Ten years had passed since Prince Yong’an’s first wife died, leaving behind a son and a daughter. His son was named Tantai Yue, and his daughter Tantai Tong. Her original name, Tantai Yetong, had been given by the late Emperor. The character “Ye” (冶) implied melting and forging, carrying a hint of destructive force. Fearing it might harm his daughter, Prince Yong’an had removed the “Ye” character.
Now, only Tantai Yi and the late Emperor still called her Yetong.
Prince Yong’an did not mind. The late Emperor had chosen the name Yetong to imbue her with his hopes, but unfortunately, Princess Yong’an had suffered an injury before giving birth, leaving her weak from birth. Even at seventeen, she remained delicate and frail.
Prince Yong’an had his own reasons for bringing his daughter all the way to Yanjing. Now that Tantai Tong had reached marriageable age, he had brought her specifically for that purpose.
After the palace banquet, Prince Yong’an and Prince Huainan followed Tantai Yi to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, presumably for matters of importance. Before they left, Tantai Yi politely said to Song Pu, “Minister Song, my younger cousins haven’t been to Yanjing for three years. I would be grateful if you could show them around.”
Prince Yong’an gently patted Tantai Tong’s shoulder and smiled. “Go with this gege and explore. Get familiar with Yanjing.”
Tantai Tong understood why her father had brought her. She pressed her lips together and quietly nodded.
While Tantai Yi’s group was bustling, the Empress Dowager’s side was largely ignored. She watched Tantai Yi and the two princes depart, then, supported by the arm of a nearby eunuch, retreated quietly.
Prince Gong did have a few acquaintances… not just Song Lingyun, but also the subordinates of the Princes of Huainan and Yong’an. To avoid impropriety, however, they merely exchanged casual greetings.
Song Lingyun, having finally found a moment, came to see Song Pu. Seeing him, Tantai Tong’s fair face immediately flushed a soft pink and her eyes brightened. “Lingyun-gege!”
Song Lingyun was indifferent to Tantai Tong, simply nodding before turning his gaze to Song Pu. Smiling lightly, he said, “Ah-Pu, I arrived in a hurry and haven’t informed the family yet. Were you startled?”
Seeing the light fade in Tantai Tong’s eyes, Song Pu immediately understood. He laughed. “I’m just overjoyed! It’s been months since I last saw you, ge. You’ve become even more dashing and radiant. Your brilliance nearly blinded me!” He theatrically shielded his eyes with his hands.
Song Lingyun chuckled, glanced at the young men waiting nearby, and then, regaining his composure, said to Song Pu, “Show them around. I need to settle my things, so I won’t keep you company.”
Song Pu nodded and watched him leave. Once Lingyun’s figure disappeared down the corridor, he spoke. “I’m not very familiar with the palace. Shall I take you to His Majesty’s training ground?”
Present were the children of the Prince of Yong’an and the youngest son of the Prince of Huainan, all teenagers. The eldest, Tantai Yue, was nineteen. He resembled his father in stature, half a head taller than Song Pu, roughly 185 centimetres, stocky with a round, baby-like face that created an oddly incongruous effect. His voice was pleasant. Gesturing to Song Pu’s height, he asked, “Are all people in Yanjing this short?”
Song Pu realised this man was indeed a cousin of Tantai Yi and replied with a forced smile, “I’m only seventeen.”
Tantai Yue said, “I was this tall at seventeen.” He shook his head as he spoke, looking pitiful.
Song Pu: “…”
Speechless, he said no more and simply led them to His Majesty’s training ground.
After a while, he heard soft voices behind him. Turning, he saw Tantai Yue squat, inviting Tantai Tong to climb onto his back.
Tantai Tong blushed furiously and refused, kicking at him. Unable to persuade her, Tantai Yue stood and extended a hand.
She refused again, quickening her pace past him.
Tantai Qinyue, the youngest son of the Prince of Huainan, commented to Song Pu without surprise, “Yetong has two fathers.”
Song Pu wasn’t surprised. He suspected she had another sister-obsessed brother, and that Tantai Yue and Song Lingyun would have much in common.
At Tantai Yi’s training ground, Tantai Yue, audacious and uninhibited, picked up a sword Tantai Yi had used from the rack, swinging it a few times and striking a tree. After only a few swings, he complained, “Even His Majesty’s sword is so dull.”
Tantai Tong tugged his sleeve. “Be careful. Don’t break His Majesty’s sword.”
Tantai Yue replied, “If it breaks, I’ll replace it. My family has plenty of swords that can cut iron like mud, and even demonic swords that have drunk the blood of a thousand or eight hundred people. Surely they’re better than this piece of junk tang-xiong has.”
Song Pu: “?”
He glanced at the sky, thinking, Are they really from the same family? This guy is even more foolish and immature than Tantai Yi.
Tantai Tong, already used to this, said softly, “A demonic sword? You’ve read too many stories, haven’t you?”
Tantai Yue replied mysteriously, “Tongtong, you don’t understand. The more blood a sword has seen, the more murderous and resentful it becomes. A good sword has tasted blood. Tang-xiong’s sword hasn’t. How can it compare to our northern weapons?”
