Song Pu’s mind, unusually sharp for once, said, “So that means Prince Gong already knew we had come to Qingquan Temple today?”
Song Lingyun closed the box and replied, “Members of the imperial family always have one more layer of calculation than we do. The two of us are no match for them.”
Song Pu picked up the plate of pastries and began eating, mumbling through a mouthful, “In any case, as long as I don’t play games with Prince Gong, that’s good enough.”
When they arrived home, Song Pu returned to his own courtyard and took Doufu from the maid’s arms.
Doufu’s front paws had nearly recovered. It could already stand and run a few steps, though Song Pu was still rather nervous and did not quite dare let it roam freely on the ground.
Denglong, being a boy, was not as attentive as a girl might be. Song Pu had gone to plead with his mother to send Qingmei back to attend him, but she refused, saying Qingmei served her very comfortably. Instead she sent another maid over, a girl of only twelve or thirteen, with two small hair buns, a round little face, and an air of innocent cheerfulness.
Song Pu looked at the little maid, then at the young servant boy, and could not help feeling that his courtyard had become a guilty establishment employing child labour.
He could hardly order them about too harshly. Still, caring for a delicate little kitten was something the two of them could manage. Moreover, the maid Yin Qiao proved to be rather clever and attentive. Though young, she handled things carefully and thoughtfully, so Song Pu simply let matters be.
Doufu was very affectionate toward Song Pu. Whenever he was held in Song Pu’s arms, he would place both front paws on Song Pu’s slightly chubby cheeks and knead them as though nursing, keeping his claws carefully retracted so that he never scratched him.
Song Pu kissed the kitten on the forehead, and Doufu let out a coquettish little “meow”.
Song Pu laughed. “You’re a boy. Why do you sound so coquettish?”
Doufu meowed again, his eyes seeming almost flirtatious. It was ridiculously adorable.
Delighted, Song Pu played with him for a while longer before cuddling him to sleep for a pleasant nap.
Summers in ancient times were just as hot as those in the modern world. At times like this, Song Pu dearly wished he could strip off all those layers of clothing and walk about bare-chested.
However, if Denglong happened to see him like that, he would inevitably be scolded. Song Pu, impatient with such fuss, simply stripped naked inside his own room, put on a modified pair of loose shorts, and lay on the bed to cool himself.
When Tantai Yi said that Zhao Shi, Song Jian, and Song Wanyu would be confined for a month, it turned out to be exactly a month, not a single day more or less. They were released precisely on the final day.
The ordeal of a month in the dark prison was evidently far more brutal than outsiders could imagine. When Zhao Shi returned she had gone mad, and Song Wanyu was also deranged and witless. Song Jian was in somewhat better condition, though he seemed terribly frightened of people and constantly muttered nonsense, clearly having suffered a severe shock.
Such punishment was far crueller than simple execution. It destroyed the rest of a person’s life.
Song Wanyu was only twelve years old, yet it seemed unlikely she would ever find a husband. Her life was truly ruined.
After hearing Denglong’s report, Song Pu found himself overcome by an indescribably complex feeling. There was no sense of satisfaction in his heart. Instead it felt heavy.
Denglong asked, “Young Master, would you like to visit the Second Household to see them?”
Song Pu hesitated, then said, “No. Just pick out a few gifts for me and send them over.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than he changed his mind.
“Forget it. Second Uncle probably doesn’t want to see me right now.”
In truth, his second uncle might not care very much about Zhao Shi’s madness. He had many women, but only Song Wanyu and Song Jian were his legitimate children. Their status had been far more respectable, making it easier to arrange marriages and alliances. Now both were ruined, and he likely hated Song Pu intensely.
As it turned out, his guess was correct.
That very day Song Zhiming came to confront him. He did not dare vent his anger on the emperor, so he took it out on Song Pu instead. Yet the current master of the Duke’s residence was Song Jingrong, Song Pu’s own father, and above him stood an extremely protective elder brother as well. Together they quickly drove Song Zhiming away.
In fact, because he continued causing trouble, Old Master Song eventually lost his temper and ordered Song Zhiming confined for a month.
Thus, after a full month, the entire farce finally came to an end.
When Song Pu next went to the palace, he once again baked some bread for Tantai Yi. By now, however, Tantai Yi had grown rather picky and was clearly tired of it.
“Lord Song need not trouble himself to prepare these things for me in future,” he said. “It is pleasant to try something new, but once eaten too often, it becomes tiresome.”
He did not want to eat it, and Song Pu had no desire to make it either. Baking took time, and in this hot weather he would much rather sleep a little longer than rise early just to make fresh bread for Tantai Yi.
Hearing this, Song Pu was secretly delighted, though he carefully allowed a trace of regret to appear on his face.
“These dishes were all created with my own effort, filled with my sincere devotion to Your Majesty. Now that Your Majesty has grown weary of them, I hardly know what to do. It seems I shall have no further opportunity to put my talents to use.”
Tantai Yi replied, “Why speak so? I am still waiting for Lord Song to continue telling me ‘Battle Through the Heavens’. If it were not for your clever tongue, I would never have touched such vulgar storybooks. Yet it seems even such tales may conceal a hidden pearl. If I ever find the author, I will certainly reward him generously.”
It was clear he was extremely pleased with the story. One might even say he was fascinated by it.
