Song Pu was vexed. Tantai Yi kept asking about the jade inserts, and he could not keep fobbing him off with claims of being afraid of pain. Lately, he had even begun lying that he had already managed to insert one.
This would not do.
A lie like this would inevitably be exposed. What would he do then? Come clean? If it came to that, he might as well have admitted from the start that he was straight.
Only now did Song Pu realise he had once again dug himself into a pit without noticing. At the time, he had only thought of delaying matters, never imagining that if he dragged it out too long, he might end up sacrificing himself entirely.
But could Tantai Yi truly make him Empress so casually? Song Pu did not quite believe it, yet on second thought, Tantai Yi did not seem to lie, which left him wavering again.
When the time came, it would not be so simple. The position of Empress concerned the state itself. No matter how domineering Tantai Yi was, he could not decide such a matter alone. The high ministers would surely oppose it.
At that thought, Song Pu’s unsettled heart steadied once more.
Since Tantai Yi had declared he would stay at the Song residence, Song Pu could hardly refuse. He requested leave in advance and returned home to inform his family, so they might make preparations.
As he left the palace with Cao Xi, he happened to encounter Prince Gong again.
Prince Gong had likely entered the palace to visit the Empress Dowager. His complexion was not good, though when he saw Song Pu, he forced a faint smile. “Ah-Pu, heading home?”
Song Pu nodded. “Your Highness has come to visit Her Majesty the Empress Dowager?”
“Yes,” Prince Gong replied. “She has been ill for a long time. Several rounds of imperial physicians have attended her, yet none have managed to cure her.”
He looked genuinely troubled. His brows, somewhat resembling his elder brother’s, were lightly furrowed, giving one the odd urge to smooth them flat.
Song Pu found himself looking at him a moment too long, drifting slightly. As the male lead, Prince Gong’s appearance was indeed striking. Were modern women to see him, there would surely be shrieks all around.
Truth be told, the ancients did not fall short in beauty. This vast palace was filled with handsome men and beautiful women; even a passing young eunuch might have red lips and white teeth, the face of a delicate youth.
Yet if one had to name the most handsome, Tantai Yi took the honour without question. His features seemed arranged with uncanny precision. Though Prince Gong’s features were not far off individually, taken together they still fell short. It made one marvel at the caprice of creation.
Song Pu’s distraction lasted a moment too long. Prince Gong noticed his gaze lingering and frowned faintly, a trace of distaste flashing through his eyes.
That fleeting change was, unfortunately, caught by Song Pu. It pricked him like a needle and snapped him back to himself.
When he looked again, the distaste had vanished. Had he not spent so long attending upon Tantai Yi and sharpened his ability to read expressions, he might have thought it an illusion.
Suppressing his thoughts, Song Pu smiled lightly. “Her Majesty is blessed with great fortune and will surely recover. If Your Highness is concerned, you might offer prayers on her behalf. The gods will surely take pity on such filial devotion.”
Prince Gong sighed. “That is all I can do. I only hope it helps.”
After a pause, he added, “If you are returning home, Ah-Pu, allow me to see you part of the way.”
Song Pu declined politely. “My carriage is already waiting outside the palace. There is no need to trouble Your Highness.”
Prince Gong smiled faintly. “Can you not see that I merely wish to speak with you? It has been long since I last saw you. I have missed you. Will you not grant me this favour?”
The words sounded overly intimate. With Cao Xi still present, Song Pu felt somewhat uncomfortable. Yet given the way Prince Gong had phrased it, he had no easy way to refuse.
Such was the trouble of this era: hierarchy weighed heavily, and even reluctance could not be shown openly.
Cao Xi, ever cautious, interjected, “Your Highness, His Majesty will be staying at the Song residence tonight. It may not be suitable to delay too long on the road.”
Prince Gong paused, then sighed. “I am only escorting him a short distance. I will not delay him. Even so, will Ah-Pu still refuse me?”
There was a faint note of coercion beneath his gentle tone.
