Chapter 1: Sixth

The morning of the imperial examination was just like any other morning in the inner palace; mundane. Yan Zheyun, who had been exempted from the assemblies at Changchun Palace ever since he started attending to the 'infirm' emperor, was allowed to return to Yuyang Palace for the first time in a while. 

Today was also the first time he met Ying Qi, presumably one of Liu Yao's royal guards. After makeup and a change of wardrobe, Ying Qi bore such a striking resemblance to the emperor that Yan Zheyun had served for months that Yan Zheyun wouldn't have been able to tell the difference without close scrutiny. Even then, he wasn't certain. If it weren't for the deferential greeting Ying Qi directed towards him, he might have mistaken him for Liu Yao without a second thought. 

For the past couple of weeks, whilst Liu Yao had struggled with addiction in the little room in a corner of Qianqing Palace, it had been Ying Qi who had worn his robes and attended morning court. Ying Qi who had sat in Tianlu Pavilion pretending to read memorials. Ying Qi who had mimicked Liu Yao's mannerisms so perfectly that the inner palace had been none the wiser.

Doppelganger.  Yan Zheyun had never seen one with such a similarity and although he was sure that Liu Yao must have some way to differentiate Ying Qi from him, a method of proving his actual identity if Ying Qi should choose to become a turncoat, the knowledge still chilled Yan Zheyun to the bone. 

"My ancestors and those emperors before us have frequently employed this tactic (1)," Liu Yao had said, upon Yan Zheyun's asking. "It has saved this sovereign's life in the past." 

He hadn't elaborated and Yan Zheyun hadn't inquired further either. Down that route lay only death, he didn't want to pick at Liu Yao's scabs, prod into whether every time someone wore his face and died for him, Liu Yao's conscience took a hit. 

After Ying Qi had replaced Liu Yao in his bedchambers in Qianqing Palace, it was no longer appropriate for Yan Zheyun to linger in there alone with him, whether it was for the sake of putting on an act or not. Two men sitting together in the proximity of a bed might not sit at odds with Yan Zheyun's modern-day virtues but in this era, his hands were tied by the heavy societal expectations placed upon wives and concubines, regardless of their gender. In the eyes of imperial law, Yan Zheyun belonged to Liu Yao and it would be remiss for him to disregard his husband's reputation and meet with any man in private, even if his husband were aware of it. 

Not to mention, Liu Yao was the emperor, the last man who could afford to be cuckolded; the respect his civilians had for him was of utmost importance if he wanted to run the country efficiently and any concubine who had the gall to turn him into a laughing stock would have to pay a dear price. 

For the sake of everyone, Liu Yao had dismissed Yan Zheyun with a casual head ruffle and a, "I'll see you tonight." 

As though they were a normal couple parting ways at the door in the morning, both of them about to drive off to their jobs, where they would spend the whole day expanding their companies and missing each other before returning for a homemade meal if they didn't meet up outside for an evening date. 

Yan Zheyun hadn't been able to resist. He'd gone in for the kill, tiptoeing to reach Liu Yao's lips, slightly parted in surprise at his sudden display of boldness. Head Eunuch Cao had been present—Yan Zheyun's ears had caught his sharp intake of breath—but he hadn't cared, licking into Liu Yao's mouth, coy like a kitten experimenting with a new treat for the first time, gone before Liu Yao could catch him and pull him back for a deeper taste. Lately, he'd noticed an almost feral look in Liu Yao's eyes every time they were even remotely intimate and Yan Zheyun suspected that it wouldn't be long before he was coaxed into fulfilling that one last concubine's duty he hadn't quite managed to get to. 

After that night, where Liu Yao had asked Yan Zheyun to call him by name, something had changed. Their relationship undulated with a fluidity that Yan Zheyun was still getting used to, molding like liquid to fit whatever vessel Liu Yao took the form of. One second, he could be an emperor issuing orders and referring to himself with the appropriate self-address. The next, he could be the boyfriend of Yan Zheyun's dreams. 

They hadn't spoke about where they stood with each other but perhaps, after today, there would be time. 

"You've only been apart for less than a shichen and already you're pining?" 

Gracious Consort Yao's infuriating voice brought Yan Zheyun back to reality. He was seated cross-legged on Hua Zhixuan's rumpled bed, accompanying the unmoving lump buried beneath a thick set of blankets, but his mind kept straying back to Liu Yao and he had to force himself to snap out of it and be a more supportive friend. 

He reached out to give the lump a gentle shake. "Brother Hua?" he called tentatively. "Will you not see me?" 

The lump curled in even more tightly on itself before it gave up and unrolled, Hua Zhixuan's puffy eyes peering blearily up at Yan Zheyun, his mouth falling into a full pout, one that Yan Zheyun noticed Gracious Consort Yao fixating on. 

