Chang Jiangming and Xie Nuoyu were both worried about him and asked Cao Xi, “Eunuch Cao, may we go as well?”
Cao Xi still wore his usual smile. “His Majesty has given no such instruction.”
Chang Jiangming turned to Song Pu with guilt written all over his face. “It’s all my fault for saying what I shouldn’t have. If anything happens to you…”
He trailed off, unable to continue. Song Pu had suffered this entirely undeserved trouble, all because of his loose tongue.
Song Pu said, “Don’t worry about me. His Majesty is broad-minded. Since he didn’t punish me earlier, the matter must already be over. He has probably summoned me for something else. You should go home first.”
After much persuasion, he finally managed to send them off.
Once they had gone, Song Pu casually struck up a conversation with Cao Xi. “Eunuch Cao, how long have you been serving at His Majesty’s side?”
Cao Xi was quite willing to indulge him. “This servant has attended His Majesty for about half a year now.”
“Ah, then you’re already one of the palace veterans.” Song Pu went straight for the question without hesitation. “Do you happen to know whether His Majesty has any particular preferences?”
Before Cao Xi could answer, he hurriedly added with an expression full of contrition, “I spoke rather impertinently to His Majesty earlier. If he is angry, it would only be natural. If there’s some way to make amends and lift his spirits, I’d gladly do it.”
Cao Xi glanced at Song Pu. The man’s expression still looked perfectly sincere, with no trace of resentment. After a moment’s consideration, he said, “Although I have served His Majesty for half a year, I cannot say I know of any particular preferences. His Majesty’s thoughts are difficult to fathom, and we servants would not dare speculate. Still, Lord Song’s sincere devotion to His Majesty may well be what His Majesty values most. In that regard, perhaps I should be the one asking Lord Song for advice.”
Song Pu replied modestly, “Leaving everything else aside, His Majesty is such a towering figure that we ministers cannot help but admire and revere him. With sincere hearts we can only devote ourselves entirely to His Majesty, serving him unto death.”
Cao Xi: “…”
Forcing a smile, Cao Xi said, “What Lord Song is already doing is more than sufficient. His Majesty will surely be pleased to see it.”
As they spoke, the two arrived at the Chunhe Palace where Tantai Yi rested.
After escorting him inside, Cao Xi withdrew and quietly closed the doors behind him.
Although it was still early evening, the palace candles had already been lit. The entire hall shone bright as daylight, illuminating every detail with striking clarity.
This was Song Pu’s second visit. The first time, he had been led here by Tantai Yi and his attention had been fixed entirely on the emperor. He had hardly noticed the surroundings. Now that he had a moment to look around, he realised the décor of Chunhe Palace was surprisingly plain. Animal hides covered the floor; there was no lavish gold or jade ornamentation. It was so simple that it hardly resembled an emperor’s bedchamber at all.
On the desk stood a hexagonal, gilded bronze incense burner engraved with intricate patterns. Thin curls of white smoke drifted upward, filling the air with a faint fragrance that refreshed the mind.
“Lord Song, come here.”
Tantai Yi sat behind the desk, propping his head on one hand as he looked at him with casual indifference.
Song Pu had already formed a suspicion about why he had been summoned. Seeing the emperor seated behind the desk, that suspicion rose to almost certainty.
“Hurry over and help me review these memorials,” Tantai Yi said. “Those old fellows in the Cabinet nag me every day. They’re driving me mad.”
Song Pu thought to himself: I knew it.
He walked over. Tantai Yi obligingly shifted aside to give him half the seat. A young eunuch standing nearby ground ink for them, hardly daring to breathe.
“Your Majesty, I believe—”
Song Pu had barely begun speaking when Tantai Yi frowned slightly. “Lord Song, what objections do you have now?”
The meaning was clear: he had no interest in hearing a speech.
Song Pu understood at once. Although the emperor had not punished him for what happened at noon, he was likely still displeased. Bowing his head, he said respectfully, “This subject has no objections.”
“In that case,” Tantai Yi said, “get on with your work.”
Resigned, Song Pu picked up a memorial and began reading slowly.
Tantai Yi had sat on the throne for three years yet had barely attended to state affairs. Matters of the realm could not be handled by the Cabinet alone. The Liang dynasty had no prime minister; imperial authority was supreme. Though the Cabinet processed most affairs, final approval rested with Tantai Yi.
