The old eunuch caught the questioning look in Tantai Yi’s eyes, paused, and asked, “Does Your Majesty have any doubts?”
Tantai Yi replied vaguely, “Leave this matter to Uncle Qin.”
The old eunuch naturally agreed. Then, recalling something, he cautiously asked, “Since Your Majesty intends to favour the Song family boy, do you also plan to take him as a male consort?”
At those words, Tantai Yi immediately remembered what he had once said, and suddenly realised that he had inadvertently let something slip before Uncle Qin. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, his tone tightened. “A male consort is unnecessary.”
The old eunuch fell silent, and his gaze at Tantai Yi turned rather strange. Even if it were a man, there was absolutely no reason for him to remain by the emperor’s side without name or status. And yet he would not even grant him the title of male consort?
Who exactly had this child taken after? the old eunuch wondered once again, though no answer came.
The old eunuch was the one Tantai Yi trusted most with such matters. That very day, two large boxes of jade implements made from warm jade were delivered before him.
Tantai Yi knew of such things, but had rarely had the chance to see them. When he opened the boxes, a faint flush immediately rose to his pale, translucent cheeks. “This… how have they been made like this!?”
He had thought they would at most be cylindrical, but who could have expected them to have such form, even with veins clearly defined.
The old eunuch remained perfectly composed. “The largest one has been fashioned according to Your Majesty’s proportions. Young Master Song should use the smallest for ten days, then the second for ten days, the third for fifteen days, and finally this last one for a month. Apply the finest medicinal paste and nurture it for two months. Even Your Majesty will then be accommodated with ease.”
Tantai Yi’s face flushed even more, and his golden eyes flickered with light. He found himself imagining Lord Song having to keep such a thing in his mouth all the time. If that were so, would he not be unable to leave the house?
The thought puzzled him, and he voiced it.
“The first two should pose no problem,” the old eunuch said. “He may still attend upon Your Majesty. But the latter two will likely require him to remain at home to continue the treatment.”
Only then did Tantai Yi begin to sense that something was not quite right. With such a thing in his mouth, he could still attend upon him?
He cast a furtive glance at the old eunuch and asked hoarsely, “This thing… where is it used?”
The old eunuch blinked. “Did Your Majesty not read the illustrated manuals I procured?”
Tantai Yi replied with restrained composure, “I first had Lord Song read them. Once he has learnt, he may attend upon me.”
The old eunuch’s expression twitched slightly. After a moment, he said, “These inserts are used at the rear passage. When men lie together, it is done from behind…”
Seeing that Tantai Yi still did not fully understand, he added bluntly, “At the place of the five grains’ passage.”
Tantai Yi: “…………”
Even with all his usual composure and restraint, shock and astonishment showed plainly on his face.
“If Your Majesty still does not understand,” the old eunuch said, “this servant can fetch more illustrated manuals of the Founding Emperor.”
Tantai Yi felt as though most of his soul had left him, leaving him dazed. “…How could such a place be used?”
Knowing he was fastidious, the old eunuch said considerately, “Your Majesty need not concern yourself. Should the Song boy attend your bedchamber, there are experienced matrons in the palace who will handle everything for Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi said nothing. He felt as though something within him had shattered. He had truly never imagined that such a place would be used.
As he questioned everything he thought he knew, he recalled how Lord Song had once said he might die in bed. At the time, he had thought it an exaggeration. But if that place were involved… there was indeed such a danger.
Such a small place, could it really…? It seemed more believable to rely on the mouth.
The old eunuch had no idea that what occupied Tantai Yi’s mind was not whether that place was unclean, but how something that size could possibly fit.
He conscientiously fetched more illustrated manuals for him. In a single night, something within Tantai Yi seemed to shatter, while something else rose in its place, leaving him in an indescribable torment.
Song Pu, for his part, knew nothing of this additional “help”. He only knew that when he entered the palace the next day, several thick volumes had once again been piled neatly on Tantai Yi’s desk.
The familiar covers and title pages made him freeze on the spot.
“I had new manuals brought in and studied them through the night,” Tantai Yi said.
Song Pu: “…”
Tantai Yi sighed. “No wonder Lord Song said he would die in bed. I thought he was exaggerating. It turns out it involves the passage of the five grains.”
Song Pu felt himself shatter all over again.
Tantai Yi himself felt inexplicably flushed as he spoke. When he looked at Song Pu and saw his face reddened, looking thoroughly embarrassed, an indescribable feeling stirred within him. Yet nothing showed on his face as he said, “Lord Song ought to have known long ago how such matters are conducted between men. When I asked before, you dared not explain it clearly.”
Song Pu stammered, “This subject also did not know.”
Tantai Yi picked up a box from beside him and pushed it towards Song Pu. “A gift for you. Since Lord Song shares my fondness for jade, you should like this.”
Song Pu’s face burned fiercely. Sitting beside Tantai Yi felt like sitting on pins. Seeing him present a gift, he instinctively felt uneasy and did not quite dare to accept it. “Your Majesty has already bestowed several treasures upon this subject. Must Your Majesty give more?”