He resisted the urge to elbow Gracious Consort Yao in the ribs. Whatever his affiliation to the emperor, he was still ranked above Yan Zheyun in the eyes of others and Yan Zheyun couldn't take such liberties. Even if he didn't think this was an appropriate moment for Liu Yao's maybe-henchman to be thirsting over his closest friend. 

…if only he could get rid of Gracious Consort Yao, he had about a thousand questions to interrogate Hua Zhixuan with, mostly pertaining to his view of this odd budding relationship of his, which was both endearing and dangerous in turn. 

Hua Zhixuan sniffled. "Langjun, Brother Yan, Zhixuan is fine. It's just…still a bit difficult to accept losing my candidature for an examination that I spent all my life preparing for, that's all." 

Yan Zheyun felt his heart twinge in sympathy. He patted Hua Zhixuan on the arm, knowing that any words he could offer now would be poor comfort. Tomorrow, Hua Zhixuan would be able to start to move on, focusing on the backdoor opportunity granted to him by his concubinage to an emperor who wasn't blind enough to reject talent, no matter what form it presented itself in. 

But for today, he could and should be allowed to wallow in self-pity, if that was what it took for him to vent. 

Yan Zheyun looked at Gracious Consort Yao. 

"Is Gracious Consort free to accompany Brother Hua?" he asked. Ever since that one time Gracious Consort Yao teased him for using the title 'Langjun', he had resolutely avoided it. Listening to it spill so naturally from Hua Zhixuan's lips was grating enough. 

Gracious Consort Yao raised an eyebrow. "Leaving so soon? But Lord Yue just got here." 

Hua Zhixuan shot upright in bed. He was faring much better now albeit waifish from a lack of appetite. But Yan Zheyun wasn't too worried. Judging by how persistent Gracious Consort Yao had been in spoon-feeding him nutritional tonics and porridge, which Yan Zheyun had had the chance to witness firsthand earlier, he would be back to his original size soon and then some. 

"Brother Yan also looks exhausted," Hua Zhixuan said, concern replacing his melancholy as he studied Yan Zheyun's face. 

Yan Zheyun's eyes crinkled. He wasn't sure how 'airtight' Hua Zhixuan's house was, so as to speak, and could not risk even the slightest hint of Liu Yao's plans leaking out, so he didn't let Hua Zhixuan know that it was all an act. That although Liu Yao had sent him out of Qianqing Palace, Yan Zheyun had been assigned the task of 'getting some fresh air' in the gardens of the inner palace, with the true intention of observing the behaviour of the other concubines. To look the part of the weary concubine who had spent too many nights tending to a sickly emperor, he'd burnt the midnight oil two nights in a row, resolutely refusing to sleep despite Liu Yao's best efforts to get him to take a nap. 

He had to look the part to play the part. This was a task Liu Yao had entrusted him with and just like how Yan Zheyun had given it his all whenever his father had assigned him a project during his internship, he was ready to show Liu Yao that he was capable of being a valuable employee.

"I'll be back in the afternoon," he promised. He would have just enough time to pop in and say hi to Hua Zhixuan again before Liu Yao expected him back in Qianqing Palace for dinner. 

Hua Zhixuan's frown didn't disappear but he didn't ask what Yan Zheyun was heading off to do, had always been astute about what should and should not be said. "Take care of yourself," was all he added. 

"I will." With one last smile at Hua Zhixuan and a polite bow to Gracious Consort Yao, Yan Zheyun retreated. 

The imperial gardens had dressed themselves in all the colours of spring. With Xiao De by his side, Yan Zheyun strolled leisurely amongst the flower beds and false rock mountains, seemingly at ease as he took a gander with no obvious destination in mind. 

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This wasn't true, of course. Already, he could hear light conversation coming from a pavilion up ahead. It was half-obstructed by a peach blossom tree in full bloom but the owners of the feminine voices could only have one identity; no maid would be brave enough to pause in the middle of the imperial gardens to gossip, not unless they were asking for a hearty scolding from their supervisor gugu or momo. 

The imperial gardens were never quiet in the day. Servants of all ranks passed through it, even high-ranking officials who had been granted leave in the form of a special pass to visit the emperor in his study. Hence, it didn't surprise Yan Zheyun when he saw a couple of foreign faces about, belonging to men who weren't dressed in the uniforms of eunuchs or guards. 

What did surprise him, however, was when one of them called out to him. 

"Lord of Handsome Fairness Yue!" 

From the corner of his eye, Yan Zheyun noticed Xiao De stiffening. He had a similar reaction himself; who was so brazen as to strike up conversation with one of the emperor's concubines? Male visitors to the inner palace were restricted to members of the royal family with reason to be present, such as an invite from the dowager, or ministers with important business. 

