From CEO to Concubine

The pitter-patter of lively footsteps approached steadily. 

"Get up." 

Attendant Hua barely had the time to obey Liu Yao's command before a small figure barged through the closed doors and with none of the propriety his tutors had painstakingly attempted to cultivate. 

"Your Highness!" The cries of dismay from the servants outside just served to exacerbate the minor headache that Liu Yao had been nursing for months now, no doubt brought upon him by the incessant problems he faced at court. 

Liu Yao ought to take this little brother of his to task for his unruly behaviour. Indeed, he was aware that word had spread about his laxity when it came to Liu An's behaviour. There were stories told in furtive whispers that his 'doting' was a deliberate attempt to raise a good-for-nothing, who would be too weak to threaten Liu Yao's future sons by competing for the throne. 

But this couldn't be further from the truth. 

"Liu An, where are your manners?" Liu Yao rebuked but without much heat. "Come here." He held out a hand towards the little boy, who had skidded to a halt to peer curiously at the spectacular bruise forming on Attendant Hua's forehead. Attendant Hua had the grace to look embarrassed, reaching up to cover his self-inflicted injury while giving Liu An a weak smile. 

"This concubine greets the ninth prince." Attendant Hua saluted. The taut line of his spine relaxed now that Liu An had shattered the serious mood. 

Owlish eyes stared up at Attendant Hua as the ninth prince forgot to listen to his older brother. Exasperated, Liu Yao was about to call out again when Liu An turned suddenly to him with a note in his voice that…could only be regarded as accusatory. 

"Royal Brother! This isn't the same concubine!" Childish eyes narrowed beadily at Attendant Hua, roving over every inch of his features with so much matter-of-fact boldness that if he weren't still a hairless little monkey, Liu Yao would have sufficient grounds to banish him from the capital for coveting a member of his harem. 

Thankfully for everyone, especially the nonplussed Attendant Hua, it didn't take Liu An long to arrive at a conclusion. "Pretty but not as pretty as that other one," he chirped. 

…maybe the rumours had some truth to them and Liu Yao really had spoilt his brother, if he was already beginning to exhibit an inclination towards licentiousness at such a tender age. Ever since he'd taken Liu An under his wing, he'd chosen to go easy on his little brother in some aspects, never chastising him for speaking his mind or having a healthy balance of work and play. After Liu An had witnessed his mother's gruesome death, it had taken years of patient nurturing to coax him out of his shell and reignite some of the bounteous vivacity he'd had when he'd been even younger. Liu Yao didn't want to murder the vivacity that the imperial tutors still hadn't schooled out of Liu An yet. 

But that didn't mean he could permit everything. The last thing he wanted was for Liu An to become like their father. He rose, strode over, and scooped the little boy up in his arms, not paying any heed to the panicked wriggling that ensued. 

"Ack—! R-Royal Big Brother, this brother-subject knows he's in the wrong—"

Attendant Hua was eyeing them in undisguised surprise. Liu Yao could understand why. Everyone thought the members of the imperial family incapable of emotional attachment to one another. Fathers and sons turned against one another, brothers schemed and plotted each other's demises. Even daughters had to find a way to earn the affections of the men of their household if they didn't want to be the first to be married off to faraway lands in the event of a political alliance, never to return to their homeland again. 

Liu Yao was capable of being a good older brother. But no one believed it after the war for the throne, not even his loyal subjects like Du Yi. 

"Apologise to Attendant Hua for your rudeness," Liu Yao instructed, placing Liu An firmly on the ground before Attendant Hua and gripped his arms to guide them into a salute. "Sincerely." 

Sensing that his older brother was treating this as a very serious matter, Liu An wilted, contrite as he reflected on whether his unthinking remarks earlier could have been hurtful. 

"Attendant Hua, this prince is sorry for offending!" 

Attendant Hua crouched down to give Liu An a reassuring smile, eyes turning into happy little slits as he reached out to pat the young prince on the shoulder. "No offence was taken, Your Highness," Attendant Hua said genially. His gaze swept over to the painting on the wall before softening fondly. "Children's words carry no harm and besides, Your Highness' opinion was not unfounded. Lord Yue's looks are unrivalled in the capital…and perhaps even the country." 

Liu Yao thought he could detect a sliver of slyness in Attendant Hua's expression but it was gone as soon as he caught it, as though the usual respectful awe Attendant Hua regarded him with hadn't left at all. 

"…" Liu Yao was certain he hadn't imagined it. Attendant Hua, who had been terrified of him just mere moments earlier, was very confident when it came to his friendship with Yan Yun. Liu Yao would like to think that he was magnanimous enough not to begrudge Yan Yun's closeness to his companions but the restless stirring beneath his skin might suggest otherwise. 

He looked down at the crown of Liu An's head, reaching out absentmindedly to smooth down the flyaway strands of hair there as he asked, "How is he?" 

There was no need to mention any names. 

Attendant Hua's initial reply was just as casual. "In response to Your Majesty, he's fine." But after a considering pause, he added, "But he might be better if Your Majesty didn't send for another right in front of him? The scene in front of Changchun Palace today could be easily misconstrued by those who wish to believe Your Majesty is about to lose interest." 

