From CEO to Concubine

Yan Zheyun stepped into the emperor's study and was immediately surrounded by the familiar scent of his incense. The furnishings also reminded him of the main bedchambers of Qianqing Palace. He was certain now that this zen-like style, which was rather reminiscent of modern-day Asian minimalist decor, was the emperor's personal preference. 

It just so happened to be Yan Zheyun's favourite too. Unfortunately, too many concerns weighed heavily on his mind and his heart wasn't in enjoying the pleasant surroundings. 

Head Eunuch Cao received him as he entered, leading him over to present himself before the figure seated at the massive desk that was the centrepiece of the entire chamber. 

"This concubine-subject greets His Majesty." Yan Zheyun paid his respects on autopilot but now that he was done with the easiest part, he was faced with the knowledge gap that had troubled him the entire walk over. Qiu Ji had accompanied him but had been left outside at the messenger eunuch's advice. not that Yan Zheyun could count on such a young servant to be of much help when it came to serving in Tianlu Pavilion. All of the emperor's attendants were ranked eunuchs and palace maids, who had undergone years of training and practical experience to hone their skills. 

So…what was he supposed to be doing now? What did the concubines in these harem dramas do in all the scenes where they accompanied the emperor while he worked? His mother used to gush about how romantic it would be if his father would just allow her to 'add perfume' to his study with her 'red sleeves'  whenever he practised calligraphy. 

Was this what was expected of him now? But he felt rooted to the spot, goosebumps breaking out over his skin at the thought of the sappy connotations of that particular idiom. 

[It's just keeping someone company while they worked in their study, even if these ancients have to call it something fancy to make it sound like a more enjoyable pastime for everyone involved. Red sleeves adding fragrance—oh, wait, since I'm male, wouldn't the correct traditional imagery be blue sleeves—]

"Isn't it too early in the day to be dreaming?" 

"…" 

The emperor had looked up from the scroll he was perusing. Out of formal regalia, his intimidating aura had been tempered into a softer variant that was still stern but less frightening. The bright painting of a mythical creature behind him lent him a vibrancy and he looked younger now, buried behind the thick stack of books that was piled up on his desk, as though he was a student cramming for an important exam instead of the almighty ruler of the country. 

A small smile came unbidden to Yan Zheyun's mind at the thought. In modern times, the emperor's looks would without a doubt make him an incredibly popular figure amongst his peers. He was school grass material, for sure. 

Yan Zheyun took a quick look around before deciding on his next step. He walked over to join the emperor by his side, with the ink stick and stone slab before him. Head Eunuch Cao had been standing here earlier upon Yan Zheyun's arrival but had since departed. The ambiguity of being alone with the emperor behind closed doors made Yan Zheyun's heart speed up a little but he didn't display any signs of this outwardly. 

Well, someone had to take over the manual labour, right? His Majesty certainly couldn't be expected to toil over something as paltry as ink. 

With his left hand, Yan Zheyun drew back his right sleeve, revealing the snowy skin on the inside of a delicate wrist. He was back to his usual white robes again but because he'd been invited for an audience with the emperor, Qiu Ji had assisted him with picking out a set that had pale silver flowers embroidered on it, faint enough to be subtle but also lavish enough that he would look like he put in some effort into preparing for the visit. The simple jade hairpin that he'd initially selected to fasten his half-topknot had also been swapped out for a more ornate version with tassels that swayed with his every move. 

Long fingers retrieved the ink stick and began to grind it in smooth, even circles on the stone underneath. It wasn't just Yan Yun's memories that taught him what to do. In modern times, ink was easily mass-produced and sold by the bottle in art shops and online stores and obtaining a fine quality ideal black had shifted from being a matter of skill to a matter of money. But Yan Zheyun had still preferred to grind his own ink, even though it'd made Lixin tease him for being an old soul in a young man's body. The process was calming to him, meditative even, and he loved the medicinal smell that his favourite brand of ink stick had. 

It was similar to the one that he could detect now. Beyond the thin wisps of incense that lingered in the air was a familiar earthiness that was coming from the slab before him. He couldn't resist taking a deeper breath to try and chase after it. 

"You like the scent of this ink?" 

