Tantai Yi’s words carried another signal: their relationship was evidently so intimate that Song Pu had dared to reach out and touch the Emperor’s body.
Song Pu received the signal and was naturally taken aback. “Your Majesty, no! How could I possibly touch Your Majesty’s body?”
Tantai Yi replied, “Why not?”
Yet inwardly he thought, When Lord Song was drunk, he didn’t just touch me. He even tasted my favours!
The memory made his throat dry, his voice low and hoarse. “I’ve held Lord Song’s hand several times… how can I touch him when he dares not touch me?”
Song Pu’s pale cheeks tinged with a faint blush, the bright light only emphasising his shyness. “That isn’t the same. Your Majesty is Your Majesty, and I am I. I dare not overstep my bounds.”
Tantai Yi, however, felt a flicker of irritation. “Lord Song, I told you to touch me. So touch me! Why all the talk?”
Reluctantly, Song Pu reached out, only to pull back just before touching Tantai Yi’s beautifully firm muscles. Tantai Yi sat down beside him instead, grasping his wrist and placing it against his stomach. “How is it?”
Song Pu was bewildered. First Tantai Yi had insisted he stay the night; now he was being asked to feel his muscles. And hearing Tantai Yi’s usually soft and elegant voice turn deep and husky, his hot breath brushing against Song Pu’s ear…
A shiver ran down Song Pu’s spine; his heart beat faster. He swallowed, his long eyelashes trembling with a hint of panic. “…Very good.”
Tantai Yi, seeing such a simple response, felt a spark of dissatisfaction. “Lord Song, feel it properly.”
When drunk, Song Pu had babbled incoherently, yet had been fascinated by Tantai Yi’s body, touching and praising him without restraint. Now sober, he was so restrained that his only compliment was a single “Very good”?
It was almost insulting!
Song Pu followed instructions, carefully formulating his next words with a tone of surprise. “I wonder how Your Majesty developed such a physique! Your abs… they are simply the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! Perfectly arranged, neither too deep nor too shallow—neither the coiled bulk of a warrior nor the feeble thinness of a scholar. Wild yet powerful. Any woman seeing them would be captivated, wishing she could immediately bear Your Majesty a harem of dragon princes and princesses. Heavens! Your Majesty even has V-lines! Truly irresistible… Even men would surely succumb to Your Majesty’s charm!”
Dog Emperor… satisfied now, Dog Emperor?
Song Pu couldn’t help the thought; Tantai Yi’s antics made it impossible to stop the mental nickname.
A chuckle escaped Tantai Yi’s throat. His hand, still holding Song Pu’s wrist, drifted downward, squeezing it again. “Lord Song said even men would succumb to me. And you, Lord Song?”
What’s this? Trying to turn me gay?
Song Pu finally understood the chill he’d felt earlier running down his spine. It was this strange, unnerving sensation.
But history was full of examples of rulers and ministers sleeping side by side. Even in modern times, a straight man being flirted with need not imply anything. He ignored the feeling and sincerely said, “Your subject naturally feels the same way.”
Tantai Yi sighed regretfully. “It’s a pity Lord Song isn’t a woman. Were you, I would let you bear my child.”
Song Pu: “…”
He really dares to imagine.
Tantai Yi’s golden eyes glimmered. “Lord Song, are you perhaps wondering why I have no concubines in the palace?”
Song Pu, exhausted from today’s ordeal, back pain still throbbing, and longing for sleep, wasn’t fully focused. Absentmindedly, he said, “I am… curious.”
The moment the words left his lips, he realised and wished he could stitch his mouth shut. He had forgotten Shen Yonghe’s warning!
Before he could retract them, Tantai Yi continued, “Because I feel those women are unworthy to stand beside me, I do not wish to take a consort.”
Song Pu exhaled slightly. Thankfully, it wasn’t a dangerous secret. He forced a smile and bluffed, “Your Majesty’s thoughts are sensible. I think the same. If a woman isn’t exceptionally beautiful, I won’t marry her. I fear Your Majesty would laugh at me for being shallow and judging by appearances.”
The words pleased Tantai Yi subtly. He wanted to suggest taking Lord Song as a male consort but restrained himself.
