From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 163: Treason and Treachery

Yan Zheyun had believed that he was used to loss by now. Not a day went by where he didn’t think about the family and friends that he’d left behind but as time went by, the gnawing ache of loneliness had grown numb with acceptance, grief soothed by the balm of new, meaningful relationships that didn’t so much as replace the old ones as add flavour to a life that had lost a lot of meaning to it.

Today, he learnt just how wrong he’d been. Loss, even just its prospect, was still that horrible monster looming in the corner of his mind, waiting for the opportune moment to crawl out of his worst nightmares. He’d known that Liu Yao wasn’t safe, that as an emperor, danger dogged his every step, but he was a rational sort of person, believed wholeheartedly in problem-solving instead of allowing his emotions to get the better of him.

The security detail, the logistics of the hunt, and even the list of attendees. Yan Zheyun had breached protocol and overstepped by asking as much as he’d dared to about all these subjects, just for some peace of mind.

And yet, and still.

He felt the blood drain from his face, lips and hands tingling, Reins loosening in his slackened grip, making Wan Yun Chu Xue shift nervously beneath him. Yao Siya reached out and took over with a firm hold, steadying the both of them as he barked out, "Give word on His Majesty’s status."

Hua Zhixuan frowned too. "Deputy General Pan’s sudden request is alarming," he said. "We will return to the tents with you but tell us now how His Majesty fares."

Yan Zheyun straightened up as he struggled to compose himself. He’d let his fear blind him to the fact that Pan Liqi hadn’t given him any concrete information on Liu Yao’s situation. It was hard to focus but he clung to this renewed surge of hope.

"Deputy General Pan has worked hard," he intoned. "We would trouble you to take us to His Majesty immediately."

Pan Liqi had never bothered disguising his disdain towards the male members of the imperial harem but Yan Zheyun remained unbothered by his judgemental, impatient stare. He didn’t care what Pan Liqi thought of him at the best of times and certainly had no room to dwell on it now when all he could concentrate on was Liu Yao, alive and well and preferably in his arms where he could feel the warmth of his skin and the firm beating of his heart.

"His Majesty is alive. His orders were for me to escort you to safety."

Alive. Yan Zheyun’s heart slowly eased itself back down his throat. But alive didn’t mean well. He wanted to, had to see Liu Yao now to be sure. As such, he faced Pan Liqi down resolutely. "Then unless Deputy General Pan intends to use force, you might have some trouble following those orders."

It didn’t take Scumbag 4 that much time to figure out it wasn’t worth fighting with Yan Zheyun over this issue. Although, Yan Zheyun was certain that the tenuous neutrality they’d maintained between them before today had been shattered as a result.

As their enlarged party made to depart, he noticed the men Pan Liqi had brought along surrounding the northern entourage, whose livid expressions indicated that they’d picked up on it. Prince Yenanda had sobered up upon hearing the news; Yan Zheyun studied his expression for any hint of triumph or glee but detected nothing beneath the stony greyness. Prince Yenanda had gone from boisterous to withdrawn, possibly because he realised the magnitude of the severity of what had happened. His boy companion, abandoned now that he was no longer in the mood, trembled as he clutched his loosened robes around his slight frame, face burning with the shame of being exposed in front of so many people.

Yan Zheyun averted his eyes. In an ideal world, he would be able to save everyone from a life of hardship but not even Liu Yao could do as he pleased, let alone a concubine. Now was not the time to bargain for the boy toy of an enemy prince.

Liu Yao. He needed Liu Yao.

The atmosphere was vastly different upon their return. The soldiers standing guard around the tents were visibly alert, jaws clenched and eyes mistrustful as they scrutinised everyone who passed them by. Yan Zheyun didn’t stop to await their perfunctory greetings like he normally would, tossing politeness aside in favour of seeing Liu Yao sooner.

The imperial tent too was crawling with security when Yan Zheyun arrived. Amidst the gruff, stern soldiers stood Head Eunuch Cao, sticking out like a sore thumb as he craned his neck anxiously in the direction of the path. His eyes lit up when they fell upon Yan Zheyun, his relief palpable as he hastened over. Pale and shaken, this was a side of him that Yan Zheyun had never seen before, far more used to him playing the role of the formidable head servant of Qianqing Palace and the unscrupulous Chief of the Eastern Depot. Right now, he was more like a frantic uncle on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Relief flooded Yan Zheyun at the sight of him though. For Head Eunuch Cao to be absent from Liu Yao’s sight must mean that the emperor truly was fine.

