Liu Yao

One of us. 

Yan Zheyun's lashes quivered. Whether the emperor's choice of words had been intentional or not, he liked the sound of that. It made him feel like one half of a couple in a stable relationship, just working through hardship together, instead of a helpless concubine whose welfare was at the mercy of the man he had the job of serving in bed. 

"Yan Yun?" There was a note of amusement in the emperor's voice but instead of its usual strength, it sounded tinny and feeble to Yan Zheyun. 

He shot the emperor an exasperated look. The emperor had to choose such a stressful time to demonstrate that he was the proud owner of a rather effective set of flirting techniques?