Prince Gong grasped Song Pu’s meaning in the space of a breath. He looked at him, a flicker of shame passing through his eyes before vanishing just as quickly. He still managed to maintain a gentle demeanour. “Ah-Pu, aside from this, in all other respects I could likely treat you even better than he does. Do you believe me or not?”
Song Pu smiled softly and extended a finger, firmly tapping his chest. With a shy air, he said, “Of course I believe you. If I did not, how would I dare to get into Your Highness’s carriage?”
Prince Gong paused, then reached out to take Song Pu’s hand again, only to have it brushed aside. Just as he was feeling puzzled, Song Pu spoke, “I’m home, Your Highness. There is plenty of time ahead. We can meet again another day.”
Prince Gong lifted the curtain to look outside. Sure enough, they had already arrived outside the Song residence. He swallowed the words he had been about to say and watched as Song Pu stepped down from the carriage.
As Song Pu walked towards the main gates of the residence, he could still feel Prince Gong’s gaze fixed upon him. He turned his head and, as expected, met Prince Gong’s eyes. He beamed at him, then pursed his lips and blew him a roguish flying kiss. The next moment, he saw Prince Gong drop the curtain.
Suppressing his laughter, Song Pu entered through the gates, only to burst out laughing as soon as he was inside, slapping his thigh as he laughed, utterly delighted.
It was the first time he had experienced such a peculiarly satisfying sort of irritation. With Prince Gong at that level, he still dared to try to turn him? It was simply ridiculous.
Song Pu had been in an indifferent mood to begin with, but this encounter had thoroughly amused him, so much so that he could not resist going to tell Tantai Yi about it of his own accord.
At first, Tantai Yi did not quite follow, so Song Pu patiently repeated himself. “What I mean is, Your Majesty, Prince Gong asked which of you was better. Naturally, I had to uphold Your Majesty, whom I so admire, so I said without hesitation that Your Majesty is better. Then he asked in what way Your Majesty is better, and I said that Your Majesty excels in every regard. The very best must be that unparalleled treasure blade of Yours, already radiant before it is even unsheathed. The moment I said it, Prince Gong’s face turned pale. He did not even have the will to compare himself. I daresay he is far inferior to Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi understood. The corner of his lips curved in a reserved arc as he said with satisfaction, “He is inferior to me in every respect. He can only rely on such petty tricks to disgust others.”
Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he fixed Song Pu with a stare. “I have warned you time and again, yet you still dared to get into Prince Gong’s carriage?”
The smile at Song Pu’s lips froze at once. He said earnestly, “To be frank with Your Majesty, I did so to probe Prince Gong’s intentions. Now I see clearly that he intends to snatch me away from Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi: “…”
His golden eyes narrowed as he looked at Song Pu and asked in a low voice, “What do you mean by that?”
Song Pu began to analyse matters for him. “Your Majesty does not know, but Prince Gong has repeatedly tried to entice me, wishing me to grow close to him. He even asked which of you was better and went so far as to behave improperly towards me. He must harbour such intentions towards me. Of course, I have neither talent nor virtue and nothing remarkable about me. If he is so insistent, it must be because Your Majesty has shown me exceptional favour, stirring in him the desire to compete.”
Tantai Yi grew annoyed as he listened. “Outrageous. Back then he put on a show before the late Emperor, and now he harbours such vile thoughts. The older he gets, the more scheming he becomes. If not for the great cost of crippling him, how could he still be allowed to live in this world!”
Hearing this, Song Pu was inwardly startled. So Tantai Yi had indeed entertained the thought of crippling him?
Tantai Yi continued, “Lord Song need not be afraid. Tomorrow I shall summon him to the palace and deal with him properly.”
Song Pu immediately thought this would not do at all; he had not yet had his fill of amusement. He hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, please wait!”
Tantai Yi’s gaze fell upon him, carrying a faint hint of danger. “Could it be that Lord Song intends to plead on Prince Gong’s behalf?”
Song Pu replied tactfully, “How could I plead for Prince Gong? Your Majesty need only know that I will always stand on your side. Even if Prince Gong were to offer me the rarest treasures in the world, I would not so much as spare him a glance.”
Tantai Yi: “…Why do I feel that you are asking me for treasures instead?”
“Aiyo!” Song Pu laughed coyly and gave Tantai Yi’s shoulder a light slap. “Your Majesty jests. How would I dare?”
Tantai Yi: “…”
His expression twitched slightly. He gave the table a light tap and said, “Lord Song, do not behave so strangely. I do not wish to strike you.”
Song Pu fell silent for a moment, then composed himself and said, “Your Majesty, what I mean is this: if Prince Gong wishes to pursue me, he must pay a price. If Your Majesty does not intervene, I can make him bleed more. The more he pays, the more unbearable it will be for him when I finally make my position clear.”
Tantai Yi frowned. “Why go about it in such a roundabout way? He deserves a beating regardless. I can find a pretext to have him flogged fifty times and keep him bedridden, so he will cease making a nuisance of himself before me.”
Song Pu said, “That is only physical pain. Once endured, it is over, and it does not last, nor will it teach him a lasting lesson. How can it compare to the pain of being deceived? Your Majesty, could you tolerate someone deceiving you and playing with your feelings?”