"My little ancestor," Head Eunuch Cao exclaimed, more emotional than Yan Zheyun thought him capable of. "You’ve finally returned." A rush of fondness hit Yan Zheyun at that affectionate nickname. It was often used to describe little spoilt children who were hellions because they were so spoilt by their families to the point where it was like everyone was pandering to their whims like they were an ancestor to be revered. Even back when he’d been a modern young master, he’d always been the mature responsible one, the one whose classmates envied with good-natured resentment because he was the quintessential "child next door" their parents always compared them to.

It felt strange to be doted upon now as an adult, especially in such odd circumstances. But it was a good kind of strange.

"Cao Gonggong," he murmured, reaching out to pat the plump man on the arm reassuringly. Blood pressure machines hadn’t been invented yet but Yan Zheyun was willing to wager Head Eunuch Cao’s was through the roof right now. He wasn’t faring all that well either. "This consort is fine. How is His Majesty?"

"His Majesty is well, please do not worry." Head Eunuch Cao hesitated. "That being said, he has flown into a thunderous rage..." He urged Yan Zheyun along. "This old servant believes he will feel better once he has ascertained Imperial Noble Consort Yue’s safety with his own eyes."

Yan Zheyun wasted no more time. As he approached the inner chambers, he noticed a host of imperial physicians clustered just outside engaged in fervent discussion. They bowed to him in tandem as he passed and Yan Zheyun felt his heart turn to lead.

"His Majesty was injured?" The timbre of his voice was telling of his anxiety. The last hour or so has been full of ups and downs and even though he was naturally good at keeping his cool, his nerves were at their limit.

Luckily, Head Eunuch Cao was a lot better at empathy than Pan Liqi. "Not His Majesty," he was quick to reassure. "Thanks to Captain of the Guard Cui An, His Majesty came to no harm during the assassination attempt. But unfortunately, Captain Cui was injured during the fight and is currently being attended to inside."

Something clicked in Yan Zheyun’s brain. No matter how honourable a service a soldier or official had performed for the emperor, it was overstepping the boundaries of propriety to have him treated in the emperor’s bedchambers. For Liu Yao to insist on doing so meant that he suspected that there was something even more sinister underlying this assassination attempt.

Given the reactions of the men outside towards the northern envoys, who had probably been taken into custody, Liu Yao seemed to be particularly fearful for Captain Cui’s life. Or did he have another reason to keep personal watch over him?

There would be time to ask later when there were fewer prying eyes.

Liu Yao was standing next to a divan when he entered the room, the furrow on his brow so deep that Yan Zheyun felt his chest ache with sympathy. His hair was pulled up into a slightly dishevelled ponytail and there were visible bloodstains on his robes, but he didn’t appear to be in pain. His gaze snapped to Yan Zheyun as soon as he heard approaching footsteps and in a couple of quick strides, he crossed the tent and swept Yan Zheyun up into a crushing hug.

Yan Zheyun breathed out heavily before burrowing his face into the crook of Liu Yao’s neck. He could feel the strong steady pulse against his lips, relished in counting it to steady the surge of overwhelming emotions as he reassured himself that Liu Yao was still here, was still his.

The uncertainty that had hung over his head like a guillotine finally dissipated for good.

"My Ah Yun," he heard Liu Yao mumble. "This sovereign is nearly insane with worry."

Liu Yao’s hold was tight enough that it was starting to hurt. Despite that, Yan Zheyun didn’t ask him to let go, let Liu Yao clutch their bodies together firmly like they were each other’s remaining anchor to this world. He tried to rub Liu Yao’s back with gentle soothing circles, and when he felt a faint tremble in Liu Yao’s shoulder, his heart melted completely.

His emperor had always been perfect, unflappable, the strongest man in the kingdom.

But he was human too.

"I’m okay," he whispered in Liu Yao’s ear. "I’m here, Ah Yao. As are you. We’re both fine."

Liu Yao nodded, pressing a kiss to Yan Zheyun’s temple in a display of affection that was inappropriate given the presence of outsider men but neither of them could find it in themselves to care at the moment.

After a moment’s reprieve in Liu Yao’s arms, Yan Zheyun pulled back slightly to regard Captain Cui An. He recalled him as the prison guard he’d given the opportunity to and Yan Zheyun had never been gladder that he’d recognised a good man when he’d seen one, even if he felt a frisson of guilt now at the relief flooding through him when he learnt that it was not Liu Yao lying pale and unconscious on a bed. He had a lot to be grateful for and would see to it that Cui An’s dedication would not go unrewarded.

