But you frightened me half to death.
Song Pu’s voice sounded faint. “Your servant is deeply grateful.”
A faint curve appeared at the corner of Tantai Yi’s lips. “Come.”
Qingquan National Temple had been designated the imperial temple by the late emperor and was the largest temple in Yanjing. It attracted an enormous number of worshippers, including many princes and nobles.
Whenever the emperor intended to visit, the temple was informed in advance. The grounds would be cleared so that the sacred space remained undisturbed and no one would accidentally offend the emperor.
Thus, among those offering incense today, there were only Tantai Yi’s attendants and Prince Gong.
Prince Gong did not follow behind them. Instead he waited until Tantai Yi and the others had passed through the temple gates before slowly dressing himself and walking inside.
After whipping Prince Gong, Tantai Yi paid him no further attention.
The abbot of Qingquan Temple personally came out to receive the emperor and delivered a sermon. At such moments Tantai Yi appeared entirely serious. His expression grew solemn as he listened with apparent concentration.
Since even the emperor behaved this way, the others naturally adopted equally attentive expressions.
Fortunately, the abbot’s explanations of Buddhist verses and principles were plain and easy to understand, so Song Pu listened quite earnestly.
After the sermon, Tantai Yi requested incense and completed the ritual offering with practised familiarity.
Only then did Song Pu realise that Tantai Yi truly did believe in Buddhism.
Once everything concluded, the monks prepared meditation chambers for the guests to rest. Vegetarian meals were also arranged and delivered to their respective rooms.
Since Song Pu and Song Lingyun were brothers, their chambers were adjacent, and Song Pu ate together with Song Lingyun. While eating, he could not resist asking about Prince Gong.
Song Lingyun seemed reluctant to speak of him. He merely said, “Matters among adults are not for children to pry into. Do not ask.”
But Song Pu already knew the sort of person Prince Gong was, so he was not fooled. Lowering his voice until it was almost a breath, he asked, “Are Prince Gong and His Majesty not on good terms?”
Song Lingyun found his cautious manner rather amusing, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Seeing him smile but say nothing, Song Pu grew anxious. “Tell me. I won’t repeat it to anyone.”
Song Lingyun said, “What is there to say?”
“I’m curious,” Song Pu said. “Terribly curious.”
Song Lingyun finally replied, “Exactly what you saw. His Majesty dislikes Prince Gong.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all. If you truly intend to serve His Majesty wholeheartedly, then do not involve yourself with Prince Gong.”
Song Pu certainly would not for now. But the future was uncertain. After all, Prince Gong’s rebellion had succeeded in the end.
He lowered his voice again. “Are you close to Prince Gong?”
Song Lingyun frowned slightly. “I have done my best to avoid him. Since you serve at His Majesty’s side, it would not be convenient for me to befriend him.”
“I see.” Song Pu said no more. After all, he still feared that Tantai Yi might have him watched, so he was always careful in his speech.
Song Pu added, “He does look quite like His Majesty.”
If not for Prince Gong’s rounder peach-blossom eyes, though they were also light amber, he would look almost identical to Tantai Yi.
Both of them were handsome. One could see how excellent the imperial bloodline was.
Song Lingyun clearly did not wish to discuss Prince Gong further and simply continued eating in silence.
The vegetarian food at Qingquan Temple was excellent. Though it consisted mostly of greens, radishes, and tofu, it was prepared with remarkable flavour. Song Pu was normally someone who could not live without meat, yet he devoured the vegetarian dishes enthusiastically, eating four bowls of rice until his stomach was round.
Song Lingyun sat reading a Buddhist scripture. Song Pu glanced at it without interest and was about to return to his own chamber when someone knocked on the door.
Song Lingyun looked up as though he had expected it. “You go back first.”
Song Pu opened the door. Sure enough, it was Prince Gong. After the whipping he had lost a good deal of blood, and his complexion was somewhat pale, yet he still wore a gentle smile as though nothing had happened.
“Ah-Pu,” he said, “is your gege here?”
“Of course,” Song Pu replied. “Your Highness, please come in.”
He stepped aside and let Prince Gong enter, then withdrew and closed the door behind him.
