The moment Song Pu heard that tone, he knew Tantai Yi was truly angry. Yet he too was angry, and beneath it lay a stifling heaviness lodged in his chest, making him feel thoroughly ill at ease. “…Your Majesty is most magnanimous.”
After that, he fell silent.
Seeing him refuse to speak, Tantai Yi grew even more irritated, his voice turning colder. “There are many capable men at my side. One more Minister Song makes no difference, one fewer likewise. In any case, you are hardly suited to serving others. Since you are unwilling to come near my person, then go back and reflect properly on today’s offence.”
Every word might as well have said: I have no need of you.
That was harsh.
Hearing it, Song Pu felt a chill in his heart, grievance surging unbidden. Perhaps whatever bond he thought they had was lighter than he had imagined. Just because he had been a little careless, Tantai Yi was ready to cast him aside.
Fine then. As though he cared.
If Tantai Yi were not the emperor, would he be here serving him at all?
Wasn’t he someone’s treasured child too? He had been an ordinary university student, already humbled enough, practically wearing servility on his face. He had grown up in an ordinary family; though his parents were unreliable, they had doted on him. At school, his looks had earned him no small favour. He had never truly suffered.
And now? Kneeling at a word, apologising at a word, endlessly flattering, working himself to the bone day and night for little reward, all while serving an emperor who punished and lashed out without hesitation. His life had leapt straight from normal difficulty to nightmare mode.
He had accepted it all without much resistance, barely giving himself time to adjust. Sometimes he nearly forgot he had once belonged to a completely different world.
This wretched feudal order, this wretched hierarchy. Of course he had been foolish to believe an emperor might harbour genuine feeling for him.
At that moment, the grievance welled up too strongly. Had it been earlier, he might have forced out a few flattering words to smooth things over. But now the resentment clogged his throat, and he said stiffly, “Your subject obeys. May Your Majesty retire early. I take my leave.”
He bowed and withdrew.
Tantai Yi’s lips moved slightly, as though he might speak, but no words came. His expression only darkened further.
With the row of red-lacquered chests between them, they could not see one another, yet each could feel the other’s presence. Neither slept easily.
Song Pu, however, slept soundly as ever, without turning. If he listened carefully, he could hear Tantai Yi shifting restlessly on the bed, though not for long. Before long, Tantai Yi rose and left. After that, Song Pu did not see him return.
The next morning brought unwelcome news: the emperor had ordered him to move to the southern wing.
It was far. Far from that dog of an emperor, and far from Li Zongyi and the others.
Song Pu was not surprised. With that temper, it was exactly the sort of thing Tantai Yi would do. He said nothing, simply had his belongings packed and moved as instructed.
All the same, it suited him well enough. A little distance meant a little peace.
That ease did not last long.
Soon enough, Tantai Yi summoned them to accompany him on a hunt.
Only then did Song Pu realise just how lenient Tantai Yi had been with him before. This time, he was only a few steps late, yet Tantai Yi spoke with a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Some days ago, when you were absent, I did not reprimand you. It seems I have indulged you too much, to the point you have grown arrogant. I wonder whether it is my leniency, or your growing disregard for me.”
Song Pu had always been punctual. The one time he had been late was after being kept up half the night, utterly exhausted. And now even this was turned against him. Besides, today’s delay was due to the distant lodging Tantai Yi himself had assigned. He had even jogged over, yet was still only a few steps late.
The words stuck in his throat. Outwardly, he could only bow and say, “How would I dare show Your Majesty any disrespect? I am indeed late. I beg Your Majesty’s pardon.”
“This time,” Tantai Yi said, “I am in a good mood and will overlook it. Let there be no next time. You would do well to remember that.”
Everyone saw the shift in his attitude. Once the matter passed, Chang Jiangming leaned in and whispered, “What’s got into His Majesty today?”
Song Pu shook his head, unwilling to speak. Chang Jiangming would have pressed further, but Xie Nuoyu silenced him.
Li Zongyi was still injured and did not accompany them. Only the three of them remained, while Tantai Yi was followed by five guards, Cao Xi, and another young eunuch.
Tantai Yi weighed the bow in his hand, then turned with a faint smile. “The weather is fine today. There should be plenty of game about. Let us have a contest. What say you?”