Tantai Qinyue suddenly said, “Haven’t you heard that thousands have died in this palace over the past three years? If we’re talking about blood, His Majesty has certainly shed more than you.”
“Hey, aren’t you going to talk back?” Tantai Yue lost face immediately. “Those are all rumours. I tell you, if I say there really are beasts like the Qilin and Pixiu, would you believe me?”
Tantai Qinyue said, “Why are you arguing with me? I’m just stating the facts.”
Tantai Yue said, “What kind of facts are those? That’s spreading rumours! Slander! If I tell tang-xiong, see if he doesn’t scold you!”
Song Pu: “…”
The Tantai family was doomed. The younger generation was full of overgrown children. Liang Kingdom was in trouble.
Tantai Qinyue, being more mature, stayed silent.
His silence made Tantai Yue assume he’d lost. A smug look appeared on his face as he looked at his sister, seeking praise.
Tantai Tong whispered, “Ge, don’t shout. This is the palace, not our backyard.”
Tantai Yue said, “What’s there to fear? His Majesty is our tang-xiong. We played together as kids. Even if we’re not close, we’re brothers, blood brothers!”
Tantai Qinyue said, “Just cousins.”
Tantai Yue said, “Isn’t that the same thing? Why make such a big deal?”
Song Pu had no desire to listen further. He realised this child was dim-witted. How could the sons of upright men like the late Emperor and Prince Yong’an turn out this way? Truly a genetic problem.
After showing them around, Song Pu planned to return home but ran into Tantai Yi and the Princes of Yong’an and Huainan, stopping in his tracks.
Tantai Yi’s eyes brightened slightly. “Minister Song, it seems we share a connection. How could we meet like this?”
Song Pu glanced at the two princes and whispered, “Is Your Majesty leaving the palace?”
Tantai Yi nodded. “My two uncles haven’t visited Yanjing in three years. I’ll show them around. Since Minister Song is here, come with me.”
Song Pu agreed, and the small group instantly doubled in size.
Tantai Yue knew Yanjing’s splendour well. After a short stroll, he whispered to Prince Yong’an, “Father, I want to stay in Yanjing too.”
Prince Yong’an glanced at him and said coldly, “Dream on.”
Tantai Yue felt stifled. “I need to take care of my sister. What if she gets bullied after marrying?”
Prince Yong’an said, “That’s none of your concern.”
As heir, Tantai Yue would one day inherit his father’s command of a million soldiers. Yet it was clear he lacked the ability, a source of constant worry for Prince Yong’an. His son had been relatively normal before, but now, with age, he seemed increasingly foolish.
One could be reckless in battle, but never foolish. If Tantai Yue failed to mature, Prince Yong’an would have no choice but to abandon him.
He sighed inwardly, thinking that if his elder brother were still alive, they might have had some common ground.
After an afternoon of sightseeing, taking in the splendour of Yanjing, the Princes of Yong’an and Huainan finally took their leave.
Tantai Yi looked at Song Pu and smiled. “Minister Song, now accompany me for a stroll.”
Song Pu’s legs were nearly giving way. Boldly, he said, “I’m exhausted; my legs can barely move.”
Tantai Yi frowned slightly. “Delicate.”
A carriage was summoned for him, and he followed.
Tantai Yi asked, “What do you think of my two uncles, Minister Song?”
Rubbing his legs, Song Pu paused and said, “They are both outstanding individuals, heroes of our time.”
Tantai Yi narrowed his golden eyes. “And the Empress Dowager?”
Song Pu: “…”
Here came the death trap.
Tantai Yi asked coldly, “Why aren’t you speaking?”
Song Pu said awkwardly, “The Empress Dowager is overshadowed by Your Majesty’s brilliance, so she seems less impressive. I have little impression of her.”
Tantai Yi scoffed. “Little impression? Your eyes are practically glued to her! You’d rather be her lover than my empress! Why glare at me, Minister Song? Am I wrong?”
Song Pu said, “Your Majesty jokes. How could I want to be her lover? She’s over a decade older than me!”
Tantai Yi grew angrier. “So if the Empress Dowager were younger than you, you would want to?”
Song Pu: “…”
He quickly tried to clarify. “I truly didn’t mean that. I was just thinking that if the Empress Dowager looks like this, how stunning must my mother, Empress Chunyuan, have been? I simply recalled her through the Empress Dowager. I have no improper thoughts toward her. If I spoke otherwise, may lightning strike me dead!”
Being completely honest, his oath was sincere, successfully appeasing Tantai Yi.
Tantai Yi sneered. “Her face can’t compare to my mother. My mother surpasses her a thousandfold. If it weren’t for her resemblance to my mother, this woman wouldn’t even be worthy of serving the late Emperor.”
Song Pu instinctively held his breath.
Tantai Yi continued, “Remember, this woman is ruthless. If you are careless, you might not even know how you die.”
Song Pu asked, “Even if I’m careless, isn’t His Majesty protecting me? If the Empress Dowager bullies me, will he help?”
Tantai Yi replied, “Nonsense! I won’t help you; why give that woman face?”
He paused, then continued, “If she bullies you, I’ll have reason to punish her. Even if I confine her for three or four years, no one will object. Why not let her bully you so I can back you up? What do you think?”
Song Pu: “?”
Thank you so much