From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 144: Three Bows

The first bow was to the heavens and earth. The second bow was reserved for those who had brought them into the world.

Finally, the third bow was to each other, a gesture of mutual respect for their wedded union. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Unlike a bride in ancient times, whose blush would be concealed behind the silken fall of her red veil, Yan Zheyun could see the entire ceremony that he was participating in. It started with an extravagant procession over to the groom’s ’home’. Ordinarily, the bridal party would have a long trail of gifts from both the groom’s side and her parents to flaunt her value in front of envious eyes. Yan Zheyun had no distinguished ancestral estate to back him up and had the person he was marrying been less doting, would have had a humble procession towards his new life.

But Liu Yao was nothing short of excessive when it came to matters of the heart. Yan Zheyun knew that he wasn’t so muddle-minded as to touch the resources of the national treasury for an unofficial wedding, so the money had to be from his personal estate. From the looks of it, after today, a good proportion of it would wind up in Yan Zheyun’s pocket...perhaps enough that Yan Zheyun could start investing to build their wealth portfolio.

Hmm...it was food for thought.

Horses were not permitted within the imperial city except in special circumstances, such as messengers bearing crucial reports from the distant war fronts. The emperor himself was the exception, he supposed. As the bride Liu Yao was bringing home with him to Qianqing Palace, Yan Zheyun had the opportunity to ride on horseback too, upon the most beautiful steed he had ever laid eyes on. The clatter of hooves was drowned out by the festive procession, the blare of the suona (1) that he once associated with the lunar new year and found unbearably tacky lending the atmosphere a lavish grandness that he hadn’t thought possible. Instead of galloping off into the distant sunset, they trotted over to Qianqing Palace leisurely, holding on to each end of the two pieces of scarlet cloth that were tied into a flower ball in the middle to resemble a hydrangea in bloom (2). Strapped to both their chests, as though to acknowledge that Yan Zheyun was a man too, was a similar flower ball, traditionally worn by the groom for the ceremony. The thoughtfulness of this was heartwarming.

The groom’s entourage, made up of tiny Liu An, Gracious Consort Yao, Hua Zhixuan, Lord Chen, and a couple of young men Yan Zheyun didn’t recognise, followed behind with lively chatter. Oh, and there was Envoy Zhang too. Yan Zheyun didn’t miss the way he stiffened whenever Yan Zheyun’s gaze swept over him but he didn’t comment. This was Liu Yao’s childhood companion, Yan Zheyun could be the better person until he was given good reason not to.

Qianqing Palace itself had transformed overnight. As their horses came to a stop at the towering main gates, Yan Zheyun took a moment to admire the red lanterns that hung from the eaves, each one so intricately patterned with gold needlework, hundreds of pairs of mandarin ducks tucking their heads into the soft feathers of each other’s necks. The maids who loved to gush about his appearance were all in auspicious red as well, as were the eunuchs, Head Eunuch Cao beaming from ear to ear like he was personally marrying off his son.

In many ways, he was. Head Eunuch Cao seemed to be a stronger presence in Liu Yao’s life than either of his parental figures.

Right at the threshold of the gates was a merrily blazing fire pan. Yan Zheyun could see pieces of wood inside but he knew that traditionally, there would be others things as well, such as red beans and coins. Ah. And perhaps even cinnabar, which no one probably realised was poisonous because mercury just wasn’t a thing yet...he needed to find a way to tell Liu Yao about this without sounding insane. The random science electives he took back in undergraduate felt like a world away now and he could only vaguely remember that heating it was a bad idea...but for just a couple of quick seconds, there probably weren’t enough toxins. Weddings happened often enough that surely someone would have picked up that burning cinnabar was a bad idea by now if people started falling sick...?

Making a mental note to pull Xiao De aside and ensure that the servants disposing of the firepan didn’t start feeling unwell, he took a big step over, letting Liu Yao help him even though he was hardly the dainty little bride who would struggle to do so with their vision obscured.

As they strode up the grand courtyard, which was now covered in red tables for guests, Yan Zheyun felt Liu Yao lean in to whisper to him, "I considered removing that tradition too because it implies that the bride would bring calamity upon their husband’s home if they didn’t undergo a purification ritual by fire first."

Yan Zheyun raised an eyebrow. It was even more delicate than usual, having been lightly lined in fine dai (3). Just like in the modern world, makeup in ancient times was an art form and Yan Zheyun had had to argue with the momos just now to prevent them from shaving off all his brows so that they could recreate the fashionable styles amongst the elite in the capital with mo (3). This might be the trend with some of the more effeminate concubines such as Lord Chen but he firmly drew the line at a bit of powder and very faint lip rouge. Even that he’d attempted to lick off when no one was looking.