This was the most contentiousness Liu Yao had ever seen Attendant Hua display. Rather than feeling affront, he could only be relieved that Yan Yun hadn't made the wrong choice in friends. 

"Misconstrued today, perhaps,' Liu Yao agreed. "But day after day in which Attendant Hua is summoned only after Yan Yun's refusals? This sovereign would like to see what sort of story ends up on the grapevine. In fact, rather than Yan Yun, this sovereign must ask if you have the forbearance to play this part?"

The part of a substitute. 

Attendant Hua merely smiled. "It requires no forbearance, Your Majesty," was his cheerful reply. "This concubine-subject would gladly." 

Of course he would, because he was no doubt counting on Liu Yao for adequate compensation. 

Liu Yao wrapped an arm around his brother's tiny shoulders. "This sovereign shall hold you to it, then. If there's nothing else, you may stay here and sort out the scholarly arguments on the country's past affairs." He pointed to a tall shelf in a corner. "Do your best to pick out a couple that are easier for a young reader to comprehend." 

He didn't elaborate but saw Attendant Hua's eyes widen in understanding regardless, astonished gaze flickering towards Liu An before he bowed low. "Yes, Your Majesty, this concubine-subject will not disappoint!" 

A small hand crept timidly into Liu Yao's larger one. "Royal Brother?" Liu An mumbled. "Are we still seeing horses today?" 

Liu Yao returned the grip. "Of course," he said, leading Liu An towards the door as he made a mental note of which memorial he'd stopped at so that he could resume work at a more efficient pace later. "Do you remember your lesson with your imperial tutors about the importance of keeping promises?" 

"Liu An remembers! Confucius said, once a gentleman gives his word, even a carriage pulled by four horses would not be fast enough to retract it…" 

An earnest little voice piped up through the halls of Tianlu Pavilion as it recited the teachings its owner had worked hard to memorise. It faded away only as the two brothers stepped out into the golden afternoon sun, the taller's regal bearing supporting the fate of the country on his back, the smaller still energetic with a spirit that would hopefully never be broken. 

——————————

"Little Master, Attendant Hua has returned." 

Yan Zheyun set down the poetry scroll he was browsing through idly and stood up to receive Hua Zhixuan. He stretched out the kinks in his neck and glanced out the window, noting the long shadows of the courtyard trees. It was close to sundown, Hua Zhixuan had been gone for almost an entire day. 

The commotion in the courtyard outside made it sound like Hua Zhixuan hadn't returned alone though. He took a look outside the window and saw a small train of eunuchs bearing gifts into Hua Zhixuan's house, a similar procession to the one that had occurred to Yan Zheyun's house when he'd first moved into Yuyang Palace, just on a smaller scale. 

Qiu Ji came up to stand by Yan Zheyun's side. "Little Master…those eunuchs are from the Privy Purse," he said worriedly. "Could it be that Attendant Hua has been promoted?" 

Yan Zheyun tilted his head to one side. "Isn't that a good thing?" he said, playing at simple-mindedness. "Brother Hua is my friend, I am happy that he has received His Majesty's favour." Perhaps 'favour' wasn't the correct word but he couldn't use 'recognition' in front of Qiu Ji, in case it triggered any suspicions.

"But Little Master…" Qiu Ji hesitated. "Aren't you worried that His Majesty has truly been angered by your recent avoidance and—and has shifted his affections elsewhere?" 

What could Yan Zheyun say to that? He didn't intend to tell Qiu Ji that he'd been the one to push Hua Zhixuan in front of the emperor, but never with the goal to help a fellow 'brother' obtain the emperor's doting. Or what the emperor's whispers that day at the peach blossom viewing had been about. If just after two days, the emperor lost patience and reneged on his promise, then these 'affections' were worthless to begin with and nothing to be sad about. 

"Congratulations are in order," was all Yan Zheyun said in reply. He headed over to Hua Zhixuan's house, disregarding Qiu Ji's mild protests and dismissing him when he tried to follow. 

"Little Master! Until any official announcements are made, you're still of a higher rank than Attendant Hua and should not present yourself so humbly before him—" 

Yan Zheyun knew that the rest of the inner palace were watching him right now, eyeing him for entertainment. Was this what celebrities felt like to be a trending topic on social media? His every move was scrutinised by 'haters' and 'antis' just waiting to see the emperor make a joke out of him. 

But he couldn't help but think that they were about to be sorely disappointed. 

Hua Zhixuan was in the small side chamber that served as his dining quarters. He was sprawled flat over the top of his round table in an ungainly heap, only lifting his head wearily when Yan Zheyun's presence was announced by Shuangxi. 

"Brother Yan!" He tried to leap onto his feet before wincing and sinking back onto his stool as he massaged ineffectually at his lower back and the base of his neck. "Aiyo! My old bones—"

"…" Yan Zheyun raised an eyebrow. "His Majesty has worked Brother Hua hard?"

