Song Pu’s heart gave a violent thump, and a wave of heat prickled across his back.
Slowly, he turned his head. Lifting his eyes slightly, he found himself meeting Tantai Yi’s gaze.
Although it was midday, Tantai Yi clearly looked as though he had just bathed, and he had even changed into a different set of clothes. He wore a crimson robe unlike the one from that morning, embroidered with pale gold coiling dragons and motifs of the sun, moon, and surging tides. The colours and patterns of the robe were rather restrained, yet his face was so striking that the restraint only heightened the contrast. His eyes were bright, his skin pale, his lips vividly red.
His figure was tall and straight. Even standing there without speaking, he was like the blazing sun in the sky, dazzling enough that one hardly dared look directly at him.
In truth, Song Pu had long known that the emperor was handsome, yet he had never dared look carefully at his face. Now, with the slightest lift of his eyelids, he caught sight of the emperor’s unreadable expression from the corner of his eye.
His lips trembled. Embarrassed and afraid, he lowered his gaze and murmured, “Your Majesty… this subject… does not know.”
He had no idea when Tantai Yi had arrived, nor from what point he had begun listening. If he answered wrongly now, things could end very badly.
Song Pu clung to a sliver of hope. Perhaps Tantai Yi had only heard the final sentence. If so, he might still be able to improvise an explanation.
Tantai Yi said calmly, “I heard what Minister Song said with my own ears. Why then does Minister Song claim he does not know?”
Cold sweat immediately broke out across Song Pu’s forehead. Tantai Yi’s composure gave away nothing, leaving him utterly unable to tell how much he had heard.
Song Pu was no fool. Shen Yonghe had nearly been beaten to death. Whatever had angered Tantai Yi must have been no trivial matter. If he insisted on defending Shen Yonghe, he might well end up destroying himself as well.
Although the emperor seemed to treat him with unusual favour, Song Pu instinctively felt that half of what Tantai Yi said could not truly be trusted. He could not afford to become complacent.
His thoughts raced, yet only half a second passed on the surface. Song Pu lowered his head slightly and said respectfully, “It is not that this subject does not know. It is that I dare not say. I hope Your Majesty will show understanding.”
Tantai Yi looked at him in silence.
Song Pu could feel that gaze resting upon him. The pressure mounted until sweat slid down from his brow and dripped onto the ground, forming dark spots.
If Song Pu was like this, Chang Jiangming and the others behind him were even worse, scarcely daring to breathe.
After several seconds of tense silence, Chang Jiangming suddenly stumbled forward.
Tantai Yi’s gaze shifted from Song Pu to him.
Under that gaze, Chang Jiangming’s throat tightened and he looked on the verge of tears again. He forced the urge down, bowed tremblingly, and stammered, “Your Majesty, it was I who spoke nonsense. It has nothing to do with Song Pu. Please calm your anger. If punishment must be given, punish me. Please spare Song Pu.”
Damn it.
Song Pu cursed inwardly. He still had no idea what Tantai Yi had heard, and this fool was already confessing and begging for punishment.
No matter. He would just have to gamble.
“Your Majesty,” Song Pu said, “this subject has something to say.”
“Speak,” Tantai Yi replied.
His voice remained calm, revealing nothing of his mood.
Song Pu could not help lifting his eyes again, daring to meet Tantai Yi’s gaze directly. Like a student trying to guess the correct answer from the invigilator’s expression, he searched those pale golden eyes for any hint of meaning.
After only a glance, he sensed that Tantai Yi did not appear angry.
Drawing a careful breath, he said, “Your Majesty, this subject has been ill for some time and knows little of what has been happening in the palace. Just now Chang Jiangming told me about Shen Yonghe’s matter. From what I heard, I felt that Your Majesty may have gone too far.”
The words came out in one breath. Strangely, he felt lighter afterwards.
He had considered lying, but secrets never remain hidden forever. If the truth surfaced later, Tantai Yi might think him merely glib, someone whose words were pleasant but insincere. Song Pu could not allow that impression to take root, so he chose honesty instead.
Tantai Yi did not seem surprised.
“So,” he said evenly, “in what way does Minister Song believe I went too far?”
The calmness in his tone made Song Pu suddenly realise that Tantai Yi must have overheard quite a lot. Otherwise he would not sound so unconcerned.
Fortunately, Song Pu had not tried to lie outright. If he had, everything would have been ruined.
Thinking this, he relaxed slightly. After all, he had already said plenty of flattering things earlier. If one compliment did not solve the matter, then two or three would. He could produce an entire ocean of praise if necessary.