He hadn't realised that the emperor was paying such close attention to him. This was why the whole 'red sleeves' concept was lost on Yan Zheyun. Perhaps the company did make the task more enjoyable but it also made it a lot less productive, in his opinion. But of course, he wasn't about to suggest that the emperor ignore him in favour of being more efficient. 

Yan Zheyun made an agreeable noise. "Does Your Majesty know what herbs have been added to it?" 

The emperor reached out towards him. As he plucked the ink stick from Yan Zheyun's hand, the tips of their fingers brushed fleetingly against each other, the light sensation vanishing as soon as it appeared but leaving behind a ghost of its touch that haunted Yan Zheyun's thoughts at once.

If the emperor was similarly affected, he didn't allow it to show. Toying with the ink stick idly, he held it up for a closer look, gaze distant as he started to explain. "This ink stick is specially commissioned by this sovereign," he said. "The only herb added to it is an oil extract from the leaves of the sappanwood tree, which flourishes in the moist climate of the south. Each piece is expensive and should be treated preciously." 

Yan Zheyun hadn't known this about his own ink sticks back in the 21st century. It had been so easy to just stick it in his purchase cart and press some buttons without having to consider the labour that went into manufacturing it. Everything was so obtainable that he hadn't even noticed how little appreciation he'd had for the things he'd owned until now. 

"This concubine-subject shall be sure to heed Your Majesty's teachings." 

After that, a comfortable silence fell. The emperor didn't strike Yan Zheyun as a man of many words and Yan Zheyun believed wholeheartedly in concentrating on the job so he didn't try to engage the emperor in conversation either. 

The late morning sun streamed in through a magnificent window, illuminating the divan just below it. But the light didn't reach the emperor's desk. Yan Zheyun wasn't sure how long he stood there watching the emperor read and annotate ministerial memorials, which formed the bulk of his work, as far as Yan Zheyun could tell. The emperors in the dramas always managed to find the time to dally in their inner palaces but that wasn't as realistic as the barrage of never-ending paperwork Yan Zheyun's emperor seemed to have on his plate. 

In the languid warmth of the study and with nothing stimulating to occupy Yan Zheyun's mind, it was impossible not to nod off. He only managed to shake off his drowsy stupor when Head Eunuch Cao came back in to report Imperial Concubine Hui's presence. 

"Apologies for the interruption, Your Majesty," Head Eunuch Cao said deferentially. Yan Zheyun didn't miss the way sharp eyes darted over to assess him—or rather, to assess the state of his clothes. He could feel his ears threatening to burn when he considered why. "Would Your Majesty like for this old servant to invite the imperial concubine to return at another time?" 

The emperor dipped the tip of his brush into the ink. He didn't look up as he spoke. "What does she want?" 

"This…" Head Eunuch Cao hesitated. "Imperial Concubine Hui fears that Your Majesty would become too overheated from the constant use of braziers during the long winters and made a mild cooling tonic soup to help alleviate some of the dehydration. She heard that Lord Yue was currently attending to Your Majesty and prepared a bowl for him too."

"Oh?" The emperor finally put his brush down. He turned to regard Yan Zheyun, who blinked at him guilelessly. "Would Yan Yun like to try the imperial concubine's cooking?" 

…the chances of Imperial Concubine Hui being foolish enough to poison him upfront were negligible but Yan Zheyun didn't dare to risk someone else meddling without her permission so that they could pin his death on her.

Yan Zheyun faced Head Eunuch Bao and presented him with a low bow that was appropriate for an apology from a lower-ranked concubine to one of Imperial Concubine Hui's status. "Head Eunuch Cao, please convey Yan Yun's sincere gratitude to Imperial Concubine Hui for her kindness. But Yan Yun has had a weak constitution since young, which is a cold body type, and is unable to consume any cooling tonics without severe repercussions." This was an exaggeration but only by a bit. Yan Zheyun wasn't so stupid as to tell a lie that could be unravelled by a single visit from an imperial physician. Yan Yun truly did fall into the category of 'sickly beauty shou' and all the exercise conditioning and balanced dieting Yan Zheyun tried to do to improve his health were only mildly effective. 

