From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 175: The Altruistic Prime Minister

Chapter 175: The Altruistic Prime Minister

A new sister.

She didn’t remind him of Lixin. That was the first thought that came unbidden to Yan Zheyun. Knowing that it was unfair to compare the two didn’t make it any easier to avoid doing so.

Unlike Liheng, who took after their father’s deceptively good-natured features, Yan Zheyun and Lixin had inherited their mother’s cold phoenix gaze. Liheng’s eyes were rounder and almond-shaped, rather like the host body Yan Zheyun had now become used to seeing in the mirror, even if his other features didn’t resemble Yan Yun’s that much. Given how much the missing Yan Xi looked like her brother, Yan Zheyun would have expected to find some nostalgic familiarity in her face, in her vibe—perhaps, even if he were ashamed to admit it, he was hoping to find something there akin to the loved ones he still missed with all his heart.

But she was foreign to him. Even as he felt the lingering remnants of Yan Yun’s soul rejoice at the mere sight of her, there was something about her that made him hold onto his reservations, never mind that she was just a young girl and a victim of everything that should have garnered her his unconditional sympathy.

I’ve become a politician too, he mused self-deprecatingly. Little Brother Yan, I know I promised to find her for you and keep her safe but even you can’t deny that her overly opportune reappearance is suspicious as hell.

Liu Yao must have been harbouring thoughts along a similar vein because there was no warmth in his smile even as he thanked the right prime minister for his ’lovely’ surprise.

"This sovereign is aware that the safety of his little sister has long been weighing heavily on the mind of my beloved consort." He continued to go on to praise the right prime minister for his diligence in helping to ease the burden of searching for Yan Xi with great irony, considering that if it weren’t for Right Prime Minister Ren’s efforts in spearheading the plot to take the Yan Family down, there would be no need to search high and low for her in the first place.

At the end of the day, they were all hypocrites, even Yan Zheyun who had to sit there and plaster a grateful smile on his face while watching this ridiculous farce unfold in front of him. They just weren’t bothering to call each other out because the mutual blaming would go on endlessly.

"Since Young Mistress Yan has been returned safely to the capital, she will require a place to stay. This sovereign thinks the state need not continue appropriating the old Yan Estate as its asset and it ought to be returned to whom it belongs."

Right Prime Minister Ren didn’t disapprove because he had plenty of others to do so for him. An elderly minister, whom Yan Zheyun couldn’t put a name to, stood up with a dramatic flick of his sleeves and gave an exaggerated bow.

"Your Majesty! Please think thrice!" He was echoed by a couple of others. "The crimes the Yan traitors committed were sentenced by Your Majesty personally! The investigations into treason were ordered by the late emperor himself! Your Majesty must not undermine your own authority!"

Or disrespect the authority of his dead father, lest he be branded as an unfilial prodigal son. Even in modern times, Yan Zheyun had on occasion felt pressure during board-of-director meetings to defer to decisions made by his father that he didn’t fully agree with, just because that was the direction the board wanted him to take, citing his youth, lack of experience, and ultimately his role as a good son to listen to his father.

Let alone in an ancient society. Liu Yao’s position was suffocating. At least Yan Zheyun had been given the privilege of admitting that he was wrong. An emperor couldn’t afford that luxury and allowing himself to fall into a situation where he would have to own up to a mistake meant having one more weakness that could be fatal.

Like now. There was a steely set to Liu Yao’s jaw but he didn’t directly refute his ministers.

If this was the tedium of morning court daily, Yan Zheyun was starting to feel glad that he was confined to the inner palace and didn’t have to deal with all these stubborn warmongering fools shortly after waking up.

"Today is this sovereign’s birthday," Liu Yao intoned and Yan Zheyun felt a little pang in his chest. If it weren’t for his sake, Liu Yao wouldn’t be using this date that he loathed so much as an excuse. "There exists a precedent for issuing an imperial pardon for criminals as part of the celebrations."

"But never for criminals that have committed high treason," argued another minister. "This subject urges Your Majesty to please reconsider."

Liu Yao raised an eyebrow. "Reconsider what? This sovereign cannot provide a house outside the inner palace for the child of a criminal, so this sovereign deserves yet another concubine. Is that what you’re all suggesting?"

