Ten days passed before Tantai Yi finally went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
Song Pu had spent ten consecutive days attending at Tantai Yi’s side and was utterly worn out, but the thought of seven days’ holiday was enough to lift his spirits.
The peach blossom wine Chang Jiangming had sent over was mellow and smooth, carrying the faint fragrance of peach blossoms and a touch of sweetness. It had quickly become Song Pu’s favourite drink. The strength was mild as well, so there was little fear of becoming drunk.
After drinking a little to warm his stomach, he went off to cuddle Doufu.
When Madam Song arrived, she saw him in precisely this state of carefree idleness.
Seeing his mother, Song Pu obediently called out, “Mother.”
Madam Song smiled, then coughed lightly and said, “You’re already this grown, yet you spend your days happily playing with a cat. Have you given no thought to what you will do in future?”
Song Pu looked somewhat dispirited. “Mother, what are you getting at?”
Madam Song was thirty-seven this year, but she took excellent care of herself and looked little more than twenty. She was strikingly youthful and beautiful. As the mistress of the household, however, her dress and cosmetics were dignified and mature, lending her a certain authority. Yet in front of her son that authority vanished entirely.
A worried look appeared on her face. “You are already seventeen. It is time you settled down. But… there is no suitable girl at present, and I do not know when that will change.”
Song Pu understood her meaning well.
In the past, the ladies who visited the Duke’s residence had all more or less hinted at matches for the Song brothers. Yet ever since Song Pu entered the palace, his prospects had declined considerably. The dog emperor’s reputation was truly dreadful, and serving at his side was practically a high-risk profession.
Prestigious families no longer raised the matter of marriage alliances. Instead, small households came swarming forward. But the Duke’s residence was no ordinary place, and Song Pu was the legitimate son. No matter how modest his wife’s background, her family could not fall below the fifth rank.
Thus his marriage remained unsettled.
Song Pu had always been resistant to the idea of early marriage in the ancient world. The chaos within his own family had also left him with little expectation of marriage, and even a faint fear of it. His father had never pressed him, and he had happily enjoyed his freedom.
He had not expected to face the same problem here.
Song Lingyun already had a fiancée, though she had not yet married into the family. She was still observing mourning rites and would have to wait another two years before the wedding could take place.
As for Song Pu, Madam Song had long been worrying about him. She was still lamenting the missed opportunity from the previous year.
“At the time, He Runshu from the Minister’s household took a liking to you at first sight. But you insisted on focusing on your studies, saying women would only hinder your examinations. Now look at the result. You did not pass the examinations, and He Runshu has already married. I hear she manages her husband’s household admirably. Such a virtuous wife, and she has been wasted on someone else.”
“If things had worked out back then, I would already be holding a grandson today!”
Song Pu picked up Doufu and held him out towards her. “Mother, this is your grandson. His name is Doufu. Come and hold him.”
“Nonsense! Who in this world treats a cat as their grandson?” Madam Song glared at him.
Song Pu grinned. “Doufu is my precious son, so naturally he’s your grandson as well. Mother, won’t you hold him?”
“No.”
Doufu cleverly stretched out both paws towards her and began mewing in a sweet, coaxing voice.
Seeing Madam Song’s expression soften, Song Pu stepped forward and placed Doufu directly into her arms.
Doufu showed no fear of strangers. Nestled in Madam Song’s embrace, he continued his sweet mewling and began kneading gently with his soft little paws.
Madam Song was instantly defeated.
She stroked Doufu and said, “The cat His Majesty gave you really is as lovely as jade and snow. How old is it now?”
“Almost four months,” Song Pu replied. “A little boy.”
Madam Song gazed at him affectionately, clearly reluctant to put him down. “What a handsome creature. Look at those eyes. Two different colours. I’ve never seen such a beautiful kitten.”
Song Pu said, “Since Mother likes him, shall I let Doufu stay in your courtyard for a few days?”
Madam Song said, “No, I’m far too busy. How would I have time to watch him?”
“Doufu mostly sleeps,” Song Pu said. “If you give him a soft little bed he’ll be perfectly content. Qingmei can deliver his food, so you won’t have to trouble yourself. What do you think?”
The soft little creature had already stolen Madam Song’s heart. She had quite forgotten her lecture about Song Pu’s marriage.
Hearing this, she half-reluctantly agreed. “Very well. I’ll take Doufu back with me for a few days and send him back later.”
Song Pu naturally agreed.
He had seven whole days of holiday. He intended to go roaming about with Chang Jiangming and Xie Nuoyu. There was no chance he would stay shut up at home the entire time.
When Doufu had first arrived at the Duke’s residence, everyone in the household had come to see him, and Madam Song had taken a liking to him then. With Doufu staying in her courtyard, no matter how long Song Pu stayed out enjoying himself she would not nag him.
A perfect arrangement.
After seeing his mother off, Song Pu stretched lazily, changed into another set of clothes, gathered some spending money, and set out with a servant.
When he arrived at the meeting place he had arranged with Chang Jiangming and the others, he found that only Chang Jiangming had come. Xie Nuoyu was nowhere to be seen.
Chang Jiangming said, “We’ll have to wait a bit. Nuoyu’s father is strict. He’s testing his studies. He’s hoping Nuoyu will pass the provincial examination this autumn and become a juren*. If he gains an official degree, His Majesty will surely have no reason to keep him in the palace.”
(*TN: a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level)
Song Pu silently scoffed.
As if the dog emperor cared whether you had an examination degree or not.
From what he knew of that tyrant, even if Xie Nuoyu did obtain a degree and enter officialdom, he might not escape his fate as imperial company. That man hardly cared about “reason” and rarely did things the ordinary way. Relying on that to break free was probably wishful thinking.
