Song Pu felt as though he had split apart. He could scarcely believe that Tantai Yi would dare to do such a thing.
Seeing him silent, Tantai Yi frowned slightly. “There is no need to deceive me. Lord Song need only speak his true feelings.”
Only then did Song Pu find his voice, hoarse as he said, “What is Your Majesty doing?”
Tantai Yi replied as though it were perfectly natural, “I am learning together with Lord Song. Once I have mastered it, Lord Song may attend me in bed.”
Song Pu found this utterly absurd. This blasted emperor simply acted on whatever whim took him?
His scalp prickled with tension. He swallowed, moistening his throat before asking with difficulty, “Since Your Majesty has looked at those pictures, do you understand how men conduct themselves together?”
Tantai Yi buried his face against his shoulder, breathing in his scent, and said hoarsely, “I only read the first twenty or so pages and already felt heat throughout my body. Had I finished the whole volume, I doubt I would have slept at all last night.”
At this moment, even the way he spoke to Song Pu had turned soft and clinging. It was still pleasant to the ear, yet enough to raise goosebumps.
Yet Song Pu’s eyes lit up. Taking advantage of Tantai Yi’s inattention, he swiftly flipped through the pages.
The tome was thick as a brick. The court painter’s skill was indeed extraordinary. With only a few strokes, he rendered the robust body of a man and the supple form of a youth. The founding emperor, hardened by decades on the battlefield, was broad and tanned, while the male consort was slender and pale. The contrast was depicted with striking clarity.
From the very first page, it was all foreplay. Song Pu flipped ahead while Tantai Yi was not paying attention. The boldest scenes at the start involved only mouths, continuing for several pages. The true substance lay halfway through the book. As he flipped more quickly, he realised that, when viewed in sequence, the figures almost seemed to move.
In short, this was no ordinary erotic book; it was an extremely painstaking and elaborate gay illustration!
What on earth was wrong with Tantai Yi’s ancestors? How could they have such a taste, having artists depict them in such acts? Did they feel no shame at all?
While he was cursing inwardly, a chill brushed his chest. Looking down, he saw that Tantai Yi had already begun undoing his robes.
No. He could still salvage this.
Song Pu seized Tantai Yi’s hand, forcing himself to appear at ease. “Your Majesty, it is already broad daylight. Should we not get up? You have yet to take breakfast. Perhaps you should eat first?”
Tantai Yi’s gentle voice turned slightly hoarse. “I am not hungry.”
His hand continued its mischief. Song Pu gripped it tightly, putting real force into it. “Even if Your Majesty is not hungry, you must still take your meals properly. You cannot neglect your health.”
Tantai Yi paused, then smiled faintly. “Is Lord Song concerned for me? Do not worry. I only used my hand once last night. There is no discomfort. If Lord Song is worried, you may test it yourself.”
Song Pu felt himself crack all over again. “…Your Majesty, I will speak plainly. I do not find this comfortable at all. In fact, I find it rather unpleasant…”
Tantai Yi halted. “Why does Lord Song feel unwell?”
Song Pu hesitated, unsure whether to continue defying him. After a few seconds, he asked, “Is Your Majesty still a virgin?”
Tantai Yi paused, then calmly replied, “Of course not. Why do you ask, Minister Song?”
Song Pu was shocked. “Your Majesty is not a virgin?”
Tantai Yi said with a proud, aloof air, “As the Emperor, how could I still be a virgin at this age? Minister Song underestimates me.”
Song Pu pressed further, “Then was Your Majesty’s first time with a woman, or with a man?”
Tantai Yi faltered for a moment before saying, “Why does Lord Song ask so many questions?”
Song Pu pulled away from his embrace, eyes averted, and asked softly, “If Your Majesty has been with a woman, may I ask whether she is alive or dead?”
Tantai Yi narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by that, Minister Song?”
Song Pu said, “Your Majesty is formidable beyond compare. With a body such as mine, if Your Majesty insists on having me attend you, it would be more agonising than execution. If Your Majesty truly regards me as a confidant, how could you watch me die upon the dragon bed?”
Tantai Yi frowned.
Since yesterday, he had indeed been considering this question. How could such small lips accomplish such acts? Yet in the ancestral illustrations, the male consort’s lips were just as slight, and still managed it.
He had spent time at the Imperial Court of Justice observing punishments, and had come to believe that human potential was limitless. What seemed impossible could, with practice, become possible. Thus he had reluctantly accepted the idea.
But Song Pu now claimed he would die from it. That could not be true.
Tantai Yi did not believe him, yet found himself instinctively coaxing him, “I know Lord Song’s abilities. Nothing of the sort will happen. There is no need to worry. If you doubt it, we may try at once.”
Hearing this, Song Pu felt a surge of inexplicable anger. It was no different from some scoundrel soothing a lover for his own pleasure, caring nothing for the other party’s suffering. “…How does Your Majesty intend to test this?”
Tantai Yi extended his hand. His fingers were long, and, perhaps from heightened emotion, burning hot. He pressed them lightly against Song Pu’s lips. The warm tips sank slightly into the softness at the corner of his mouth.
