into a keen edge that left Xiao Fu breathless. 

Their godfather was most stunning when he was plotting. Xiao Fu wished he could see him living free as a bird instead of cooping up in his cage and speaking calmly of a time when he would be 'gone'. 

Xiao Fu pulled out a small slip of parchment and placed it on the table, next to the dessert tray. A pale slim hand tugged it out of Xiao Fu's sight. 

There was a moment of silence as their godfather read the message before it was broken by a delighted peal of laughter that made Xiao Fu grip the fabric of his trousers more tightly to restrain himself from acting on impulse. 

How was it that a man robbed of his 'roots' (1) could still experience such overwhelming desire for another? 

A loud splash forced Xiao Fu to focus on the present. The robe tossed carelessly over the top of the screen disappeared behind it and in a span of a snap of fingers (2), their godfather emerged, long hair soaking into the thin fabric that clung to his frame as he toyed with the piece of paper in his hands. Instead of his usual seat at his favourite divan, he headed towards his study desk instead. 

Xiao Fu retrieved a towel from a nearby rack, so used to having to fulfil this duty that he moved without thought. Their godfather's hair was soft like fine silk and Xiao Fu had heard the matronly momos saying that a man or woman with soft hair had a soft heart too. 

They couldn't be more wrong. 

"Where's Xiao De?" their godfather asked, looking around for his errant change. "He left without greeting me?" 

At the mention of his childish godbrother, Xiao Fu scowled. "That little ingrate stormed in here with such a massive pout you would have thought he was a concubine himself. He left after handing the message over to me."

Their godfather merely smiled. He didn't seem to mind that his younger godson seemed to be getting more and more attached to his new master. "Ah, that boy," he said with a fondness that used to make Xiao Fu bitter before he realised that the feelings he harboured for their godfather weren't the same as Xiao De's. After that, he'd stopped feeling jealous whenever their godfather had treated Xiao De like a child. Had encouraged it even. 

"He's getting more and more unruly." 

"He's just upset with Godfather for not offering timely help." Their godfather opened the message and placed it on the table for Xiao Fu to see. This blatant trust caused a warmness to spread through Xiao Fu's chest. "But look." He tapped a knuckle against the cursive calligraphy, the haste with which it had been written not marring its beauty. "Although Xiao De suffered a little while following our dear Lord Yue, it seems like his future is bright. Godfather will not have to worry about him anymore." 

Xiao Fu wrapped the towel gently around the damp ends of their godfather's hair before taking a good look at the contents of the message. It was a simple one-liner asking if an identical copy of a metal bracelet embedded with a black matrix could be crafted at short notice. A rough drawing of the request was included. 

He considered what Lord of Handsome Fairness Yue could wish to do with an imitation copy of this bracelet. "Is he intending to stir trouble or to avoid it?" 

"What need does a favoured concubine have for stirring trouble up?" was their godfather's flippant reply. He shot Xiao Fu a wry glance. "And to think Godfather praises you so often, have you been neglecting your duties at the Privy Purse?" He tapped the drawing of the bracelet again. "Look more closely, is this not familiar to you?" 

Chastised, Xiao Fu picked up the drawing and studied it intently, trying to match it to what he could recall of the records of the precious gifts that had been handed out from the imperial treasury. Although excellent quality turquoise was very expensive, such a bracelet was considered pretty commonplace when compared to the other rare collections and Xiao Fu had to ransack his brains to recall where he'd seen a similar one before. 

"I'll give you a hint; Noble Consort Li."

Xiao Fu's eyes widened. "It's part of her betrothal gifts?" Then, more respectfully, he added, "Godfather's memory is astounding."

Their godfather shrugged. "Do you think Godfather can be bothered with memorising such trivial details? Your guess is as good as mine but I cannot come up with a more likely answer." Still, his expression was pleased. "Noble Consort or no, our little master is a smart boy indeed." 