As Emperor, he had all he could want; there was no reason to lower himself to ask. Speaking first would place him beneath Lord Song. Since Lord Song admired him so, he would allow him the first word.
He smiled faintly. “It seems, Lord Song, our interests align.”
Song Pu stifled a yawn. “Your Majesty, it’s late. Shall we rest?”
Tantai Yi nodded. Song Pu pulled up the covers, tucking them over Tantai Yi’s well-defined abs. “Your Majesty, cover yourself properly, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Tantai Yi lay down, seeing Song Pu’s care, a small smile curling his lips. “And you, Lord Song, don’t catch cold either.”
Song Pu smiled back. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I’m still recovering from a cold, so I’ll be careful.”
He stepped over Tantai Yi, blew out the candle, returned to bed, and nestled in. His exhausted nerves relaxed; within a few breaths, he slept deeply.
Tantai Yi asked, “Lord Song, are you asleep?”
No reply came; he knew the other was fast asleep. Closing his eyes, he drifted off amidst Lord Song’s unique fragrance.
The next morning, Song Pu awoke. The sun was high, Tantai Yi gone. He hoarsely called, “Denglong!”
Denglong ran over. “Young Master?”
Song Pu cleared his throat. “When did His Majesty leave?”
Denglong replied, “At dawn, Young Master. Before leaving, His Majesty instructed me to take good care of you!”
She paused, eyes lighting up. “Young Master, you don’t know. The manor’s in chaos! His Majesty had barely left when Golden Armour Guards arrived and took the Second Madam, Young Master, and Miss! The Second Master begged the Old Master for help, and the Old Master gave him a good scolding.”
Song Pu relaxed; Tantai Yi had kept his word.
He didn’t think Tantai Yi would truly harm them; any torment was bearable. If they treated him like Doufu and abused him, then such abuse coming back at them was hardly unjust.
Chang Jiangming and Xie Nuoyu also visited, bringing gifts. The three fell silent, until Chang Jiangming spoke first. “Ah-Pu, it’s my fault again.”
Song Pu didn’t blame him entirely, but he sensed Chang Jiangming’s peculiar influence. How could he repeatedly lead him astray?
Suppressing thoughts, he smiled. “How could it be you? I was greedy and arrogant. Looking back, this punishment is fair. I won’t get drunk again.”
Chang Jiangming scratched his face. “Even if you try, I’ll stop you.”
Xie Nuoyu said, “And no more brothels. Seeking pleasure leads to trouble; didn’t expect it to lead to this punishment.”
Only then did Song Pu realise: Tantai Yi should have been observing the seven-day vigil at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Why had he suddenly come to the Song residence that night?
A chill ran down his spine. The dog emperor knew.
Yet Song Pu wasn’t surprised. Emperors are suspicious by nature. Tantai Yi was first an emperor, then a boy. Believing everything he said would be foolish; even a rebellious teen could be cunning.
Monitoring his every move made perfect sense.
Earlier gratitude for Tantai Yi’s intervention faded.
The day to meet Song Lingyun arrived, and Song Pu still wrestled with his thoughts. Had Tantai Yi been watching constantly? Had he overheard Song Lingyun? Or had he come last night, already aware, to subtly warn him?
The more Song Pu thought, the more it seemed so. Could he risk deceiving the emperor?
Song Lingyun, unaware of Song Pu’s turmoil, softly asked, “Ah-Pu, what have you decided?”
Song Pu didn’t answer immediately.
Hope in Song Lingyun’s eyes dimmed. “…But what did His Majesty say to you?”
“Nothing,” he said with difficulty.
Song Lingyun knew the tyrant had stayed in his brother’s courtyard, and that there had been no disturbance, only a shared bed. He knew the emperor’s treacherous intentions and was disgusted. Seeing Song Pu’s shift from curiosity to awkward silence, his fury flared.
Suppressing it, he asked, “Ah-Pu, are you really not going?”
Song Pu lowered his gaze. “Ge, Song Wanyu and Song Jian tormented my Doufu. His Majesty helped me vent my anger. He treats me… sincerely in return. I cannot leave.”
Song Lingyun’s eyes turned bloodshot. “And me? I plan for your future, only needing your agreement. I’ll bring you back to wealth and honour. I’ll give you anything. Ah-Pu, I only want you well. Why won’t you listen?!”
