From CEO to Concubine

"…no changes to the amount of black fragrance in the imperial medical bureau's stores, this subject awaits Your Majesty's orders on what to do next." 

Quiet murmuring filtered into Yan Zheyun's ears. He stirred slowly to consciousness but something warm covered his eyes before he could open them. 

"Go back to sleep," a low voice whispered. It did feel like too much of a struggle to wake up and he gave up without putting up much of a fight, not dozing off again but just allowing himself to be suspended in a state of languid reverie, not quite fully awake yet but alert enough to listen to the conversation going on in the background. 

It seemed like Head Eunuch Cao and Fu Minde had both returned to report. Yan Zheyun wondered what time it was. 

"Your Majesty, after interrogation, we have narrowed down the suspects to Meiqing and Meihong, the Eastern Depot is awaiting your permission to commence severe torture." 

Meiqing and Meihong. Yan Zheyun had attended to Liu Yao for enough months to know that Head Eunuch Cao was referring to the two maids in charge of the incense in Tianlu Pavilion, young ladies that were fair of face and full of grace. They were both young but to be able to serve the emperor directly, must have had a lot of promise. Of course, neither of them had the word 'traitor' written across their foreheads either but Head Eunuch Cao's discovery wasn't all that surprising to Yan Zheyun. 

Neither was the use of torture, even if the thought of it sat queasily in his stomach. No matter how much he'd told himself to adjust to the harshness of the environment he'd transmigrated into, the idea of deliberately hurting another, even if he could justify it, left him squeamish. He wasn't sure whether he was imagining it or not but he felt like he could smell a faint metallic tang in the air. Perhaps it was heralding the bloodshed to come, perhaps it was a scent that lingered on Head Eunuch Cao's clothes, clinging onto him like the accusing hands of those who had died by the machinations of the Eastern Depot. 

[It's a dog eat dog world,] he reminded himself as firmly as he could. If Liu Yao chose to go that route, it wasn't Yan Zheyun's place to judge that. Liu Yao couldn't afford to be soft on his enemies. If Yan Zheyun were in his position, he might have to make the same undesirable choice too. 

He reached up to remove Liu Yao's hand as he sat up. Liu Yao was seated on the edge of the bed, his long hair untied. His gaze was clear when he turned to regard Yan Zheyun, and he didn't seem stricken with symptoms at the moment, the only giveaway that he had yet to recover was the slight greenish tinge to his skin. 

"Yan Yun has rested enough?" he asked. He hadn't answered Head Eunuch Cao's question yet. 

Yan Zheyun nodded, scooting nearer so that he could join in, but before he could toss the blankets aside, Liu Yao reached out to wrap them more firmly around his shoulders. 

Hm? He blinked up at Liu Yao. 

"Your robes are undone," was Liu Yao's straight-faced reply.

"…" Of course. Coming from a society that had no issues with men walking around topless at beaches and swimming pools, Yan Zheyun had forgotten that things were slightly different in this era. Perhaps farmers tilling the fields might be able to get away with disrobing in the heat of summer but in the capital, only scoundrels and hoodlums would see no problem with being in a state of undress in front of others. 

With little choice, Yan Zheyun clutched the blankets to his chest, trying to ignore the weirdness of behaving like a period-appropriate virginal young maiden. 

"What does Your Majesty plan on doing?" he asked, bringing the conversation back to more important matters. He didn't think anything of his question until he saw a funny look flit over the expressions of Head Eunuch Cao and Fu Minde. 

Ah. Perhaps it was overstepping his boundaries as a mere concubine to make such a blatant inquiry. But Yan Zheyun had stopped conforming to expectations since yesterday night, surely they should be used to it by now? 

Liu Yao, at least, seemed to be. Yan Zheyun didn't have an indication of how much he recalled of their little talk the night before since he'd been so out of it, and whether Yan Zheyun's promise of reciprocated loyalty had gone over his head or not. 

But instead of chastising Yan Zheyun for prying where he shouldn't be, Liu Yao was patient as he explained his position. 

This was enough of a start. 

"Whoever is responsible for this, has chosen this particular time for this sovereign to be indisposed of." Liu Yao leaned back on one arm as he cocked his head at Yan Zheyun with a faint smile on his lips. "Can Yan Yun think of why?" 

One thing came to mind immediately. All those times that Yan Zheyun had been summoned to Tianlu Pavilion, he hadn't dared to poke his nose into state affairs, only ever getting a whiff of things whenever the emperor had forced it upon him. But Yan Zheyun had heard more from Hua Zhixuan, for whom the impending imperial examinations held an especial significance. 

