Song Pu had not expected him to say something like that. He was completely stunned.
And this man, bleeding from the nose, could say such things with perfect composure, as though there were nothing at all inappropriate about them.
Song Pu forced a smile. “What is there to look at?”
Tantai Yi replied, “If there were nothing worth seeing, I would not wish to see it.”
Song Pu: “…”
He had to admire Tantai Yi’s ability to deliver what was essentially harassment in such a righteous tone.
He drew in a breath. “Your Majesty had best not look. I am already mortified as it is. If Your Majesty insists on seeing it with your own eyes, I truly would not know how to face you afterwards.”
Tantai Yi frowned, his gaze settling on Song Pu’s face, taking in every trace of expression. After a pause, he said, “Does Lord Song realise that I will, sooner or later, enter your body? If you are already so ashamed now that you cannot face me, then when we truly consummate things, will you never wish to see me again?”
“…”
Song Pu choked on his words, and after a moment said, “Your Majesty, that is a different situation…”
Tantai Yi looked at him quietly, those sun-bright golden eyes practically saying, go on, keep talking. The moment Song Pu met that look, he found himself at a loss for words.
He often thought Tantai Yi foolish, yet at times the man was unexpectedly sharp. Perhaps he was not so easily fooled after all. Though he had been muddled through again and again, that look now did not seem like one that could be brushed aside with a few casual lines.
Unaware of his thoughts, Tantai Yi said coolly, “When I say I wish to look, Lord Song hems and haws, offering every excuse. You claim to be shy, yet when you attend upon me you are not shy in the least. You look at my body without shame. But when I wish to look at yours, suddenly you are too ashamed to face me.”
Song Pu: “…”
How could those possibly be the same?
Tantai Yi continued, “I have touched you before, and at the time you were not shy. Now you are? It seems to me you simply do not wish me to look.”
Song Pu: “…”
He realised Tantai Yi was rather good with words. For a fleeting moment he almost felt guilty. But to have him watch while he used the jade insert?
Please. This was a Jinjiang novel, not something else entirely. How could he possibly allow that? Did he have no pride left?
Unwilling though he was, and seeing Tantai Yi refuse to yield, Song Pu blinked slowly and began to wipe at his eyes. “…I simply do not wish Your Majesty to see. If that is the case, will Your Majesty still insist?”
Hearing his voice catch, Tantai Yi immediately reached out, gripping his chin and forcing him to look up. Sure enough, his eyes were red, his lashes damp and clinging together. Tantai Yi’s chest tightened. “A grown man, and you cry so readily?”
Song Pu said, “Has Your Majesty forgotten what I said before?”
Tantai Yi felt a flicker of irritation, but his tone softened despite himself. “I have not forgotten. But Lord Song goes too far. I labour at court day after day for over a month, and you can only manage the smallest piece. I see none of your effort. Do not say I am impatient. If I were, would I have given you the jade to nurture yourself? I would already have… Lord Song truly goes too far.”
By the end, he sounded faintly aggrieved.
He was trying, in earnest, to be the wise ruler Song Pu had spoken of. Yet what of Song Pu? He had seen that place. With barely the width of a fingertip, how could it possibly accommodate him? It likely could not even manage the beginning, let alone anything more.
More than a month had passed, and still only the smallest size. These past few days, nothing at all. It was only natural for him to suspect negligence before. Yet he found himself unwilling to set the Black Dragon Guard to watch such matters, and so remained uncertain. Now that he asked to see for himself, Song Pu reacted like this. It was little wonder he grew irritated.
It felt as though he alone was making an effort, while Song Pu dragged his feet at every turn. Naturally, he began to suspect that Song Pu simply did not wish to consummate anything with him.
Given Song Pu’s fear of pain, it was not an unreasonable suspicion.
At that thought, Tantai Yi’s heart softened, his tone gentling. “Do not be afraid. With the jade inserts and the medicines from the Imperial Medical Academy, it will not hurt much. If that is still not enough, last year a southern state sent tribute. There is a pill among it that aids pleasure. Used there, you will feel no pain at all.”
Song Pu stared, slightly dazed. He had not expected so many… methods.
That last part sounded very much like the so-called miracle drugs he had only ever read about. He had always assumed such things were fictional. Now, hearing this, curiosity sparked.
