From CEO to Concubine

Yongkang Palace was situated in a tranquil wing of the inner palace and was the axis of all the palaces built to house the late emperor's consorts and concubines with merit, such as the ones who came from influential families or who had borne the imperial family children.聽

As the residential palace of the empress dowager, the Palace of Eternal Health was dignified and imposing, the rich paint of its roofs gleaming in the late afternoon sun. The emperor, in a show of filial piety, had issued an order for the renovation of Yongkang Palace upon his ascension. This was his first command and everyone from the court to the inner palace had interpreted this as a display of the emperor's love for his mother.聽

But Liu Wei knew better. He knew that the wealth and prestige his brother had granted their mother was just to fulfil his obligations as her son. He also knew that, apart from festival days where it was dictated that the emperor had to pay the dowager respects in her palace, his brother had never once visited her on his own accord.聽

On the other hand, Liu Wei was the son the dowager often requested to see.聽

As an adult prince, once Liu Wei had reached fifteen years of age, he should have been conferred a title and sent out of the inner palace. As a man, it was no longer appropriate for him to share the same living space as his father's wives. Only the crown prince was allowed to remain in the Eastern Palace, which was in a separate segment of the imperial city and had its own territory.聽

However, his mother, then the empress, had pleaded to keep Liu Wei with her for a year longer. She'd used the excuse that her older son was often away performing his duties and that if Liu Wei too could no longer keep her company, she would be very lonely.聽

And his father, muddle-headed that he'd been, had caved at the sight of her string of pretty, pearl-like tears. This was how Liu Wei had remained in the inner palace until the crown prince's ascension and why he'd been sixteen when his brother had finally bestowed the magnificent title of Bright Prince of the First Rank upon him.聽

He supposed he should have been honoured. Apart from his sixth royal brother, who was infamous for being a wastrel, none of the surviving adult princes had been permitted to remain in the capital. Instead, Liu Yao had designated a fiefdom for them and dismissed them from the capital immediately, never to return without permission. In comparison, Liu Wei was very fortunate.聽

But he just wasn't satisfied.聽

Back then, during the fight for the throne, he'd been sorely tempted. His father had favoured him and his mother still pampered him. Both of them were the legitimate sons of the emperor's main wife, so why was it that Liu Yao, just because he was lucky enough to be born earlier, had more right to inherit than he?聽

His mother, who had known that he was champing at the bit, had warned him over and over again that it wasn't his time yet. As a result, Liu Wei had had no choice but to tuck away his ambition and do his best to assist the very brother he most wanted to tear off the pedestal.聽

That was five whole years ago. Was it still not his time? Liu Yao wasn't even in his Er Li years yet and Liu Wei's impatience was already becoming too much to bear.聽

The private gardens surrounding the main house of Yongkang Palace was bustling as maids from the gardening division of the Department of Maintenance prepared the trees and potted plants to welcome the new season. Wu Momo, who was in charge of running the affairs of Yongkang Palace, came out to receive Liu Wei when his presence was announced by the door eunuchs.聽

"This servant greets Prince Xi," she said fondly. "Prince Xi, Empress Dowager Niangnniang has been looking forward to your arrival all day."聽

"Please lead this prince over to Royal Mother." Liu Wei returned her smile. "How has her health been?" he asked genially, hands clasped behind his back as he strode in after her, towards his mother's private reception hall. In contrast to the grand hall at the front of the main house, this one was cosier, with a circular table in the centre that the dowager used for meals with her close guests. Liu Wei was the most frequent visitor to this part of聽 Yongkang Palace.聽

Wu Momo's reply was reassuring. "In response to Prince Xi, Niangniang is feeling livelier now that winter is almost over. Upon seeing you today, this servant is sure that her spirits will be even more lifted." Her sigh was satisfied. "When it comes to filial piety, no one is a better exemplar than Prince Xi."聽

The critical insinuation pleased Liu Wei greatly. "What's Momo saying?" he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "This prince is only doing what every loyal son should do."聽

"Yes, of course, Prince Xi is so well-raised and is truly Niangniang's fruit of happiness (1)."聽

His mother was already seated at the table when Liu Wei reached. A small feast was already laid out upon it with all of Liu Wei's favourite dishes. A smug spitefulness welled up in his chest as he saw his mother's face brighten up as she caught sight of him. Liu Yao might have the throne for now but when it came to the love of their parents, he'd lost the second Liu Wei had been born.聽

"Wei Er, you're finally here!"聽

Liu Wei strode over quickly to take her outreaching hands in both his own and squeeze them. His father had died in his prime and his mother, despite ascending to the most glorious position in the inner palace, had barely crossed into her fourth decade of life. Apart from the faint lines at the corners of her eyes and the occasional silver thread running through her ebony hair, she hadn't lost any of the magnificence she'd carried herself with while she'd been empress.聽

"This child has made Royal Mother wait for him," Liu Wei apologised, letting her usher him into the seat closest to her as she commanded her maids to pile up his bowl with delicacies.聽

"Even though we're almost in spring, the weather is still chilly at night, Wei Er must take care not to catch a cold." His mother motioned for a spare bowl to be handed over to her and personally ladled out soup for him. Amidst the goji berries and ginseng, he could also see a couple of pieces of dark meat.聽

Liu Wei laughed a little. "Royal Mother, are you sure you trying to help this child warm-up or overheat?" If he wasn't wrong, the meat pieces were thin circular slices of a tiger's penis. The other ingredients in the soup were also to increase virility, which Liu Wei certainly didn't require. All it took for him to become hard every night was the memory of clear pair of beautiful eyes gazing upon him with breathtaking purity.

