Playing Their Game

"…no changes to the amount of black fragrance in the imperial medical bureau's stores, this subject awaits Your Majesty's orders on what to do next." 

Quiet murmuring filtered into Yan Zheyun's ears. He stirred slowly to consciousness but something warm covered his eyes before he could open them. 

"Go back to sleep," a low voice whispered. It did feel like too much of a struggle to wake up and he gave up without putting up much of a fight, not dozing off again but just allowing himself to be suspended in a state of languid reverie, not quite fully awake yet but alert enough to listen to the conversation going on in the background. 

It seemed like Head Eunuch Cao and Fu Minde had both returned to report. Yan Zheyun wondered what time it was. 

"Your Majesty, after interrogation, we have narrowed down the suspects to Meiqing and Meihong, the Eastern Depot is awaiting your permission to commence severe torture."