From CEO to Concubine

TW: Mentions of torture 

The next morning, right after returning from another pointless assembly at Changchun Palace, Xiao De told him that his godbrother had dropped by to say that they agreed to help Yan Zheyun solve his bracelet problem. Given what Yan Zheyun knew about their godfather, he'd been expecting the fox-like eunuch to reply with a whole host of subtle requests, each one more demanding than the last. 

It was more unnerving than not that he hadn't. The prospect of him doing so at a later date loomed over Yan Zheyun like an impending storm and Yan Zheyun had to wonder if this was intentional. To make him wait in trepidation for the other shoe to drop, an intimidation tactic that was unfortunately rather effective. 

Or maybe Liu Suzhi just hadn't made up his mind yet. He was unfathomable to Yan Zheyun, an unknown variable that could both be a blessing and a bane. 

Needless to say, Yan Zheyun had to tread very carefully around him. If he hadn't been desperate for a solution, he wouldn't have decided to take his chances with Wushan Abode, at the risk of giving them a weakness of his to exploit. 

The second Yan Zheyun walked into his bedchambers, he dismissed Xiao De and the other new servant that he'd been assigned on the day he'd moved into Yuyang Palace, a little eunuch called Qiu Ji. As a Lord of Handsome Fairness, the elevation in his rank came with an increase in the number of personal servants that he was permitted, namely two now. Qiu Ji was younger and quieter than Xiao De and Xiao De had been proactive enough to run a background check on him. But this was ancient times and it wasn't like there was an entire national database for him to rely on. All Xiao De could do was to inquire around the various departments about Qiu Ji but all he'd learnt was that the boy was a promising cook because he'd started out in the imperial buttery.

At least on the surface, most eunuchs were obedient so Qiu Ji's squeaky clean record couldn't be considered unusual. 

But Yan Zheyun wasn't crazy enough to trust him blindly. He'd assigned Qiu Ji to a couple of inconsequential tasks such as tidying the main chambers or sweeping the doorstep but continued relying on Xiao De. Not that this was without risks but at least he'd had months of prior observation to aid in his determination of Xiao De's loyalty. 

Right now, he sent both eunuchs out so that Xiao De could watch the door for him and ensure that Qiu Ji didn't attempt to spy. Once alone, Yan Zheyun yanked the bracelet off, vehemently as though it had bitten him. He stuck it in a nondescript box that he placed amidst a whole stash of others that looked identical to it. This pile of boxes was left on his dresser, hidden in plain sight so as to speak. 

Before Liu Suzhi sent a counterfeit version back, he had no choice but to wear the real one when attending the inner palace morning assembly. Noble Consort Li had been so elated to see it on his wrist today that if it weren't for the teaching that 'men and women should not touch hands when giving and receiving gifts from each other' (1), she would have reached out to pat him on the arm like a kindly older female relative. The sort that might pry too much but always with the best of intentions. 

Except, Noble Consort Li definitely didn't have any good intentions towards him. 

Nevermind. Yan Zheyun could seek out company that did. 

It was nearing the end of winter. In a month or so, green buds would start to sprout from the skeletal branches of the peach trees that lined the main streets of the capital and joyous birdsong would herald the start of spring. Although it would take a while for the weather to warm up, Yan Zheyun was already looking forward to doing away with the need for coal braziers. These ancients might not be aware of the effects of smoke inhalation on lung cancer rates but Yan Zheyun couldn't feign ignorance. 

At any rate, the braziers dried out his skin and made him feel dehydrated all the time. He recalled how Hua Zhixuan had sent Shuangxi to prepare pots and pots of tea whenever Yan Zheyun had crashed his chambers to seek out its warmth, proving that the grass was always greener on the other side. 

Speaking of Hua Zhixuan though…

Yan Zheyun walked back into the main chamber before calling on Xiao De to attend to him. 

"Make a trip over to Yuanyin Palace for me—actually, hang on." Yan Zheyun's brain worked swiftly to sort out a game plan. Yesterday morning at Changchun Palace, he'd been too busy trying to navigate past all the traps that had been set out for him that he'd only noticed after the assembly that Hua Zhixuan had been hidden at the far end of the row of standing male concubines, which was way beneath his station. Yan Zheyun had nearly demanded to know why but he'd collected himself in time. 