While his thoughts wandered, Chang Jiangming suddenly asked, “Ah-Pu, are you still planning to sit the examinations? If you want to continue, Nuoyu can tutor you. You haven’t touched a book for months, have you?”
Song Pu jerked upright and immediately waved both hands. “No. Can’t. Don’t want to.”
Chang Jiangming blinked. “You really aren’t studying any more?”
Recalling the terror of classical Chinese reading comprehension, Song Pu’s eyes nearly filled with tears. “I… I really am not cut out for studying. Let’s just forget it.”
Chang Jiangming nodded sympathetically. “True enough. You’re already seventeen and haven’t even passed the xiucai* examination. Perhaps you really don’t have the talent.”
(*TN: one who passed the imperial examination at the county level.)
Song Pu agreed at once. “I think my true talent lies in eating, drinking and enjoying life.”
Chang Jiangming grinned and lowered his voice. “Did you read the storybooks and illustrated albums I lent you?”
Song Pu coughed and looked up at the sky. “…They were all right.”
The erotic literature of ancient times held little appeal for him. The novels were filled with florid, lewd phrasing and endless poetry, exhausting to read. As for the erotic paintings, they rivalled abstract art. Looking at them left his heart as calm as still water, as though he might achieve enlightenment on the spot.
Chang Jiangming said proudly, “Those are part of my personal collection. I knew you’d like them. I’ll lend you some more. Just remember to return them.”
Song Pu looked at him with pity. “Please don’t. If I read any more, I’ll become a monk.”
Chang Jiangming did not understand the meaning of that look. He was still surprised by the refusal when Xie Nuoyu finally appeared.
He wore a bright brocade robe today. Since he had not yet reached the age of twenty, his dark hair hung loose, tied only into a small knot behind his head. As he approached them he even bounced lightly once, brimming with youthful energy.
Realising that was perhaps not very dignified, he quickly composed himself and resumed walking at a measured pace.
“Today I thought I’d take you both to the horse grounds,” he said. “If you have other ideas, feel free to say so.”
Chang Jiangming’s face flushed slightly. “I want to visit a pleasure house.”
Xie Nuoyu froze for a moment. His eyes flickered with interest. “I… I’ve never been before. If my father finds out he’ll certainly scold me.”
“We’ll go secretly,” Chang Jiangming said. “Only the three of us will know. If you don’t tell and I don’t tell, your father will never hear of it.”
Xie Nuoyu immediately gave in.
“Very well. Let’s go and have a look. But I don’t have much money with me, so don’t go ordering too many girls. I’m afraid I won’t be able to afford it.”
Chang Jiangming puffed up proudly. “I have money! My mother gave me twenty taels of silver. That’s enough to hire ten girls!”
Then he turned to Song Pu and grinned. “Ah-Pu probably hasn’t been to a pleasure house before. I’ll treat you.”
Song Pu hesitated. “What do people do at a pleasure house?”
“To broaden one’s horizons, of course,” Chang Jiangming said. “Don’t you want to go?”
Seeing his hesitation, Chang Jiangming leaned closer and whispered, “We’re only going to look around. Nothing else. Don’t worry. We hardly ever get the chance to chat with girls. It’ll be fun to talk with them there.”
Hearing that, Song Pu finally relaxed.
He had been worried his friends might be seasoned patrons who intended to sleep with the courtesans. In that case he would feel terribly out of place. Although he had no desire to marry early, he still thought of himself as someone responsible. If he did have a wife in future, he hoped to treat her properly and not anger her by fooling around.
But simply going to look was harmless enough.
The plan decided, the three of them immediately set off for the largest pleasure house in Yanjing, Zuichun Pavilion.
Beautiful women from all over Liang gathered there. There were even foreign women with golden hair and blue eyes. Because the establishment offered such refined and high-class service, the three soon discovered that even pooling all their money together could only afford an hour of wine-drinking companionship with a second-rank courtesan.
Still, it was enough for a meal.
Chang Jiangming chatted animatedly with the pretty courtesan. Song Pu, meanwhile, devoted himself entirely to the food and began drinking Zuichun Pavilion’s wine.
Seeing him drink it as though it were water, the courtesan gently warned him.
“This is the strongest wine in the house. Most people are drunk after only a few cups. Young master should drink more slowly.”
Song Pu raised his eyes and snorted.
“My tolerance is excellent. One cup won’t make me drunk. Bring me another pot. I can drink two. No, three!”
Naturally, even in ancient times courtesans received a commission on wine sales. Hearing this, the courtesan immediately signalled to a maid. Before long three wine jars were placed on the table.
Seeing them arrive, Song Pu nearly choked.
He was just about to decline when Chang Jiangming clapped happily. “Ah-Pu, you can drink that much? Let’s see if you can finish all three jars. If you do, I’ll pay! I’ve got money, haha!”
Song Pu’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t lie to you!”
Song Pu rolled up his sleeves. “Just wait and see. How strong could this wine possibly be? I’ve drunk laobaigan* before. I refuse to believe I can’t handle this!”
(*TN: a type of Chinese baijiu/ spirit)
The courtesan smiled and added, “This wine is called ‘One Cup Down’. Young master truly has an impressive tolerance. You’ve already drunk two cups and you’re not even tipsy.”
Song Pu lifted his chin proudly. In truth his pale face was already faintly flushed. “This is nothing. I won’t hide it from you. I have a nickname. ‘A Thousand Cups Without Getting Drunk!’”
With that, he tipped his head back and began drinking straight from the jar.
Chang Jiangming applauded enthusiastically, while the perceptive courtesan quietly placed yet another jar within his reach.
While their table was lively and noisy, far away at the Imperial Ancestral Temple Tantai Yi received the report.
And crushed the cup in his hand.
Author’s Note:
Ah-Pu, cherish your time now.