Tantai Yi lifted his chin slightly, his tone gentle. “Lord Song attended upon me yesterday. Naturally I should reward Lord Song’s efforts.”
Before Song Pu could feel any gratitude, Tantai Yi had already opened the box himself. Song Pu’s gaze fell upon the white, translucent jade inside, and his expression froze once again.
Tantai Yi cleared his throat, his voice still somewhat hoarse. “This is a peerless treasure no less than the Sun-Shooting Bow, carved from a unique piece of warm jade. With prolonged use, it will become warm itself. I now bestow it upon Lord Song.”
Song Pu truly felt the urge to hit someone. “Does Your Majesty truly intend to bestow such a treasure upon this subject?”
“Since Lord Song wishes to learn, then learn properly,” Tantai Yi said. “I do not mind if Lord Song treats these objects as though it were me.”
Song Pu: “…”
He felt as though he had shattered beyond repair.
When would such days finally come to an end?
Fortunately, Tantai Yi was not curious enough to try anything immediately, or perhaps he had indeed been somewhat frightened by the truth of the matter. In any case, after this one time, he did not bring it up again.
Time passed quickly. Tantai Yi had already been attending court for more than half a month. Though he appeared easy to deal with when facing Song Pu, once in court, he would not tolerate the slightest fault. After the initial calm, the black prison began to take in more people again.
Song Pu heard of these matters from Duke Song and could not help but feel puzzled, so he went to ask Tantai Yi.
“I have them there to solve problems for me,” Tantai Yi replied. “Yet not one of them is capable. I have already restrained myself considerably. If it were before, I would have had them executed long ago!”
He was clearly angry, complaining to Song Pu, “Even if I have not attended court for half a year, I am not so easily fooled. Since I have chosen to return, they should meet me with twelve parts effort. Yet they are incompetent and even try to use the late emperor to block me. It is utterly absurd!”
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He struck the table with his palm and smashed it apart.
Song Pu was startled. Outside, Cao Xi hurriedly knocked to enquire, only to be dismissed by Tantai Yi’s fury.
Tantai Yi’s chest heaved. When he turned and saw Song Pu’s face pale, his mind cooled somewhat. He made an open show of pulling Song Pu into his arms and patted his shoulder. “What are you afraid of? I was not angry with you.”
Song Pu was pulled into his embrace, their bodies pressed together through only a few thin layers of cloth. He could feel the heat from Tantai Yi’s body, and the faint cold fragrance about him filled his nose at once. His whole body tensed. “Your Majesty, please release this subject. This subject is no longer afraid.”
Tantai Yi, however, found the feeling of holding him quite satisfying and was reluctant to let go. “Lies. Lord Song is still afraid. How can Lord Song be so timid?”
Having said that, the anger in his tone diminished, while his arms tightened further, pulling Song Pu onto his lap.
Song Pu now felt even more as though he were sitting on needles. “Your Majesty, could you loosen your grip a little? I can hardly breathe.”
Tantai Yi rested his chin on his shoulder and rubbed lightly for a moment before saying, “Do not move. I wish to hold you like this.”
Even so, he followed Song Pu’s words and eased his strength somewhat.
Song Pu sat in front of him, not daring to move. His heart pounded violently, and he could not help pressing a hand to his chest, as though doing so might slow it.
He liked women. He should still like women now. This racing heart must be due to Tantai Yi’s face. After all, Tantai Yi’s looks did carry a certain androgynous quality. Such a reaction was only natural.
Song Pu tried hard to convince himself, and gradually he felt more at ease, his body slowly relaxing.
Tantai Yi’s arms encircled Song Pu’s waist. In the end, he caught Song Pu’s hand and held it in his palm. He no longer spoke of court matters, but instead said with a hint of amusement, “Though Lord Song’s fingers are long, I am still slightly superior.”
Song Pu said, “Your Majesty is taller than this subject. Naturally your limbs are somewhat longer.”
Tantai Yi pondered this. “No wonder I am also somewhat longer than Lord Song elsewhere.”
Song Pu’s face reddened at once, and he could not help saying, “Your Majesty is indeed exceptionally endowed. An ordinary person would not be as… as Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi said lightly, “I know nothing of others. I only know that I exceed Lord Song by more than two inches.”
Song Pu: “…”
Song Pu tried to defend himself. “Your Majesty does not know, but among men this subject is also considered outstanding, only slightly inferior to Your Majesty. Li Zongyi, Chang Jiangming, and Xie Nuoyu are all far behind this subject!”
Tantai Yi narrowed his eyes dangerously. “Lord Song has taken such a careful look at them?”
Song Pu: “…”
Tantai Yi recalled, “Was it that time bathing together?”
It was unclear what he had thought of, but his tone suddenly carried a trace of pity. “I called them adulterers before. It seems I wrongly accused Lord Song.”
