Song Pu was still unaware that Tantai Yi was returning to the palace. At that moment, he was staring at the invitation Prince Gong had sent over, feeling rather troubled.
He had no desire whatsoever to go to Prince Gong’s residence.
In truth, Song Pu had initially entertained the idea of currying favour with Prince Gong, but he was not made of stone. After serving at Tantai Yi’s side for so long, he could not simply turn around and join Prince Gong’s camp.
Moreover, the dog emperor had not treated him badly, so it would be neither benevolent nor righteous for him to go clinging to Prince Gong now.
Given the situation, Song Pu wanted to inform Song Lingyun, but as Song Lingyun was still at work, he simply wrote him a note, left it on the table in his room, and then went to Prince Gong’s residence.
Prince Gong’s birth mother was the current Empress Dowager. Though the emperor disliked her, she still wielded a certain degree of influence. Song Lingyun could refuse, but Song Pu could not. After all, Prince Gong was of the imperial family; if slighted again and again, he would likely take offence.
Having read the original novel, Song Pu naturally knew just how two-faced Prince Gong was. The original female lead had not been particularly old-fashioned, yet she was still dignified and reserved, and even she had been driven half to collapse by him. At the memory, goosebumps rose once more along Song Pu’s arms.
Thinking over the plot of the original novel, he arrived at Prince Gong’s residence without quite realising it.
The gatekeeper had clearly been prepared. The moment he saw Song Pu, he broke into a broad smile and treated him with great respect. “His Highness has been waiting for some time. Young Master Song, please come in.”
Song Pu had brought Denglong with him. Denglong was young and slight, the sort of servant people rarely paid much attention to, almost like an invisible presence. Thus when Song Pu led him into Prince Gong’s reception hall, the guards at the door did not stop him.
Prince Gong was indeed already waiting. When he saw Song Pu, a trace of a gentle smile spread across his face, and his amber eyes gleamed faintly. “Ah-Pu, you’ve come.”
As the male lead, Prince Gong naturally possessed an outstanding appearance. His mixed heritage was not particularly obvious; his features were not as deep-set as Tantai Yi’s, his facial lines somewhat softer, yet still as though carved by knife and axe. His eyes were a pale amber, gentle in colour, and when he smiled, it lent him an added warmth that made it easy for others to lower their guard.
Yet for all his refined beauty, compared with his elder brother Tantai Yi, he fell slightly short. Though they were handsome in different ways, Song Pu clearly preferred Tantai Yi’s looks, and felt he had a high resistance to Prince Gong’s face, unlikely to be easily taken in.
“Greetings, Your Highness Prince Gong,” Song Pu said.
Prince Gong produced a set of bamboo cards and smiled at him. “Only today did I learn that these popular playing cards and mahjong were both devised by you, Ah-Pu. I had not expected you to be so talented, so full of ingenious ideas. I cannot help but admire you. I wonder if you might have time today to teach me how to play these cards?”
“…I naturally have the time,” Song Pu replied.
Prince Gong handed him the cards. “Then I shall trouble you, Ah-Pu.”
Song Pu took them. The playing cards, made from thin bamboo slips, felt solid in the hand. Their edges had been polished smooth and even waxed, so they handled rather well, though it did make it difficult to perform any flashy shuffling.
Not that he had any inclination to show off in front of Prince Gong. He began carefully explaining the rules.
Halfway through, however, he felt Prince Gong’s gaze fixed upon his face. Song Pu paused, and finally could not help asking, “Your Highness, why do you keep looking at my face? Is there something on it?”
Prince Gong’s gaze shifted slightly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze. “It is not that there is anything on your face. It is simply that I have never properly looked at you before, and for a moment I became absorbed. If I have offended you, I hope you will forgive me.”
“…”
That sounded rather suggestive.
Suppressing his discomfort, Song Pu chose not to pursue it. “…In that case, Your Highness, have you understood?”
Prince Gong smiled faintly. “I understand, though there are still parts I am unclear on. I may have to trouble you for further guidance.”
Song Pu thought for a moment, then said, “Let us play a round first.”
The game they played was a relatively simple version of Dou Dizhu, highly playable and widely popular. Most people would grasp it after a single round; it was very easy to pick up.
After dealing the cards, Song Pu smiled. “Your Highness, two people are not enough. If you do not mind, may I have my servant join us for a round?”
Prince Gong said readily, “I do not mind. A game is naturally livelier with more people.”
Thus Denglong stepped forward. Not daring to sit, he remained standing behind Song Pu as he took the cards.
“Your Highness, this round you will be the ‘landlord’, while Denglong and I will be the ‘peasants’. Whoever plays all the cards in their hand first will be the winner.”
Prince Gong said, “I look forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Tantai Yi had also returned to the palace.
He travelled with many attendants and much luggage, and with matters weighing on his mind, he did not urge his people to hurry. Naturally, his subordinates prioritised his comfort in the carriage, and so the journey back took twice as long as Song Pu’s.
Even so, after the journey, his spirits were still quite good. Upon returning to the palace, he first burned incense and cleansed himself, then summoned another Black Dragon Guard, codenamed Thirteen.
