The interior of Liang Hui's house was dark and chilly when Yan Zheyun entered, eyes carefully trained on the polish floorboards underfoot. The tunic that he wore had a simple fur lining and was padded inside, but it was still only fit for a slave and nowhere near enough to keep him warm. Especially since he was particularly scared of the cold.
He found himself suddenly missing his favourite YSL winter jacket. It had been a gift from his little sister Lixin, a beautiful sable double-breasted peacoat that Yan Zheyun had fallen in love with at first sight.
Ah, hanfu may be beautiful but nowhere near as comfortable as modern fashion.
Dongmei led him to stand right in front of Liang Hui, before moving over to take her place behind Liang Hui's chair. They were in the front chamber of Liang Hui's residence, where she would normally receive her close female guests. But there were no outsiders visiting today. Yan Zheyun noted with some surprise that Liang Hui had dismissed all her other servants besides her trusted Dongmei.
He could only think of one reason why.
[Madam Liang ah, Madam Liang. Why are you going to such lengths to protect your son's reputation? Aren't you aware that he's nothing better than swine?]
But of course, he didn't share his thoughts.
"Madam," he greeted humbly, making sure to keep his head bowed in a show of deference.
To her credit, Liang Hui's attitude was a lot more neutral than Dongmei's. And hence, a lot harder to read. But Yan Zheyun hadn't expected anything less from a formidable opponent. The decades she had spent wrangling with her husband's numerous concubines had only served to sharpen her wit. Yan Zheyun was as cautious around her as he was with Wu Bin, if not even more so. Because, unlike Wu Bin, the only thing she wanted from him was for him to disappear.
"Yun Er ah," she said genially, reaching out to wrap a hand around his wrist and tug him closer. "Come let your Aunty Wu take a good look at you. It's been a while, you've already grown so much."
This was something she had often done to Yan Yun when he was still the little treasure of the prime minister's estate. Yan Yun had liked her very much because she had doted on him more than anyone else in the Wu Family, including even Wu Bin. His favourite desserts had always been freshly prepared and ready for his visits. Only the best guest room had been used to house him whenever he'd stayed the night.
Poor naïve Yan Yun had assumed it was because his Aunt Wu liked him as much as he liked her. Unlike the other children of prominent aristocratic families, Yan Yun had been too sheltered to understand the agenda behind Liang Hui's over-the-top kindness. His father hadn't had any concubines and he was the only son, so naturally, everyone had treated him like the heavens' gift to the family.
But Yan Zheyun was different. His parents had showered him with their love but had never tried hiding the harsh reality of the world from him. As a result, he knew how ugly people could get. He understood that some of the 'friends' that flocked around him were just sycophants hoping his acquaintanceship would grant them an edge in life. And he could smell a plot against him from a mile away.
Like this one. But who cared? It wasn't like he came here without any ill intentions of his own.
His wrist trembled in Liang Hui's grasp, giving her the impression that he was fearful. After a whole week of practice, Yan Zheyun's acting had improved to the point where he could more or less mimic the original's meek personality. Within reason, of course. But it was probably good enough for most situations.
"How old is Yun Er now?"
"18, Madam."
"Wah, time really flies. I can still remember Yun Er as a handsome young boy coming to cajole me for osmanthus cakes." Liang Hui patted his arm fondly but that very fondness seemed incongruous. Her words would have done nothing but hurt Yan Yun with the reminder of his old status.
Was Liang Hui doing this on purpose? Out of spite? Yan Zheyun couldn't tell but he knew that if he were her, it was what he would do to catch Yan Yun off-guard. Someone as sensitive as the ex-Young Master Yan wouldn't be able to deal with it. So now, Yan Zheyun had to pretend that he wasn't able to deal with it either.
Ah, hell. It was so troublesome to have to act day in and day out. How did all these women embroiled in residence or harem intrigue stand it?
Without hesitation, Yan Zheyun bit harshly on the inside of his mouth and felt his eyes water in reaction to the pain. He already had an ulcer there from having done this multiple times recently. But what choice did he have? Yan Yun was a notorious crybaby and everyone in the Wu household, from the lowest of stable boys right up to the Minister of Rites himself, knew this.
Liang Hui's smile turned sympathetic when she noticed the brightness in Yan Zheyun's eyes. She did not indicate at all that she was feeling victorious. But Yan Zheyun knew better than to believe that.
There was nothing he could say and he intended to let her lead the conversation anyway. So Yan Zheyun just chewed on his bottom lip and remained silent.
Sure enough, after a couple of seconds of her reminiscing, Liang Hui let out a nostalgic sigh.
"If your parents were still around, they would no doubt be starting to prospect a suitable match for you."
This hit a bit too close to home. Yan Zheyun didn't have to fake the tightening at the corners of his mouth.
"I have also just started looking out for options for Bin Er." Liang Hui's gaze had landed on his face and was starting to observe him casually. "Has he spoken to you about the type of girl he prefers? Or maybe mentioned any names of any daughters from the noble families?"
[I regret to have to inform you, Madam, that your son, on top of being a two-faced bastard with a smarmy attitude, also likes cock. There is, of course, nothing wrong with liking cock. Unless, you know, you swindle young girls into believing that you're in love with them, just so you can marry them and knock them up to carry on the family line.]
"I don't know, Madam." Girls? The entire of Yan Zheyun's last week was peppered with Wu Bin's enthusiastic displays of affection, each one more obvious and ostentatious than the last. Yan Zheyun could only wish he'd talked about girls. Then at least he could have responded with, "Yes, hot, quick, Young Master! Go woo her instead!"