Song Pu gradually realised that Tantai Yi had a particular fondness for such over-the-top adventure novels. These days he no longer visited the training ground. Instead he summoned Song Pu to tell stories. Sometimes Xie Nuoyu and the others even joined in, listening with rapt attention, afraid to miss a single word.
This inevitably made Song Pu feel a little inflated with pride, though he did not show it openly.
He talked until his throat was dry. At one point Tantai Yi even handed him a cup of tea. Song Pu did not think much of it at the time, but after finishing the tea he suddenly realised he had drunk all of Tantai Yi’s.
Yet Tantai Yi had not noticed. His golden eyes gleamed brightly as he urged, “Lord Song, continue!”
Feeling guilty, Song Pu quietly set the empty cup back down and continued chattering away.
Only when dusk approached did Tantai Yi say reluctantly, “How has the time passed so quickly?”
Song Pu’s voice had grown hoarse. “This subject will continue tomorrow.”
Tantai Yi noticed the hoarseness as well. After thinking for a moment, he ordered Cao Xi to have the imperial kitchen prepare a sweet soup.
Then he turned to Song Pu and said, “Lord Song may return a little later. I would like to speak with you for a while longer.”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted lightly toward Li Zongyi and the others. They were not fools and immediately took the hint, asking permission to withdraw.
“Go,” Tantai Yi said.
Once they had left, Tantai Yi looked at Song Pu and smiled. “Lord Song may dine in the palace tonight.”
It was not the first time. Song Pu replied smoothly, “This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace.”
Tantai Yi reached for his teacup, only to find it empty. “I have scarcely taken a few sips. How is it already gone?”
He frowned in irritation and glared at the young eunuch standing nearby.
The eunuch hurried forward in fright. “This servant will pour more for Your Majesty.”
“So inattentive,” Tantai Yi said coldly. “Yet you serve at my side. Go to the Office of Discipline and receive punishment. Do not come again tomorrow.”
Song Pu immediately interjected, “Your Majesty, the tea… I drank it. I was terribly thirsty and did not notice. It was entirely my fault. Please calm your anger.”
Tantai Yi had just been furious with the eunuch, yet his tone softened slightly toward Song Pu. “Lord Song is quite bold, daring to drink my tea.”
Though he said this, there was no real anger in his voice.
Song Pu inwardly complained: You were the one who handed it to me, and now you have forgotten completely.
Naturally he dared not say such things aloud.
Instead he replied respectfully, “This subject was so intent on recounting that splendid story in full detail to please Your Majesty that I did not even realise I had drunk Your Majesty’s tea. No wonder it tasted especially sweet. It turns out it carried Your Majesty’s grace. If Your Majesty is displeased, the fault is entirely mine. Please do not blame the servants. They have served Your Majesty for a long time and are familiar with your needs. If they are replaced too easily, new attendants may not adapt quickly and might offend Your Majesty again, creating endless trouble. It would be better to grant them another chance.”
Tantai Yi gazed at him with those golden eyes. “Lord Song is truly kind-hearted, pleading even for a servant.”
Song Pu swallowed. “It was indeed my mistake. If Your Majesty wishes to punish someone, then punish me instead.”
Tantai Yi feigned anger. “Does Lord Song think I would not dare punish you?”
Song Pu shamelessly displayed a flattering smile. “Your Majesty is benevolent. I have already benefited from Your Majesty’s grace and favour beyond measure. If Your Majesty were to punish me, it would merely remind me to remain humble and not grow arrogant from favour. For me it would be a useful lesson.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he feared Tantai Yi might truly decide to beat him. He quickly added, “Why not punish me by requiring that I tell Your Majesty a few more storybooks in the future? I know several more that are just as exciting as ‘Battle Through the Heavens’. They will certainly please Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi said, “What sort of punishment is that?”
Song Pu replied, “This subject would willingly wear out this voice if it could bring a smile to Your Majesty’s face. Yet I also wish to serve by Your Majesty’s side for many years to come. This voice of mine will be useful in many ways, so for me it truly counts as a form of training. What does Your Majesty think?”
In truth, Tantai Yi had already been persuaded. He had even begun to recall that he himself had handed the tea to Song Pu. Yet hearing such smooth flattery delivered with apparent sincerity made him feel quite pleased. He did not mention remembering the truth, simply allowing Song Pu’s explanation to stand.
Thus the young eunuch escaped punishment. He cast Song Pu a grateful glance before lowering his head again.
In that brief glance Song Pu noticed the boy looked extremely young, with a round babyish face. He could not have been more than fifteen or sixteen.
Soon Cao Xi arrived with a bowl of sweet soup made from snow pear, white fungus, and goji berries, sweetened with honey. It was soothing for the throat.
Song Pu took a careful sip. It was still rather hot. He blew gently across the surface, but sensed that Tantai Yi was watching him intently.
Looking up, Song Pu offered a docile smile.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s reward. The sweet soup Your Majesty has bestowed is wonderfully sweet, far better than any I have tasted in my seventeen years. This subject is deeply delighted and only hopes to serve Your Majesty even more diligently in future, so that Your Majesty may smile as you do today.”
Tantai Yi looked at him and said calmly,
“Since Lord Song has drunk my tea, I shall drink the sweet soup in Lord Song’s hand.”