“Does such a thing truly exist?”
Tantai Yi’s golden eyes lit faintly. “Of course it does. Have you never seen it?”
Song Pu shook his head. “I have not.”
Tantai Yi smiled. “Then I shall show you.”
Song Pu stiffened. “Wait. I only wish to look, not to use it.”
He eyed him warily.
The curve of Tantai Yi’s lips lowered slightly. “I said I would show you. Did you think I would make you use it at once?”
Song Pu relaxed. “Then I was overthinking it. Your Majesty cares for me. I know you would never force me.”
That, at least, was true. Tantai Yi’s pride would not permit him to appear eager or impatient. He would never stoop to coercion.
His words struck the right chord. Tantai Yi nodded. “Naturally not. But if you cannot bear it, it would ease the pain.”
Song Pu asked, “How does Your Majesty know so much?”
Tantai Yi paused, then gave a faint snort. “I am not some ignorant youth. Do not underestimate me.”
Song Pu gave a soft “oh”, realising the topic had drifted, and secretly pleased. His tone relaxed. “Then please, Your Majesty, let me see.”
Tantai Yi reached out, his warm thumb brushing lightly at the corner of Song Pu’s eye. “Do not cry. I dislike seeing you cry. If you must cry, do so on my bed.”
Song Pu: “…”
Absolutely not.
Tantai Yi led him to see the so-called treasure. It sat in a small box, about the size of a baby’s fist, an oddly translucent blue, almost like some questionable dish.
Tantai Yi scraped a little powder with his fingertip and dabbed it onto Song Pu’s lips. “It is sweet.”
Song Pu caught his hand. “…Your Majesty has tasted it?”
Tantai Yi smiled. “You may try it.”
Before he could stop him, Tantai Yi pressed it further in. Song Pu inevitably tasted a little. Curious, he did not spit it out.
“How is it?” Tantai Yi asked.
Song Pu smacked his lips, surprised. “It really is sweet.” There was a hint of honey.
Tantai Yi laughed.
Seeing that expression, Song Pu immediately realised. “Your Majesty, you were teasing me?”
“I only spoke casually, yet you believed me. Truly, you have a child’s heart.”
Song Pu: “…”
Before he could respond, Tantai Yi lowered his head and captured his lips.
“Lord Song… I have tasted it as well. It is indeed sweet.”
He withdrew only briefly before kissing him again. Song Pu’s eyes fluttered shut, his head tilting back instinctively.
Tantai Yi’s lips were warm and soft, yet carried a faint coolness. It reminded him inexplicably of summer afternoons, sitting on school steps with a bottle of orange soda. Something easy, sweet, and quietly joyful.
His heart pounded, vigorous and bright, and heat spread through his entire body.
When the kiss ended, Tantai Yi pinched his cheek lightly. “Your face is quite red. I grant you leave for the day. Go home.”
Song Pu blinked, still dazed.
Tantai Yi smiled, leaned in, and brushed a kiss at the corner of his eye, tasting the faint salt of tears. His voice softened further. “I forgot to mention, this substance takes effect from a single use and lasts for a long time. It is one of that southern state’s treasures. You had best go home and rest.”
Song Pu: “?”
Very quickly, he understood.
He had only taken a trace, yet heat flooded his body, his steps turning unsteady, as though he were walking on air. He had thought it was the kiss. It was not.
He glared at Tantai Yi, voice rising. “Your Majesty, why tell me only now?!”
Tantai Yi blinked, utterly innocent. “You did not ask.”
Song Pu: “…”
He truly had nothing to say.
Tantai Yi added, “Do not worry. It was only a little. It will not do much. I am not in a hurry. I will have Cao Xi escort you home.”
Song Pu felt as though he were on fire and could not leave fast enough. “Then I shall take my leave!”
Tantai Yi reached out, patting his head in a coaxing manner. “Rest well. Eat cooling foods these next few days. It will pass. I shall grant you a few more days’ leave. If not, I will give you some treasures. Do you like pearls? I have a box of South Sea pink pearls.”
Song Pu paused. “…I would like that coloured jade Pixiu from Your Majesty’s treasury. May I have it?”
Tantai Yi’s smile faltered for a moment. Then he said softly, “If you like it, how could I refuse?”
These two!