Chapter 91: Jealousy

Song Pu did not dare speak again, yet Tantai Yi’s golden eyes were strikingly bright, their undisguised expectation making him unaccountably flustered.

He could almost feel the suggestive tension lingering in the air. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Your Majesty, is it merely to rest?”

Tantai Yi frowned and replied with blunt candour, “Of course not. It is hardly proper in broad daylight. Better you come to my bedchamber to rest. I intend to kiss you.”

Song Pu had long been acutely aware of his lack of restraint, yet hearing him speak the word “kiss” so plainly still made his face burn. He swallowed and asked softly, “…Only a kiss?”

Tantai Yi said, “Otherwise, would Lord Song allow me to go further?”

As he spoke, he suddenly recalled that at first he had only considered whether Lord Song could serve him with his mouth. Later, having learnt there were other ways, he had rather neglected that thought. He promptly amended himself, “If Lord Song is capable, I would not object to trying with the mouth as well.”

Song Pu: “…”

Bloody hell, that is even worse.

How could Tantai Yi utter such indecent things with such a solemn expression?

Song Pu said tactfully, “I have not been well of late. I fear I may spoil Your Majesty’s enjoyment.”

Tantai Yi smiled faintly. “The physicians of my Imperial Medical Academy have grown idle to the point of putting on weight. Since Lord Song is so delicate, I shall decree that two of them attend you properly.”

He added, “The jade inserts you use should have run out by now. I will have them prepare more for you.”

Song Pu: “…”

At this point Tantai Yi’s imperious nature surfaced once more. “Lord Song, do not refuse me again. I miss you. Do you not miss me?”

Song Pu’s throat bobbed as he hesitated, then said, “…I do, of course, miss Your Majesty.”

At that, delight suffused Tantai Yi’s features, his golden eyes shining all the brighter. He looked at Song Pu as though he wished to carve him into memory itself, and his voice softened for no apparent reason. “Then it is settled. Let me think… you need not return home today. Stay and dine with me.”

Song Pu agreed. It was near the end of the working day in any case. For Tantai Yi to keep him for a meal required only a word, and soon dishes were brought in.

Song Pu already knew that someone leaked Tantai Yi’s every move. Seeing Cao Xi and the others still in attendance made him uneasy. He leaned closer and said quietly, “Your Majesty, I dislike being watched while I eat. Might Your Majesty dismiss them?”

Tantai Yi readily agreed. With a glance from him, Cao Xi at once led the two young eunuchs serving wine and dishes out of Chunhe Palace.

With no one left to pour, Tantai Yi pushed his cup towards Song Pu, signalling for him to fill it.

Song Pu picked up the wine pot and poured for him, then nudged his own cup forward, gazing at him expectantly as he said in a sweet tone, “Might Your wise and mighty Majesty pour one for me as well?”

Tantai Yi said, “Lord Song cannot even pour his own cup without my assistance?”

Song Pu replied, “Has Your Majesty not heard that courtesy should be returned in kind? If Your Majesty were to do for me what I have done for you, my admiration would surely grow by the day.”

Tantai Yi paused, then glanced at him, the corners of his lips lifting with restrained pride. “If Lord Song can truly manage that, then pouring you a cup is not beyond me.”

He extended his elegant hand and took up the wine pot, about to pour when he suddenly stopped. Instead, he exchanged his own cup with Song Pu’s. “Use this.”

Song Pu blinked. “What does Your Majesty mean?”

With a slight smile, Tantai Yi said, “My cup is larger. Given Lord Song’s capacity, you ought to enjoy yourself more.”

The intent to ply him with drink could not have been more obvious. Was he planning to take advantage of him while drunk?

Song Pu immediately grew wary, though his tone remained gentle. “Your Majesty, a little wine will suffice. If I drink too much and smell of it, I would only offend Your Majesty.”

Tantai Yi said, “You have already offended me thoroughly, inside and out. Now you are concerned about offence?”

Song Pu: “…”

He had thought Tantai Yi might have changed. Evidently not. Still the same tyrant.

Yet the casualness of his tone emboldened Song Pu in turn. Without realising it, he had grown far more at ease with him. “If Your Majesty insists I speak plainly, then if I reek of wine and offend you, I would feel ashamed. I wish only to present my best side before Your Majesty.”

Tantai Yi’s lips curved as he laughed. “I have seen Lord Song with drool all down his neck. What is there to be afraid of?”

