Song Pu, thinking he had not been understood, repeated himself. Tantai Yi’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an unaccountable danger. Song Pu stiffened, stammering, “Your Majesty… I was only joking.”
Tantai Yi spoke gently, “I rather like that joke, Minister Song. I have noticed that the Founding Emperor seems fond of this posture too. It must be a good posture. Perhaps you could try it with me sometime.”
Song Pu: “…”
Having reached this point in the conversation, Song Pu dared not say another word. Tantai Yi also needed to go out to oversee the hunting activities again, so the two parted for the moment.
The autumn hunt was scheduled to last three days. It had been slightly delayed due to the Prince of Yong’an’s bear-stealing incident, which led to Tantai Yi being attacked, but it continued as planned.
Tantai Yi claimed the first round of prizes. There were still five more rounds, which did not dampen the enthusiasm of the others, so the atmosphere remained lively.
Song Lingyun participated in the hunt but remained distracted throughout, earning only third place. The third-place prize was a piece of calligraphy and painting by Tantai Yi.
He held it with some embarrassment, but under the gaze of all present, he could only accept it respectfully.
When Song Pu approached him, he saw Song Lingyun carefully rolling up the calligraphy and placing it in a box.
“Ge, why do you look so unhappy?” Song Pu asked.
Song Lingyun lifted the box and said, “His Majesty’s calligraphy. Do you want it?”
Song Pu glanced at his face and whispered, “Why are you giving me your prize?”
Song Lingyun said, “I heard some rumours. I thought you might like it.”
Song Pu felt a genuine twinge of fear. Song Lingyun, although always gentle and refined with him, could assume the kind of patriarchal presence that even students feared when he became serious. “Why would I particularly want it?”
Song Lingyun said nothing.
Song Pu asked, “Who told you this? It wasn’t Prince Gong, was it?”
Song Lingyun said, “I know they deliberately told me. I should not mind. I should trust you, Ah-Pu. You won’t let me down, will you?”
As he said this, his eyes were fixed on Song Pu. They were sharp and dark, scrutinising and probing, almost as if he could see right through him.
Song Pu’s heart skipped. “Ge, what exactly did they say?”
Song Lingyun only asked, “Ah-Pu, you are not lying to me, are you?”
Song Pu felt at a loss, but he guessed that whatever Tantai Yi had said had probably been leaked. Tantai Yi always had attendants around him, and whatever they heard could easily be spread. It was clear there were no secrets, and it was astonishing that Tantai Yi dared speak so openly in front of so many.
But now was not the time to dwell on this. Song Pu knew Tantai Yi was inherently self-absorbed and probably didn’t even consider the guards human. Perhaps he simply did not regard the matter as something to be kept secret. Tantai Yi had previously expressed a willingness to change, and now the one to blame was the traitor who leaked Tantai Yi’s every word and action.
Thinking this, Song Pu said, “Ge, rest assured, I will always be fine. To be honest, I am fine now, so you need not worry.”
Song Lingyun looked at him. Seeing his relaxed expression, as if he had never suffered, he did not know whether to believe him, but the tension on his face had eased. He said softly, “That is good.”
He smiled faintly and placed the box with the calligraphy and painting back in Song Pu’s hands. “This is of no use to me. You take it.”
Song Pu took the box. “Will you participate in the remaining hunt?”
Song Lingyun said, “His Majesty can only offer these things as prizes. They are of no use to me, so I will not participate.”
Song Pu felt slightly embarrassed. Tantai Yi actually used his own calligraphy as prizes, as if to show off how stingy he was.
The three-day autumn sports meet concluded smoothly. The hunt had eased some tension between emperor and ministers. When Tantai Yi returned to court, he no longer clashed with officials and matters proceeded more harmoniously for a while.
The Prince of Yong’an and his brother had urgent affairs and returned to their territories once the hunt ended. The children brought by the Prince of Yong’an and the youngest son of the Prince of Huainan remained in Yanjing.
Tantai Yue and Tantai Qinyue had been whipped fifty times and had yet to fully recover, still lying in bed. Tantai Yi paid them no attention, instead focusing on finding a suitable match for Tantai Tong.
He could not help but complain to Song Pu, “I sent someone to examine Yetong. She is riddled with ailments. I wonder how Uncle Wang has been caring for her.”
Song Pu said, “Perhaps it is the harsh northern climate and water that caused this.”
