Chapter 80: A Mistake All Men Make

Hearing this, Song Pu’s heart gave a start. He forced a smile and said, “Your Majesty jests. It is hardly so exaggerated as being as intimate as husband and wife.”

Seeing him deny it, Tantai Yi felt a flicker of displeasure. Song Pu cast him a pleading glance, and he was immediately soothed. Very well. Who could blame him, when he doted on Lord Song so much? With that thought, Tantai Yi quietened and said no more.

Duke Song, for his part, did not think deeply on it, simply taking Tantai Yi’s words as a jest.

Once Duke Song had left, Tantai Yi’s gaze fell upon Song Pu. He gave a soft snort. “Lord Song is usually quite perceptive. Why is it that today you cannot grasp my meaning? Hmm?”

Hmm? Hmm your head. Song Pu replied in a subdued voice, “It is already dark. I did not notice how Your Majesty was looking at me. I beg Your Majesty’s pardon.”

There was a trace of pleasure in Tantai Yi’s voice, and his gaze towards Song Pu carried an unmistakable hint. “Lord Song is right. It is dark. It is time to retire.”

Song Pu: “…”

He was afraid.

After washing, the two lay down on the bed.

Song Pu did not dare speak, but Tantai Yi spoke first. “Why does Lord Song not remove your robes?”

Song Pu said softly, “To be honest with Your Majesty, I have been feeling somewhat chilled these past few days. It is better for me to sleep with my clothes on.”

Tantai Yi asked, “Is Lord Song not usually very sensitive to heat? Why this sudden fear of the cold?”

Song Pu: “…I do not know the reason. I simply feel cold. To be frank with Your Majesty, I have been wearing an extra layer underneath these past few days.”

Tantai Yi said, “Perhaps Lord Song’s yang energy is deficient, hence the chill. Tomorrow I shall have the Imperial Physician examine you.”

Song Pu replied, “I thank Your Majesty for your concern. It is only a slight chill, not to the extent of needing a physician. I would rather not trouble anyone over it.”

Tantai Yi sighed. “With Lord Song like this, how can I rest easy leaving you alone in the Song household? It would be better if you moved into the palace at once to accompany me.”

“…If that were to happen, outsiders would begin spreading rumours again. Should Your Majesty’s reputation suffer because of it, what then?” Song Pu said quietly.

Tantai Yi grew somewhat impatient. “Lord Song worries over too many things. Very well, I shall let you do as you please.”

After a pause, as though recalling something, he turned to Song Pu. “Is Lord Song still using the jade insert?”

Song Pu’s face flushed at once. “…Your Majesty, I… naturally…”

Seeing that he could not give a clear answer, Tantai Yi immediately understood. “You have taken it out?”

Song Pu: “…”

Tantai Yi said in a low voice, “Such a small thing, no thicker than my finger, and Lord Song cannot even endure it. At this rate, when will I ever live to see the day Lord Song serves me?”

Song Pu said, “Your Majesty, haste will not cook hot tofu…”

At the word “haste”, Tantai Yi’s eyelid twitched. “It is not that I am impatient. It is that Lord Song cannot keep pace with me. How long have I been attending court? Yet Lord Song has not even grown accustomed to the smallest one. How, in future, am I to… proceed?”

Song Pu choked, then could not help asking, “Your Majesty, could it not simply be… avoided? That place… how can such things be done there? Does Your Majesty not find it distasteful?”

Tantai Yi replied calmly, “The Founding Emperor did it. Why should it not be done? Does Lord Song mean that the Founding Emperor was wrong?”

Song Pu was rendered speechless again, utterly defeated by his ability to turn the argument around. “That is not what I mean. I only wish to ask Your Majesty this: is it because you are fond of me that you wish to do such things, or merely to relieve your desires through me?”

Tantai Yi was momentarily baffled. “What does Lord Song mean by that?”

Song Pu sighed. “Has Your Majesty not noticed? You speak of such matters to me again and again. Were it anyone else, they would surely think Your Majesty a creature ruled by desire. Yet such things ought only to be done between husband and wife. As I have not yet entered into such a bond with Your Majesty, why must there be such urgency?”

Tantai Yi denied it at once. “When have I been urgent? If I were, I would long since have tried everything in those illustrated manuals upon Lord Song. If I were, why would I allow Lord Song to nourish his body first?”

Song Pu coaxed gently, “If Your Majesty is not in a hurry, then what harm is there in letting me take matters slowly?”

Tantai Yi suddenly narrowed his eyes. “Lord Song had best not deceive me. Of those four pieces of jade inserts, not a single one may be omitted. Each must be used.”

At the word “deceive”, Song Pu’s eyelids and heart both gave a start. He forced a smile. “How would I dare deceive Your Majesty?”