In truth, Tantai Yi did not have Song Pu watched every day. Only when the thought struck him would he send someone to check in, usually to report what Song Pu had done on his day of rest. This time, however, in a fit of anger, he had sent two Black Dragon Guards to watch him in shifts. Twelve had already made one report; Thirteen would supply the remainder of the day’s account.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the night before last, Young Master Song encountered Prince Gong at the lantern festival,” Thirteen said, pausing briefly for breath. As expected, Tantai Yi spoke with undisguised distaste, “Prince Gong truly lingers like a ghost that refuses to disperse.”
Thirteen continued, “Young Master Song and Prince Gong conversed very amicably. At present, Young Master Song is at Prince Gong’s residence.”
The Black Dragon Guards were, after all, tasked with protecting the emperor; acting as informants was not their forte, and Thirteen was the least articulate among them. His lack of clarity immediately stirred Tantai Yi’s anger.
“What did you say? Lord Song is at Prince Gong’s residence?!”
Thirteen replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Young Master Song is currently playing cards with Prince Gong at his residence.”
Tantai Yi laughed in anger, his golden eyes burning ever brighter. “Outrageous. I warned him, yet he still grows close to Prince Gong!”
“Why is Your Majesty angry?” came an elderly voice from within the hall. Upon hearing it, Thirteen silently withdrew.
Without turning around, Tantai Yi forcibly suppressed his anger and said, “Naturally because of Lord Song. He is becoming increasingly disrespectful towards me.”
The old eunuch said, “Your Majesty, it is hardly worth your anger. Prince Gong may not be in favour, but he is still of the imperial family, the Empress Dowager’s own son, a prince of noble rank. How could Young Master Song refuse his invitation?”
Those words eased Tantai Yi’s anger somewhat. “…Uncle Qin speaks reasonably. Lord Song is timid; he would not dare refuse my younger brother.”
He added, “Prince Gong is deeply scheming. If Lord Song falls into his hands, I fear he will be devoured without even bones remaining.”
At this point, he could no longer sit still.
The old eunuch said, “Your Majesty, wait a moment. This servant has heard of what happened at the summer retreat. May I ask what Your Majesty truly thinks of the Song family boy?”
Tantai Yi gripped the armrest of the dragon throne, and in a mature, steady and restrained tone said, “Lord Song relies on my favour and has grown arrogant, no longer placing me in his eyes. How could I allow him to climb over my head? Thus I punished him by sending him home; he need no longer attend upon me. Yet in consideration of his loyalty and sincerity, if he lowers himself and begs me, I would not be utterly merciless. I would grant him some leniency.”
“…Such words might deceive others. Why use them to deceive me?”
The old eunuch shook his head but did not expose him. He merely said, “If Your Majesty truly thinks so, why seek him out? Better to wait until the Song boy can no longer endure it and comes to request an audience himself.”
Tantai Yi said, “How could I possibly seek him out? I simply have not seen Prince Gong for a long time. Better to seize the day. I shall go and meet him today.”
The old eunuch sighed. “Your Majesty, I have always taught you to follow your heart. From this, it seems you have yet to learn.”
At once, Tantai Yi felt a flash of embarrassed irritation, as though he had been seen through. Had it been anyone else, he might already have drawn his sword. But this was Uncle Qin, the only family he had at his side, and he could not vent his anger on him. Thus he concealed his embarrassment and said in a controlled voice, “I have always followed my heart. There has never been a time I have not. Uncle Qin need not overthink it.”
The old eunuch said no more. Yi’er resembled the eldest princess in appearance, while his temperament was like that of the late emperor. He was indeed the child of those two.
Yet Yi’er would not repeat his parents’ mistakes. Both his parents had been exceedingly proud, unwilling to bow their heads first, and so tragedy had been wrought. Yi’er, though equally prone to saying one thing and meaning another, was far better than the late emperor in this regard.
He did not wish to say more. Some matters had to be understood by Yi’er himself; if others spoke of them, he would not truly grasp them.
*
After finishing a round, Song Pu won thanks to his advantage.
As he shuffled the cards, he asked Prince Gong, “Your Highness should now understand how to play Dou Dizhu?”
Prince Gong smiled gently. “With Ah-Pu personally teaching me, even if I did not know, I would have to learn.”
Song Pu smiled appropriately. “In that case, Your Highness, would you like to continue?”
Prince Gong’s gaze flickered, his voice lowering slightly. “I have heard this game can also be played with wagers. If Ah-Pu does not mind, shall we add a stake?”
Song Pu instinctively felt he was about to be set up again, so he spoke first. “Then let us wager money.”
Prince Gong truly was Tantai Yi’s brother. Hearing this, he did not even blink. “Wagering money would be rather vulgar.”
As he spoke, a gentle smile appeared on his face, yet his gaze upon Song Pu was especially bright and intent. “If I win, Ah-Pu, would you accompany me for the next month?”
Song Pu: “…”
Ptui! You really dare to think it!
His smile stiffened. Just as he was about to speak, a commotion suddenly broke out beyond the door. Before he could even feel puzzled, the door was flung open with force. The gentle morning sunlight streamed in, and with it came Tantai Yi’s tall and striking figure.
“I have not seen Prince Gong for a long time. I have missed him greatly.”
