From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 213: Duke

There was an old drama series that Yan Zheyun remembered watching once with his mother when she’d been feeling nostalgic. It was an adaptation of a classic novel written by a famous wuxia writer. The protagonist of this novel had grown up in a brothel before entering the palace as a fake eunuch and befriending Emperor Qianlong (1).

Although his memories of that time were hazy, the tacky billowing pink curtains and actresses in exaggerated makeup and revealing robes leaning on the brothel’s bannisters were a splash of colour in his memories. Back then, he’d been old enough to understand what a ’brothel’ was but still too young to fully comprehend what life would be like for the girls—and boys— who had no choice but to work in one...actually come to think of it, it wasn’t until he’d been forced into a position of ’selling’ himself, marketing his goods in a dance that Great Ye’s high society still talked about behind closed doors, that he had a bit of a taste of the haplessness lying below the painted lips and powdered faces, the bitterness underneath the curl of a sultry smile, the bright twinkle of Alan inviting gaze that was just candlelight reflecting off unshed tears.

He knew he turned out lucky. Not everyone did.

The House of Ten Thousand Fragrances had just as many stories as the number in its name, he was sure. But as he was led through the revelry, Liu Yao’s arm firmly around his shoulder as he guided Yan Zheyun away from the interested double-takes from the inebriated patrons, he was just a passing visitor, here for an evening that wasn’t even meant to be fun. The curiosity of being in a ’forbidden’ place had quickly been replaced by discomfort.

Liu Yao must have read his body language because he was soon tucked reassuringly against his husband’s strong frame.

"My Ah Yun isn’t feeling well."

Yan Zheyun tightened his grip around the hem of Liu Yao’s sleeve.

"I don’t like it," he said. He didn’t elaborate, saw a flicker of regret and self-reproach over Liu Yao’s face and knew that Liu Yao had misunderstood. "Not because of...my past," he hastened to add. "Just the whole concept of a place like this."

It was so common for the children of the poor to be sold into slavery. It was even more common for those with promising looks to be sold into these pleasure houses. And that was even assuming that these children were sold by their parents instead of just being snatched off the streets by traffickers; the shouma culture started off exactly from that, beautiful young girls being kidnapped and sold for a pretty price.

Yan Zheyun was aware that no matter how modern his mindset, making prostitution illegal was not something that he could justify to anyone born in this era, probably not even Liu Yao, who would listen to him but not comprehend the issue. In fact, it was very likely that he was allowing his prejudice to get the better of him, painting over the courtesans and prostitutes of the red light district with the brush that he wielded based on his life experiences.

For the men and women of the night, this might be a job they clinged to because being out on the streets with a lovely face and no one to back you might very well be even more dangerous. Yan Zheyun had already experienced that.

But perhaps...he could help ensure that those working in the flower streets and willow alleys were willing to be here. That they hadn’t been forced into sexual servitude through illegal means.

"Bear with it for a while more," he heard Liu Yao murmur. "We’ll leave as soon as we’re done. It was my mistake, I shouldn’t have brought you here."

Yan Zheyun managed a faint smile. "What, and come here alone behind your wife’s back? Young Master Huang dares?"

"No, not in the least."

The madame remained blissfully oblivious that her audience had tuned her out and continued with her tireless flattery as she led them up the many flights of stairs to the chambers of the top courtesan.

"Oh young masters, you must be so distinguished that even our Yu Lan cannot resist your charms! You must know, it is impossible to gain an audience with her unless she so chooses to bestow her affections." She giggled coquettishly, a discordant sight given that even the thick caking of her powder was unable to conceal her age.

Yan Zheyun found his interests piqued. "How does Mistress Yu Lan choose who to grant an audience to?"

"Ah ha ha ha, that’s a good question indeed!" The madame let out an exaggerated sigh. "Who could claim to understand the whims and fancies of a beautiful woman? If you say she likes them rich, they’re not always the richest. If you say she likes them handsome, some of them are nothing to look at. If you say she likes them powerful, some of them are from mediocre families...no one really knows why she chooses one gentleman’s patronage over another, only that when she does pick you, then you are the luckiest man in the capital for a day."

"I don’t know," Liu Yao said, eyes crinkling with mirth. "I feel like the luckiest man everyday."

Yan Zheyun nudged him lightly in the ribs to get him to tone it down. He didn’t want to have to explain why two broken sleeves were seeking out the company of a fair maiden of the night.

Yu Lan’s chambers were on a floor of their own, a set of rooms so extravagant that Yan Zheyun could believe Wanxiang House to be the most affluent brothel in Great Ye. The reception hall had all the billowing curtains he’d anticipated but they were in a shade of green that he could appreciate a bit more. Instead of formal chairs, there were cushions strewn around over opulent carpets and a noble consort divan that had a white fur blanket draping off the edges in a suggestive manner.

From within the antechamber, he heard a familiar voice drawl, "Laobao (2), has my honoured guest arrived?"

The madame’s beam widened as she looked at the both of them with mounting satisfaction. Clearly, if her most temperamental of courtesans was willing to entertain them at the same time, then the both of them must be considered her cash cows.

"They’re here, they’re here! Quick, my dear Yu Lan, don’t keep Young Master Huang and Young Master Yue waiting!"