"Why did Your Majesty decide to keep it then?"

Ignoring the ceremonial Momo’s faint noise of protest, Liu Yao reeled Yan Zheyun in closer before wrapping a hand around his shoulders tightly to guide him towards the main hall. They were supposed to be joined only by the flower ball until the ceremony was complete and this level of impropriety would have left any strict ancestor in consternation but there was no one around of high enough a generation to quote the behaviour rites at Liu Yao whilst admonishing him and he was clearly taking advantage of that fact.

"Because my Ah Yun has had a hard life," Liu Yao said softly. "After stepping over my threshold and the fire that I lit for you, it is my wish that Ah Yun’s future will only be filled with happiness from now on."

Ah, he was too good at this. Yan Zheyun averted his eyes so Liu Yao wouldn’t see the glistening in them—what was wrong with him today, he’d hardly cried in the first twenty-five years of his life and it seemed like he was paying back everything in one day with interest—but reached out over the flower ball to grasp at Liu Yao’s hands and squeeze it.

Liu Yao squeezed back reassuringly.

"My Ah Yun," he heard Liu Yao murmur again.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a whirlwind. There was no officiate from the Ministry of Rites so Head Eunuch Cao had filled in, calling out the steps of the ritual in a voice that resounded to the rafters. The goal, Yan Zheyun thought, was to be loud enough that the gods up in the heavens could hear their sincerity when they bowed to them and prayed for this union to be blessed. Or to be loud enough such that the owners of the tablet that sat upon ebony chairs in the prime position in the gaotang (4), Prime Minister Yan and his wife, could hear them from the underworld and know that there was hope for the Yan Family name to one day rise again.

Maybe if Head Eunuch Cao really were loud enough, his real parents might even hear him. Perhaps his father, working hard to run both his conglomerate and Yan Zheyun’s company in memory of his son, might look up from his mountain of paperwork because he heard the distant sound of wedding song and hear his oldest boy calling him ’ba’ once more. Perhaps his mother, taking an afternoon nap after holding a meeting with the HR department about the new training programme for fresh graduates Yan Zheyun had been helping her to design, would dream of her son dressed in red, bowing to her with utmost love and respect. Maybe his siblings too would wake in the morning to see red packets beneath their pillows, which he wished he could present to them, as customary for a married person to do for his unmarried younger relatives.

It was a hard day to be without the people he loved. Liu Yao and his newly found friends could fill the void but he would never stop missing them.

On the other hand, there were no tablets from the ancestral hall to represent any members of the imperial family but Yan Zheyun suspected that Liu Yao didn’t regret this omission, which was almost as glaring as the conspicuous absence of his mother. This was not a union that the dowager would approve of. That she hadn’t seen fit to put a stop to it was both relieving and worrying. Yan Zheyun would allow himself to dwell on it tomorrow. For now, he just wanted to enjoy.

As Head Eunuch Cao instructed them to turn to each other and bow one last time, he felt the top of Liu Yao’s head brush lightly against his and knew that from now onwards, he had a new home in this world.

"The ceremony is complete! Enter the bridal chamber!"

Although it was customary for the bride to wait in the new nuptial bedroom whilst the groom entertained the wedding guests outside, Liu Yao had also dispensed with this formality. Most of the guests were the servants of their respective palaces anyway, with one table reserved for the groom’s entourage, right at the front of the courtyard like it was meant for VIPs. Instead of staying back to entertain them, Liu Yao chased them all out of the bridal chamber when they attempted to follow in and cause the traditional ruckus (5). Yan Zheyun had no idea what the point of the custom was in the first place but he figured that Liu Yao didn’t think it important enough to adhere to. Most of the ruckus-related activities had been taken out, Yan Zheyun had noticed, such as the infamous one that is still around in modern times, where the groom was locked out of the bride’s house until he could prove his worth. This was usually done through a test of his literary or physical abilities but the very idea of anyone at Yuyang Palace even attempting to keep Liu Yao at bay was laughable. At the end of the day, the emperor’s dignity had to be preserved.

Now, alone with Liu Yao at last in the emperor’s sleeping chambers, Yan Zheyun sat on the edge of the bed, where the ceremonial momos had ushered the both of them. The hem of their robes had been tied together and a lock of their hair cut and weaved together into a marriage knot.

"I’ll keep it," he murmured, taking their intertwined hair and tucking it carefully into a silk pouch one of the cheery little eunuchs had handed to him. After sealing it tightly with the drawstrings and placing it in a small lacquered drawer just above Liu Yao’s headboard where he kept precious items, he turned around and his breath hitched in his throat as he met Liu Yao’s gaze.