"Take the food away." The emperor's mouth flattened into a thin line. "This sovereign does not wish to be disturbed for the rest of the day." 

"Yes, Your Majesty." 

With one last astonished glance at Yan Zheyun, Head Eunuch Cao left again. Yan Zheyun felt like he understood the reason for the head eunuch's surprise. He might have never been in a relationship before but he wasn't so obtuse that he couldn't sense the special interest the emperor harboured for him. His Majesty's desires were visceral, Yan Zheyun had once held blatant evidence of that in his hands. But he wasn't presumptuous enough to believe that a couple of trysts and a pretty face were enough to make this coldly rational man fall for him. 

It was a shame. If they were two simple men living in a time where they could freely appreciate each other's success without having to second-guess every smallest action that they made, they would have had a shot at a normal relationship as equals, going on dates after work and moving into the same apartment to share a life. 

Instead, Yan Zheyun had to charm the husband he was subservient to, all the while wondering how many secret guards were spying on them and whether the emperor's amazing physique was the result of years of martial arts training. Surely anyone could see that Yan Yun's frail body wouldn't be up to the task of assassination but Yan Zheyun was certain that he was being watched anyway, that his life would come to an abrupt end the second he posed any danger to the emperor. 

"You're distracted." 

He startled a little. Oh. He'd forgotten to resume his ink-grinding duties. 

"This concubine-subject begs Your Majesty to forgive his tiredness." Yan Zheyun said this fully expecting to be dismissed. It was soon approaching noon anyway and he would have to return to his palace for lunch. However, a warm hand enveloped his icy one and pulled him closed, just by a fraction, but enough that Yan Zheyun's brain went blank for a second. 

As though the incident with the spring medicine had set a precedent, any intimacy between the both of them was the result of Yan Zheyun's efforts. Whenever the emperor had touched him first in the past, it had always felt perfunctory, like a hand on the elbow to prevent him from falling or to nudge him in a particular direction. 

The comforting weight on the back of his hand felt like a solid reassurance. He realised that he was sorely tempted to believe in it. 

"Your Majesty?" 

"This sovereign is tired as well." This admission from the emperor was even more shocking than his willing initiation of contact. 

Now that Yan Zheyun was looking for it, he could see faint dark circles bruising the fragile skin beneath the emperor's eyes. He reached out without thinking, wanting to swipe a thumb over the marks like he could smudge them away, before realising what he was about to do and letting his arm fall back to his side. 

"Your Majesty has worked hard." 

The emperor hummed in assent. His gaze traced over Yan Zheyun's features, so intently that Yan Zheyun imagined he could feel it pass over the curve of his cheek and the slope of his nose…before landing on the slight pout of his mouth. 

But he still didn't make a move. 

[Coward,] was Yan Zheyun's uncharitable accusation. 

With a quiet sigh, the emperor averted his gaze back down to the memorial laid out before him. He was still holding onto Yan Zheyun's hand but now he used it to guide Yan Zheyun nearer to the desk. "This sovereign is unable to run this country alone," he said gravely, as though the atmosphere between them just mere seconds ago hadn't been charged with an inexplicable tension. "It's why the imperial examinations are such an important event." 

He tapped a knuckle on the open memorial, drawing Yan Zheyun's attention to it, but Yan Zheyun was careful not to read its contents. 

"Do you still remember your studies?" 

Yan Zheyun wasn't prepared for the suddenness of this new topic. The emperor must have felt him freeze because he gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "This sovereign wants to know, have you ever considered returning to court?" 

This was a question that only had one answer. Whether the emperor was genuinely curious or had the ulterior motive to test where Yan Zheyun's inclinations lay, as the disgraced son of a treasonous convict, Yan Zheyun could only refuse. 

He didn't pull away from the emperor's hold but his voice was subdued as he said, "Your Majesty, Yan Yun just wants to survive." 

The emperor's eyes were so dark they resembled an abyss. Although Yan Zheyun was peering down into its fathomless depths, he felt like he'd already fallen unwittingly a long time ago. 

"That's all you wish for?" the emperor asked.

"Mm." Yan Zheyun nodded. "That's all.." And yet, it was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do.