Song Pu quickly realised that Tantai Yi was referring to the things he had said to Li Zongyi and the others when they left the palace that evening. Somehow, those words had reached Tantai Yi’s ears.
He swallowed. The slight guilt in his heart finally faded. Forcing a smile onto his face, he replied respectfully, “Your subject understands.”
Tantai Yi seemed to be in a good mood today. He gestured toward Cao Xi, who hurried forward. In his hands he carried something covered with silk cloth. Song Pu vaguely heard faint snoring sounds from beneath it and looked over curiously.
Noticing his gaze, Tantai Yi smiled faintly. “Minister Song, guess what’s inside. Hmm… if you guess correctly, there will be a reward.”
Song Pu instinctively asked, “And if I guess wrong?”
The smile at Tantai Yi’s lips faded. He thought for a few seconds before answering seriously, “If you guess wrong, Minister Song need not come anymore.”
Song Pu felt a surge of joy. Such a good thing existed in this world!?
But he quickly calmed down. It probably wasn’t that simple. Perhaps what Tantai Yi meant by “no need to come” was actually “you may as well go die.” That would be troublesome.
Thinking of that possibility, Song Pu immediately became alert. “Your Majesty, may I come closer and take a look?”
Tantai Yi glanced at Cao Xi. Understanding immediately, Cao Xi shuffled forward in small steps until he stood before Song Pu.
Song Pu listened carefully. Only the faint snoring could be heard inside. Since the silk-covered object was small, something like a cage, he already had a rough guess. He lightly tapped the cage. The creature inside seemed to wake up, and a small claw stretched out through the bars. Song Pu caught it.
He squeezed it twice before hearing a soft “meow” from inside.
His spirits lifted. Turning to Tantai Yi, he said, “Your subject knows what it is. It’s a cat.”
Tantai Yi nodded. “Minister Song guessed correctly. In that case, the cat shall be rewarded to you.”
Cao Xi lifted the silk cloth. Sure enough, it was a cage, and inside lay a pure white kitten with heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one yellow. It looked only three or four months old.
Song Pu loved cats dearly. The moment he saw it, his joy showed plainly. His lips curved upward uncontrollably as he asked eagerly, “Your Majesty, is this cat truly to be given to your subject?”
Tantai Yi replied, “My word is law. Does Minister Song doubt it?”
Song Pu quickly restrained himself and spoke carefully. “Your subject was simply too happy and spoke out of turn. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Tantai Yi noticed how Song Pu’s eyes kept drifting toward the animal. They sparkled brightly, making them look even more striking.
How had he never noticed before that Song Pu possessed such clear and beautiful eyes?
Looking away, Tantai Yi suddenly asked, “Does Minister Song like this creature?”
Song Pu shifted his gaze away from the cat. “Your subject likes it very much and is greatly delighted. Thank you, Your Majesty, for gifting this cat. Your subject will pass it down as a family heirloom for generations.”
Tantai Yi was amused and curved his lips slightly. “It’s merely a beast. How could it be passed down for generations? Minister Song is usually eloquent, yet now you sound rather foolish.”
Song Pu blushed faintly. He had also realised that Tantai Yi particularly enjoyed hearing flattery, so he tried even harder.
“Though it is only a beast, it was bestowed by Your Majesty. Having been touched by Your Majesty’s grace, it should naturally be worthy of being passed down through generations.”
“Oh?” Tantai Yi’s mood improved further. “Minister Song truly thinks so?”
“Of course!” Song Pu said earnestly. “Every word your subject speaks comes from sincere loyalty. There is not the slightest bit of falsehood!”
The flattery pleased Tantai Yi immensely. Though he had many attendants, none were as skilled as Song Pu.
“Very well,” he said. “Then this cat will be entrusted to Minister Song. If even a single hair is missing—”
His eyes narrowed, and he deliberately lowered his voice in threat. “I will hold you responsible.”
Song Pu quickly agreed. By now, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his forehead, and he wiped it away.