Tantai Yi said nothing.

After a while, he spoke again. “I have laboured at court for so long. Should Lord Song not reward me?”

Song Pu immediately fell silent.

Seeing this, Tantai Yi softened his tone. “I have given it thought. It would not be right for me alone to take pleasure in such matters. If Lord Song agrees, I shall also return the courtesy and relieve Lord Song in turn.”

Recalling how Tantai Yi had crushed the corner of the stone table earlier, Song Pu felt a phantom ache. “…Your Majesty possesses immense strength. If Your Majesty were to ‘relieve’ me, I fear I would not survive it.”

Tantai Yi smiled. “If Lord Song were to become my Empress, would you not also lose any chance of heirs? If the outcome is the same, what difference does it make?”

Song Pu: “…”

If you cannot speak properly, then do not speak at all.

Tantai Yi continued, “But Lord Song need not worry. I shall be gentle and will not harm you. What does Lord Song think?”

Song Pu still meant to refuse, but Tantai Yi was quicker, immediately seizing hold of him.

Song Pu’s whole body tensed, his heart in disarray. “…Your Majesty? I cannot… please let go.”

He clutched tightly at Tantai Yi’s sleeve, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

It was the first time Tantai Yi had heard Song Pu speak in such a tone. Feeling him tremble, like a helpless little creature clinging to him, he was moved, and without further thought continued.

Song Pu had attended to him several times before, and Tantai Yi possessed an innate knack for such things. He had already learnt eight or nine tenths of Song Pu’s technique, and soon reduced Song Pu’s mind to a blank haze.

The sensation was exceedingly strange. Tantai Yi had never heard Lord Song make such sounds before, soft, faint, with a slight huskiness caught in his throat. It set his heart itching unbearably, his breath growing hotter. His throat bobbed, and he realised that his own voice had become low and rough. “Does Lord Song find it comfortable?”

Song Pu did not answer. His mind felt swollen with heat, and Tantai Yi’s voice sounded distant and indistinct, as though from far away.

Seeing that he did not respond, Tantai Yi did not take offence. He restrained his full strength, focusing instead on technique, repeatedly applying what he had learnt from Song Pu. At last he withdrew and smiled. “Not even half an hour.”

Song Pu’s head was spinning, his eyes brimming with moisture. He could only make out Tantai Yi as a blurred figure. Seeing the tears in his eyes and the flush at their corners, Tantai Yi was momentarily stunned. Lord Song’s already fine appearance seemed, at that moment, to gain yet further beauty, so much so that it set his heart racing.

Still dazed, Song Pu suddenly felt darkness before him, and a soft touch fell upon his lips.

He forced his eyes open and saw Tantai Yi’s face magnified before him. The sight was startling. Such pale skin, such long lashes, such flawless features. It left him faintly dizzy. The moist sensation upon his lips quickly brought him back to himself. He was not a fool. Given the situation, Tantai Yi was… kissing him.

Song Pu froze. In the next moment, Tantai Yi, as though by instinct, extended his tongue and murmured against his lips, “Lord Song… open your mouth. I want to enter.”

Song Pu: “…”

Tantai Yi pressed forward again, but still he did not yield. He frowned slightly, propped himself up, and looked down at him. “Lord Song, one must return courtesy. Now I wish to enter.”

Recalling the overwhelming sensations from before, Song Pu hesitated, then parted his lips.

Only then did Tantai Yi smile. He leaned down once more and pressed his lips to Song Pu’s.

At once, Song Pu’s mind was thrown into utter confusion, filled only with the thought: how is this damned emperor so skilled…

Neither of them had experience, least of all Song Pu. After being kissed for a long while, his face flushed red, and he felt as though he were drowning. He could not help but push at Tantai Yi. Sensing it, Tantai Yi reluctantly withdrew. Seeing him gasp for breath, he laughed softly. “Lord Song truly is foolish. With your mouth occupied, you still have your nose. Breathe through it. You do not even know that?”

Song Pu took several breaths, but before he could speak, Tantai Yi pressed down again, claiming his lips.

“Remember this time. Use your nose,” Tantai Yi said indistinctly, before stirring his senses once more.

Song Pu was left in complete disarray, tears soaking the pillow, while even his saliva dampened Tantai Yi’s hand where it cradled his cheek.

When it was over, Song Pu lay in Tantai Yi’s embrace and heard him murmur with satisfaction by his ear, “Since Lord Song fears the cold, I shall hold you as we sleep tonight.”

A tear slid from the corner of Song Pu’s eye. He closed them and told himself that even after being brought to such a state by Tantai Yi’s kisses, he was still absolutely straight.

He had merely made a mistake that all men make.