The double entendre flew over Hua Zhixuan's head, as Yan Zheyun had thought it would. "Ah, no, I am glad to be of use!" Hua Zhixuan quickly interjected. He reached out a hand to clasp at the hand of Yan Zheyun's long sleeve and he looked up with a bizarre mixture of pain and gratitude on his face. "Thanks to Brother Yan, His Majesty has tasked me with some scholarly duties…" Zest brightened his eyes. "I think, it's not yet confirmed but still rather certain that I might have a chance of achieving my dreams." 

Yan Zheyun returned his smile with a genuine one of his own. "I'm glad, Brother Hua." He looked around at the new furnishings of Hua Zhixuan's house. The plainer decorations befitting a first-class attendant had been replaced by a slightly more lavish collection, such as curtains made of finer silk and porcelain vases of a more delicate craft. "His Majesty promoted you today?" 

Hua Zhixuan nodded. "To Talented Lord," he said. "But I think it's just to create the impression that I have gained favour and make any future visits to Tianlu Pavilion appear more natural…" 

Yan Zheyun hid a smile. "Just an impression? From your current physical condition, anyone who observed your return from Tianlu Pavilion would assume you'd fulfilled a particular sort of duty earlier today." 

It took Hua Zhixuan a while to comprehend what Yan Zheyun was implying but Yan Zheyun could see the second where the pieces slotted together in Hua Zhixuan's brain because his face flared up without warning, glowing like a beacon in the night. 

"B-B-Brother Yan!" he stammered, hands flinging out wildly like he was trying to hold those scandalous insinuations at bay. "Nothing happened today—or will happen on any day! His Majesty did not express any such inclinations towards me, I'm exhausted because His Majesty had left me alone in his study with only Head Eunuch Cao for company and…" He lowered his head glumly. "Head Eunuch Cao is so scary, I didn't dare to ask for permission to sit so I stood and worked." 

Yan Zheyun couldn't contain his laughter anymore. "I don't think Head Eunuch Cao would begrudge you a chair." 

"…if he appears to be in a better mood next time, I'll be sure to ask, my feet are also killing me." 

The situation Hua Zhixuan described sounded funny but it was also a testament to the amount of power the eunuchs of the Ye Dynasty held. Yan Zheyun hadn't grown up in these times and Yan Yun's memories were distant from court politics but as an aspiring official, Hua Zhixuan would have a better picture of the esteem granted to the eunuchs by the throne. Even though Head Eunuch Cao was technically a servant and Hua Zhixuan a master, it was clear where the authority lay. 

Yan Zheyun took a moment to muse over this but Hua Zhixuan must have misinterpreted his silence because he seized Yan Zheyun's hands suddenly, with such fervour that Yan Zheyun took a step back in shock. 

"Brother Yan! You must believe me, His Majesty and I only have the purest of relations!" 

"…" In the few seconds that he'd allowed himself to become distracted by the political structure of the country, did Hua Zhixuan write an entire movie script in his head? 

Hua Zhixuan had no inkling of Yan Zheyun's wry thoughts and was still going out of his way to defend his innocence. "If ever I'm summoned to Tianlu Pavilion in the future, I swear to you that I will only be there in the capacity of a librarian! At most a scribe!" 

[Got it…you're an ancient salaryman. You really don't have to justify…]

"Brother Yan, please believe me when I say that I have no intentions of coming between His Majesty and you!" 

Yan Zheyun had once mentioned in passing to Hua Zhixuan that he believed the sanctity of marriage should be a union that existed solely between two bound souls. He knew that this was a foreign concept in this era, and true enough, Hua Zhixuan hadn't understood it but he'd admired the romantic ideal behind it nonetheless. After that conversation, Yan Zheyun had never once given insight into his feelings in this department again, much less the ones he harboured for the emperor, but Hua Zhixuan seemed to have picked up on them and treated them with a careful considerateness. 

To say that he wasn't grateful would be lying. 

"I know," Yan Zheyun said. "Thank you." 

Sensing that Yan Zheyun believed him, Hua Zhixuan let out a sigh of relief and a cheeky twinkle returned to his eyes. "Not that anyone could even if they wanted to," he said mischievously. "Guess what happened to your that painting that your poem so fittingly accompanied?" 

Yan Zheyun hadn't told Hua Zhixuan about the emperor's words from that day. But he could guess now that it really was in Tianlu Pavilion, perhaps on the wall near the divan he always sat on? Or the space near the shelves that had always seemed too empty to him…

"Ah, but judging from Brother Yan's lack of curiosity now, it seems like Brother Yan already knows~" 

He shot Hua Zhixuan a look of mild exasperation. "Brother Hua seems to have recovered from your fatigue very quickly." 

This lighthearted conversation continued until they received a request from Gracious Consort Yao for a communal dinner in the main house of Yuyang Palace. This was such a commonplace invite that Yan Zheyun didn't think anything of it and it wasn't until they were halfway across the courtyard that he noticed how unusually subdued Hua Zhixuan had become. 

"Is something wrong?" he asked, brows furrowing. "Are you actually in a lot of pain? Next time, ask for a seat or to take a rest if necessary." 

Hua Zhixuan's smile was wan. "It's nothing, Brother Yan, I'm good.. Let's hurry, it wouldn't do to keep everyone waiting."