Upon his seat on the dais, Yan Zheyun surveyed the ripples of hostility directed at the situation...and towards him. At the end of the day, Right Prime Minister Ren was using Liu Yao’s acceptance of him into the harem to plant Imperial Noble Consort Yue’s sister right by the emperor’s side. Even in historical times, two sisters sharing the same husband, especially if legitimate, was regarded as awkward, let alone a brother and a sister.

This was a direct challenge to Liu Yao’s authority. Everyone knew that his patience ran thinner than normal today of all days, and yet Right Prime Minister Ren had chosen this auspicious moment to back Liu Yao into a corner in front of a crowded banquet hall.

Yan Zheyun knew just how protective Liu Yao had become of him. Even now, he could sense the anger radiating off Liu Yao in waves. If he didn’t intervene, there was a high chance that Liu Yao was about to do something that went against being a just and benevolent ruler. Yan Zheyun knew that Liu Yao was no stranger to using violence politically when it was called for but for something like this, something as trivial as ’yet another’ pretty human being to add to his collection of beauties, such a reaction would be uncalled for.

As such, despite the discomfort that caused his lungs to squeeze painfully on themselves, Yan Zheyun plastered a kind, grateful smile on his face and leaned forward like he was eager to get a good look at his long-lost sister, all grown up now.

"This consort cannot thank Right Prime Minister Ren enough for bringing Xi Er back to me," he said, eyes bright with unshed tears, a tremor in his voice like he was barely able to contain his emotions. He was certain that they were all questioning his sincerity at this point; no one, not even the most doting of siblings, should have been able to stomach the situation they had put him in. As someone from the 21st century who wasn’t into polygamy, the mere thought of dating one of Lixin’s or Liheng’s hypothetical exes made him uncomfortable beyond belief...the idea of sharing a boyfriend or a husband at the same time with them was unthinkable.

But unlike Liu Yao, who had had enough of today from the moment he’d woken up, Yan Zheyun could still compose himself enough to hold it together. It was up to him to ameliorate the situation and protect them both the way Liu Yao usually did.

"Your Majesty," he said gently, "this consort is beyond grateful that Xi Er has been returned to me, safe and sound." After so long of being Yan Yun, Yan Zheyun had become an expert at wielding the weapons gifted to him, such as his angelic face. When he wanted to be coaxing, few had enough resolve to say no to him. "This consort understands that the Yan Family’s position is...complicated...if I can see my sister every day, it would give us plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time."

His attitude was one of relent, giving no one the chance to call him out on jealousy and putting Liu Yao in a position where he would have to make even more concessions to save his favourite consort from open censure. But it was also meant to reassure Liu Yao that he understood how tricky the situation was and wasn’t going to allow his personal feelings to interfere with how he thought it should be handled.

What a joke. This wouldn’t be the first distasteful decision Yan Zheyun had been confronted with and it wouldn’t be the last. What were they expecting him to do? Throw a tantrum in front of everyone and give them a reason to ask Liu Yao to demote him? Toss him into the cold palace?

No, there were other, more subtle ways, to do damage control behind their backs later. After all, no matter how long the reach some of these ministers had into the inner palace, they didn’t have as much convenience as the holder of the phoenix seal.

"Yue Langjun is magnanimous," Right Prime Minister Ren was quick to praise.

"Not as charitable as Right Prime Minister Ren," Yan Zheyun replied, his dimples showing. "Going out of your way to bring this consort’s only living relative back to me. If all the homeless children in the capital were fortunate enough to have Right Prime Minister Ren share some of that benevolence with them, there would be so much more happiness in this world, wouldn’t you agree?"

He had the small spiteful pleasure of seeing Right Prime Minister Ren’s triumphant smile freeze a little.

Liu Yao didn’t miss a beat. "My beloved consort cares for my people indeed," he said approvingly. "Now this here is a gift that this sovereign appreciates." His gaze was animated like he had found a new passion project. "Beloved Subject Ren, this sovereign has long felt troubled by the number of homeless children on the streets of the capital. No doubt the situation is even more dire in other parts of the country."

This much was true. Yan Zheyun knew about the state-run orphanages1 that Liu Yao had fought tooth and nail with the Ministry of Finance in the past to assign funding.

"But now, this sovereign has an even better idea."

This part was probably just to irritate the hell out of Right Prime Minister Ren and possibly give him something to do so he stopped having so much free time on his hands to scheme. Yan Zheyun watched on as the sureness on Right Prime Minister Ren’s face was wiped off little by little as Liu Yao commanded him with great enthusiasm to look into the background of beggars and orphans as well as the children sold into slavery and prostitution to return or rehome as many of them as possible.