Sitting in on matters of governance, listening in on matters of governance, and finally, offering his opinion on matters of governance. There was a list of rules on the way the emperor's inner palace ought to behave and in one nifty shot, Liu Yao had invited Yan Zheyun to break three cardinal ones. 

"Yan Yun is fearful to respond and begs Your Majesty's pardon if my words unintentionally offend." This was not the time and place to be referring to the emperor by name, he wasn't even sure if he still had that privilege now that the emperor seemed to be in a better, non-addled state. 

"This sovereign won't blame you, speak your mind." 

…as His Majesty commands, right? 

"The imperial examinations," Yan Zheyun said at last. "Your Majesty has placed utmost importance upon it this year and if Yan Yun had to guess, there are some in court who have reasons to wish that Your Majesty won't or can't take too close a look at how it is to be conducted." 

Liu Yao snorted. "Yan Yun's phrasing is delicate as ever," he replied. "What you mean to say is, there are plenty in court who recognise the value of these aspiring scholars and seek, by any means necessary, to draw their support away from the throne and into their respective camps." His voice was deceptively calm but the more tranquil he appeared, the more furious Yan Zheyun believed he was. 

He bowed his head. "Your Majesty, please quell your anger," he said quietly. 

A hand ruffled his hair. He couldn't recall undoing it from the topknot Xiao De had put it in the night before but now it spilt over his shoulders, free for Liu Yao to muss into a haystack. The gesture was fond, almost doting, but Liu Yao's voice was icy as he addressed Head Eunuch Cao. 

"Neither Meiqing nor Meihong has confessed any names?" 

"This old servant has been incompetent, the Eastern Depot has used all subtle means to extricate this information from them but to no avail. Any further interrogation would warrant…leaving marks behind and this servant wanted to clarify Your Majesty's intentions before proceeding." 

Liu Yao nodded in approval. "It's good that you checked in. Since they want this sovereign out of the picture, then this sovereign shall just have to beat them at their own game. Tell Ying Qi that he can cease his duties. From tomorrow morning, court shall be adjourned until further notice. No need to explain why, let this sovereign's good officials draw their own conclusions." His lips curled up mirthlessly. "This sovereign would like to see just what they'll get up to in my absence." 

Ying Qi? Now that he was aware of just how ill the emperor had been, he'd wondered how Liu Yao had continued to attend morning court without his officials noticing that there was something wrong. Was this Ying Qi the key to this? 

But now wasn't the time to be curious. 

Head Eunuch Cao accepted his new set of instructions. "As for Meiqing and Meihong…" 

"Let them continue to serve in their current capacity but they are to be watched by the shadow guard at all times." 

"Yes, Your Majesty." 

Fu Minde stepped forward too. "This subject has concerns about Your Majesty's continued treatment." He bowed directly to Yan Zheyun. "Lord Yue mentioned reducing His Majesty's exposure to black fragrance gradually. The more this subject considers the logic behind this, the more this subject feels that it would be feasible."

[I'm very glad that you have arrived at all those conclusions yourself since I would have no idea how to explain them,] Yan Zheyun didn't say. He gave Fu Minde a slight smile before reaching out to tug on Liu Yao's sleeve in a gesture that would appear reliant in the eyes of anyone watching, a favoured concubine acting coquettish to ask for a boon. 

It seemed to please Liu Yao, at any rate, his tone softening naturally as he turned to see what Yan Zheyun wanted. 

"Could Yan Yun please request for Imperial Physician Fu to pay Attendant Hua a visit?" He was putting on a show for their spectators but his concern was genuine and he knew that Liu Yao would understand this. 

Sure enough, "Stop by Yuyang Palace to tend to Attendant Hua before returning to the imperial medical bureau. As for my health…this sovereign shall leave it in your good hands." 

A flicker of surprise crossed Fu Minde's face but he quickly schooled it back into obeisance. "This subject will do his utmost best." 

"Don't bother keeping it a secret," Liu Yao added. "Announce it to all and sundry, let the whole imperial medical bureau know that this sovereign is ailing. "Throwing up and a violent fall (1), this sovereign has nothing to hide." 

There was a gleam in his dark eyes. 

"Let them hear what they want to hear." 

[Ah,] Yan Zheyun thought after hearing this. [This spring won't be as dry as the north is used to.] 