With that thought, Song Pu carefully replied, “This subject does not know the full story, so my understanding may be limited. Hearing only Chang Jiangming’s account, I could not help feeling sympathy for Shen Yonghe, and thus I thought Your Majesty’s punishment somewhat excessive. However, if Shen Yonghe truly offended Your Majesty, then he certainly deserved punishment. Only… I still feel the punishment was somewhat severe. Your Majesty is known for your benevolent heart and has never made things difficult for us. I wonder what reason there was to treat Shen Yonghe so harshly.”
Tantai Yi’s voice turned cool. “Minister Song is bold indeed. You dare question me?”
Just earlier, when he had been in good spirits, he had held Song Pu’s hand and spoken warmly. Now, because of a single remark, he had turned on him.
As expected of the dog emperor.
At those words, Song Pu felt his heart sink.
He knew it. The dog emperor’s words could not be trusted.
Blinking slowly, Song Pu lowered his head even more respectfully. “This subject would not dare. I was merely curious and spoke out of turn. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Tantai Yi regarded him for a moment.
“Raise your face,” he said.
Song Pu obediently lifted his head, though he still did not quite dare meet his eyes. His lowered gaze settled instead on the intricate patterns embroidered along the hem of Tantai Yi’s robes.
“Raise your eyes.”
Song Pu paused briefly, then complied again.
When their gazes met, his eyes flickered slightly before he reflexively shut them for an instant.
Tantai Yi’s beauty was dazzling, yet it carried an undeniable sharpness, like the blazing sun itself. To stare too long felt as though one’s eyes might burn.
Tantai Yi said, “I am excessive? I think it is Minister Song who is excessive. You speak in Shen Yonghe’s defense, yet I have not seen you visit him even once.”
The words struck directly at the heart.
Yet his tone did not sound angry.
Instead, Song Pu felt overwhelmed with shame.
He truly had never visited Shen Yonghe. Once he recovered from illness, the matter had slipped his mind entirely. He had been so focused on pleasing Tantai Yi that he had given little thought to anything else.
Remembering it now, he felt deeply embarrassed.
Seeing Song Pu’s pale face flush red, even his eyes filling with mortification, Tantai Yi’s gaze darkened slightly, though his expression remained indifferent.
“Those who speak ill of me are thrown into the black dungeon,” he said. “None have yet been released. I value Minister Song, but I have no wish to hear him point fingers at me. Even the late emperor did not dare lecture me, yet Minister Song shows such audacity. If it happens again, I will punish you severely. Minister Song, do you understand?”
…Bloody hell, dog emperor.
Song Pu cursed wildly in his heart, yet outwardly he bowed with utmost humility.
“This subject understands. Thank you, Your Majesty, for the instruction.”
Tantai Yi appeared to have merely strolled into Zuode Hall by chance. After this incident, however, he seemed to lose interest in continuing his walk and soon departed with his attendants.
Once he left, everyone present let out a collective sigh of relief. Xie Nuoyu even collapsed onto the ground, unable to stand.
Compared with him, Song Pu fared somewhat better. He did not collapse like he had the first time. Nevertheless, the pressure of facing Tantai Yi had left his legs weak.
Chang Jiangming said tremblingly, “Ah-Pu… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
Song Pu waved a hand tiredly. “You still stepped forward to plead for me. I’ll be grateful for life, good ge.”
Chang Jiangming looked even more embarrassed. “Nuoyu pushed me just now. That’s why I… I’m sorry. I was too frightened.”
Song Pu paused, then laughed lightly. “It’s all right. It’s over now. Just don’t say such things again. It harms others as well as yourself.”
Chang Jiangming nodded vigorously. “I know. I won’t say it again.”
Song Pu said nothing further.
The incident had left him unsettled. His heart was still pounding, and the blood in his body seemed to surge upward, leaving him flushed and restless.
Serving a ruler truly was like serving a tiger. Even now, he still could not tell whether the emperor had actually been angry.
He dared not test Tantai Yi’s limits. One could not even say the word “excessive”. Truly the behaviour of a tyrant.
Yet on second thought, at least he had not been punished. Perhaps the emperor was not entirely unreasonable.
…Damn it. He had actually reached the point of feeling grateful simply because Tantai Yi had not punished him.
Still brooding, Song Pu prepared to leave the palace with the others at the end of the day, since Tantai Yi had not summoned him that afternoon.
Just as they reached the vicinity of Xuanwu Gate, Cao Xi hurried over with a young eunuch. Spotting Song Pu, his voice immediately rose to a shrill pitch.
“Lord Song, please wait!”
Song Pu stopped and turned. “What is it, Eunuch Cao?”
Cao Xi smiled. “His Majesty requests your presence. Please come with me, Lord Song.”
Song Pu: “…”
Oh dear.
Author’s note:
Ah-Pu: Hah. Men.
