From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 153: Machinations

Chapter 153: Machinations

Ever since returning to the capital, Zhang Xiu had found himself at the centre of social gatherings. Everyone took him to be the new political favourite of the emperor, the only remaining study companion alive. None of them knew that after he’d tried subtly to hint that Liu Yao had moved on too quickly from Ziyu, the relationship between the very opinionated Son of Heaven and him had become strained.

It was not in the Zhang family’s best interests that this worrisome development be made known, so Zhang Xiu tried his best to keep a low profile. When invited out to meet different members of different political factions, he did his best to stick to the ones he was aware he could handle and went out of his way to decline—politely, of course—those whose eyes he knew were keener and who had enough acumen about the matters of the court to guess that he had never quite regained the favour that he’d once had with Liu Yao.

As expected, that whore truly was trouble.

Today, he found himself in a private room at a quaint restaurant, in the company of some of his colleagues from the Ministry of Rites as well as a handsome young man whom he didn’t recognise. Unlike the more dignified officials who had already started attending morning court, this gentleman was dressed in a vibrant scarlet, his refined mannerisms detracted from somewhat by the air of frippery that surrounded him.

Inwardly, Zhang Xiu sneered. This frivolous peacock had to be the new tanlang, the third graduate of the latest imperial examinations, too eager to start making acquaintances. Upon returning to the capital, Zhang Xiu had made it a point to update himself on all the new blood that would one day find its way into the emperor’s morning court. He’d learnt that the principal graduate was a serious young man with no one to support his climb to power but Liu Yao; the emperor’s new lapdog, so as to speak, too much of a greenhorn to bite anyone but too fixated on his noble ideals to succumb to the temptation of joining a strong political faction.

Personally, Zhang Xiu believed he was a fool. Perhaps he was a good man and a loyal subject but it was idiotic to assume that the emperor, whose reign was still stabilised by the foundations of the aristocracy, would be sufficient protection. No doubt, the moment the poor young principal graduate proved to be a liability, their dear emperor would forsake him without pausing to hesitate.

As for their second graduate, Zhang Xiu didn’t have to ask too many questions. The pride and joy of the Ren Family, there was no doubt the right prime minister would have plans for him, plans that would ensure this most prestigious of the old noble clans continued to secure a firm hold on the imperial court for generations to come.

This was the way things should be. Liu Yao and Ziyu, they were naive to think that things could be any different.

This son of the Yue clan–Yue Minzhe, if Zhang Xiu recalled correctly–had made no secret of his desire to integrate into the highest of social circles that only the descendants of the old noble clans and those that they’d acknowledged as their allies mingled in. The Yue family was considered up-and-coming but they were still lacking that exposure, that opportunity to prove their loyalties to the right person at the right time.

Zhang Xiu took a long good look at his colleagues and understood the purpose of this seemingly pointless gathering. Beneath the veneer of a relaxing, hedonistic night of food and revelry were ripples of contention created by High Highness, the fourth prince. Zhang Xiu had heard that Yue Minzhe’s anomalous presence, given that he didn’t have enough rank to attend morning court just yet, was just a testament to the camp that he had chosen to align himself with.

Smarter than the principal graduate, then, even if his taste in masters was as poor as his sartorial senses.

Slowly, he let his thoughts focus on the conversation that was taking place around him. As the wine flowed more freely, so did the words off the tongues of his colleagues. They spoke with no apparent end in mind, from the gossip about the different ministers in court to the latest fashion trends that the female members of their families were obsessed with, all things new and exciting for the times. With Zhang Xiu’s presence serving as a reminder, the talk turned to the northern envoys that he’d returned to the capital with.

He wasn’t so oblivious as to assume that this was the natural progression of conversational topics. After realising that notable members of their little party were more or less affiliated with the fourth prince, Zhang Xiu had already started guessing at their agenda.

The sixth prince was right. His older brother was starting to get impatient and impatient men made mistakes.

They were easy to make use of. To gain an upper hand over.