He’d always thought that Liu Yao’s eyes were like the night sky; one could spend an eternity lost in that dark, endless expense, the way lit only by the faint glimmer of the stars. At the moment, that ’starlight’ was the flames of the magnificent red and gold dragon and phoenix candles that lit up the chambers. Tonight, those candles were to burn till morning came, representing an everlasting harmonious union.

Yan Zheyun had always felt safe in Liu Yao’s arms, watching his own reflection in Liu Yao’s eyes and relished in the idea that he was the lone traveller into those infinite depths.

Today, however, was the first time he came fully face-to-face with the beast lurking within. He had caught glimpses of it before, in the way Liu Yao liked to roll on top of him and pin him down even when all they were doing was trading lazy kisses before sleep. Or in the way Liu Yao’s touch was always heavy with intent when he gripped at Yan Zheyun’s wrists and waist, just firm enough to leave gentle marks behind but always stopping just short of hurting.

Like he was holding himself back.

Like he was testing the waters, letting them rise inch by inch until one day Yan Zheyun would look up and realise that he was drowning and there was no saving him anymore.

Today felt like that day.

The room felt too hot. Yan Zheyun wasn’t sure if this was because the autumn blaze had yet to pass or because he was wearing too many layers. Perhaps it was for a completely different reason but his mind was suddenly drawing blanks, unable to focus on anything but the sudden closeness of Liu Yao, the familiar headiness of his sandalwood fragrance and the press of his hand on Yan Zheyun’s thigh—when had it gotten there?

"W-Wait," Yan Zheyun stammered out, suddenly nervous in a way he’d never been before in bed. It was ridiculous; short of putting it in, Liu Yao had done almost everything else to his body, taking it apart with teeth and tongue and the expert press of long, deft fingers. Being shy now felt too much like an act, like he was playing coy just for the sake of it, but Yan Zheyun couldn’t help it. Something about this evening felt too significant, made his heartstrings hum with an excitement that left him giddy.

"What is it, my Ah Yun?" Liu Yao nuzzled into the crook of Yan Zheyun’s neck and Yan Zheyun shuddered as a warm, wet tongue pressed against his pulse. "What are we waiting for?" The hand on Yan Zheyun’s thigh slipped further down between his legs and it took him a whole second to realise he’d parted them a little to give Liu Yao more space, and only because the subconscious gesture was met with a chuckle that tickled the hair on the nape of his neck.

"We haven’t drunk the nuptial wine yet," he tried to remind Liu Yao. This was a part of the ceremony that he didn’t wish to omit. It was the one always depicted in his mother’s favourite series and seemed really meaningful, where the bride and groom would interlock their arms before drinking the wine from the small cups in their hands.

Liu Yao paused for a moment before nodding. "You’re right, that is important." He retreated in one swift moment, leaving Yan Zheyun time to straighten out the creases in his robes and try to calm down. An obstinate part of him wanted to wrestle some control of the situation for himself, even if he knew without a doubt that he was going to be the one taken to pieces later. But he wasn’t by nature passive and—and didn’t want—

His thought process short-circuited when Liu Yao returned with one gold-gilded wine vassal filled to the brim with clear liquor.

"How come there’s just one cup?" he asked dumbly, panicking inwardly when Liu Yao shot him a confused look.

"How many cups did Ah Yun expect for the hejin wine?" Liu Yao’s brows knitted. "Does Ah Yun not wish to drink from the same cup as your new husband?"

Of course. Hejin instead of jiaobei. The former meant ’together from one cup’ whilst the latter was to ’drink from intertwined cups’. The latter was also far more common in later periods, including the modern era. Yan Zheyun had forgotten all about the alternatives.

"Of course I do," he hurriedly corrected himself. He couldn’t explain why he wasn’t familiar with the customs of the time and he didn’t want Liu Yao to misunderstand and feel hurt as a result.

But Liu Yao didn’t seem to hear him. Instead, he let out a woeful sigh that was so theatrical Yan Zheyun regarded him with sudden wariness. He had a feeling that Liu Yao wanted to hop right back into bed and was going to create an opportunity somehow—

Just as that possibility occurred to him, Liu Yao abruptly added, "No matter, Ah Yun’s desires should be held in the highest regard. This husband will just have to find a suitable compromise."

Without giving Yan Zheyun the chance to protest, he drank from the cup, and tossed it aside—it clattered loudly against the floor, the remnants spilling everywhere, but Yan Zheyun was no longer in any frame of mind to protest.

A firm grip seized Yan Zheyun’s chin before lips sealed themselves firmly over his.