Given the emperor’s habits, the number of memorials piled upon his desk had grown enormous. Among them were not only ordinary petitions from officials but also formal requests forwarded by the Cabinet.
As Song Pu read, a sense of dread suddenly crept over him.
If something went wrong, no one would blame the emperor. But him? That would be another matter entirely. Who in their right mind would dare approve memorials on behalf of the emperor? That was practically courting death.
Glancing nervously at Tantai Yi, he asked in a low voice, “Your Majesty… this memorial reports flooding and famine in Yuzhou and requests disaster relief. What should be done?”
Tantai Yi rested his head on one hand, looking thoroughly bored. Hearing the question, he lifted an eyebrow.
“The treasury is empty,” he said. “Tell them to find their own solution.”
Song Pu: “…”
He had absolutely no response to that.
Everyone knew Liang was a powerful state. The late emperor had spent decades campaigning, seizing vast mineral resources from neighbouring lands. After more than ten years of recovery, the treasury might have diminished somewhat, but it could hardly be called empty. Tantai Yi was simply lying through his teeth.
Song Pu briefly considered offering a tactful suggestion, then thought better of it. The emperor had surely heard such advice countless times from other ministers. He could not risk it.
Still, he had no intention of approving that memorial either. It concerned famine relief. People’s lives were at stake. He could not make such a decision lightly.
So he set it aside and picked up another. Then another.
The more he read, the deeper his brow furrowed. Eventually he set yet another memorial down without marking it and reached for a different one.
Tantai Yi watched him for a while before asking, “Lord Song, why are you not approving them?”
Song Pu hesitated. Under the unmistakable pressure of the emperor’s gaze, he raised his eyes with an expression full of shame.
“Please forgive my stupidity, Your Majesty. Reading these memorials has left my mind in complete confusion. I fear ruining Your Majesty’s illustrious reputation and truly do not know how to proceed. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Tantai Yi seemed to think of something. His voice cooled.
“What illustrious reputation do I have? I know what they say. They call me cruel and heartless. Hmph. If I were truly cruel, I would have exterminated their nine clans long ago. Would I merely throw them into the black dungeon?”
You might as well give them a clean death, Song Pu grumbled inwardly. Is the black dungeon a place humans can survive?
Outwardly, however, he remained perfectly composed and even showed a hint of indignation.
“That is only because they do not understand Your Majesty,” he said. “Your Majesty possesses unmatched martial skill and bears the world in your heart. How could such a person be judged by a few careless words? In my eyes, Your Majesty is a ruler worthy of loyalty. I admire and respect you from the depths of my heart. Anyone who insults my sovereign, no matter how distant, deserves punishment!”
“It is precisely because I admire Your Majesty so greatly that reviewing memorials on your behalf feels contrary to my original intentions. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”
Tantai Yi studied him with an unreadable expression.
“Lord Song’s sincerity, I can see it clearly,” he said at last. “But there is one thing you misunderstand. In my heart… there is no ‘world’.”
“…What?” Song Pu looked up at him, genuine bewilderment flashing across his face.
Seeing that expression, Tantai Yi inexplicably felt a flicker of guilt.
He had taken Song Pu’s praise seriously. The brightness in Song Pu’s eyes when he flattered him had not seemed false. Song Pu truly admired him. How could he allow someone who admired him to look disappointed?
The thought flickered past before he could fully grasp it.
“In my heart,” Tantai Yi continued calmly, “there is no Great Liang. I have no interest in possessing this world. What becomes of Liang in the future has nothing to do with me.”
Song Pu: “…”
Little bro, you’re making this very difficult for me.
When idols expose themselves in front of their fans, they lose followers. You need to maintain the persona so I can keep praising you!
His inner complaints flew past like a barrage of comments, but outwardly he only said slowly, “The world has long suffered under Your Majesty.”
Hearing the faint disappointment in his tone, Tantai Yi felt a subtle irritation.
His expression cooled. “I am not a ruler worthy of your loyalty. If Minister Song harbours such hopes, I fear you will only be disappointed.”
Song Pu immediately replied, “Your Majesty, why belittle yourself? You possess a ruler’s dignity, a ruler’s bearing, and a ruler’s wisdom. My admiration stems from precisely these qualities. From the very beginning I have believed that if Your Majesty so wished, you would surely surpass the late emperor and become an even greater sovereign. One who commands heartfelt loyalty from all under heaven.”