"How is he faring?" he asked softly.

A cold glint emerged in Liu Yao’s eyes as he spoke about the attack earlier. There was no doubt that when he uncovered the mastermind behind the attempt, his retribution would be brutal.

"We were ambushed deep in the forest," Liu Yao replied with a dangerous calm. "The groundskeeper who had told us that bigger game was spotted in there was discovered dead in his quarters when I sent the brocade guard to arrest him. The assassins were carrying blades fashioned in the style of the northern tribes but are men of Great Ye and bore no other identifying marks on their bodies. They came in waves. Captain Cui took a blade to the flank on my behalf. He’s unconscious now from loss of blood but Imperial Physician Fu has said that he’ll pull through."

Yan Zheyun nodded. "Of course he will." He could hear the hardness in Liu Yao’s voice, feel his body stiffen up as he spoke about Cui An and knew that beneath the veneer of rationality, Liu Yao was feeling responsible for Cui An’s injuries.

"It’s not your fault," he mumbled, clutching Liu Yao more tightly to himself. "Don’t blame yourself for the mistakes of others."

There was a long pause before he felt Liu Yao shift against him, raising a hand to dismiss the other people in the room until there was no one left but the two of them and a sleeping Cui An.

As soon as it felt silent around them, Liu Yao sat down on the edge of his bed and sighed, pulling Yan Zheyun onto his lap as he leaned back against the soft fur lining.

"Ah Yun, Great General Pan and Deputy General Song have been taken into custody."

Yan Zheyun stiffened up. "They were involved in the attempt? Was there a mistake?"

Liu Yao shook his head. "I don’t know. Deputy General Song was the one who organised the patrol arrangements. The captains under his command all gave clear accounts of the duties they had been assigned, revealing that there was a conspicuous lapse in security in the area that we were in at the time of the assassination. Deputy General Song was directly culpable for this but..." He squeezed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. "Upon interrogating him, he said that he was instigated by his direct commanding officer."

A deputy general only had one direct commanding officer.

Yan Zheyun wasn’t acquainted with Deputy General Song but was aware that the gruff but hearty man was Great General Pan’s trusted right-hand man, who had served as his second-in-command ever since he’d been deployed to the northern border. As for Great General Pan, Yan Zheyun couldn’t imagine him betraying the country; even if he didn’t believe in this war hero’s patriotism, he’d heard a first-hand recount of Liu Suzhi’s love story and didn’t think him capable of betrayal when Liu Suzhi was still within the emperor’s control.

But what could force a man to turn on the comrade he’d been through thick and thin with? Not to mention how willing a confession Deputy General Song had made; it reeked of conspiracy.

The furrow on Liu Yao’s brow deepened. He appeared exhausted in a way that Yan Zheyun wasn’t used to, more world-weary than Yan Zheyun had seen him in a long while. It wasn’t the same as when he’d spent the whole day seated in Tianlu Pavilion pouring over memorials and trying to make the country a better place for its people. This was a bone-deep fatigue that had less to do with a lack of sleep and more to do with how sick Liu Yao must be, having to deal with the ugliness of politics.

"I don’t believe Great General Pan capable of treason," he said quietly. "Just like how I didn’t believe your father committed a crime. But what of it? Ah Yun, I’m emperor now but mere moments after nearly dying, my morning court arrived in full force to pressure me to incarcerate the only general I fully trust. I cannot help but fear history repeating itself." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Yan Zheyun thought uneasily about Great General Pan’s conspicuous absence in the war in Hurt Me in a Million Ways. Was this how Liu Yao’s enemies got him out of the way? If Great General Pan truly was framed, who was involved then? Who would benefit the most?

Liu Wei?

Yan Zheyun felt dizzy just thinking about it. He had so much on his mind, insight on the situation that he couldn’t share directly with Liu Yao because how could he explain that he could ’foresee the future’?

"Let’s go home", he said at last. "Call the hunt short? We can regroup back in the palace, discuss a solution with our allies. It’ll be all right, Ah Yao."

He was going to do what he could to keep Liu Yao safe. And if this meant coming up with a subtle means of letting Liu Yao know that maybe, just maybe, he had one more secret to share with him...then Yan Zheyun was going to have to deal with that too.