A storm was brewing. 

—————————————

Every three years, when the imperial examinations in the capital took place, Zhuangyuan Tavern became the prime spot in town for all aspiring scholars. As an old and reputable establishment that had grown its roots into the soil of the capital since the reign of the imperial forefather, Zhuangyuan Tavern had always been a favourite with travellers but had become even more so after it had the fortune to house three principal graduates in its rooms in succession, the only tavern in the realm who could boast of such a feat. 

The then-owner of the tavern must have seen a business opportunity because he'd changed its name overnight to match the achievement. 

It didn't take long for a superstition to spread amongst the town, saying that whoever ate the noodles from Zhuangyuan Tavern and lodged there before the examination, would greatly increase their chances of becoming the principal graduate. It might sound ridiculous that such an educated pool of scholars should choose to place their faith in something as insubstantial as chance and coincidence, but it didn't change the fact that every time the spring rolled around on a year that this last and most important of examinations was to be held, the prices for a room at Zhuangyuan Tavern would shoot up exponentially. 

Sons of the rich and powerful would deign to lower their standards and live in its cramped rooms just for a week, lamenting to their friends about what an ordeal it was and boasting about how noble they were to brave such a feat. Sons of the poor would fork out the life savings of their entire family, sometimes even their village, just for a shot at obtaining that most prestigious of titles and changing their fates overnight. 

Tang Yuqin was one of the few who didn't believe that such a good thing existed. The God of Knowledge had blessed Zhuangyuan Tavern with his powers and all who associated with it would have some of his favour bestowed upon them? If life were that easy, everyone would be emperor. 

"Brother Tang, you're too sceptical," some of the other candidates had said in jest after Tang Yuqin had shared his opinions with them. "Without positive idealism, where would new fresh ideas come from? His Majesty has already said that he's looking forward to a creative new generation of officials, you'd better work harder to conceal your cynicism!" 

How could Tang Yuqin tell them that he'd once been just like them too? Had once believed wholeheartedly in passion, would have climbed 9000 steps to the highest of temples if he'd thought that it would boost his chances at submitting a script that would leave a lasting impression on the examiners. 

But after living in the capital for a couple of months, he now understood just how much of an idiot he'd previously been. 

Some nights, he was still haunted by that same scene in the alleyway. Sometimes, he would dream of a fox spirit that ripped out hearts to consume them but was still kind enough to spare him. Other times, the fog in his brain would morph into an endless nightmare where he was being pursued by constables for the death of a noble that he'd not been responsible for. He'd pleaded his innocence but they'd fallen on deaf ears, his screams cutting off abruptly with the swing of an executioner's axe. 

Tang Yuqin didn't know who that beautiful murderer was, had spent weeks eyeing the notice boards in the marketplaces for wanted posters. But nothing had stood out as remarkable. 

And before he could gather up the courage to do the right thing and report what he knew to the magistrates, he'd found himself mired in a new problem, one that proved to him that the beautiful murdered had been right; reality was a lot uglier than Tang Yuqin had given it credit for. 

The fourth prince had extended an invitation to him. More precisely, the fourth prince had extended an invitation to everybody in the rickety inn that Tang Yuqin had put up in. His old mentor had helped him to make some connections to a couple of influential individuals but Tang Yuqin had been very uncomfortable with the sort of insinuations they had made, asking him to 'pick their side' like they were fragmented partisans instead of the loyal subjects dedicated to serving one monarch. 

This was the same feeling that the fourth prince's invitation to a tea and poetry afternoon had given him. And so Tang Yuqin had listened to his instincts and declined. 

What he hadn't anticipated was the backlash that he'd experienced after. 

"What an arrogant fool, just because he came in first at prefecture and provincial level, he now thinks himself above everyone else, not even accepting the fourth prince's olive branch?" 

"There is no one in his eyes, his complete disregard for all of us will be his downfall, you'll see. We made so many new connections and it's all thanks to His Highness, Tang Yuqin will regret it once he realises how far behind we've left him on this journey." 

"Indeed, without any assistance from those up there, how can any of us ordinary folk hope to compete with the sons from noble clans? Tang Yuqin is stupid if he believes he can make based on hard work alone." 

Tang Yuqin kept to his room, practised his calligraphy, and counted down the days to himself. 

Sometimes, he allowed himself to think about what they said and could only sigh in sympathy for the man who sat on the dragon throne. 

If His Majesty was hoping for a lot of bright new talent, he was about to be sorely disappointed.