Noble Consort Li was the one holding court. Since she hadn't said anything, it wasn't his place to speak out of turn. 

He'd waited to see if the same thing would happen this morning. And it had. 

"Follow me." Making up his mind to do something, Yan Zheyun stood up and headed over to the main house of Yuyang Palace without further delay. The Gracious Consort was permitted an entourage of six eunuchs but most of them had been chucked out unceremoniously to tend to the garden and only Yuyang Palace's head eunuch was around when Yan Zheyun arrived. 

"This servant greets Lord of Handsome Fairness Yue," Eunuch Huan said with a respectful bow. His voice was deeper than Yan Zheyun expected from a eunuch but this was common if his castration had occurred post-puberty, so after noting that down, Yan Zheyun didn't pay it much mind. 

"Huan Gonggong, this concubine would like to request permission from Gracious Consort Yao Langjun for First-class Attendant Hua to visit Yuyang Palace." This time around, Yan Zheyun finally remembered to address Gracious Consort Yao as 'Langjun', the appropriate equivalent of 'Niangniang' for the higher-ranked male concubines. This didn't come naturally to him, since male concubines had never featured in any of his mother's shows. The instructor momos had mentioned it during their teaching of the inner palace rules but…it hadn't stuck. 

A perplexed expression took over Eunuch Huan's face. "This…but Lord Yue is entitled to have guests in your own chambers without having to ask the gracious consort."

…it wasn't just the eunuch's voice that was unusual. Apart from missing the slight shrill quality in its tone, he spoke very directly, without a lot of the pomp that came along with the formalities of the imperial city. Although Yan Zheyun didn't allow his curiosity to show on his face, this bizarre master-servant pair warranted further investigation. 

He deepened his bow. "This concubine would greatly appreciate it if Gracious Consort Langjun would express his permission." 

Instead of replying, Eunuch Huan glanced over Yan Zheyun's shoulder. Yan Zheyun turned around just as he heard Xiao De's panicked, "T-This servant greets Gracious Consort Yao Langjun! Langjun is so stealthy!" Maybe it was because they had bonded over rounds of chess or something but Xiao De wasn't as reserved around Gracious Consort Yao as he was the other concubines. 

Yan Zheyun still wasn't sure whether this should worry him or not. 

"Langjun," he said respectfully. "This concubine apologises for the disturbance—"

Gracious Consort Yao was leaning against the door frame, arms folded and hips cocked like the idea of standing straight for longer than a second was too tiring to comprehend. 

"Ah, dispense with all that nonsense," he said expansively. "You want me to invite that cute little rabbit over to be your playmate, is that it?" 

"…" After getting used to the way the people in this era spoke, Gracious Consort Yao's casual attitude threw Yan Zheyun for a loop. Not to mention how he'd revealed in just one sentence that he had seen to the heart of Yan Zheyun's plans. 

Yan Zheyun had indeed been hoping to subtly nudge Gracious Consort Yao into providing him with permission but he hadn't intended to ask aloud for it. That would be akin to openly announcing 'Hey, Xiongdi, I'm trying to make use of your authority here to achieve some selfish purposes, please don't mind, yeah?' 

Not that Gracious Consort Yao had any qualms pointing out Yan Zheyun's poor attempt at manipulation. It was rare for Yan Zheyun to fluster but he didn't often get caught red-handed like this and it made his cheeks burn. 

"Langjun…" 

"Ah, wait." The gracious consort held out a hand. "You didn't call me that yesterday, please don't start today, as much as I appreciate your beauty, I dare not acknowledge you as my wife." 

It took Yan Zheyun a whole five seconds to figure out what he was getting at but when he did, his entire face turned bright red, but from outrage this time. 

"If it pleases Lang—Gracious Consort Yao," he said slowly, trying to hold the tattered remains of his dignity together. "This…little brother will invite First-class Attendant Hua over now." Thanks to the reminder that 'Langjun' was also an archaic term of address that meant 'husband', Yan Zheyun was suddenly less okay with referring to himself as a concubine in front of this irritating man. 