This was why Zhang Xiu had never put much stock into his family’s consideration of supporting the fourth prince back in the day. He might not have been the brightest child in the family but he had always been uncannily perceptive when it came to people. The slightest frown on an otherwise impassive face or a gleam of greed in eyes crinkled in a display of friendliness, he’d always been the quickest to pick up on them. It was why he was an effective diplomat, he supposed.

The fourth prince...he was, as the saying went, ’like jade and gold on the outside but torn cotton wadding on the inside1’.

Right now, he was certain that he’d become the target of the fourth prince’s scheme.

Just as well. If the fourth prince wanted to stumble straight into the trap the sixth prince had laid out for him, then Zhang Xiu would have to thank him for saving him the trouble. It was the situation of the cicada, mantis, and oriole all over again.

Did Liu Yao know just how much of a threat his sixth royal brother was turning out to be? If ever there were a man Zhang Xiu couldn’t read, it was the boy he’d grown up playing with and that rankled him, made his chest tight with an ugly spite that he could only ameliorate by keeping his dealings with the sixth prince a secret and waiting eagerly for the day that Liu Yao finally learnt that he needed Zhang Xiu’s support to continue sitting on the dragon throne.

He wouldn’t have to wait too long now.

"Envoy Zhang, what have the barbarians been doing ever since entering the capital?" a jolly official with ruddy cheeks asked. He was Duan Lin, a charismatic navigator of the upper echelon’s social scene, swimming from interaction to interaction like a mackerel following the flow of the stream. Zhang Xiu would never have guessed that he was loyal to the fourth prince but once again, there was no accounting for tastes.

Letting out a resigned sigh, Zhang Xiu shook his head. "Prince Yenanda has been...ah...how does one put this delicately..." he raised his eyebrows meaningfully and gained a couple of knowing looks in return. "He has been enjoying the sights and sounds of the flower streets and willow alleys, let’s just say."

A chorus of raucous laughter broke out, the disdain in it evident. Yue Minzhe played with an exquisite cup of moonlight1 and Zhang Xiu’s gaze chased the glow of the wine within, reflected in the flicker of lantern light.

"Travelling all the way to Great Ye’s fine capital only to indulge in women and wine," one of the other officials griped, shaking his head in disgust. "No wonder Great General Pan has commanded such authority over the north. These barbarians have fallen a long way from the ferocities of their ancestors, it seems!"

Zhang Xiu didn’t bother to correct them. Living in their comforts in the capital, what would they know about the barren northern front with its deadly winters and the constant fear of invasion? He didn’t elaborate on the pale haggard faces of the civilians who lived in the border towns or on the sea of white bones buried beneath the harsh soil of the northern plains. He didn’t speak of that night years ago after Liu Yao had returned from the battlefront, glorious with victory as he’d ridden into the capital at the head of the army. But that night, in the eastern palace, Zhang Xiu had hidden outside the crown prince’s study as Liu Yao had curled up in Ziyu’s arms, drunk with sorrow and loss.

Year after year, the bones of the war are buried in the wilderness, their families await their return but all that comes home are grapes grown on foreign soil1 (2).

Back then, Zhang Xiu had worried that Liu Yao was too soft. Now, he considered whether Liu Yao had since gotten rid of such a weakness or if this remained something he could work with.

He let his colleagues continue to make a mockery of the northern envoy’s entourage for a while longer before shaking his head mournfully. "If only I could be convinced that all they were here in the capital to do was eat drink and be merry," he said, knowing that they would take the bait.

As predicted, interest sparked in the gazes of the men around him.

"What does Brother Zhang mean by that?" A few cups of wine in and they had left all their cumbersome titles at the door, suddenly united in brotherhood by a superficial sense of camaraderie that would last for as long as it took for them to exploit each other.

Zhang Xiu was so tired. If only there was someone else his family could count on besides him. If only the sixth prince would meet with an unfortunate incident and he could be free of his machinations.

"Oh," he said, pausing for effect as he glanced at the entrance in a display of caution. His companions caught on immediately, sidling closer to him as they each lowered their voices to conspiratorial murmurs.

