From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 211: Niece

Xinheng Academy was modelled after the modest schoolyards that were prevalent in the countryside. The building sourced by the left prime minister, who was in charge of the project promoting education, was an old farm estate owned by a nobleman years ago, which had since fallen into ruin after he had been convicted of a crime during the late emperor’s reign. As it wasn’t a grand estate by any means, Liu Yao’s despotic father hadn’t expressed any interest in procuring it for his collection and it had remained largely overlooked until now.

When the left prime minister had suggested it as his prime choice for the first academy to accept students only based on merit, he had been faced with resistance from all sides of the morning court. Those who wanted to gatekeep the privilege of education complained that he was sullying the dignity of knowledge by allowing it to be imparted in the estate of a shamed nobleman. Those few who were supportive of the emperor’s policies had humbly asked Liu Yao to reconsider as they considered the nobleman’s downfall to be inauspicious and his previous assets to be similarly tainted with ill-omen.

Liu Yao had discussed their concerns with Yan Zheyun, who couldn’t help but praise the left prime minister for his suggestion. The empty farm estates on the outskirts all belonged previously to disgraced nobles whose assets had been returned to the throne after execution or exile. Left Prime Minister Zhao had set his sights on them because they were all ready-made, so as to speak, would require little modification before they were good to go, thus saving time and money.

As for the matter of superstition, Yan Zheyun as a modern person had some reservations about that but he knew it was not a matter to be dismissed lightly. Liu Yao had decided in the end to remind the morning court about the idea of karma; good begot good and vice versa for ill will. A school that benefited the civilians should not have to worry about retribution from the gods.

If anything went wrong with the schoolyard, it was far more likely to be a human causing trouble. Yan Zheyun was prepared for this to happen at some point and so was Liu Yao, if the vigilant eye he kept on developments was any indication.

It was funny. This project of theirs almost felt like a child they were both nurturing carefully, this feeling heightened when Liu Yao asked him one night in bed to name the academy.

Yan Zheyun had lain in bed wide awake after, the sleep chased away as he fretted over this one ’simple’ task, making Liu Yao regret his choice of timing. It had taken a whole shichen of cajoling and then some midnight ’yoga’ to knock him out.

But Yan Zheyun had woken up the next morning after a pleasant dream of gaming with his little siblings and chose the name ’Xinheng’.

Lixin, Liheng. May their futures be bright and promising, no matter where their paths lead them to.

Once past the main gates, which opened below the name tablet written in Liu Yao’s carefree hand, there was a spacious courtyard with a garden that had stone tables for chess aficionados. The largest hall behind it was a classroom for students in the final leg of the imperial examinations. Smaller lecture halls flanked it on both sides. As per Yan Zheyun’s request, sand plates (1) had been prepared in some of them, one per table as well as a giant one right at the front for the teacher, to allow beginners to learn how to write without going through the phenomenal expense of paying for ink and paper.

Over the last two weeks, Yan Zheyun had spent in deep discussion with Hua Zhixuan about raising finances. This was why Hua Zhixuan had accompanied them on this little trip, to see what the representatives of the Ministry of Rites required for the operation costs of the schools.

He was in charge of tallying up the expenditures and providing Yan Zheyun with an accurate estimate of the total amount they would need. Liu Yao too had a similar job; it fell on him to give Yan Zheyun an idea of how much they would need to sustain the war in the north as well as ensure that their other armies remained prepared for any conflict that might develop not-so-unexpectedly.

Needless to say, the imperial coffers didn’t have enough at the moment. And it wasn’t like they could start going around clamping down on every single corrupt official without the capital breaking into widespread civil unrest.

Yan Zheyun wanted to raise funds but he wasn’t sure how this was done in this era. After detailed conversations with Liu Yao, he realised that the concept of a stock market hadn’t been implemented in this world yet.

This left him with an option that was potentially very exciting but he needed to work through the details first.

The tour of the school was very satisfactory. The teachers that Tang Yuqin had sourced were elderly scholars from humble backgrounds who had either failed to advance after passing the regional examinations as they could not afford to find more tutors or who had become officials under the late emperor’s rule but were ostracised from the centre of politics as they could not obtain support from the nobles. These scholars had become disheartened, eventually leaving the capital to find other means to earn their keep and feed their families. Now, with Liu Yao’s thirst for change, they were finally given yet another opportunity to shine.

