The founding history of the Liang Kingdom was no easy feat. At the time, the Liang Kingdom did not even exist. Its vast territory belonged to six other states: Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, Qi, and Ning. These six states were constantly at war over land and cities, fighting for at least half the year. Every state was exhausted, and eventually they signed an alliance to maintain a truce.
The weakest of these six states was Yan. Its ruler was licentious and dissolute, favouring his concubines over his wife. He even listened to the slander of a seductive concubine and threw his son, Chongming, born to his first wife, into a snake pit, leaving him to be devoured by hundreds of snakes. Chongming, however, was remarkably fortunate; he survived in the pit by feeding on the snakes’ flesh and blood until his mother’s guards arrived and rescued him.
For this reason, Chongming left the Yan Kingdom and began his plan for revenge.
At first, Chongming merely intended to overthrow the King of Yan, but as his plotting continued, he became the leader of a group and gained support from various powerful clans. His forces gradually expanded until they became a formidable army. He not only conquered the Yan Kingdom but also harboured ambitions to challenge the other five kingdoms.
Thus, Chongming advanced with unstoppable momentum, conquering all five kingdoms in just eight years and establishing the Liang Kingdom.
Chongming became the founding emperor of the Liang Kingdom.
The Liang Kingdom was built on the lands of the six former kingdoms, and among those who had invested in the founding emperor’s rise were about ten prominent families. Seven of these families remained in Yanjing, including the Lin, Zhao, Han, Wei, and Li Dongsheng families, who now form the five major houses.
These families held absolute control over the court. Although the imperial examinations could introduce fresh talent, rising to a high position through merit alone was extremely difficult, for the aristocratic families controlled all avenues of advancement. Those with genuine talent and learning could only gain a foothold by joining one of these families as a vassal, which offered them some opportunities.
In this way, the court officials’ mouths were firmly in the hands of these families. Framing, infighting, and control were displayed to the fullest extent by these clans.
At this point, a shadow of gloom settled over Tantai Yi’s eyes. “Though I may not intervene, it does not mean I know nothing. The wealth these families have accumulated over generations is probably greater than my national treasury.”
The more Song Pu listened, the more apprehensive he became. The Lin family… wasn’t that the heroine’s family from the original story?
He marvelled silently, and then Tantai Yi’s next words made him choke. Was he really still thinking about the wealth of these families?
“Since Your Majesty is so disgusted with them, why not find a pretext to dismiss all the Lin faction officials in the court?” Song Pu asked.
Tantai Yi glanced at him, thinking that Lord Song remained rather naive. “Haven’t I been doing this all along? My dark prison is almost overflowing.”
Song Pu remained silent.
“These measures are too crude,” he said, “and will easily give others cause for gossip.”
Tantai Yi replied, “I do not care what others say about me. It will not reach me anyway, but whenever I hear it, I have already punished them severely. As for the Lin family, I cannot take action against them. Punishing their mouthpieces would not quell my hatred. They provided men and money in the past, and my ancestors returned it all, even granting them high positions. Yet now their reach grows longer and longer, interfering with state affairs and turning my court into a battlefield for their selfish desires, treating me like a fool.”
As he spoke, he was thoroughly exasperated. His golden eyes darkened, and his entire aura became weighty and heavy.
Song Pu asked softly, “Then what does Your Majesty intend to do?”
Tantai Yi looked at him, remaining silent for a moment.
Song Pu paused, then said gently, “If Your Majesty does not wish to speak, there is no need to force yourself. However, if you would confide in me, perhaps I could help relieve some of Your Majesty’s burden.”
Tantai Yi reached out and grasped his hand, squeezing it slightly. The pressure made Song Pu cry out in pain.
Tantai Yi smiled and immediately relaxed his hold, changing it to a gentle grasp. He said softly, “Minister Song is truly delicate.”
Song Pu said, “Your Majesty, you have known of my constitution for some time. Why did you deliberately squeeze me, causing me pain?”
Tantai Yi paused, the smile fading instantly. He said solemnly, “I wanted to hear Minister Song cry out. It was not to deliberately hurt you.”
Song Pu thought silently, what a strange quirk.
Tantai Yi continued, “I find that Lord Song’s voice sounds far more pleasant coming from his throat.”
Song Pu asked hesitantly, “Your Majesty, do you not want to discuss the Lin family?”
He realised then that Tantai Yi had used a diversion to change the subject. Seeing that Song Pu had seen through him, Tantai Yi paused before saying, “I feared you would not understand if I explained.”
Song Pu replied, “How would Your Majesty know I would not understand if you did not tell me?”