That Wu Household slave was yet another thing Liu Yao hoarded that was rightfully his.聽

Instead of becoming embarrassed that her intentions had been called out, his mother just shot him a look of doting frustration. "Wei Er can joke about it? You've been married for so long and with so many concubines, how come there's still no news from your rear court?"聽

She was referring to news of pregnancies, of course. To be honest, Liu Wei wasn't sure either. Before his mind had been consumed by thoughts of that lovely boy, he'd been sure to sow his seed quite thoroughly amongst all his women. Liu Wei might enjoy more fun and games in bed but he reserved those for his dalliances in Yutao Pavilion. His mother had drilled the importance of an heir into him and he knew that if he wanted an edge over his brother, begetting a son before Liu Yao did was vital.聽

But outwardly, he shot his mother an unconcerned smile. "No rush, my royal big brother doesn't have any children either, Royal Mother should be rushing him instead."聽

His mother didn't hide her scoff. "Him? Where are his children going to come from if he's only interested in hens that cannot lay eggs? (2)"聽

"Royal Mother is right to admonish."聽

Once again, Liu Wei was secretly taken aback by his mother's vehemence on this subject. Even as empress, his mother had always been far more critical of his older brother than him but everyone else in the inner palace had chalked this up to her having more expectations for the crown prince.聽

Liu Wei felt like there was more to it than that. His mother's attitude towards his brother had always been stern since they were young but as they grew older, especially after his brother's disgraceful affair with his study companion had been revealed, the strictness in her gaze had frozen over into a frosty dislike.聽

He had to thank Liu Yao for pushing their mother into Liu Wei's camp. Liu Wei hadn't been present when Liu Yao had announced to their parents that he was a cut sleeve but he'd heard about how extreme their royal mother's reaction had been. Liu Wei had never enjoyed the sight of anything more than his crown prince brother kneeling in front of Jiaofang Palace for three days in a row to beg for her forgiveness.聽

There was nothing wrong with indulging in a male pet now and then. But as the crown prince of the country, his royal big brother had a duty to marry a befitting wife and produce imperial heirs. No wonder their mother had given up on him and was now focusing on Liu Wei.聽

Liu Wei tactfully changed the subject and the rest of the meal passed amicably. His mother insisted on walking him to the main entrance of Yongkang Palace, where eunuchs from the Eastern Depot were waiting to escort him back out of the imperial city. The emperor couldn't stop him from entering the imperial city to spend time with the dowager but he could ensure that Liu Wei was kept under a strict watch.聽

"One more thing," his mother murmured, catching his arm on the winding corridor that they were proceeding down. Her other servants had been dismissed and the area around them was deserted. "Mother received some news from the southwest."聽

Liu Wei's eyes gleamed. "What is it about?" he asked eagerly.聽

"My sources aren't too definite but it seems like the warlords are becoming restless." In the dim lantern lights, his mother's face was half-covered in shadows. "I know Wei Er doesn't deign to, but it would be beneficial for you to continue your acquaintanceship with the Wu Household." Her glance was meaningful. "General Guo will be needed soon."

Liu Wei paused. "I understand."聽

Even after leaving Yongkang Palace, his mother's words rang in his mind. Liu Wei had given up on an alliance with the Wu Household after seeing how ineffectual both the current and future clan heads were. But if his mother thought that it was a good idea, he would consider it seriously. Her advice had only ever been sound and if she was right again this time and the emperor was going to have no choice but to rely on General Guo again鈥?br>
He was so distracted that he didn't notice the sedan procession ahead of him until the eunuchs escorting him out asked him politely to halt and wait for it to pass.聽

"Please don't take offence, Prince Xi," the eunuch said perfunctorily. "It is the job of us servants to ensure that Prince Xi doesn't come into contact with any members of His Majesty's harem."聽

Liu Yao's gaze chased after the disappearing sedan. Its passenger could be one of the consorts or noble consorts with special permission from the emperor to be ferried around the inner palace's grounds. Or it could be the only concubine to have the emperor's favour at present. This path that Liu Wei was passed Yongkang Palace but led on to Tianlu Pavilion. For a concubine to come from that direction meant that they'd been with the emperor mere moments before.聽

A fiery burning spread through his veins. His mother's advice about the Wu Family and her nagging about children were like little hints that things were about to change for him. It was just as well. Liu Wei couldn't wait to see his brother's face when he was forced to kneel at Liu Wei's feet, his little beauty writhing in Liu Wei's lap.聽

That night, Liu Wei chose to visit Side Concubine Wu's chambers. Although he'd been disgusted with the way she'd entered his rear court, Liu Wei couldn't deny that she was a lot more interesting than the rest of the reputable maidens from influential families that his mother had chosen for him. She'd quickly picked up on the role she served in his bed, taking to dressing like a man to keep his attention, contouring her face with makeup and sporting the scholar's half top-knot that Yan Yun's hair had been styled in that first time Liu Wei had met him.聽

Normally, he liked to enjoy her from the back, entering where she was tightest. But today, he visited a different, moister heat instead, hearing her shocked gasp from beneath him as he pressed her deep into the sheets and snapped his hips forward.聽

Yan Yun wouldn't feel like this but Yan Yun couldn't give him children either.. Until all his plans came to fruition, this girl would be the closest thing he could get and he would have to make do.