Song Pu was in exceedingly high spirits after obtaining the gemstone. The small sapphire had already been polished by Tantai Yi’s attendants into a teardrop shape, as though an entire ocean had been condensed within it, dazzling brilliantly under the sunlight.
Chang Jiangming and the others could not quite understand his fixation on the sapphire. “Ah-Pu, your family is one of great wealth and status, how can you be so enamoured with gemstones?”
Song Pu replied earnestly, “Because we don’t have one this big!”
His family did in fact possess sapphires of this kind. His mother had been a merchant’s daughter, and her family was rather well-off. As her father’s only child, her dowry had naturally been substantial, with no shortage of jewellery and ornaments. However, none of them featured gemstones of such colour, nor were any of them this large.
A sapphire of this size was already a treasure with a price but no market. For a small country like the Southern Territory, what they sent must have been of the very finest quality. Otherwise, Tantai Yi would not have been so pleased.
Of course, Song Pu had misjudged one thing. Tantai Yi was indeed delighted, but once that initial pleasure passed, his mood turned complicated. The fact that the Southern Territory could present such a large sapphire meant there must be more within its borders. Thinking of this, he began to regret even more that he had not been able to bring the Southern Territory into his dominion, and that its mineral wealth had not found its way into his private coffers.
The more he thought about it, the less pleased he became.
It was rather amusing. As an emperor, Tantai Yi held little interest in gold or silver, yet he was singularly obsessed with clear, lustrous objects. Whether glass, pearls, jade, or gemstones, anything translucent won his favour. He carefully set them aside as part of his private treasury, even hiding them within his garments. When alone, he would take out a few smooth, fine pieces of jade and gently roll them in his palm.
Song Pu knew nothing of this peculiar habit. Had he known, he would likely have compared Tantai Yi to one of those Western dragons hoarding glittering treasures.
Earlier, Song Pu had already noticed that Tantai Yi had not only polished the sapphire to a smooth finish, but had also drilled a small hole at the very top for threading a cord. Now, holding it in his hand, he began to seriously consider turning it into a pendant to wear around his neck.
Once the idea struck him, he acted on it at once. He found a thin cord, threaded the sapphire onto it, and hung it around his neck, then carefully tucked the gem inside his clothing, keeping his wealth out of sight.
Wearing a gemstone around one’s neck was not especially comfortable. It was heavy, but it was precisely that weight that gave Song Pu a sense of security. He was wearing a house in the capital around his neck, how could he not grin foolishly?
Because of this sapphire, once his throat improved, Song Pu no longer needed Tantai Yi to summon him. He went of his own accord to see Tantai Yi and resumed work.
Tantai Yi had not expected that a single gemstone would make him so proactive, and naturally welcomed it.
This round of storytelling continued all the way into the evening.
Compared with Yanjing, the weather at the summer retreat was cool, even cold. At night in particular, chilly winds swept through, and one needed thick quilts to stay warm.
Tantai Yi had come many times before and was well prepared, but Song Pu had not brought many clothes. As night fell and the cold wind brushed against him, he could not help shivering.
Tantai Yi noticed at once. “Is Lord Song cold?”
Song Pu rubbed his arms and gave an awkward laugh. “Why is the weather at this estate so changeable? It is rather too cold at night.”
Tantai Yi smiled slightly. “This is more comfortable. The imperial palace in Yanjing is somewhat stifling. Even at night, the coolness carries a lingering heat, not as refreshing as here. It is my fault for not informing Lord Song in advance.”
Hearing this, Song Pu grew somewhat flustered. “How could Your Majesty be at fault? It was I who failed to consider such a possibility and made no preparations. It is my own foolish error.”
Tantai Yi said, “In that case, Lord Song may wear one of my outer garments.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Cao Xi, who immediately withdrew to fetch clothing from Tantai Yi’s chambers.
Tantai Yi continued, “It matters little if I do not hear the ending. Rather, Lord Song’s soft voice ought to be properly tended. It no longer sounds as pleasant as before.”
Song Pu froze for a moment, then said awkwardly, “Then… this minister shall rest for a time, and once recovered, return to serve Your Majesty.”
The smile at Tantai Yi’s lips deepened. “Very well. We shall wait until Lord Song has recovered.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Cao Xi returned with Tantai Yi’s cloak. Tantai Yi said, “The bedding here is somewhat thin. Lord Song may take this cloak back and lay it over the quilt for added warmth. It will make the night more comfortable.”
Since it had already been handed to him, Song Pu had no grounds to refuse. He accepted it and said softly, “Many thanks, Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi glanced at the sky. “It is late. I shall retire. Lord Song should also rest early.”
Song Pu acknowledged and took his leave.
After parting from Tantai Yi, he returned to his own chambers. Denglong was already asleep on the low couch, while Doufu, bold as ever, had climbed onto his bed and curled up comfortably within.
Denglong was a light sleeper. After only a few steps into the inner room, Song Pu roused him. The half-grown boy rubbed his eyes and mumbled, “Young Master, I will fetch hot water for you to wash.”