Tantai Yi paused before replying, “How could I tolerate it? If anyone dared deceive me, tearing them apart would not suffice. Even dismemberment, slicing them a thousand times, grinding their bones to dust, would not ease the hatred in my heart. I would exterminate their nine clans. Anyone with the slightest connection to them would be reduced to ashes. Even so, I would not be satisfied. I would have the Hidden Buddha bury their corpse in a land of utmost evil, so they would never be reborn…”
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, as though he had truly been deceived. He raised his hand and struck the stone table, knocking a large piece off it.
Song Pu: “…”
He suddenly shivered a little. Sensing Tantai Yi’s gaze fall upon him, he forced a smile and said, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Surely no one would dare to deceive Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi’s breathing steadied somewhat before he said coldly, “I understand Lord Song’s meaning. This is a stratagem that strikes at the heart. Since you have a plan, I shall entrust this matter to you. However, you must not cross the line. You are mine, and you must absolutely not have any physical intimacy with Prince Gong. If I find out… I will certainly punish you.”
Song Pu quickly agreed.
With Tantai Yi’s approval, he felt a weight lift from his heart. Yet recalling what had just been said, his cheeks grew warm for no reason, his heartbeat quickening, and he scarcely dared to meet Tantai Yi’s gaze.
Tantai Yi did not notice, however, for during the lull in their conversation, Duke Song came to invite him to be seated.
With the Emperor’s personal visit, the entire Song household gathered to dine with him.
The Liang Kingdom was conservative, yet in some respects more open than other dynasties. Women could not freely go out into the streets, but they were permitted to dine at the same table as men. As such, the hall appeared somewhat crowded.
Tantai Yi swept his gaze across those present, the corners of his lips lifting into a cool, indifferent smile. “Why are there still a few people missing? Did Duke Song not invite your younger brother and his wife to dine?”
Duke Song smiled awkwardly. “In reply to Your Majesty, my younger brother and his wife have caught a chill and are presently unfit to receive guests.”
Tantai Yi glanced about again and said, “The elder is ill, and the younger follows suit? I have never heard of an entire household falling sick together.”
As he spoke, he gave a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Duke Song replied awkwardly, “They have both been unwell and have yet to recover. It is uncertain when they will be fully well.”
Tantai Yi was about to speak again when Song Pu quickly picked up his chopsticks and served him some food. “Your Majesty, please try this steamed pork with rice flour. It is a particular favourite of mine, and I believe Your Majesty will like it as well.”
Tantai Yi fell silent and accepted the food with composure. After taking a bite, his eyes brightened slightly as he said with restraint, “The flavour is acceptable.”
Duke Song’s embarrassment eased somewhat. He smiled and said, “This steamed pork with rice flour was devised by my son. I do not know whether he was born with the wrong disposition, as he spends his days in the kitchen devising dishes, but the results are indeed excellent. Our whole family is fond of it.”
Madam Song added, “Your Majesty may not know, but even I have not yet tasted this dish. My son only prepared it today, no doubt because of Your Majesty’s visit. One might say it is thanks to Your Majesty that our family can enjoy such a delicacy.”
Song Pu’s face grew hot at their words. It was only an ordinary dish of steamed pork with rice flour; how could he bear such praise?
Yet he was happy all the same, his cheeks flushed, his eyes shining like a lake beneath moonlight, bright and cool as he looked at Tantai Yi.
Although the hottest part of the season had passed, the air could still turn stifling at times. Tantai Yi had felt somewhat overheated earlier, but when his gaze met Song Pu’s, a cooling ease settled in his heart. A subtle pleasure softened his features. “For Lord Song to possess such ingenuity moves me.”
Song Pu beamed. “It is my greatest honour that Your Majesty enjoys it.”
After the meal, maids brought in mooncakes.
Tantai Yi asked warily, “What filling are these?”
Duke Song replied, “In reply to Your Majesty, these are salted meat mooncakes.”
Tantai Yi did not care for salted meat mooncakes and set his down. Reading his expression, Duke Song immediately had another plate brought over. “Your Majesty, these are sweet-filled mooncakes.”
Only then did Tantai Yi take one and begin to eat.
Even his manner of eating was pleasing to the eye. Dining with him, Song Pu unconsciously restrained his usual careless, ravenous habits and became more refined.
Having already eaten quite a few mooncakes during the day, Tantai Yi had little appetite. He ate only half before setting it aside.
Duke Song noticed that he seemed distracted, occasionally glancing at Song Pu. Though puzzled, he did not dare to ask. After attending to him for a while, he heard Tantai Yi speak lazily, “I am tired.”
Duke Song immediately instructed the maids to prepare a room.
Tantai Yi cast another glance at Song Pu. Song Pu understood the signal but did not dare make a sound. He no longer had the courage to share a bed with Tantai Yi.
No matter how Tantai Yi hinted, it was to no avail. Seeing that Duke Song had already arranged the room, his expression darkened slightly with displeasure.
Song Pu still did not speak. As he accompanied his father in seeing Tantai Yi to the prepared bedchamber, he had not gone far before his heart sank. They were heading towards his own courtyard.
Then he heard Duke Song say with a smile, “Your Majesty is as close as brothers with my son, so I have taken the liberty of arranging Your Majesty’s quarters in my son’s courtyard.”
Song Pu: “…”
Tantai Yi’s golden eyes lit up, and the curve of his lips deepened into a pleased smile, his whole face seeming to brighten. “Duke Song’s arrangement suits my wishes perfectly. My bond with Lord Song goes far beyond that of brothers. To say we are as intimate as husband and wife would not be an exaggeration.”