Obviously, chatting to one of His Majesty's harem was not a good excuse. 

"Keep walking," Yan Zheyun murmured. 

He wanted to see just which idiot wanted so badly to get them both into trouble and to what extent he would go. 

"Lord Yue! Please wait! This prince would like a word!" 

A prince. Frost formed in Yan Zheyun's gaze as he finally slowed to a pause. Liu Yao might not appreciate him talking to one of his brothers but Liu Yao might also need any useful information Yan Zheyun could glean from such a conversation. A glance around the place revealed a lot of curious looks directed towards both of them. Good. There were plenty of eyewitnesses from all walks of the palace. If anyone had the intention to accuse him of an ambiguous relationship with a ranked prince, it would be harder for them to convince a large number of people to sing the same tune. 

"Take note of the designations of the servants around us. I want a list of their names and masters as soon as possible." Xiao De alone might have a hard time completing this request but with his connections in the departments, Yan Zheyun was confident that he wouldn't disappoint. 

The prince drew near and Yan Zheyun stopped speaking, waiting to see what he had to say. Now that he stood right in front, Yan Zheyun could recognise him as the man with the overly invasive stare. The one who had disgusted him so thoroughly at the spring banquet that it had felt like his eyes alone could leave an oily residue behind on everything they'd roamed over. 

Up-close and personal, this feeling only intensified and Yan Zheyun had to fight the temptation to flee. Still, he took a firm step backwards, putting a pointed distance between them as he regarded the prince coolly. 

The 'other' prince. Yan Zheyun searched for a resemblance to Liu Yao but couldn't find any in his face or his demeanour. 

"Lord Yue," he said, with a flamboyant salute that was probably meant to make him look dashing but just came across as frivolous. Lixin hadn't had much to say about him except that he liked staring at Yan Yun like he was a slab of meat because he was a useless dandy who was too weak to fight the fourth prince for either the throne or the beauty. 

Yan Zheyun could definitely see the dandy component to his personality but he wasn't convinced that this other prince was much of a waste of space as he portrayed himself to be. His gaze was flirtatious, yes, but beneath its playful spark was a dark hunger that Yan Zheyun had only ever seen in the eyes of very ambitious men. 

Like Liu Yao whenever he spoke about overhauling the current ineffectual political system. 

Until he proved himself to be negligible, Yan Zheyun wasn't going to drop his guard around him. 

"Why has Your Highness sought out this concubine?" Yan Zheyun asked, emphasising his role in the inner palace. 

The prince chuckled, snapping his fan open and giving it a couple of energetic waves like he was about to wax lyrical about his poetic inspiration any second now. "Lord Yue does not need to be so wary, this prince is aware that my behaviour is inappropriate and for this, I apologise," he said.

"Since Your Highness is of the same opinion, this concubine shall take my leave—"

"It's just that, this prince heard that Royal Brother is ailing and felt bad for spending my days relaxing in luxurious tea houses whilst the foundation stone of our dynasty suffers!" Yan Zheyun couldn't tell if he was disguising his sarcasm behind a veneer of melodrama but he knew that the longer he remained here the harder it would be for him to conceal his outright dislike. 

"If Your Highness is asking about His Majesty's health, please forgive this concubine for being unable to divulge any details," he said coldly. 

But the prince shook his head flippantly. "No no, of course not, this prince had just been turned away from Royal Brother's palace and would like to ask Lord Yue to help this faithful little brother convey my wishes to our mutual liege." He let out an extravagant sigh. "This prince is so very concerned, you know?" 

Yan Zheyun's eye twitched. "Of course. If there is nothing else, please excuse this concubine." 

The theatrics were overbearing and he didn't want to be in the other prince's presence for any longer than necessary. As for his agenda, he surely had one but Yan Zheyun intended to report this conversation verbatim and let Liu Yao decipher that himself. He wasn't familiar enough with this prince, whoever he was, to make such judgements. 

To Yan Zheyun's relief, the prince didn't attempt to hold him back anymore. The weight of his lecherous stare was heavy but at least he let Yan Zheyun depart after gracing him with one more over-the-top salute. 

"Xiao De, which prince was that?" Yan Zheyun asked once he was certain they were out of earshot. 

"In response to Little Master, that was the Respectful Prince of the First Rank, Sixth Prince Gong." 

"…" 

Respectful? Had Liu Yao been the one to bestow that title upon him? Had he meant to be ironic?!

Yan Zheyun had nothing to say to that. But whatever. Respectful or otherwise, treasonous or otherwise, his attitude towards the throne wasn't clear but his intentions towards 'Yan Yun' were.. He coveted what wasn't his, just as the other scumbag gongs did, and that alone was sufficient to make him Yan Zheyun's enemy.

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