Tantai Yi’s pale golden eyes glimmered faintly. “You truly believe that, Lord Song?”
“Of course!” Song Pu declared firmly. “Heaven itself may bear witness! Every word I have spoken comes from the depths of my heart. If I have uttered a single falsehood to deceive Your Majesty, may lightning strike me down!”
Tantai Yi’s expression softened slightly. “Lord Song…”
He paused, as though unsure how to continue.
Seeing that the emperor had been successfully led off track, Song Pu felt a surge of secret delight. The dog emperor might be rebellious, but he did not seem particularly calculating… perhaps even a little naïve. That was good news.
Lowering his voice conspiratorially, Song Pu said, “In that case, Your Majesty… you’re so noble and wise. Might you personally review these memorials? I have never witnessed Your Majesty attending to state affairs with my own eyes. Today I dare to hope for that honour. Would Your Majesty be willing to grant such a small wish?”
Tantai Yi narrowed his eyes and gave a cold snort. “I will not. If I reviewed them myself, what use would you be, Lord Song?”
Song Pu: “…”
His eyes darted about before he ventured cautiously, “If Your Majesty personally reviews the memorials, I shall cook a dessert for you myself. Something Your Majesty has never tasted before.”
A glimmer of interest flickered across Tantai Yi’s eyes.
“A gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen. You were born into a ducal household, Lord Song. You can cook?”
Song Pu puffed out his chest proudly. “It’s not boasting to say that what I can do would far exceed Your Majesty’s expectations.”
Hearing this, Tantai Yi suddenly laughed.
“In that case,” he said, “I find myself rather curious about Minister Song’s culinary skills.”
Song Pu smiled along with him. His face was small, with red lips and white teeth, and when he smiled two little canine teeth showed, lending him an unexpectedly lively charm. It was the sort of smile people found easy to like, and when he spoke with it, his words seemed all the more sincere.
“If Your Majesty would personally review the memorials and broaden this subject’s horizons,” he said earnestly, “then I shall pour my burning devotion into preparing a dessert found nowhere else under heaven. Something that only Your Majesty may taste. I guarantee that once Your Majesty has eaten it, you will want a second helping!”
Tantai Yi tilted his head slightly. “If I refuse to review them, does that mean Minister Song has no intention of making it for me?”
Song Pu immediately shook his head. “That’s not what I meant,” he said quickly, then added with careful diplomacy, “but if Your Majesty grants my small wish, it would naturally fill me with delight. There is a saying: when one cooks in a happy mood, the food becomes especially delicious; when one cooks while troubled, the taste turns bitter.”
He hurriedly raised his hands in mild protest.
“Of course, I am not suggesting that preparing dessert for Your Majesty would trouble me in the least! But if I receive Your Majesty’s favour first, I shall naturally devote my whole heart and soul to it. The dessert I produce would be far more delicious than anything I could normally make!”
His bold claim genuinely piqued Tantai Yi’s interest.
“In that case,” the emperor said slowly, “you have succeeded in intriguing me.”
He fell silent for a moment. Looking at the bright, hopeful gleam in Song Pu’s beautiful eyes, he felt something stir within his chest, like a spark catching fire.
Yet the expression on his face remained sharp. He gazed at Song Pu with a half-smile that was not quite a smile and said in a low voice, “Very well. I will agree to Minister Song’s request. But Minister Song must be careful not to disappoint me.”
There was a faint hint of threat beneath the words.
Under that cool tone, Song Pu instinctively shrank his neck a little. Then he quickly put on another ingratiating smile.
“Forgive this subject’s boldness,” he said, “but may I ask whether Your Majesty has any preferred flavours?”
Tantai Yi raised an eyebrow and replied coolly, “You don’t even know my tastes, yet you dare boast so confidently.”
Song Pu sighed dramatically.
“If this subject could serve at Your Majesty’s side day and night, I would certainly place Your Majesty’s preferences above all else!” he lamented. “Alas! I spend barely three hours a day in the palace. However much I might wish to attend Your Majesty day and night, there is simply no opportunity. It is entirely my own failing. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!”
The corner of Tantai Yi’s lips curved upward in amusement.
“Minister Song need not trouble himself so much,” he said lightly. “I could simply permit Minister Song to reside in the palace permanently. Then you could attend me day and night.”
Author’s Note:
Ah-Pu: Successfully dug his own hole (2/2).
Ah-Gou: +2 points. Keep it up!