Observing his curiosity, Tantai Yi frowned slightly. “Why is Song Pu’s curiosity so strong?”
Song Pu looked quietly into Tantai Yi’s eyes. “Because I want to understand Your Majesty. If Your Majesty does not like it, then I will not ask about state affairs in the future.”
Tantai Yi said nothing.
He spoke helplessly, “I wish to destroy the powerful families, whether it is the Lin family, the Zhao family, the Han family, the Wei family, or the Dong Sheng family. I want to destroy them all. Do you understand, Song Pu?”
To anyone with even a basic understanding, this was a shocking declaration. Yet Song Pu was not surprised.
In the original story, Tantai Yi had truly done just that.
He was not surprised at all.
After saying this, Tantai Yi’s golden eyes fixed on Song Pu’s face. He noticed Song Pu’s calm and lack of surprise. Tantai Yi’s gaze flickered as he asked, “Why are you so calm, Minister Song?”
Song Pu replied, “If it were Your Majesty, I would not be surprised.”
Tantai Yi was moved. He lifted Song Pu’s hand to his lips, pressed a gentle kiss to it, and smiled. “Those who truly understand me are not Minister Song.”
Song Pu’s face flushed, and his voice softened. “Your Majesty does not mind that my hands are dirty?”
Tantai Yi instinctively released his hand, frowning. “Minister Song, did you not wash them?”
Song Pu said nothing.
Tantai Yi produced a handkerchief from his robes, wiped Song Pu’s hands, and gently squeezed them. “I think Lord Song’s hands are quite clean. Next time you see me, please wash them.”
He then lowered his head, kissed the back of Song Pu’s fair hand, and raised his head to press his lips precisely to Song Pu’s, whispering, “Otherwise, I will get dirty with you.”
Song Pu looked closely at Tantai Yi’s face, so beautiful that words could not describe it, and felt dizzy. “Your… your hands are not dirty,” he whispered.
Tantai Yi laughed and could not resist kissing his lips again.
Their kiss lasted a very long time, so long that time seemed to freeze. When the kiss ended, Tantai Yi remembered something. “Did you not wear the jade insert during the hunt today, Lord Song?”
Song Pu hesitated, torn between telling the truth and preserving the mood. “I did not wear it today,” he said vaguely.
Tantai Yi said, “I wish to consummate with you, Lord Song.”
Song Pu did not respond, troubled by his conscience.
Tantai Yi asked, “Can you still only insert the smallest one, Lord Song?”
Song Pu softly hummed in agreement.
Tantai Yi fell silent. He could not push further and said as tactfully as possible, “Lord Song, do your best. I am not in a hurry.”
He said this reluctantly, leaving Song Pu both guilty and anxious. How could he possibly do such a thing? It was simply impossible.
He could no longer call himself staunchly straight. He could not explain why he was so affected by Tantai Yi. He wanted to escape, yet in front of Tantai Yi, there was nowhere to retreat. He was not blind to the world, yet more than anything, he was confused. How had he become like this?
The thought of being manipulated by Tantai Yi in the future made his scalp tingle.
Song Pu could not bring himself to accept it. Another thought crossed his mind. He swallowed hard and looked at Tantai Yi, showing a hesitant expression.
Tantai Yi sensed it and asked, “Does Minister Song have something to tell me?”
Song Pu shook his head quickly. “I have nothing.”
Tantai Yi found his flustered manner suspicious. He frowned and said in a low voice, “Minister Song, speak plainly. Do not beat around the bush.”
Song Pu’s Adam’s apple moved as his face flushed like the morning sun, his eyes slightly watery. “Your Majesty, I have an idea. If I speak it, please do not be angry.”
Tantai Yi trembled slightly at the familiar phrase, reluctant to hear it, but he said, “Speak, Minister Song.”
Song Pu reached his lips but could not say it. His idea was audacious. Even if Tantai Yi liked him, he might become angry. He dared not speak.
After waiting a long time, Tantai Yi grew impatient. “Lord Song, just speak. Why hesitate?”
Song Pu hesitated but finally said, “If Your Majesty is willing to be below, perhaps I will soon be able to have relations with Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi looked at him calmly. “It is not what I am thinking, is it?”
Seeing that his first reaction was not anger, Song Pu felt hope. He suppressed his excitement and whispered, “It should be as Your Majesty thinks. I hear that below is more comfortable while above is tiring. If Your Majesty does not mind…”
Tantai Yi replied, “Lord Song cannot even insert the smallest one. How could you ride on me? That would only hurt you more. Lord Song need not say anything further. I am not in a hurry. Take your time.”
Song Pu: “?”