"Oh? Not even a word?" She let go of Yan Zheyun and picked up her cup of tea on the side table by its saucer. Yan Zheyun watched as she removed the lid and stroked it over the edge of the cup to prevent the condensation from dripping all over her clothes. It was a very elegant gesture, but it reminded him too much of the snooty concubines in his mother's dramas. He had to forcibly hold back a smile.
[Did ancient people really behave like this or is she doing the cup thing because the writer was influenced by all the historical shows on the market?]
Dongmei laughed scornfully. "Madam," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're always so busy managing the affairs of the household, so you don't know, Yan Yun here is very well-versed with what Big Young Master likes."
"Oh?" Liang Hui looked at Yan Zheyun in 'surprise'. "Yun Er, you don't have to be shy. I know it may be difficult to talk about romantic affairs with me, but you are Bin Er's manservant and his closest companion. You know that Bin Er is the eldest son of the family and has high expectations to live up to. The best thing we can all do for him is to help him arrange a match that would further his career. But as his mother, I want my son to be happy too. So if you know about any lady that he may prefer…"
She let out a languid sigh. There was a lot of sighing going on under this roof today. Yan Zheyun too was sighing internally, but with satisfaction. Because he knew what Liang Hui wanted now and had just decided on his next step.
He was under no illusions about whether Liang Hui was aware of the budding romance between Wu Bin and the original Yan Yun. As the mistress of a household that collectively contained over a hundred people, it was too easy for Liang Hui to plant informants in her own son's residence.
But Liang Hui had yet to reach the point where she decided to kill him. Yan Zheyun was sure she must have considered it, would have even preferred it as an option. But she was too smart to do this right now when Wu Bin's attention was completely focused on him. Killing Yan Zheyun now had too much potential to backfire and wasn't worth the risk.
[Otherwise,] he thought dryly. [Instead of saving her precious little boy from the evil vixen, she may end up pushing him towards it.]
It was obvious that her alternative was to manipulate Yan Yun into backing out gracefully on his own. And to this end, she had prepared for the battle carefully. First, she had shaken Yan Yun's feelings. Then, she had appealed to his longing for the good old times by bringing up his closeness to the Wu Family. Maybe this would even remind him that he was indebted to them for buying him before someone worse could.
And finally, she had said that everything she was doing was for Wu Bin's good.
Would the original Yan Yun have capitulated to that? Without a doubt. He would probably sacrifice his own happiness just for his favourite Big Brother Wu Bin. Even if it'd meant spending countless nights crying while he wished Wu Bin all the best with his bright future.
Yan Yun had been a silly air-headed spoiled brat. But it was precisely because of this, that when he'd loved, he had known how to do so wholeheartedly. Because he had been taught to by his family.
Pity, something so precious had been wasted on the likes of Wu Bin.
[Rest in peace, Little Young Master. Big Brother will help you take revenge.]
Liang Hui had spent the last half an hour acting out her scene. It was now Yan Zheyun's turn. Without any warning, he flung himself down onto his knees and kowtowed.
"Yun Er? What are you doing! Get up!"
"Madam!" he wailed over her command, so loudly that she jumped in her seat. "Madam, please don't blame Young Master, it was all Yun Er's fault!" He brought his forehead down against the ground once before leaving it there.
Ouch. Fuck. He'd initially been intending to bash it a couple more times for added sincerity, but the pain convinced him otherwise. Not to mention the lack of access he had to medical care. No need to give himself a concussion and then regret it after.
Liang Hui definitely wasn't expecting him to suddenly burst out in confession but she composed herself soon after. "Yun Er, be good, stand up first so that we can talk properly."
Yan Zheyun didn't lift his head. "Yun Er won't stand," he said, with a bit of stubborn delight. Now that he was on a roll, the bullshit was starting to compose itself with more and more eloquence. "Yun Er humbly begs for Madam's forgiveness, I was shameless and sought to rise above my station, but I now know my place! I swear that from now on, I will no longer bear any wishful thinking towards Young Master, and if I lie, may the lightning strike me where I stand!"
More tears, more ulcers in his mouth. He'd never thought that there would come a day where he missed Bonjela cream.
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Liang Hui said, kindly admonishing. She could afford to be magnanimous, now that she had achieved her goal. "Don't make such serious oaths so lightly, do you want to incur the anger of the heavens? Hai, at the end of the day, I know how strong the feelings you share with Bin Er are."
[Nope, you actually really don't.]
"But as a mother, I have no choice but to prioritise what is right for him. After I arrange his marriage, I would be happy to step in and help you find a suitable match as well, if you'd like…Mingyue is of a good age now."
This was a dangerous topic. Yan Zheyun had underestimated the enthusiasm ancient women had for matchmaking. He chose to remain quiet in the hopes that she'd let it go.
"Or if you'd prefer, you may remain as Bin Er's manservant…" Liang Hui paused and considered her next words carefully. "You may even serve him in the bedroom, but you must know not to overstep your boundaries and seek to own what is not yours. Do you understand what I am saying?"
It was annoying that she thought she was doing him a favour by…what? Letting him play the role of Wu Bin's sex toy? A thousand no thank yous, Yan Zheyun would far rather lead an ascetic life of celibacy than that.
Slowly, he raised his tear-streaked face. The sincerity in his expression was genuine.
"Madam," he said with sincere earnestness. "Please don't make Yun Er live through serving a new young mistress. I couldn't bear it. I won't dare to have false hopes anymore, only beg for complete separation so that my heart can mend. Madam, I implore you, please, PLEASE transfer me to another place to serve."
Checkmate?