Song Pu was startled and immediately said in alarm, “Your Majesty truly burned them?”
Seeing how agitated he was, Tantai Yi replied with displeasure, “Naturally it is true. When have I ever spoken falsely?”
“….” Song Pu swallowed. “To be frank with Your Majesty, those spring paintings were rare pieces I borrowed. Now that they have been reduced to ashes, how am I to account for them to the lender?”
Tantai Yi said unhurriedly, “Lord Song may simply say that I burned them. That way, you need not return them.”
Song Pu: “……”
What sort of bandit logic was this from that dog of an emperor?
Song Pu took several deep breaths before saying with difficulty, “In that case, I ought at least to offer compensation. Might Your Majesty have spring paintings of equivalent value, so that I may silence their complaints?”
Tantai Yi narrowed his golden eyes and said coldly, “The paintings you borrowed are treasures, yet mine are not? Besides, how could anything from the palace be allowed to circulate beyond it? Your words are truly audacious.”
Song Pu: “……”
He said nothing.
Seeing him fall silent, with something of a pitiful look about him, Tantai Yi’s tone softened a little. “They are merely marketplace wares. If you are troubled, you need only compensate them at market price. Why put on such a dejected face?”
Song Pu glanced at him and replied listlessly, “Your Majesty may not know, but those paintings are treasures for which there is demand but no supply. The artist has long ceased producing, and no more works circulate in the world. Their value is in no way inferior to the collection Your Majesty bestowed upon me.”
“Nonsense!” Tantai Yi snapped. “How could my ancestors’ works be compared with such marketplace pieces? If you wish to elevate their worth, do not belittle mine.”
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Song Pu’s dim and despondent expression. He paused, then his tone softened again. “You dither endlessly, and I have grown tired of it. In any case, the paintings have already been burned. Go to the treasury and choose a treasure as compensation.”
That outcome was still acceptable. Song Pu could hardly demand that Tantai Yi compensate him with spring paintings. From that large album alone, it was clear that those in the palace were likely heirlooms passed down through generations of emperors, hardly suitable to be taken outside.
Song Pu returned to the treasury and selected a smoothly polished, warm-toned piece of fine jade, intending to give it to Chang Jiangming as compensation.
Even so, he remained extremely uneasy. He was not even sure whether Chang Jiangming might faint upon hearing the truth.
The Laughing Hermit’s works were indeed excellent. Even set in the modern day, they would still be striking. Their style differed greatly from that of the large album Tantai Yi had given him, yet in craftsmanship they were evenly matched. In terms of appreciation value, Song Pu felt they were closer to works of art. And yet such treasures had been burned by Tantai Yi.
Song Pu had never imagined that Tantai Yi would actually burn them.
They were spring paintings!
What sort of straight man would not enjoy looking at such things? And yet he had burned them without hesitation?
Seeing Tantai Yi like this, Song Pu instead felt that he might truly not be straight at all. Perhaps he had been gay from the very beginning.
After all, no straight man would ever think he had too many of those.
However uneasy and anxious he felt, not long after returning home and before he had even sat for long, Denglong came knocking, saying that the young master of the Chang family had arrived.
It was the fourth day since he had delivered the paintings into the palace. Before this, Chang Jiangming had come looking for him several times, both openly and indirectly urging him to retrieve them from the emperor, which showed he had no trust whatsoever in Tantai Yi. However, for the past three days, Tantai Yi had been occupied with proper state affairs, and Song Pu had found no opportunity to raise the matter. Even so, he had never thought Tantai Yi would lay a hand on those paintings. Who could have expected it… truly, a single misstep leading to lasting regret.
Looking at the clear, translucent jade in his hand, Song Pu felt he could hardly present it. If Chang Jiangming could have been fobbed off with money, he would not have held onto a single painting priced at five hundred taels without selling it.
If this matter was not resolved, their brotherhood might well…
Not that it would be quite so fragile, but putting himself in the other’s place, if a figure worth over a hundred thousand had been lent out by a friend and lost, he would certainly be furious beyond measure.
The more he thought about it, the less he dared to face Chang Jiangming.
Then he suddenly recalled what Duke Song had said to him, and his eyes lit up.
He might not have any books to compensate Chang Jiangming with, but his father did!
Setting aside his embarrassment, he hurried off to find Duke Song.
In ancient times, fathers and sons were rather reserved about such matters, and would seldom speak to their children about topics of a sexual nature. Song Pu had occasionally exchanged a few words with his father in the past, mainly because neither of them felt awkward about it, so they had been quite open. But in this world, he had nonetheless been influenced somewhat, and still felt a little embarrassed.
However, there was no need to say much to Duke Song. As soon as he heard what Song Pu wanted, he personally took him to fetch them.
Duke Song’s bookshelves were filled with very proper books. Song Pu glanced over the titles and could hardly imagine that Duke Song would read such things, but on second thought it was only natural. No man would fail to look at such material. No one.
Song Pu concentrated on searching through the shelves, while Duke Song asked him, “You are already of an age. If you have such needs, I can have your mother find you a clean and well-behaved girl to make do with for now?”
There were many men in the Song household. Among the older generation, aside from Duke Song, nearly all had multiple wives and concubines, far too many to count. Yet in Song Pu’s branch, none had yet taken a wife. Meanwhile, in the third branch, the eldest and second sons had already taken numerous concubines and kept them in their courtyards, making the household somewhat disorderly.
Duke Song was wholly devoted to Song Pu’s mother and had no concubines, and naturally held similar expectations for his sons. He was not particularly keen for them to take too many women, but they had reached the proper age, and given the family’s means, there was no need to keep them restrained indefinitely.