Even outside, he could hear Prince Gong’s soft voice. The two brothers’ voices were somewhat similar, but Prince Gong’s unhurried tone flowed like a stream, effortlessly winning people over.
Song Pu did not linger to eavesdrop and simply returned to his own chamber. However, he had scarcely sat down before Cao Xi came again to summon him. Song Pu quickly drank a few mouthfuls of tea to moisten his throat before leaving with him.
“Does His Majesty often come to the temple to offer incense?” Song Pu asked suddenly.
Cao Xi replied, “His Majesty comes once every month.”
Song Pu said, “I never imagined His Majesty would be so devout in his worship of the Buddha.”
Cao Xi found it rather unbelievable when he thought of it. He had a vague guess about what might be going on, yet he dared not dwell on it. Thinking too much and knowing too much were both excellent ways to lose one’s head.
The two of them chatted idly for a while before arriving at the door of Tantai Yi’s meditation chamber. Cao Xi opened the door for him. When Song Pu stepped inside, he saw that Tantai Yi was also holding a Buddhist scripture and reading it.
Song Pu called softly, “Your Majesty.”
When Tantai Yi saw him, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “Lord Song, you’ve come.”
Song Pu said, “Your Majesty worships the Buddha with such devotion. Surely the countless Buddhas in heaven must hear Your Majesty’s prayers.”
Tantai Yi replied, “I have commissioned a golden statue of the Buddha and worship with such sincerity. I do not ask that all the Buddhas in heaven hear me. It is enough if the Buddha hears my request and grants my wish.”
Song Pu laughed lightly. “Your Majesty may rest assured. It certainly will happen.”
Still, he was genuinely surprised that Tantai Yi actually believed in Buddhism and practised its rituals. Buddhism emphasised compassion and discouraged killing. Tantai Yi possessed neither quality. Of course, Song Pu did not dare question it.
Tantai Yi set the scripture aside. “These past few days I have had several pleasant dreams. The Buddha must already have heard my request.”
As he spoke, the corner of his lips lifted, revealing a smile that seemed genuinely pleased.
Song Pu said, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. May your wishes come true.”
Tantai Yi smiled. “Lord Song, come and sit.”
Song Pu sat opposite him. Tantai Yi reached for the teapot to pour tea, which startled Song Pu so much that he hurriedly grabbed it first.
“How could I trouble Your Majesty?” he said. “Allow this subject to do it.”
He poured a cup of hot tea for Tantai Yi, then another for himself.
Tantai Yi lifted the teacup but merely looked down at it without drinking. “Lord Song, after seeing Prince Gong today, what thoughts did you have?”
Song Pu’s heart skipped a beat. “This subject had never seen Prince Gong before today. Having seen him now, I feel his appearance is inferior to Your Majesty’s, and even his stature is not as impressive. I truly cannot see in what way he could possibly compare with Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi laughed. “Everyone says I look like a wicked demon, while my didi is an upright gentleman, gentle as jade. Tell me, Lord Song, how can two brothers differ so greatly?”
Song Pu replied solemnly, “Your Majesty must never believe such rumours. The masses follow blindly, and their collective intelligence is often no better than that of the most foolish among them. When many people gather together, they easily become foolish. But in my humble opinion, Your Majesty surpasses Prince Gong countless times over. Your Majesty shines like the sun and moon, radiant and resplendent, whereas Prince Gong is at most only this much—”
He held up a fingernail.
“—a tiny glimmer like that of a firefly. How could he ever compare with Your Majesty?”
Tantai Yi said, “I do not listen to rumours. Anyone who spreads them has already been executed by me. Naturally I have never taken Prince Gong seriously. He is nothing more than a clown.”
Song Pu: “…”
Tantai Yi suddenly leaned closer. His golden eyes shone like the sun itself.
“Lord Song must not pity Prince Gong. I have noticed that you are rather fond of pleading on behalf of others. If you were to plead for Prince Gong today, I would be displeased.”