Tantai Yi said, “That is also Uncle Wang’s fault. Yetong’s health needs nurturing. The imperial physician said she might not be able to conceive in the future.”
Song Pu was shocked. Infertility was a major issue in this era. He hadn’t expected Tantai Yetong to be so weak at her age. “Then she should recuperate properly for now.”
Tantai Yi said, “I have already arranged for the Imperial Medical Academy to stay with her. I am well. The whole academy is for my mother’s benefit. Giving some attention to Yetong spares her from daily ailments.”
Song Pu listened and suddenly laughed quietly. “His Majesty is quite attentive to the Princess.”
Tantai Yi saw him smile, pursed his lips, and after a moment said, “I have held her myself. It would be strange to ignore her.”
Song Pu had always thought him lacking in empathy. In modern terms, he might be labelled antisocial. If he were, he should not care for an uncle or cousin. Yet now it seemed not to be the case.
He could not help but feel increasingly curious about Tantai Yi. This desire to understand him had recently emerged, perhaps born from genuine concern. Song Pu hesitated between indulging or restraining his curiosity, experiencing some inner conflict, but ultimately his desire to know more overcame pretence. He whispered, “I have a question. I am not sure if I should ask.”
Tantai Yi was already familiar with this approach. He lowered his eyes and said softly, “Whether it is appropriate or not, Minister Song, do you need to ask me?”
Song Pu, his eyes still clear and bright, looked at Tantai Yi. “Your Majesty, this time, I wish to speak with you again.”
Tantai Yi did not much like this conversation. He could feel his boundaries loosening toward Lord Song, which made him uneasy. But this only happened at first. With time, he would feel it pleased Song Pu. This care and desire to please had sprouted unknowingly in his heart, and by the time he realised, there was no turning back.
This was not unfamiliar to Tantai Yi. The late emperor had treated his birth mother, Empress Chunyuan, similarly. Everyone witnessed the late emperor’s devotion. A princess of another tribe became the empress of Liang. The emperor took countless concubines, yet treated them as mere decoration. The five great clans protested and used underhanded methods, all foiled by the late emperor, who protected his mother. After her death, he handled the funeral arrangements meticulously and followed her in death.
If it were not for that woman’s interference, this affection should have been as pure as a gemstone. Tantai Yi yearned for such pure affection, which explained Song Pu’s inexplicable arrogance.
Because the late emperor had not done enough, Tantai Yi harboured resentment. He had not taken a single concubine. He had resolved that if there were someone deserving, he would do better than the late emperor, and his resolve remained.
His mind was full, yet mostly with helplessness. “…Speak whatever you wish, Minister Song.”
As long as Song Pu did not say anything as outrageous as last time, he would listen.
Song Pu studied his expression and asked slowly, “Is Your Majesty so concerned about the Princess because of Prince Yong’an?”
Tantai Yi narrowed his eyes slightly. “What do you mean by that, Minister Song?”
Song Pu said, “Prince Yong’an and Prince Huainan possess a million soldiers. Isn’t Your Majesty afraid they might… do such a thing?”
All monarchs should be concerned about such matters, but Tantai Yi clearly was not.
His lips curled into a smile. “Minister Song, are you still worried they might rebel? My two uncles are not that sort of people. If I made them relinquish their command due to suspicion, who could resist the northern and southern invasions? It is their unwavering defence over ten years that ensures Liang’s peace. If they wished to rebel, they would have done so long ago. Why wait until today?”
Song Pu’s face showed emotion. “Your Majesty is truly wise. If the princes knew your thoughts, they would surely be moved.”
Tantai Yi’s smile faded. “I am satisfied as long as they do not force me to take concubines or marry.”
Then, as if remembering something, his lips curled up again. His golden eyes shone on Song Pu, and he whispered, “Uncle asked me last night who I intend to make Empress.”
Song Pu immediately tensed. “…Your Majesty didn’t say, did you?”
Tantai Yi’s tone was relaxed, almost lazy, yet pleasant. “I said it was a secret.”
“I will not reveal it until Minister Song is established as Empress. Are you reassured, Minister Song?”
Song Pu breathed out, relieved. “Your Majesty’s words put my mind at ease.”
Tantai Yi said, “Since I have done well, Minister Song, do you not wish to indicate your feelings?”
Song Pu: “…”
He hesitated. “What indication do you wish for, Your Majesty?”
Tantai Yi paused slightly, then gave him a pleased smile. “Today, you may rest in my palace.”
