Song Pu was utterly stunned.
Not only him, Song Lingyun was stunned as well. “Why would His Majesty give you something like this?”
Song Pu swallowed. “…I was the one who boldly asked His Majesty for it. His Majesty is magnanimous and agreed at once. It’s just that I never expected…”
He suddenly could not go on.
The fabric in his hands was of excellent quality, soft and smooth to the touch. The white base was overlaid with a beautiful silver pattern of auspicious clouds. Though they were only undergarments, the workmanship was truly superb.
Song Lingyun’s gaze at Song Pu changed. “…Why did you ask him for these things?”
Song Pu could lavish praise on others without the slightest burden, but in front of Song Lingyun he was unusually thin-skinned. He stammered, “I just… just asked, that’s all. Look, I didn’t ask for rewards or titles. I only asked for a personal item from His Majesty. Doesn’t that make me seem rather unique? That way His Majesty will think I’m pure and unaffected, different from everyone else.”
Song Lingyun said nothing.
He looked at Song Pu for a long moment before speaking. “Ah-Pu, I’m worried about you. If the Emperor is giving you something like this, could it not be a test?”
Song Pu paused and asked modestly, “What sort of test?”
Song Lingyun said, “A test to see whether he has designs on you.”
Song Pu blinked again. “Huh?”
Seeing him look so dazed and foolish, Song Lingyun felt a tightness seize his chest. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
“His Majesty has been Emperor for three years, yet there are no consorts in the harem. He spends his days surrounded by eunuchs and guards. There have long been rumours outside that he favours men, even… that he is impotent and incapable of relations. Your entering the palace already harms your reputation. Now he sends you something like this. It is plainly ill-intentioned.”
Song Pu said solemnly, “Those are all rumours! His Majesty is so valiant, how could he possibly be impotent? Even if there are no consorts in the harem, it is merely a fine sword lying sheathed in dust. As for favouring men, that is even more impossible. Shen Yonghe is so handsome and yet His Majesty shows him no particular fondness. I am hardly a peerless beauty either. How could His Majesty possibly have designs on me?”
“And besides… even if someone had designs, shouldn’t it be me? I was the one who first asked for the clothes, and I was the one talking about remembering him by seeing them. If you think about it, doesn’t it sound more like I’m the one coveting His Majesty’s body?”
Seeing Song Lingyun’s expression change, Song Pu immediately wilted and hurried to add, “Of course, my loyalty to His Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon. I absolutely harbour no improper thoughts about His Majesty’s body. Presumably His Majesty feels the same about me. Ge, there’s no need for you to worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Song Lingyun lowered his eyes and spoke softly and slowly. “You know I am your elder brother. You are the only younger brother I have. If anything were to happen to you, I do not know what I might do.”
Feeling guilty, Song Pu averted his gaze. Looking at the smooth fabric in his hands, he suddenly lowered his head and sniffed it. A cool scent of pine reached him, and he could not help sighing.
“Ah… it smells so good. This must be His Majesty’s scent.”
Song Lingyun: “…”
*
The moonlight tonight was pleasant, and the air especially cool. Tantai Yi sat in the imperial garden drinking wine.
After returning to the palace, Cao Xi came to report back to him. Sensing faintly that Tantai Yi seemed somewhat absent-minded, Cao Xi, unusually sharp-witted today, cautiously said, “…Young Master Song was extremely pleased after seeing the list of gifts. He said he intended to hang the paintings and calligraphy bestowed by Your Majesty in his bedchamber so that he could admire them every day.”
Tantai Yi finally seemed to rouse himself. “Nonsense. How could they be hung in a bedchamber? Does Lord Song not have a study?”
Cao Xi hesitated before replying, “Young Master Song said that this way he could see them the moment he opened his eyes, so this servant did not try to dissuade him. Should I perhaps inform him otherwise?”
The corners of Tantai Yi’s lips lifted slightly. “If he likes it, let him do as he pleases.”
It was the first time Cao Xi had ever seen him reveal such a pleased and open smile in private. A flash of understanding seemed to strike him, making his heart pound violently in his chest, and even his pale face flushed faintly red.
He lowered his head respectfully. “Your Majesty is most benevolent.”
After drinking half a jar of wine and sitting in the breeze for a while longer, Tantai Yi slowly returned to the palace.
When he arrived at Chunhe Palace, a young eunuch stepped forward to attend him in bathing, but he waved him away.
Steam rose from the bath, obscuring his face. A gust of wind stirred, and a shadow knelt respectfully on one knee. Tantai Yi did not even turn his head. He merely asked, “Well?”
The man proceeded to recount everything Song Pu and Song Lingyun had said. When it came to Song Pu in particular, his tone became vividly animated, imitating him almost perfectly.
By the time he reached the latter half, Tantai Yi could not help coughing once, interrupting him. “…Continue.”
When the report was finished, Tantai Yi waved him away. If his mood earlier could be described as restless, it was now harder to define.
There was a trace of pleasure, yet also a trace of irritation. Pleasure because of Lord Song’s reaction. Irritation because of himself.
That Song Lingyun was certainly bold. On the surface he appeared as loyal as Duke Song himself, yet in private he dared to discuss the Emperor’s affairs without the slightest respect in his words.
His own Lord Song, on the other hand, even when not in his presence, remained sincere and guileless, the same inside and out.
“My Lord Song is pitiable and endearing. As expected, his heart is wholly sincere towards me, and he has never deceived me,” Tantai Yi murmured to himself.
As though he had thought of something, a faint flush rose upon his pale, translucent cheeks.
Lowering his head slightly, he saw the splendid sight beneath the steaming water of the bath. His golden eyes darkened, and he slowly closed them. Yet for some reason his mind was filled with the image of Lord Song’s fair, delicate, fragile hands, as though they might shatter with a single squeeze.