A chill ran through Song Pu. In that instant, several thoughts aligned: that earlier look of distaste, yet this persistent effort to draw close, even creating opportunities to be alone…
Then, a rare flash of clarity struck him. He recalled how Song Lingyun had once angrily questioned him about serving in the bedchamber. Only later had he revealed that Prince Gong was the source. That alone proved Prince Gong had people planted in Tantai Yi’s palace… and already knew of their relationship…
Putting it all together, Prince Gong was—
Song Pu could not even bring himself to name it. He found it utterly unbelievable.
Surely not? Was Prince Gong truly so fond of such… “sister-in-law” intrigue? Even if it was a man, he would still press forward?
The dedication was astounding. Song Pu was almost moved.
Seen this way, the two of them were practically kindred spirits. Both straight men, yet forced by circumstance into such absurdity.
Song Pu immediately changed tack. “Your Highness jests. Since Your Highness wishes to speak with me, I shall naturally accompany you.”
He turned to Cao Xi. “Eunuch Cao, you may return. His Highness will see me home.”
Cao Xi acknowledged and withdrew.
Song Pu turned back. “Your Highness, shall we?”
Prince Gong smiled warmly. “Ah-Pu is no longer what he once was, now so favoured by His Majesty. My request may seem presumptuous.”
“How could that be?” Song Pu replied. “That Your Highness still remembers me moves me greatly.”
Noting that Song Pu had dropped his self-deprecating address, Prince Gong’s smile deepened.
Since he would be taking Prince Gong’s carriage, Song Pu went to inform his coachman before returning to board.
The carriage was far more spacious and refined than his own. Hidden compartments held freshly prepared snacks, the pastries still warm.
Prince Gong laid them out. “These are my favourites. I wonder whether Ah-Pu will like them.”
Song Pu gazed at him with exaggerated tenderness. “Anything Your Highness gives me, I like.”
Prince Gong fell silent for a moment, suppressing discomfort before urging him to eat.
When Song Pu’s hand brushed his, he withdrew abruptly, lowering his gaze in feigned shyness. “Forgive me, I did not mean to touch Your Highness.”
Prince Gong’s smile twitched. “Why be so distant? If you wished to be close, I would welcome it.”
He reached out and took Song Pu’s hand.
Song Pu looked up at him, eyes soft. “Your Highness’s hand is so warm. I like it very much.”
For a moment, Prince Gong looked as though he were drowning. His smile stiffened.
Song Pu edged closer, boldly placing a hand on his chest. “Your Highness’s chest is quite firm… perhaps even stronger than His Majesty’s.”
That struck a nerve. Prince Gong’s expression steadied. “You jest. How could I compare?”
“Why belittle yourself?” Song Pu murmured, fingers idly tracing. “Though you are not as tall, your build is far more solid. One can tell… you are very capable.”
Prince Gong’s lips twitched again. A flicker of struggle crossed his eyes, but before he could respond, Song Pu withdrew his hand and sat upright as though nothing had happened.
He picked up a pastry and began eating, praising it. “Your Highness’s pastries are even better than those of the palace kitchens.”
Prince Gong exhaled slightly. “If you like them, I shall send my cook to your residence.”
Song Pu shook his head. “You do not understand. It is because they passed through Your Highness’s hands that they taste so good.”
Prince Gong swallowed. “…In that case, I shall deliver them myself in future.”
Song Pu smiled shyly. “Then it is agreed. You must not forget.”
“I will not.”
After a moment, Prince Gong leaned closer. “Ah-Pu… does His Majesty treat you well?”
Song Pu glanced at him lazily. “His Majesty treats me… very well.”
Prince Gong’s amber eyes darkened. “And if I were to treat you even better?”
Song Pu smiled sweetly. “Your Highness could not possibly be better than His Majesty.”
Prince Gong forced a smile. “And why is that?”
Song Pu replied with perfect seriousness, “Even before arousal, His Majesty measures over five inches. Once roused, he is positively heaven-piercing. I fear there is no one under heaven more imposing.”
Prince Gong: “?”