Song Pu’s shoulders trembled slightly. “How could this subject plead for him? Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, while Prince Gong is merely a subject. Yet he dares to address Your Majesty as ‘xiong zhang’. Such insolence alone deserves punishment. Your Majesty’s sentence of only twenty-five lashes is already exceedingly lenient.”
Tantai Yi continued, “Is your elder brother close with my younger brother?”
Song Pu hurriedly replied, “Your Majesty is wise. My elder brother just told me that Prince Gong has a gentle temperament and enjoys making friends. He therefore showed goodwill to my ge and wished to associate with him as an equal. My ge was unwilling. Since I already serve Your Majesty, he has done his utmost to avoid Prince Gong.”
Tantai Yi laughed. “Why is Lord Song so agitated? I naturally know that the Duke’s household is loyal to me. How could I possibly harbour even the slightest suspicion toward your elder brother?”
Song Pu: “…”
Those words only made him more uneasy.
Tantai Yi said, “Prince Gong jumps about restlessly, but he will never amount to anything.”
He looked Song Pu up and down. “Does Lord Song believe in the Buddha?”
Song Pu answered cautiously, “This subject naturally does.”
Tantai Yi said, “Buddhist teaching says that because all beings are equal in heart, one may attain perfect enlightenment. By following all beings with great compassion, one may serve the Tathāgata*. Everywhere it speaks of equality and compassion. Perhaps I have immersed myself too deeply in Buddhist doctrine, and thus developed a certain softness of heart.”
(*TN: The One Who Has Arrived; one of the titles of Buddha.)
Song Pu looked confused. “Forgive this subject’s dullness. I do not quite understand Your Majesty’s meaning.”
Tantai Yi said, “If I were the man I once was, Prince Gong would not still be alive today. I have grown too kind.”
Although he claimed not to care about Prince Gong, his expression suggested otherwise. Something had clearly come to mind, for his face grew rather unpleasant.
Song Pu sensed immediately that there was a story hidden there, and so he remained as quiet as a chicken, scarcely daring to breathe.
He also fervently hoped that Tantai Yi would not reveal anything. After the example of Shen Yonghe, Song Pu truly did not dare hear such matters. Knowing too much might easily erode the emperor’s goodwill towards him.
Fortunately, Tantai Yi said nothing more about Prince Gong.
He took a sip of tea and said, “There will be a ritual ceremony this afternoon. Only after it is finished can we return to the palace. I am terribly bored. Lord Song, can you play chess? Come, play a game with me.”
Song Pu paused awkwardly before replying, “This subject’s chess skills are poor. I fear I would spoil Your Majesty’s enjoyment.”
To his surprise, Tantai Yi’s golden eyes seemed to shine even brighter. “In that case, Lord Song and I will be evenly matched.”
Song Pu said helplessly, “How could Your Majesty possibly be evenly matched with me? Your Majesty excels in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Compared with Your Majesty, I am like a pair of straw sandals, utterly unpresentable.”
Tantai Yi waved his hand. “Lord Song must not be so modest. I believe in your abilities.”
Song Pu: “…”
He did not listen at all. Truly a thoroughly self-centred emperor.
Song Pu forced a bitter smile. “Your Majesty must not be too disappointed later.”
Tantai Yi instructed Cao Xi to bring a chessboard and pieces.
In truth, Song Pu was not merely bad at chess. He did not know how to play at all.
The game was weiqi*. Although weiqi also existed in modern times, the ancient rules differed somewhat from the modern version. Moreover, Song Pu had never learned it. He simply assumed the aim was to surround the opponent’s pieces.
(*TN: aka go, played with black and white pebbles on a chequered board.)
After only a short while, Tantai Yi sighed. “Lord Song truly is…”
He frowned slightly, apparently unsure how to finish the sentence.
Song Pu said awkwardly, “Your Majesty, this subject truly is poor at chess. Disappointing Your Majesty is entirely my fault.”
Tantai Yi relaxed his brows. “If you do not know how to play, then you may learn. If I defeat Lord Song in less than half a quarter hour each time, there would be little enjoyment in it.”
He seemed to make up his mind and continued, “I will find a renowned teacher to instruct Lord Song in chess. Once you have learned well, we shall play again.”
Song Pu: “…”