Song Pu’s eyelid twitched. “That was because Your Majesty kissed too fiercely, not because I chose to drool.”

That remark only made Tantai Yi more pleased. There were two emotions he could never conceal: delight and self-satisfaction. Though he tried to appear composed, the smugness still shone through those golden eyes, making him look thoroughly insufferable. “My kissing has been honed to perfection, yet only Lord Song ends up in such a state. You will need more practice with me.”

At once, the relaxed smile on Song Pu’s face vanished.

Tantai Yi noticed the shift immediately and paused. “What is the matter now?”

Song Pu’s heart clenched at those words. A restless irritation surged within him. He had felt it before, but never so strongly. He was not a fool. He knew what this was, the jealousy he so often spoke of. Somehow, he had developed a possessive streak towards Tantai Yi.

He could not understand it. Each time they had grown close, he had deceived himself into thinking it was merely because it felt too good to resist. Yet his reaction now proved he had only been fooling himself.

Drawing a slow breath, he clenched his fist and asked, “Your Majesty… have you truly been with others? If so, why have I never seen Your Majesty take concubines?”

Tantai Yi frowned slightly, his manner inscrutable in that peculiarly shameless way. “Why must one take concubines for such things? I have done it with you.”

Song Pu’s expression changed. “So Your Majesty may do such things with anyone? I had thought it was only between husband and wife.”

Tantai Yi sensed his displeasure, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes, though he maintained outward composure. “Why dwell on it? In any case, I am only with you now. Whatever came before can disperse like smoke.”

Song Pu pressed, “With whom has Your Majesty been? And where are they now? Pray do not take offence at my persistence. I wish to understand Your Majesty. Surely you can understand that?”

Tantai Yi: “…”

Song Pu continued, “If Your Majesty cannot, then consider this. If I had not only kissed Your Majesty, but also several other men, what would Your Majesty do?”

At once, Tantai Yi’s golden eyes sharpened. He slipped into the imagined role with alarming speed, crushing the wine cup in his hand as he snapped, “Outrageous. Lord Song has lovers? Who are they? I will tear their mouths apart.”

Song Pu: “…”

Half his irritation melted away. He could not help laughing. “Then Your Majesty understands my feelings.”

Tantai Yi came back to himself and looked aside, somewhat stiffly. “I see now why you spoke so.”

He took out a silk handkerchief, wiped the wine from his hand, then casually mopped the table before continuing, “Since Lord Song is curious, I will not conceal it. Aside from you…”

As he reached this point, his pale, almost translucent cheeks flushed despite himself. With a trace of embarrassed irritation, he forced the words out, “I have never been intimate with anyone else. Are you satisfied now?”

Song Pu was not surprised. From what he knew, Tantai Yi was excessively fastidious, not the sort to dally. Otherwise, with so many women in the harem, how could none have conceived? Even the heroine remained untouched. His skill might well be instinctive, a matter of talent. That was hardly unusual. What did surprise him was that Tantai Yi had lied earlier.

The last of his gloom dissipated, replaced by a quiet, secret delight and a touch of amusement. His lips curved of their own accord, his eyes brightening. “I am… very satisfied. Your Majesty has done well. It is not that I require such restraint, only that hearing myself compared to others displeases me. Now that Your Majesty says there has been no one else, I am exceedingly glad. In that case, Your Majesty belongs to me alone, and I likewise belong only to Your Majesty.”

Tantai Yi’s earlier embarrassment slowly faded. His voice grew hoarse. “That mouth of yours will be the death of me.”

He truly had no dignity left at all. The thought annoyed him, yet the sight of Song Pu’s smiling face made it impossible to remain angry.

There was nothing shameful in being untouched. It meant he kept himself properly. Besides, who in the world but Song Pu was worthy of him? He merely refused to let others take advantage.

Thinking thus, he relaxed. Since he was so good, Song Pu ought not disappoint him either.

With that, he took up another cup, seized the wine pot, and poured for himself. Lifting those fine, golden eyes, he looked at Song Pu. “Enough talk. Come, let us drink to our hearts’ content.”

Song Pu’s spirits lifted. Looking at him now, he found him inexplicably endearing, and his guard dropped without his noticing. Raising his cup, he said, “Your Majesty, I shall drink first.”

Tilting his head back, he drained it in one go.

Tantai Yi promptly refilled his cup, his voice soft as he said, “Drink more, Lord Song. When you tire, I shall take you to rest.”