Serving a ruler truly was like serving a tiger. The ancients had not lied.
…
When the emperor left, Cao Xi spoke to Song Pu in a pinched voice.
“Lord Song, this little beast was specially caught by His Majesty from the Hundred Beasts Garden. It is a tribute from Persia, called a Persian cat. There are only four in all of Great Liang. You must treasure it well.”
“I understand,” Song Pu replied.
He looked at the kitten lying lazily in the cage, belly exposed, and his heart softened.
“Has it been weaned?”
Cao Xi, wanting to build a good relationship with him, explained, “Naturally. Persian cats are delicate and affectionate. They’re not like ordinary cats that scratch people. Take good care of it so that when His Majesty asks later, you’ll have a proper answer.”
Song Pu nodded seriously. “I will certainly take good care of it and never neglect it. From today on, it will be my son.”
He then grabbed the kitten’s tiny paw that had stretched out from the cage and said with deep sincerity:
“My son! Daddy loves you!”
“…”
Cao Xi sighed inwardly. He truly did not have this man’s courage or skill. If he had known earlier that the emperor enjoyed flattery, wouldn’t he, the Grand Eunuch, have had many more opportunities? Now that Song Pu had already gained the advantage, he would have to proceed slowly.
…
Later that day, Tantai Yi still did not attend court.
There was nothing interesting to do in the inner palace, so he spent some time sparring in the martial arena with Li Zongyi. However, before long, his expression turned unpleasant.
“Lord Li,” Tantai Yi said coldly, tossing aside the sword in his hand, “your martial arts have not improved at all. I am bored.”
Tantai Yi possessed enormous strength. Even exchanging blows with him was exhausting. Li Zongyi’s hand trembled slightly as he held the sword hilt. His palms were damp, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.
Hearing the emperor’s words, he immediately knelt halfway and said, “Your subject is foolish.”
Tantai Yi said coldly, “You come from a general’s household. Is this all your skill amounts to? Or are you deliberately holding back? Are you afraid of defeating me?”
“…Your subject would not dare,” Li Zongyi replied bitterly. Even if he wanted to win, he had to be capable of it first.
“Then use your full strength,” Tantai Yi said coldly. “If you injure me, I will not blame you. But if you cannot injure me, then I will punish you severely.”
“I dare not,” Li Zongyi repeated.
Tantai Yi’s voice turned icy. “I did not realise the people of the General’s Manor were such cowards. If you do not even dare to defeat me, how can you go to the battlefield and defend the country? Someone like you might as well become a cripple and live out your life in disgrace.”
Watching from the side, Song Pu felt the conversation had taken a dangerous turn.
Was the emperor planning to cripple Li Zongyi?
It wasn’t impossible. Even Shen Yonghe, the son of the Vice Minister of War, had been disfigured by the emperor’s whip. In this dynasty, officials were required to have flawless appearances. Even a small facial scar could disqualify someone from service. That single lash had destroyed Shen Yonghe’s future.
Song Pu was still worrying when Li Zongyi stubbornly repeated again: “Your subject dares not.”
Song Pu: “…”
Too honest!
Seeing Tantai Yi’s eyes narrow in anger, Song Pu hurried forward.
“Your Majesty! Your subject has something to say!”
…
The emperor’s gaze shifted toward him.
Song Pu could feel the displeasure radiating from him, yet he braced himself and spoke.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. In all of Great Liang, there are very few people who could defeat Your Majesty. Even if General Li himself faced Your Majesty, he would surely be defeated. If the father cannot win, how could the son? Moreover, Your Majesty is a dragon among men. How could tigers or dogs be compared to you? It is perfectly natural that Lord Li cannot defeat Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi said flatly, “Did I permit you to speak?”
Song Pu: “…”
Dog emperor.
He immediately knelt.
“It was your subject who overstepped. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi pulled the sword he had flung deep into the ground free, running his fingers lightly along its sharp edge. “However, what Minister Song says has merit. I have trained in martial arts for over a decade, and many of my instructors have fallen to me. Minister Li is but nineteen, yet he managed to withstand dozens of my moves. His talent is already exceptional. I should not press him further.”
