Song Pu and Tantai Yi exchanged a round of mutual flattery before returning to their cups.
The strength of Chun Ri Zui was indeed fiercer than ordinary wine, though still somewhat inferior to modern baijiu. Song Pu had honed his drinking capacity through countless bouts back in university and could hold his liquor well enough, yet Tantai Yi was no less capable. After another round of pressing drinks upon him, Song Pu was the first to give way, slumping onto the table.
A faint flush rose on Tantai Yi’s face, though his gaze remained clear. “Is Lord Song drunk?”
Song Pu mumbled, “This minister is not drunk. This minister should still be able to drink.”
Tantai Yi smiled slightly. “In that case, Cao Xi, continue pouring for Lord Song. Today, we shall not stop until we are thoroughly drunk.”
Song Pu forced himself upright, then suddenly let out an undignified hiccup. He covered his mouth, his slightly rounded eyes narrowing. Though his expression was hidden, Tantai Yi knew he was smiling in embarrassment.
Lord Song was so guileless. Clearly, he was not yet truly drunk.
After another four or five cups, Song Pu collapsed with a thud, his arm sweeping several dishes and cups from the table.
Tantai Yi set down his cup and let out a hot breath, a trace of satisfaction curling at his lips. He cast Cao Xi a glance. Cao Xi wiped the cold sweat from his brow and said, “This servant takes his leave.”
Though he had yet to fully grasp the emperor’s intentions, half a year of service had taught him to read a few meanings in Tantai Yi’s looks.
Only after Cao Xi and the other eunuchs had withdrawn did Tantai Yi rise and sit beside Song Pu.
“Is Lord Song drunk?” Tantai Yi had drunk quite a bit himself; even his breath was warm.
“This minister… is not drunk. This minister can still drink,” Song Pu muttered, his face buried in his arms, his words slurred.
“If you are not drunk, then I shall accompany Lord Song for a few more cups,” Tantai Yi said.
Song Pu gave no reply.
Tantai Yi wrapped an arm around his shoulders from behind, his hand slowly sliding to his chest. “Lord Song, get up. If you are drunk, I shall send you back to your room to rest.”
Song Pu struggled upright. His face was suffused with wine-flush, his lips red as blossoms. “This minister is not drunk. This minister can walk on his own.”
As he spoke, he truly rose and staggered a few steps, nearly falling before Tantai Yi caught him.
“It seems Lord Song truly is drunk. In that case, do not force yourself. Let me take you back,” Tantai Yi said, his tone softening.
Song Pu muttered, “Then… I shall trouble Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi was strong enough to carry him in one arm, let alone support him, and it did not take long before he had brought Song Pu back to his room.
No sooner had he settled Song Pu down than he abruptly asked, “Since Lord Song is drunk, why do you not address me with a disrespectful term?”
Song Pu stared at him blankly, his alcohol-laced eyes dazed and unfocused. “What does Your Majesty mean?”
Tantai Yi laughed. “I simply find that Lord Song appears more sincere when drunk, and wished to see it again. Lord Song truly dares to grow drunk before me. It seems you have no reservations at all.”
Song Pu fell silent.
“Does Lord Song have anything he wishes to say to me? Something he has never said before. Now that you are drunk, you may speak freely.”
Song Pu said timidly, “If I say it, Your Majesty will be angered. This minister cannot speak.”
“I too am drunk. I shall not be angered. Speak without fear.”
Song Pu covered his mouth and shook his head. “I truly cannot. If I say it… I shall have my head cut off.”
Tantai Yi narrowed his clear golden eyes and fixed him with a steady gaze, a smile still lingering at his lips. “I bear Lord Song sincere affection, and Lord Song returns it. We are of one heart and one mind, open and honest with each other. How could I punish Lord Song over drunken words? Or does Lord Song doubt my sincerity?”
By the end, his tone had softened into coaxing.
Song Pu seemed to be lulled by him, his gaze turning hazy. “Your Majesty… Your Majesty’s kindness to this minister is something I have always remembered. As the saying goes, even a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring in return. Your Majesty’s favour… this minister may never repay it in this lifetime…”
He mumbled on, spilling out praise. Tantai Yi, long accustomed to such words, found them tiresome. “Lord Madam Songst have something yet unsaid, something you wish to tell me?”
“Something unsaid?” Song Pu repeated blankly.
Tantai Yi lightly pinched his chin, his gaze lowering to those reddened lips, glistening faintly with moisture. For some reason, an inexplicable itch stirred within him. His fingers moved upward, gently rubbing Song Pu’s full lower lip. The softness caused his gaze to darken slightly.
“What you keep hidden in your heart, what you have never told me, what you fear would anger me. Now that I am drunk and may not remember tomorrow, does Lord Song not wish to speak a word or two?”
Song Pu fell silent, his lashes trembling faintly as though deep in thought.
Tantai Yi’s mind, however, began to wander. His fingers continued to toy with Song Pu’s lips, sliding without restraint into the corner of his mouth, touching the soft, damp interior.