His golden eyes gleamed with restrained anticipation, though his tone remained composed. “I wish to enter here. Lord Song might do well to have a little more confidence in himself.”
At last, he truly understood how terrifying this man was. From the outset, he intended that?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. No matter how beautiful he might be, a straight man of firm principles such as himself would never—
Suppressing his anger, Song Pu maintained a steady expression. “If Your Majesty insists, then it would be better to allow me to return home. I cannot engage in such relations with Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is curious, you may try with someone else.”
At this, the eagerness in Tantai Yi’s eyes dimmed somewhat. “I have already said I would make you Empress. Does that not prove my sincerity? Why do you still refuse?”
Song Pu drew in a breath. “Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, the ruler of all. I am but an ordinary subject, without remarkable virtue. Why must Your Majesty insist on making me Empress? Such a precedent has never existed and would invite ridicule across the realm.”
Tantai Yi’s heated mood cooled at once. “Do I care for such things? Or is it Lord Song who fears ridicule?”
A trace of anger surfaced. “Is Lord Song truly the sort to care so much for others’ opinions?”
Seeing how easily he flared, Song Pu felt rather helpless. “Does Your Majesty not know that reputation can kill? Your Majesty stands above such talk, but I do not. I have a family, a clan. Our dynasty is conservative. If I were made a male consort or Empress, my reputation would be ruined, and my family implicated. Their marriages would all be affected. If it truly came to that, I might as well die to atone.”
Tantai Yi, who softened to reason more than force, listened. The anger in his eyes extinguished at once. “If anyone dares speak against you, I shall have their tongues cut out as a warning. In time, no one will dare speak ill of you.”
Song Pu asked, “And what of my family’s marriages?”
Tantai Yi frowned slightly. “You need only tell me whether you are willing. If you are, what do others matter? Why concern yourself so much with them? It is enough that you yourself live happily.”
Song Pu had long felt that Tantai Yi lacked empathy. Now that feeling became all the clearer. “…In that case, Your Majesty might as well let me die.”
Tantai Yi, irritated by his repeated mention of death, restrained his temper, remembering the consequences of their last quarrel. “Then what does Lord Song propose?”
Song Pu said, “Your Majesty seeks to do such things without adequate preparation. To me, that is irresponsible. If Your Majesty truly values me, you would not allow me to suffer the slightest grievance or humiliation.”
He lifted his eyes to glance at Tantai Yi, hesitating.
Tantai Yi’s gaze lingered on his fair face. After a pause, he asked hoarsely, “Then what does Lord Song wish me to do?”
Song Pu faltered, but suddenly an idea struck him. Lowering his voice, he said, “Why does Your Majesty not begin attending court from today? If Your Majesty demonstrates even greater authority and virtue than the late emperor before the assembled officials, then establishing me as Empress would no longer invite criticism.”
Tantai Yi sensed something amiss, yet could not quite grasp it. He merely frowned. “Lord Song calculates well.”
A faint smile appeared on Song Pu’s face. Holding the thick volume, he said softly, “If Your Majesty can achieve this, I will willingly attend you. If it is only this mouth Your Majesty desires, I shall do my utmost.”
This stirred Tantai Yi. “…Do you truly mean this?”
Song Pu whispered, “A word spoken is as good as gold.”
Yet Tantai Yi leaned back, his expression aloof. “You speak lightly. I have grown accustomed to idleness in the harem. Do you think a few words will send me to court to endure their remonstrations?”
Song Pu asked, “Does Your Majesty truly favour me so deeply as to wish to make me Empress? If so, may I first witness Your Majesty’s bearing as sovereign? Then I may proudly tell my family that Your Majesty, wise and virtuous beyond the late emperor, treats me with unwavering devotion. To serve at Your Majesty’s side would be my greatest honour, and I would not fear any idle gossip.”
Tantai Yi seemed momentarily dazzled. “Lord Song speaks with reason.”
Seeing his expression soften, Song Pu had not yet relaxed when Tantai Yi added, “But Lord Song is ignorant of the hardships of court. To dismiss me with mere words still displeases me.”
“…,” Song Pu tensed again. After a brief pause, he said, “In that case, allow me to ease Your Majesty first.”
Some time later, Tantai Yi spoke in a languid tone, “Lord Song’s skill seems to have declined considerably.”
Song Pu resisted the urge to bare his teeth and said quietly, “…I shall try harder next time.”
It was because Tantai Yi was no longer straight that he felt so awkward, and thus his skill had deteriorated so sharply.
He could no longer convince himself this was merely some trick between men.
Exhausted, Song Pu asked for leave. Though reluctant, Tantai Yi agreed. After all, a man was easier to deal with afterwards.
As Song Pu prepared to depart, he still clutched the large volume, unwilling to let it go. Tantai Yi frowned. “Since Lord Song is unwell, I shall read it alone.”
Song Pu said earnestly, “Might Your Majesty lend it to me? I would study it carefully, so that in future I may attend Your Majesty according to what is depicted.”
At this, Tantai Yi’s golden eyes lit up. Composing himself, he said, “Since Lord Song is so earnest, I shall lend it to you. Study it well, and strive to become a worthy Empress.”