Song Pu felt that not even half of what this dog of an emperor said could be trusted, so he did not stop laying it on thick. “Your Majesty, this subject dares to speak further.”
Tantai Yi’s lips curved as he fixed his gaze on Song Pu. “And what does Minister Song wish to say?”
Song Pu replied, “Though Lord Li is indeed gifted, compared to Your Majesty, his aptitude is regrettably quite ordinary. The fact that his martial skills have not improved is beyond dispute. In my humble opinion, should Your Majesty continue to spar with him, it would only exhaust him further. It would be better to allow Lord Li to return home and recuperate. Once his skills have advanced, he may then invite Your Majesty to assess his progress.”
Tantai Yi said, displeased, “I am not his teacher.”
Song Pu spoke earnestly, “Your Majesty, there is a saying: among any three, there is one who may serve as my teacher. Your Majesty’s martial prowess is unparalleled. By crossing blades with you, Lord Li must surely have gained much. Though his talent cannot compare to Your Majesty’s, with Your Majesty’s guidance, he will in time surpass his predecessors. To exceed General Li’s achievements would not be far off. In this way, Your Majesty would have trained a formidable general for Great Liang. It would be both fortune and blessing for the realm.”
Li Zongyi: “…”
Hearing this, the corners of Tantai Yi’s mouth lifted again, his pleasure impossible to conceal. “Minister Song speaks most correctly.”
Why did everything Minister Song said sound so agreeable?
He glanced at Song Pu, then at Li Zongyi, who could only mutter “this subject would not dare,” and clicked his tongue. “Li Zongyi, did you hear that? Since Minister Song has spoken on your behalf, we shall leave it at that for today. You need not come tomorrow. Attend only when I summon you.”
Li Zongyi glanced at Song Pu, pressed his lips together, and said, “This subject understands.”
Tantai Yi waved a hand. “I am in no mood today. You are all dismissed.”
Li Zongyi said, “This subject takes his leave.”
Song Pu followed suit. “This subject takes his leave.”
However, Tantai Yi called out, “Minister Song.”
Song Pu lifted his eyes in confusion, then quickly lowered them again, avoiding eye contact. “What are Your Majesty’s orders?”
Tantai Yi smiled. “Minister Song, remain.”
“Come with me.”
Though puzzled, Song Pu did not show it, only replying obediently, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi walked ahead, with Song Pu following several paces behind, keeping a careful distance.
It was only from behind that Song Pu dared to lift his gaze, allowing himself a more relaxed look at Tantai Yi’s back. Seeing him thus, he realised the man was indeed tall, his spine straight as a poplar. His close-fitting robes outlined broad shoulders and long legs to striking effect.
Setting everything else aside, Tantai Yi’s appearance alone was the finest Song Pu had ever seen. Perhaps due to his mixed heritage, his features were both richly striking and, owing to his pale, translucent complexion, faintly refined. The two qualities intertwined, lending him a uniquely compelling charm.
Come to think of it, though the dog emperor was already in his early twenties, there were hardly any women attending him in the palace. There had apparently been several attempts to select consorts, yet all had come to nothing. Could it be that the dog emperor had some hidden ailment?
The previous “Song Pu” had kept his nose buried in books, paying no heed to worldly affairs, so he knew little of court matters. Only now did Song Pu realise just how little he actually knew about this emperor.
Still, he had not expected him to enjoy flattery so much. Had no one tried currying favour with him all this time?
How odd.
Lost in such stray thoughts, Song Pu suddenly heard Tantai Yi’s languid, distinctive voice. “We have arrived.”
Song Pu looked up, his heart giving a jolt. Why had Tantai Yi brought him to the bedchamber?
Author’s Note:
Dog Emperor: I’ll have you. Not like that.
Current mood of the Dog Emperor: this sweet-talking little thing speaks very pleasingly.