Xiao Fu was inclined to agree. How many low-ranking concubines would have let this show of favouritism from the most powerful member of the inner palace go to their heads? Not to mention how long it had been since Lord of Handsome Fairness Yue had been treated nobly. After years of humiliation, it would have been all too easy for the noble consort's display of kindness to touch a less conscientious soul. 

In the harem, gift exchanges had to be met with utmost caution. It was a common dirty trick to conceal poison, abortion medication, or even incriminating evidence in the most innocuous of presents. 

"This little master is quite cunning," he suggested tentatively. Whether this was a good or bad thing remained to be seen. 

"Indeed," their godfather agreed. "Although, I suppose anyone who managed to extricate themselves from the shackles of slavery cannot be dumb. I must say, this isn't quite the impression that I received of him when he was a child." 

"Godfather met Lord Yue before?" 

Instead of replying, their godfather picked up a brush and started tracing the faint outlines of a little boy in nobleman's garb with Lord Yue's mesmerising eyes. Xiao Fu wasn't surprised. If there was any eunuch in the inner palace with enough standing to mingle with the aristocrats, it was their godfather. Xiao Fu had heard rumours that when their godfather had been younger, he'd even been offered the opportunity by the muddle-headed previous emperor to become involved in court politics. Had their godfather accepted, even Head Eunuch Cao would have to step aside for him. 

But this was before Xiao Fu had entered the imperial city. He didn't have the whole picture and didn't want to ask, for fear of triggering unpleasant thoughts. 

"Back then, this child hadn't known the ways of the world yet." Their godfather's gaze grew distant as he thought about the past, softening for reasons that Xiao Fu didn't understand. Somehow, he didn't think that it was the memory of Lord of Handsome Fairness Yue that brought such a foreign wistfulness to their godfather's face. 

[What was Godfather thinking of? Or who?]

But it was gone in a flash before he could subtly pry further. 

"Make the arrangements to create a replica," their godfather said in an abrupt change of subject. "Make sure to find a reliable private craftsman, there is only a handful in the capital capable of such a difficult job."

Xiao Fu had no choice but to ignore the nagging insecurity that plagued him. He acknowledged the command. "Xiao Fu understands." To avoid word getting back to Noble Consort Li or whoever had given Lord of Handsome Fairness Yue this bracelet, asking the Department of Imperial Accoutrements to complete this task was out of the question. Xiao Fu was going to have to rely on their external sources. 

"And ensure that you take the cost of the turquoise out of the right house in Yuyang Palace, a rare grade of this gem is costly!"

Xiao Fu chuckled. "Given the Lord of Handsome Fairness' standing with His Majesty, there is little he wouldn't be able to afford." 

Their godfather had a different view on this though. "You members of the Privy Purse are familiar with scales, of course." He held up two hands, one high one low, in front of Xiao Fu. Waving the high one, he said, "This here is our Lord Yue." 

And then he waved the low. "And this here is the person the inner palace and morning court collectively does not speak about." He placed his hands back on the table, the tip of one finger idly tracing the lines of the portrait he'd just drawn. "Remember, Xiao Fu. There are different grades to an emperor's 'love'. Who is to say whether his favour for Lord Yue weighs like a feather or a stone?" 

His voice remained light even as his next words became treasonous. "Unless we cut His Majesty's heart out and place it on a scale, I'm afraid we shall never know."

"…even then, Godfather, we won't have an answer. Please don't speak of such things, it wouldn't be good if the other servants overheard." 

Their godfather slumped forward in his seat, propping his head upon the knuckles of one hand as he yawned. "This old man is exhausted, leave me be, I would like to contemplate taking a nap." 

Although Xiao Fu wanted to stay in his company for longer, he knew that this was a dismissal. He saluted and turned to leave. On his way out, he suddenly remembered his godfather's instructions to destroy any evidence of their correspondence. 

"Godfather, shall Xiao Fu burn the message for you?" 

Their godfather folded the piece of paper up with a thoughtful hum. "No," he decided.. "Godfather will hold on to it for a while more."