Duke Song considered himself well-intentioned, but Song Pu paid little attention. His mind was entirely on finding Laughing Hermit’s books to compensate Chang Jiangming, and he merely brushed it off, saying, “What needs could I possibly have? I have no such thoughts. Women would only hinder my work. Father, please do not make things more difficult for me.”
Duke Song: “?”
Previously, when he had tried to arrange a wife for his younger son, he had also refused, on the grounds that it would hinder his studies. Now he had changed his tune and claimed it would hinder his work. Helpless, Duke Song said, “If you continue like this, do not regret it later.”
He did not suspect anything about his son’s inclinations. From the way he was acting in such haste, it was clear he could not possibly be that way.
Song Pu searched for quite some time before finally finding them.
Duke Song had hidden them extremely well. Now that they were brought out, there were more than ten volumes.
Unable to conceal his pride, Duke Song said, “This Laughing Hermit’s brushwork is exceptional. In all my decades, I have never seen anyone with such a remarkable style. It was through my keen eye that I acquired them early, purchasing each volume as soon as it appeared. Not a single one was missed. Only thus did I accumulate this set. Now the artist has not reappeared for years. These are rare treasures. Should the Song household ever decline, with these dozen volumes in hand, one need not worry about being unable to sell them.”
If they were rare scholarly texts, they might not be easy to sell, as even a fine book requires a discerning buyer. But this sort of thing would always be in demand among men. Once put on the market, there would be no shortage of wealthy young masters willing to pay a high price.
Having finished speaking, Duke Song realised he had somewhat undermined his own dignity, and quickly restrained his proud smile, adopting a serious tone. “I will lend them to you. Do not lose them. Cherish them. Compared with cumbersome gold and jade, these can at least be concealed.”
Song Pu complained, “Father, you make it sound as though our household is about to be confiscated any moment.”
Duke Song coughed a few times and said, “One must take precautions in advance, understand? Take them.”
After hesitating for a moment, Song Pu confessed everything to Duke Song, including how the spring paintings he had borrowed from Chang Jiangming had been burned by Tantai Yi.
Duke Song: “……”
Even he, composed as he was, could not help but show a pained expression. “In that case, return one volume to replace the burned one, and make up the rest with other items.”
Song Pu let out a sigh of relief and quickly went to return them to Chang Jiangming.
Duke Song cherished his books greatly, and so these spring paintings were still as good as new. There was no visible difference to the naked eye, and thus Chang Jiangming did not suspect anything. He only felt regret over the other volumes. Those too had been rare pieces, but as long as one was willing to pay, they could still be acquired. The piece of jade Song Pu gave him was also sufficient compensation.
Chang Jiangming was therefore satisfied.
Meanwhile, in the palace, as Tantai Yi thought of the items he had given away that day, he could not help but feel a pang of regret.
They were all treasures he had painstakingly collected, each of excellent quality, the like of which would be difficult to find again in the world. Take the Buddha carved from mutton-fat jade. It seemed as though a faint radiance was contained within it, lending it a solemn and almost animate presence. Yet when Song Pu had wanted it, he had given it away on impulse.
Though it pained him, he had no intention of taking it back. He was the emperor, with countless treasures in his coffers. He was not so miserly as to begrudge the loss of one or two items. Still, his expression inevitably grew somewhat gloomy, and he was not in a good mood.
Cao Xi cautiously presented a cup of hot tea. Seeing the emperor reading memorials with a furrowed brow and an unfavourable expression, he felt a chill in his heart and quickly lowered his head, retreating behind him without daring to speak.
Tantai Yi was preoccupied, and also disliked having people around him. He lifted his head and cast a light glance at Cao Xi. “Leave.”
Cao Xi’s heart trembled. He hurriedly acknowledged the order and stiffly withdrew from the hall. Only after closing the doors did he realise that this time, Tantai Yi had not lost his temper with him.
Inside the hall, Tantai Yi softly called, “Uncle Qin.”
The old eunuch appeared silently behind him. Without speaking first, he heard Tantai Yi ask, “When the late emperor was alive, did he ever give the Empress Dowager any treasures?”
The old eunuch replied steadily, “Your Majesty greatly resembles the Eldest Princess. In those years, the Eldest Princess was extremely fond of pearls and jade, and the late emperor gathered countless treasures for her, all piled within this very hall. At night, the light emitted by the treasures could illuminate the hall as brightly as day.”
Tantai Yi gave a cold snort. “The late emperor was certainly generous.”
You are the stingy one. The old eunuch added silently in his heart.
Neither the Eldest Princess nor the late emperor had been so miserly. Whom exactly did this emperor take after? The old eunuch truly could not understand.
Not wishing to dwell on the matter, the old eunuch asked, “Has Your Majesty yet consummated matters with the young master of the Song family?”
The old eunuch was very busy. Although he now acted as an unseen presence, he bore many responsibilities and carried out numerous secret tasks. Protecting the emperor was naturally part of his duties, but he did not remain at the emperor’s side at all times, and thus there were matters he was unaware of.
Tantai Yi replied indifferently, “I cherish Lord Song. When he has learned properly, he may attend upon me.”
The old eunuch hesitated before saying, “It may be better to first use medicinal means to gently prepare him for a period of time. That way, he may better accommodate Your Majesty?”
Tantai Yi looked at the old eunuch, a trace of puzzlement flashing through his golden eyes.
“…The mouth also needs preparation?”