"Ah Yun is distracted? You’re ignoring your husband."

He snapped back from the thorough calculations he was running through his mind to give Liu Yao an apologetic smile. The food before them was all tailored to suit his tastes and he ought to be enjoying it along with the best company he could have instead of keeping his mind firmly on work.

They had since relocated from the outskirts back into the bustling city and were currently seated in a set of private dining chambers in Liu Yao’s Meiyue Tower. That genial waiter who’d served him on the previous occasions he’d visited was nowhere to be seen, replaced by another young man with an equally generic face. Yan Zheyun had no doubts that he too was one of Liu Yao’s eyes and ears.

Regardless, it was nice to have a change of environment. No matter how much Liu Yao loved and cared for him, no matter how vast the inner palace was, it was stifling to be cooped up within, contained behind those tall red walls by the rules of the dynasty. His short vacation to the 21st century meant he’d had a taste of what it was like to be able to come and go as he pleased, popping out to buy bubble tea with his siblings in the evening or heading to the cinema with a friend or two during his university days.

Soon, he thought to himself. Once Liu Yao finally eradicated their enemies once and for all, Yan Zheyun believed he wouldn’t be so cruel as to keep him locked up in the golden cage forever. Qianqing Palace was Yan Zheyun’s home, not his cell. Liu Yao was Yan Zheyun’s first and only love, not his captor.

He scooped Liu Yao some of the ’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ (2), making sure that he divvied up the abalones in the bowl such that Liu Yao had the bigger pieces and ignoring the falsely stern glare Liu Yao shot him as a result. Earlier on, when Liu Yao had been the one to put food on his plate, he’d done the same thing.

This was the kind of familial atmosphere Yan Zheyun had sorely missed.

Just as Yan Zheyun was about to ask Liu Yao about an update on the front—Wu Zhong had yet to return from the north but Supervisor Liu’s messenger pigeons had been carrying back valuable information—there was a cough from the doorway before Yan Zheyun heard the voice of the nondescript waiter say, "Master. An urgent report."

Yan Zheyun blinked. The waiter had dropped all pretences of regarding them as just a couple of rich young masters here for lunch. This meant that the matter was important and couldn’t wait.

Exchanging a rueful glance with Yan Zheyun—their precious time alone together under the guise of normalcy had been hard-earned and was about to end, no doubt—Liu Yao replied curtly, "Enter."

When the waiter walked back in, he was accompanied by Ying San, her hair meticulously pulled into a tight bun. Given that it was broad daylight, it seemed rather counterproductive for her to be donning the black soft leather outfit he was used to the shadow guards wearing now, which would stick out like a sore thumb on the streets. But given the exhaustion in her eyes, which were the only part of her face that was visible, the grass stains that lingered on her clothes, he suspected she had a rough night out.

Behind her was another familiar face.

"You’re...the personal handmaid of the Bright Prince of First Rank’s side concubine?" He had seen her once in passing at the autumn hunt, back when the news of Wu Roushu’s pregnancy was first announced, but he hadn’t had the chance to speak to her ever since her mistress had departed the Wu Estate. Why was she here now...and looking worse for wear? There were injuries all over her body, cuts and bruises that made no sense given that her mistress had been elevated to the status of side concubine ever since she carried that disgusting bastard’s child.

Or...

Yan Zheyun suddenly remembered Liu Yao confessing he was aware that the fourth prince had been sabotaged by their third brother’s mother during the fight for the throne, affecting his virility. Putting two and two together...

He frowned. Wu Roushu was undoubtedly in trouble. The only question was what for.

"What happened?" he asked. Ying San had dropped to one knee to salute them both upon her entry and behind her, the maid had followed suit with a full kowtow. But Yan Zheyun hadn’t missed the way her eyes had brightened up upon seeing him.

"In response to Fengjun, this subordinate was rostered to monitor the Bright Prince of the First Rank’s manor yesterday night...and his side concubine delivered her child." She paused before adding, "As Your Majesty is aware, His Highness’ manor is well-guarded and this subordinate could only derive minimal information. Something did, however, go wrong during labour although I was unable to ascertain what. His Highness flew into a rage and ordered the death of the attending imperial physician and the midwives."