"By all means, it pleases me very much." 

Not wanting to deal with Gracious Consort Yao's eccentricities for any more than he had to, Yan Zheyun hurriedly took his leave, chased by amused laughter. 

"Gracious Consort Yao is…" Xiao De's face was scrunched from the effort of searching for a term that would be both accurate and inoffensive. "Unique." 

Yan Zheyun didn't want to think about it. It was impossible to imagine the calm emperor having the patience to handle such blunt teasing. But then again, Gracious Consort Yao hadn't been like that yesterday over chess. Perhaps Yan Zheyun had just caught him in an odd mood. 

He sent Xiao De off at once before heading back to his chambers. 

——————————

As he'd predicted, Gracious Consort Yao's name was sufficient to unlock doors. In this case, it had been used quite literally to force Talented Lord Liang to let Hua Zhixuan out of the storage room that had been assigned as his chambers. 

When Hua Zhixuan stumbled past the threshold of Yan Zheyun's door, supported on either side by Shuangxi and Xiao De, Yan Zheyun's heart sank. 

It had only been three days since their departure from Zheshan Palace and Hua Zhixuan was already in a terrible state. His clothes, which had been clean this morning, were now stained with dirt and a brownish substance that reeked. When his sleeves shifted up, Yan Zheyun saw bruises on his arms and the vibrant spark in his eyes had been replaced with a muted dullness that was even more subdued than the timid nature Hua Zhixuan had displayed in front of other old noble clan members when he'd first entered the inner palace. 

In other words, whoever was responsible for this had undone weeks of hard work on Yan Zheyun's part. This wasn't the only reason for the anger bubbling up from within though and a portion of it was directed at himself. 

He'd been so used to being a lone wolf that he'd neglected to take care of his companion. Although he hadn't been the direct cause of the harm, it was undeniable that it would have something to do with him. Yan Zheyun might be untouchable to the envious idiots in the harem but Hua Zhixuan was not. And Yan Zheyun had known. Why hadn't he checked in earlier? 

There would be time to wallow in guilt later. For now, he rushed Xiao De to prepare a bath, shouting for Qiu Ji to bring in more braziers. Hua Zhixuan was trembling in Shuangxi's arms, his fingers covered with alarming purplish-red blisters at their tips, which Yan Zheyun recognised as chilblains. Hua Zhixuan had largely been blocked from sight during morning assembly and Yan Zheyun hadn't realised the extent to which he had been bullied. 

"Brother Yan…" His voice was as rough as sandpaper. 

Yan Zheyun clenched his fists. "Don't speak anymore," he said tersely before raising his voice again. "Xiao De! Hurry!" 

"Coming!" 

In a short span of minutes, the chambers of Lord of Handsome Fairness Yue turned into a hub of activity as Xiao De, who had plucked low-ranking Department of Maintenance maids and eunuchs from their sweeping duties to assist with carting buckets of hot water, flurried from room to room to ensure that everything was set up to care for Hua Zhixuan. 

"You'll get into trouble," Hua Zhixuan protested hoarsely. "Brother—"

"If you call me brother, listen to me." 

Hua Zhixuan fell silent but his eyes turned red-rimmed. He let Shuangxi strip him out of his clothes and Yan Zheyun's breath lodged itself violently into his throat as he took in the horrific sight before him. Not only were the bruises in huge patches around Hua Zhixuan's knees, but there were also tiny charred marks all over the insides of his forearms, little perfect circles that reminded Yan Zheyun of cigarette burns. There were so many injuries on him that when he was lowered into the clean water, a quiet whimper escaped from his lips. 

Something in Yan Zheyun snapped. 

"Xiao De, assist Brother Hua. Shuangxi, come with me." 

After barking his orders, Yan Zheyun swept out of his bedchamber without waiting for a response. He moved to his study desk at the other end of his quarters, so that Hua Zhixuan wouldn't have to overhear Shuangxi reporting all the details that he was about to ask for. 

"This happened because of my oversight." He squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. "I want to know everything.. Everyone responsible for it."