Chang Jiangming instinctively looked to Song Pu. Sensing it, Song Pu sighed inwardly and said, “How does Your Majesty wish to compete?”
Facing him, Tantai Yi’s slight smile faded, leaving his expression almost blank. “You three shall form one side. I alone shall be the other. Whoever brings down more game wins. The loser loses. Any objections?”
The terms were not unreasonable. Three against one. No matter how skilled he was, hunting still involved luck.
Thinking this, Song Pu felt somewhat reassured. “We have no objections.”
Tantai Yi’s lips curved faintly, then the smile vanished. His expression turned stern. “Since it is a contest, there must be stakes. If you win, there will be a generous reward. If I win…”
He paused, that unsettling half-smile returning. “If the three of you cannot defeat me, I shall be very disappointed.”
He did not say what would follow, which only made it worse.
After delivering his warning, he left at his leisure, leaving the three of them exchanging uneasy looks.
After a moment, Xie Nuoyu spoke first. “His Majesty’s riding and archery far surpass others. It was the same last hunt. The three of us will struggle to win.”
“Don’t worry,” Song Pu said. “Three cobblers together can outwit Zhuge Liang*. It’s not decided yet.”
(*TN: a famous Chinese strategist.)
“My skills are mediocre,” Xie Nuoyu said, “and so are Jiangming’s. Last time, it was Zongyi-ge who carried us. Now he’s injured… this will be difficult.”
Chang Jiangming, however, remained cheerfully optimistic. “Why are you always so pessimistic? I’m not that bad. Last time I got three rabbits and a roe deer. That’s decent, isn’t it?”
Listening to them, Song Pu suddenly realised something.
He had never killed anything before. He could barely even watch his father slaughter a chicken. Could he really raise a bow against living creatures?
The thought made him uneasy.
At that moment, Cao Xi approached, carrying a bow. Smiling warmly, he said, “Lord Song, this is the bow you favour at the training grounds. His Majesty instructed me to deliver it.”
Anything from Tantai Yi was of fine quality. Song Pu’s own bow was serviceable, but far inferior to this one. That Tantai Yi had sent it at all surprised him.
He accepted it, hesitated, and ultimately said nothing.
Cao Xi glanced about, then lowered his voice. “His Majesty has been in poor spirits since yesterday. Might Lord Song have some idea why?”
Song Pu shook his head. “You jest, Eunuch Cao. How would I know?”
Cao Xi gave a bitter smile and removed his cap, revealing a vivid, raw wound on his forehead. “I have served His Majesty for half a year. His temper has always been uncertain, and such injuries are nothing new. Since Lord Song gained favour, His Majesty has been much gentler, and we have not suffered such punishments in some time. Yet yesterday, he flew into a rage and beat and scolded me.”
He lowered his head. “I am but a eunuch, with a short life to begin with. Thanks to Lord Song, I may continue to serve at His Majesty’s side. I ought to repay such kindness. I only beg Lord Song to think of some way to ease His Majesty’s temper. I would even set up a longevity tablet in your honour.”
With that, he dropped to his knees and began to kowtow.
Startled, Song Pu stepped aside to avoid him. “Eunuch Cao, there is no need for this. Please, get up.”
“Lord Song, I beg you. Save me.”
Song Pu nearly panicked. “Please, get up first. We can talk properly.”
Cao Xi searched his expression, then rose. Once upright, he replaced his cap, covering the wound. “Lord Song is truly kind. I will repay this kindness.”
“There’s no need for that,” Song Pu said after a pause. “His Majesty’s mind is difficult to fathom. Even you, who attend him closely, cannot tell. How could I?”
Cao Xi replied, “Lord Song is far more favoured. Though I do not know the cause, I am certain it concerns you. With your eloquence, you will surely be able to please His Majesty.”
Song Pu: “…”
It was no longer a question of whether he could. It was that he did not want to.
But saying so would only breed resentment. Better to remain silent.
At that moment, Xie Nuoyu cut in, “We can discuss this later. It’s already been more than a quarter of an hour. If we don’t begin, we’ll lose.”
Only then did Song Pu remember.
They were still in the middle of a contest.