It occurred to Yan Zheyun that Yu Lan might not have been expecting two visitors. The short silence that followed the madame’s revelation was indication as much.

"...Yu Lan has a surprise for my guests, Laobao can leave them with me."

"Aiyo! You’re both so lucky, sirs!" The madame was beside herself to see Yu Lan that eager and removed herself as quickly as she could from the vicinity, probably already counting the taels of silver or maybe even gold she might be able to make off these two fools tonight. "Enjoy your evening, I guarantee you there is no better girl in the capital!"

The second the doors clicked shut behind them, Yu Lan strode out briskly in a simple set of green robes that matched the decor of her room. Instead of the intricate hairstyles Yan Zheyun would have expected of a courtesan of her standing, she had a very simple ponytail that rode high on her head.

She dropped to one knee before them before saying, softly but firmly, "This subordinate pays humble respects." She didn’t mention his title, still retaining a modicum of caution even in the privacy of her rooms. Her eyes did meet Yan Zheyun’s briefly before falling to the ground but she didn’t give any indication that she’d met him before.

It probably wasn’t decorum to remind the empress that you once told him his dancing looked like chicken flapping.

"Rise, at ease." Liu Yao led Yan Zheyun over to a nondescript chess table in the corner, which was elevated on a dais. This must be where he usually sat but today, Yan Zheyun filled the spot opposite him. "I saw your report. He’s here tonight?"

"In response to Master, he’s in the main hall for all to see, as though unafraid of troubling finding him."

Yan Zheyun shot Liu Yao a questioning look, to which Liu Yao took his hand and led him over to a window at the end of the room. He cracked it open for Yan Zheyun to peek through.

"Can Ah Yun spot our dear Heir of Prince Zhenhai?

Yan Zheyun blinked. The heir of Prince Subduer of the Seas? He recalled Liu Yao talking about his military prowess before but also...if he was a warlord’s heir and out of his assigned territory without express permission from the emperor, this was a crime that equated to treason. Heads would roll for lesser reasons than this so why was the heir out in the open flaunting his arrival in the capital? Anyone with a modicum of brains would suspect that the emperor would have a spy network watching the traffic of the capital.

And the heir of Prince zhenhai, no matter how much of a licentious wastrel he made himself out to be, didn’t seem like an idiot.

"That’s what I’d like to know too," Liu Yao said when Yan Zheyun voiced his confusion. "A talented young man like that ought to have the chance to explain himself, ought he not?"

Yan Zheyun watched as an elegant serving girl walked up to the eye-catching figure at the centre of attention, surrounded by fawning girls and boys all vying for the chance to feed him wine. Where Liu Yao’s handsomeness was noble, almost haughty, and Captain of the Guard Yao’s was charming, wily, this young general had his own brand of attractiveness. He had the natural air of a debonair, the easy, flirtatious curve of his lips able to rob the breath of even the most seasoned of veterans in the game of romance.

Yan Zheyun wracked his brains to try and figure out his role in ’Hurt Me In a Million Ways’. He didn’t recall his sister talking about any warlord’s heirs. There were a lot of pivotal people who held important roles in Liu Yao’s kingdom that didn’t feature in Lixin’s gushing about the stupid novel but a gong of this calibre—and there was no question that he was one—that didn’t fit the picture of any of the scumbag gongs...oh, but wait.

He took another glance at the dashing figure outside, even as it stood up and gallantly indicated for the serving girl to lead the way.

And then another glance.

And then—

—darkness as a warm hand covered his eyes.

"Ah Yun is enjoying the view?" Liu Yao’s voice was casual but there was a dangerous edge to his tone that made Yan Zheyun shake his head immediately.

"Not at all, I was just curious about something."

"Oh? Do share."

Yan Zheyun blinked. His lashes brushed against Liu Yao’s palm and he could feel Liu Yao’s breath catch even as his husband took a slight step closer to him.

"How many dukes are there in the kingdom?"

The question caught Liu Yao offguard. He removed his hand and frowned slightly. Yan Zheyun refrained from explaining because he wasn’t sure where to begin.

"Dukes? There’s an old Lord Imperial Duke, the dowager’s father, whose title was granted after his daughter’s marriage to the late emperor." Liu Yao didn’t even bother addressing his parents as father and mother anymore. "Apart from that, none of the warlords or nobles currently hold a duke title."

No dukes? That couldn’t be. Yan Zheyun was very sure that Scumbag 5 was a duke, Lixin had spent a very livid hour telling about how the sexy substitute trope was so overdone by now and the creepy duke should just let Yan Yun go if he didn’t love him anyway.

Yan Zheyun didn’t think the author of Hurt Me In a Million Ways would have written sordid sex scenes between an old duke and a young nubile main character so the only conclusion he could arrive at was that Scumbag 5 wasn’t a duke yet in the current timeline.

Ignoring Liu Yao’s souring expression, he looked down one more time at the man who was now ascending the stairs slowly and sedately like he had all the time in the world.

"Do you think he looks like a duke?"

"Hah?" It was rare for Liu Yao to make such an inelegant sound and Yan Zheyun had to stifle a laugh.

"Does he look like someone you’ll grant the title of duke to?"

Liu Yao had to forcibly grit out his next words. "My beloved Ah Yun, right now, I’m ready to demote him to commoner."