"Your Majesty," Right Prime Minister Ren said, concealing his temper with remarkable effort. "This old subject admires Your Majesty’s concern for your people but this task is colossal and I fear that my ability would fall short of my wishes1..."

"Nonsense." Liu Yao cut him off. "This sovereign would not hear of you belittling yourself. Everyone knows what an honest official Right Prime Minister Ren is; this sovereign and the kingdom hold you in the highest moral regard. If Right Prime Minister Ren can rely on your own financial resources to chase down the whereabouts of a mere girl that this sovereign’s brocade guard was unable to find, then this sovereign believes that this task would be of no challenge to you...or am I mistaken?"

Yan Zheyun had to take a sip of wine to stop from bursting into laughter. Right Prime Minister Ren wasn’t the only person capable of laying out traps for others. In the guise of praising him, Liu Yao had all but accused him of corruption and harbouring nefarious intent towards the throne. Whether Right Prime Minister Ren wished to or not, he would be investing a lot of time and effort into taking care of the country’s unfortunate if he wanted to maintain his reputation.

As predicted, Right Prime Minister Ren bowed and accepted his new job with grace. "As Your Majesty commands! This old subject is deeply moved by Your Majesty’s love for your people and will do all that I can to ensure Your Majesty is not disappointed."

"No matter their background or social status, they are all part of Great Ye," was Liu Yao’s reply. "This sovereign leaves them in your capable hands." His eyes travelled over to Yan Xi, who had stood there for the entire duration of the spar, eyes trained sweetly, yearningly on her brother like he was the only thing in the room for her. Her gaze accidentally met Liu Yao’s and she startled, a gentle flush colouring her cheeks as she looked away, visibly flustered.

She was the very picture of unschooled innocence. Yan Zheyun wanted desperately to buy it.

"As for my beloved consort’s Xi Er..." Liu Yao frowned. "This sovereign already has his hands full with the beauties chosen earlier this year..." It was such a blatant lie but no one dared to call him out on it to his face, of course. One could only take so many liberties with the emperor before he decided that putting on a benign front wasn’t worth it anymore. "This sovereign will consider it in the time to come. Cao Mingbao, Chuxiu Palace is empty as of now, is it not?"

Years of serving the same master meant that Head Eunuch Cao was a step ahead of understanding Liu Yao’s intent before anyone else, even Yan Zheyun. "In response to Your Majesty, that is correct. Shall arrangements be made for Young Mistress Yan to move in temporarily?"

"Indeed. Since living arrangements in the capital will be inappropriate, this sovereign will just have to host this sovereign’s sister-in-law in my home." He let out a quiet laugh, eyes crinkling as they met Yan Zheyun’s. "It’ll be much like having visiting relatives, this sovereign imagines, a novel concept for me." He regarded Yan Xi again with cool politeness, as though he truly were addressing a relation of his wife that was distant to him and not the new girl his ministers were wracking their brains to deliver to his bed. "Ordinarily, Xi Er should be arranged in her brother’s palace but given this sovereign’s frequency of visits, this would be inappropriate contact with males outside the family. Once this sovereign has made arrangements in the capacity of an older brother for your future marriage, you will no longer have to put up with the inconvenience of staying in the inner palace, especially Chuxiu Palace with its special rules in place."

Chuxiu Palace was indeed special. Yan Zheyun recalled his stint in Zheshan Palace, the male equivalent, back when he’d first entered the harem. Without permission, he wasn’t even allowed outside. In placing Yan Xi here, Liu Yao was cutting off his minister’s tongues before they could be allowed to admonish him. To say that he was breaking the rules and allowing an outsider—and a slave girl at that—to stay without giving her proper status? No, the emperor was clearly housing her in a palace meant for concubines. But to say she had been accepted into the harem, well, Liu Yao was openly denying that too.

They were at an impasse, which was the best outcome they could come up with on the fly.

Yan Zheyun sighed. The night was still young and already he was exhausted.

How many more machinations would they have to dodge before this stupid banquet was over?

State-run orphanages depended on dynasty as well but the first recorded one in Chinese history was in the State of Liang in the year 521 AD. Idiom that means to be unable to do as much as one might want to, usually used to explain one’s refusal to do something or why an outcome isn’t desirable.