With that, he got up briskly and soon returned with a basin of hot water.
After washing his face and soaking his feet, Song Pu climbed into bed feeling clean and refreshed. Even then, he still held Tantai Yi’s cloak in his hands.
Lowering his gaze, he examined it carefully. The cloak was grey, patterned with subtle silver-white cloud motifs. It carried a certain weight and felt very fine to the touch.
After a brief look, his fingers grew restless. Unable to resist, he lifted it to his nose and took a sniff, letting out a soft exclamation. “Ah… it smells like His Majesty.”
Tantai Yi always carried that cool, faint fragrance. There was a hint of pine within it, deep and clean, accompanied by a softer lingering note. It was difficult to describe, yet somehow distinctly reassuring.
Just as he was about to put the cloak aside, a sudden thumping came from the wall. Tantai Yi’s voice rang out clearly from the other side. “What is Lord Song doing?”
Song Pu: “……”
He froze on the spot, his heart nearly stopping. The ‘next door’ Cao Xi had mentioned was separated by only a single wall, and with such poor soundproofing?
For a moment, he did not dare speak.
A trace of fleeting amusement coloured Tantai Yi’s voice. “Why does Lord Song not answer?”
Song Pu swallowed, his voice tightening. “This minister was… just speaking to Doufu.”
There was a brief pause before Tantai Yi said, “But I seemed to hear Lord Song calling for His Majesty. Has Liuli changed its name to ‘His Majesty’?”
Song Pu fell silent.
Tantai Yi continued, “I have said before not to do anything improper with my garments. It seems Lord Song has not only done so, but likely more than once.”
Song Pu said with difficulty, “This minister has done nothing improper. I merely… merely smelled it. It carried Your Majesty’s scent, which was… very pleasant. And I only did so twice.”
There was no response from the other side.
Song Pu grew nervous. “…Your Majesty? Is Your Majesty angered?”
He swallowed again and hurried on, “If Your Majesty is displeased, then punish this minister. I am willing to accept punishment. I only ask that Your Majesty not be angered. Should harm come to Your Majesty’s health, it would be this minister’s fault, one that could not be repaid even over lifetimes.”
The moment he finished speaking, there came a loud crash. The wall before him shook violently, and in the next instant, a large hole appeared, through which Tantai Yi’s pale, jade-like fist thrust forward.
He had actually punched straight through the wall between them.
Song Pu was covered in falling dust, utterly dumbfounded, standing there like a wooden chicken.
Tantai Yi, on the other hand, seemed entirely unbothered. He withdrew his fist, and his handsome face briefly appeared at the opening, those long, narrow golden eyes visible once more. “This hole is too small. I cannot see Lord Song’s face.”
As he spoke, he seemed ready to strike again. Song Pu snapped out of his daze and hurriedly said, “What is Your Majesty doing?”
“I wish to see you.”
“If Your Majesty wishes to see this minister, you need only summon me. Why break through the wall?” He paused, then added with concern, “Has Your Majesty injured your hand? If Your Majesty has been hurt, even grinding this wall to dust a thousand times would not ease my anger.”
Tantai Yi extended his hand through the opening, palm open, and said calmly, “Lord Song may examine it.”
With no choice, Song Pu reached out and took his hand. At the same time, he could not help thinking how fortunate it was that he had not spoken nonsense while feigning drunkenness the previous day. With such thin walls, a few careless words might well have angered Tantai Yi again.
Though his mind wandered, his hands were careful as he examined Tantai Yi’s. The wall had been nothing more than thick wooden boards layered together. Even after that strike, Tantai Yi’s fingers remained smooth, with only the faintest trace of redness, hardly worth noting.
Only after checking thoroughly and finding no injury did Song Pu say cautiously, “Your Majesty’s hand is unharmed. That is a great relief.”
Tantai Yi, however, turned his hand and clasped Song Pu’s instead. “Since I cannot see Lord Song, then let us remain thus for a while, that I may ease my concerns.”
Song Pu was taken aback. “Your Majesty… what troubles you? If you would speak of it, perhaps this minister might help.”
Tantai Yi gave a soft snort. “I am five years older than Lord Song. If I cannot resolve it, how could Lord Song?”
Song Pu: “……”
He said awkwardly, “Your Majesty speaks truly. It is only that this minister is too foolish to be of use.”
Tantai Yi asked, “Where has Lord Song placed the sapphire I bestowed?”
Song Pu smiled, his tone brightening. “To be frank with Your Majesty, I have threaded it on a cord and hung it about my neck.”
Tantai Yi’s tone softened at once. “Lord Song is thoughtful.”
Song Pu said, “Anything bestowed by Your Majesty that can be carried, I keep by my side. Your Majesty, listen, Dou… Liuli is purring beside me.”
Tantai Yi could indeed hear the faint sound of the cat’s purring. Yet before his lips could lift, he thought of something else. “And the garments I bestowed upon Lord Song?”
Author’s note:
Ah-Pu: How embarrassing, I cannot exactly carry those around!