"Preposterous." Yan Zheyun’s eyes narrowed. "Putting aside the fact that the midwives aren’t family slaves,"—not that he believed slaves should be killed on their masters’ whims but unfortunately the law didn’t provide them protection at the moment—"the imperial physician is a court official with a designated rank. Does His Highness have no regard left for his emperor anymore?"

Liu Yao’s expression was unreadable but the whimsical mood that he’d been in just seconds ago had all but dissipated, taking along with it the smile that tugged charmingly at the corners of his mouth.

"Is Side Concubine Wu still alive?"

Ying San nodded. "In response to Your Majesty, she appears to be so, although His Highness has kept her so well guarded that this subordinate is unable to approach for a closer inspection without alarming them."

"This lowly servant knows what’s going on."

The quiet voice of Wu Roushu’s maid cut through the terse atmosphere and they turned to look at her in tandem. Compared to the bold young maiden who had once saved Yan Zheyun from a terrible fate back in Wu Estate, she was subdued, visibly shaken by what she’d just gone through, and he felt a strong pang of sympathy for her. The Bright Prince of the First Rank’s manor was a place out of his nightmares and he could only imagine the horrors she’d undergone during her stay there.

Softening his voice to a reassuring pitch, he said, "I recognise you. Don’t worry, you’re safe now. If you tell us what you know, we might be able to save your mistress."

At his words, the last walls of her fort crumbled along with her expression and she broke into silent tears. Drawing a shuddery breath, Wu Roushu’s maid bowed once more, in gratitude this time, before saying, "This lowly servant begs Your Majesty and Fengjun to please rescue my mistress! She bore His Highness a daughter but fell unconscious before she could see the child herself. When His Highness found out, he chose to take the child away from her and raise her as a son instead...and all who know about it were...were..." She shook her head, unable to finish her sentence, but Yan Zheyun already knew the fates of everyone who had been in Side Concubine Wu’s chambers at the time of delivery. Even the imperial physician, who would have been behind a screen, had not been spared.

"How did you escape?" he asked.

It was Ying San who spoke up. "In response to Fengjun, this subordinate heard the screams and pleas coming from a remote courtyard in the prince’s manor and followed to investigate the noises." She lowered her gaze. "This subordinate is useless and was only able to rescue one person."

What Ying San didn’t say was that she had chosen Wu Roushu’s closest maid, who was the most likely to have valuable information for them. And from the state of both of them, it hadn’t been an easy getaway either.

Yan Zheyun looked at Liu Yao worriedly. His husband’s expression was stony. At length, just as the silence dragged out to the point of becoming uncomfortable, Liu Yao finally spoke.

"Ying San, keep this young lady somewhere safe, they will undoubtedly be searching for her."

"Yes, Your Majesty." It was apparent that Liu Yao was not going to be forthcoming with a plan as of yet so Ying San retreated, gently but firmly guiding the maid away with her.

Once they were both alone again, Yan Zheyun took Liu Yao’s hand in his and squeezed it. He didn’t ask Liu Yao how he was feeling; there was no need to.

"What are you going to do?"

Liu Yao’s mouth pulled into a grim line. "This sovereign’s fourth younger brother has always been meticulous with his studies," he said. "I can remember a time when he would come and ask me for help with some of the material; he never made the same mistake twice." Liu Yao leaned back in his seat. "When did that change, I wonder?" he mused.

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely (3). With his regained memories, Yan Zheyun could vaguely remember a young Liu Wei, trailing behind his older brother with his gaze full of admiration. How much of that had been an act? How much of that had been an attempt to worm his way into Liu Yao’s good books?

He didn’t want to discuss this with Liu Yao, saw no reason to break Liu Yao’s heart.

"What are you going to do?" he asked again.

Liu Yao leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "When a member of an imperial family commits a crime, they should be tried like a commoner," he said decisively, although it was hard for Yan Zheyun to ignore the flicker of pain in his eyes when he said that. "Ah Yun, this sovereign once cherished all my brothers...and yet, somehow, I’ve still lost them one by one."