Tsk.
*
Song Pu had asked the dog emperor for clothing simply by following the same approach that modern fanboys use when chasing idols. It both expressed that he regarded the dog emperor as an idol and conveniently earned him a bit of favour.
Originally he had expected the dog emperor to give him an outer robe or something of the sort. If he could choose, he would even have picked Tantai Yi’s crimson brocade robe. It was restrained yet magnificent, almost like a work of art, and he rather coveted it.
Instead, the dog emperor had given him undergarments.
What was he supposed to do with that? Was he really meant to stare at someone else’s underwear every day and think longingly of them?
Song Pu first hung the two garments on a screen, but then felt that was not respectful enough. He folded them properly and placed them inside his bed. After a short while he began to feel uncomfortable again, got up, and locked them inside a cabinet.
He even added an extra large lock on the outside before feeling reassured.
Then he deliberately summoned Qingmei and told her, “Inside here is an important treasure bestowed upon me by His Majesty the Emperor. From now on you must keep watch over this cabinet for me. Don’t open it casually, understand?”
Qingmei hurriedly agreed, then asked curiously, “What did His Majesty give you, young master?”
Song Pu said with great solemnity, “The vast grace of the Emperor.”
Qingmei was immediately filled with awe. Since the young master put it that way, it must surely be something extraordinary. “Rest assured, young master. This servant will guard it carefully and will not let anyone touch it.”
Only then did Song Pu feel at ease.
He asked about Doufu, and Qingmei said, “Please wait, young master. I’ll bring him over.”
These days Doufu had been growing rapidly. He now weighed six jin. For a kitten that had not even reached adulthood yet, he was as plump as a little pig.
Song Pu simply could not restrain his affection. Taking Doufu into his arms, he planted several loud kisses on him. Doufu was especially docile and even returned a few kisses, making Song Pu laugh and exclaim, “My son is so well-behaved!”
Qingmei stood to the side staring in utter astonishment.
After playing with Doufu for a while, Song Pu washed up and went to bed.
The next day he entered the palace bright and energetic. As usual, he was the first to arrive. Upon seeing Tantai Yi, he delivered a fresh round of extravagant praise as usual.
Tantai Yi was in an excellent mood, visible delight written plainly across his face. His golden eyes shone with a scorching light as he looked at Song Pu. “Lord Song, are you satisfied with the gift I gave you?”
Song Pu said, “Anything bestowed by Your Majesty, even a stone, carries meaning and could be treasured for a lifetime. Moreover, everything Your Majesty bestows is a rare and unparalleled treasure, unique under heaven. This subject is overjoyed and will certainly study them carefully so as not to disappoint Your Majesty’s kindness.”
Tantai Yi’s smile faded slightly. He stared at Song Pu and then said gently, “I meant the request Lord Song made. Is Lord Song satisfied?”
Song Pu’s face flushed faintly. Speaking frankly, he said, “This subject had originally intended to ask Your Majesty for an outer robe. The jade belt and silver hook would also have carried certain meanings. I did not expect Your Majesty to bestow… that. This subject was quite alarmed.”
Tantai Yi said, “Why should Lord Song be alarmed? If you wanted my clothing, then of course garments worn close to the body are best. They carry my scent. When Lord Song sees them, he may think of me. What does Lord Song think?”
Even now, Tantai Yi still felt he had been most considerate.
Song Pu froze. After a moment he said, “Your Majesty… speaks with perfect reason. It was this subject who misunderstood.”
Tantai Yi coaxed him patiently. “Lord Song’s heart is fixed upon a single point, free of stray thoughts. What I give to Lord Song belongs to Lord Song. However Lord Song wishes to deal with it, I will not interfere.”
Song Pu felt somewhat bewildered, yet still bowed in thanks. “This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace.”
Tantai Yi reached out and took Song Pu’s hand. Song Pu looked up at him, puzzled. “Your Majesty?”
Tantai Yi lowered his gaze to those beautiful hands, white as jade, and smiled faintly. “Lord Song’s sincerity towards me has finally become clear.”
Song Pu stared at the hand holding his own and said, “If Your Majesty understands this subject’s heart, then even death would hold no regret for me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a chill crept up his spine. He could feel Tantai Yi lightly rubbing his fingers. The pressure was not strong, yet it made the hairs along his back stand on end.
Fortunately Tantai Yi held his hand only briefly before releasing it.
“Lord Song,” Tantai Yi said, “from tomorrow I will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and keep vigil for seven days.”
Song Pu was overjoyed inside. Seven days of holiday!!!
On the surface he looked utterly despondent. “Does that mean this subject will not see Your Majesty for seven whole days? Even a single day of leave feels like an eternity to this subject. Would seven days not be like seven years without seeing Your Majesty? But since Your Majesty must go to the Ancestral Temple, this subject cannot accompany you. Please go with peace of mind. This subject will eat well and sleep well, and do his best not to grow thin, waiting eagerly for Your Majesty’s return.”
This time he had learned his lesson. He absolutely would not give Tantai Yi the chance to say something like Come with me.
Hee hee.
Secretly delighted, he had already begun imagining his wonderful holiday.
Unexpectedly, Tantai Yi’s gentle voice sounded beside his ear. “Since Lord Song is so reluctant to part from me, then I shall apologise to my ancestors and postpone my visit to the Ancestral Temple for a few days. During these days Lord Song need not take leave either. Stay with me.”
Author’s Note:
Ah-Gou: A clingy little kitten, so doting.jpg
Ah-Pu: He turned a seven-day holiday into an extension and overtime! I hate it!