Song Pu’s lips were soon tugged slightly out of shape, moisture gathering in his eyes. “Your Majesty, more gently. This minister… it hurts.”
Tantai Yi’s thoughts returned, though he said, “How can Lord Song be so delicate? Such a little thing and it already hurts?”
“It does hurt. Your Majesty should be gentler.”
Yet Tantai Yi did not release him. “If Lord Song wishes me to let go, then speak what you have been hiding. Otherwise, I shall not.”
His fingers pressed further in. Song Pu clenched his teeth, puffing his cheeks to trap them, which drew a laugh from Tantai Yi. “Speak properly, and I shall not go further. What do you say?”
Only then did Song Pu loosen his mouth and mumble, “Your Majesty… always bullies this minister. The other day, when we shared a bed, it was Your Majesty’s poor sleeping habits. You crept into this minister’s bedding, yet upon waking, you still scolded me.”
Tantai Yi’s smile dimmed slightly. He coughed lightly. “So, Lord Song apologises outwardly, yet harbours resentment within.”
“This minister… only felt wronged,” Song Pu muttered. “I slept properly, for fear of offending Your Majesty, yet Your Majesty caused all my efforts to come to nothing. This minister is only human and feels aggrieved. I ask for Your Majesty’s understanding.”
Though drunk, his speech remained fairly clear, albeit softened and slightly sticky, lending him an air of guileless softness. Tantai Yi looked at him intently. “Is Lord Song truly drunk?”
“This minister is not drunk.”
Tantai Yi smiled again, his golden eyes bright in the candlelight. “I think Lord Song is quite drunk. Two jars are enough to leave you senseless.”
He leaned close, murmuring by his ear, “Does Lord Song have anything else yet unsaid?”
Song Pu made a show of thinking hard. “How could Your Majesty say before so many people that this minister… cannot? Though I am a man, how would I dare display such a base state before Your Majesty? I regard Your Majesty as divine. How could I dare offend? This minister… truly feels wronged.”
Tantai Yi was very close to him, filled with the warm, living fragrance of his skin. It was not the scent of applied perfume, but something faint and natural, as though it came from within.
The first time he had him review memorials, Tantai Yi had noticed this scent. He liked it, yet could not match it to any known fragrance.
It could only be Lord Song’s own natural scent.
A man, yet so delicate, so soft and fragrant. Truly unheard of.
“So, away from me, Lord Song is perfectly normal?” Tantai Yi asked lightly, leaning in further as he lifted a strand of his hair and breathed it in.
“Of course… This minister is young and in the prime of his vigour. How could I be incapable? It is only out of fear of offending Your Majesty that I dare not show it.”
“Besides this, is there nothing else?”
Song Pu hesitated a long while before saying, “Actually… that day, Your Majesty chafed this minister raw. I have not yet dared ask for ointment.”
“… I have given Lord Song no shortage of ointments. Have you used them all?”
“How could this minister complain of too much medicine? Your Majesty injured me, so you ought to provide it. Yet you did not.”
Tantai Yi withdrew his hand. “It seems Lord Song is truly drunk, to dare ask me for medicine.”
“Your Majesty should give it.”
His tone softened slightly. “Very well. I promise to send you ointment tomorrow.”
Only then did Song Pu relax, smiling. “Many thanks, Your Majesty. This minister is deeply grateful.”
Then, ingratiatingly, he whispered, “Your Majesty is mighty and peerless. A drawn blade naturally wounds. It is only that this minister is too delicate. If Your Majesty would show a little mercy, it would be a blessing beyond measure.”
Tantai Yi had meant to brush the matter aside, yet hearing such exaggerated praise, he could not help but laugh, a swell of satisfaction rising within him. “Lord Song’s sincerity is plain to me. As for that day, I do not dwell on it. Lord Song need not either.”
Song Pu nodded. “This minister has already forgotten. I do not remember.”
Seeing this, Tantai Yi smiled faintly. “Since Lord Song has nothing more to say, then rest well.”
Song Pu patted the bed beside him and looked up obediently. “Would Your Majesty care to share a bed once more?”
Tantai Yi glanced at the small bed and declined. “I shall return to my own chambers. Rest well.”
He tucked the covers around him before turning to leave.
Only after the door closed did Song Pu go slack all over, letting out a long breath.
As Tantai Yi returned to his own chamber, he suddenly halted, looking down at his fingertips. They were still faintly damp and cool from Song Pu’s lips. For some reason, as though possessed, he lifted them to his nose and inhaled, then, just as inexplicably, touched them with his tongue.
There was no real taste, only a mellow trace of wine.
Realising what he had done, a surge of shame and irritation rose within him, and his hand clenched into a fist.
Lord Song, when drunk, was truly terrifying. Enough to unsettle even him.
Author’s Note:
Post ‘Battle Through the Heavens’ syndrome:
Ah-Gou: Lord Song is terrifying indeed!
Ah-Pu: His Majesty is terrifying indeed!