"What’s the matter, Brother Zhang? Is something amiss with the barbarians?" someone asked, disguising their encouragement in the form of concern.

"If so, it might be apt to report this to His Majesty," someone else added.

Duan Lin nodded solemnly. "I’ve had a bad feeling about their arrival," he confessed. "It seems unusual that they should have caved so quickly to our demands. Could it be that...they are looking to infiltrate the capital through these despicable methods?!"

Agitated murmurs broke out at Duan Lin’s dramatic proclamation. Zhang Xiu fought the urge to roll his eyes. Just a moment ago, they were lambasting the northern tribes for their newfound cowardice, unknowing of the sacrifices Great General Pan and his army made every time unrest broke out on the borders.

Now, at the mere suggestion that this same unrest could ensue much closer to home, they were suddenly reminded that their own skins were at stake.

Given the calibre of these young officials, Zhang Xiu was confident in his career progression.

"Your guess is as good as mine," he said with a shrug. "I have reported to His Majesty that the intentions of the northern envoys are unclear but of course, I am not in a position to dictate what should be done about it."

"So it’s true that the situation is not as harmonious as the northern army would have us believe," Duan Lin muttered anxiously. "Now I have a bad feeling about the autumn hunt too..."

Zhang Xiu’s ears pricked up at this. The sixth prince did indeed have a surprise planned for the emperor but he’d mentioned that it would be a bonus if he managed to hit two hawks with one arrow1.

The rest of the room murmured halfhearted words of comfort at Duan Lin, telling him he was worrying too much and that the security at the hunt would be more comprehensive than ever given the presence of foreigners within their lands.

Yue Minzhe chose this moment to interrupt delicately. "Might I remind all you estimable gentleman that the captain of the guard of the Yulin Army that His Majesty has chosen to assist Great General Pan is new to the job?" He cocked his head thoughtfully. "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link."

His comment was met with a heavy silence.

Zhang Xiu met Yue Minzhe’s gaze and held it. He didn’t miss the way Yue Minzhe’s eyes were alight with a dark amusement or how he lifted the wine cup that was as ostentatious as he in a flippant salute.

Maybe this third graduate was brighter than he made himself out to be, Zhang Xiu thought. This wasn’t a man loyal to the fourth prince. This was a man who had secured himself a gold-gilded stepping stone and wasn’t afraid of using it.

"Personally, I feel that Brother Duan has a point," Zhang Xiu added after he saw that his audience was suitably perturbed by the political situation in the north. "Despite having won the skirmishes so far, can we really afford an ongoing war? If peace shatters, Great General Pan will be tied up in the north and the warlords in the other regions are champing at the bit...I fear for His Majesty’s safety."

A wave of assent rippled through the room.

Yue Minzhe spoke up airily again. "As this one mentioned earlier, there is still no commander of the Yulin Army...if a revolt reaches the imperial city, who is going to defend His Majesty? The new captain who’s still wet behind the ears?"

Zhang Xiu lowered his eyes. "Indeed," he agreed. "One also must wonder about the Pan family and how long their loyalties with the throne can last..."

The scandal surrounding Great General Pan and his wife was an open secret in the capital. Everyone knew that the united front that the Pan family displayed on the battlefield was strained at best...who was to say it would last for much longer now that Great General Pan’s only son was an adult and a capable valiant soldier himself?

He’d done his part here for today. No doubt his word would travel to the fourth prince’s ears and he would make of it what he would.

If all went well, this autumn hunt was going to be an unforgettable one.

An idiom synonymous to ’kill two birds with one stone’The final two lines of a tragic Tang Dynasty warfront poem by poet Li Qi. An idiom used to describe someone whose illustrious surface was a facade for a rotten personality that they kept hidden.A style of wine vassal popular in the Tang Dynasty and immortalised in a famous warfront poem titled ’Song of Liangzhou’. Its origins can be chased back 2000 years to the Western Zhou Dynasty. Made traditionally from thin jade, it earned its name from the beautiful colours that it emitted when the light hit the wine through the translucent surface of the cup.