Tantai Yi’s words caught Song Pu completely off guard. He stood there in a daze for quite some time before finally recalling that Lin Xuemei ought to be the female lead of this world. Even so, he could hardly believe it, and asked, “Why would Your Majesty bestow a marriage upon Prince Gong and Lin Xuemei?”
Tantai Yi gave a cold snort. “Why should I not? Could it be that my decision disappoints you, Lord Song?”
Song Pu choked on his words. Does he realise he has just paired the male and female leads together? The move was astonishingly bold. Even after a long moment, Song Pu still found it difficult to process. He had never imagined such a turn of events, and yet, for some reason, he found it rather satisfying.
“…Why would I be disappointed? Lin Xuemei is both beautiful and well-born. She and Prince Gong are truly a match made in heaven.”
Tantai Yi studied him in surprise, hearing the sincerity in his tone. “You truly think so?”
Song Pu did not understand his reaction, but nodded earnestly. “Of course. It is only that Your Majesty made this decision so suddenly, without informing Prince Gong. He may well feel displeased.”
Tantai Yi replied coolly, “Why feign ignorance? You know well enough that I do not get along with Prince Gong. And even if he is displeased, what can he do to me?”
His tone turned colder still. “Or have you already forgotten what you said while drunk yesterday?”
Song Pu fell silent. After a pause, seeing that Tantai Yi did not continue, he asked cautiously, “Did I… say something inappropriate?”
Tantai Yi said, “As expected, you have forgotten. Every time you drink, Lord Song, you never fail to broaden my horizons.”
As he spoke, he gave Song Pu a smile that did not reach his eyes.
It was a masterful expression, enough to make one’s skin prickle. Song Pu could not help but shiver before asking, “What does Your Majesty mean? Have I offended you again?”
Tantai Yi replied evenly, “You called Lin Xuemei ‘Xue-meiniang’ and even ‘Qingqing’. You were thoroughly drunk yesterday, and I could get nothing coherent out of you. Now that you are sober, you may explain what exactly your relationship with her is. If you dare deceive me, you will regret it.”
In truth, he had already ordered an investigation upon returning. He knew that Lin Xuemei had been in Jiangnan and had only arrived in Yanjing a few months ago, with no prior connection to Song Pu. And yet, Song Pu’s drunken familiarity had been undeniably suspicious.
Under that piercing gaze, Song Pu felt his scalp prickle. Realising he must have spoken nonsense while drunk, he forced a smile.
“Your Majesty has misunderstood. Do you remember a dessert I once made, Snow Beauty? Its original name was Xue-meiniang. Your imperial chefs now make it even better than I did, so I have not prepared it again. But if I recall correctly, Your Majesty used to be rather fond of it?”
At this, Tantai Yi remembered. “You mean those small glutinous rice dumplings?”
“Yes. Lin Xuemei’s name happens to resemble that dessert. I merely found it familiar.”
Tantai Yi said coolly, “If familiarity allows you to call someone ‘Qingqing’, why do you not call me ‘husband’?”
Song Pu: “…”
Before he could respond, Tantai Yi himself recoiled slightly and waved it off. “No. You are not to call me that.”
That only made Song Pu laugh. With a trace of mischief, he called out, “Husband—”
Even as the word left his mouth, he felt a flicker of embarrassment. He had meant to tease Tantai Yi, yet somehow ended up blushing himself.
Tantai Yi fell silent for a moment, visibly struck. Then he said, “Do not call me that. Use my courtesy name instead. It is Yuan Yu. You may call me that.”
Song Pu hesitated. “May I truly address Your Majesty by your courtesy name?”
“You are bold enough in all other matters. Why so cautious now?”
His gaze dropped to the corner of Song Pu’s lips, and a faint smile appeared. “Does it still hurt?”
Song Pu blinked. “What does Your Majesty mean?”
“I am asking whether it still hurts.”
He reached out, lifting Song Pu’s chin, his fingers brushing lightly against the injured corner of his lips. “My medicine is superior to anything in your household. After only one night, it has already improved considerably. By tomorrow, it should be fully healed.”
Song Pu had been in such a hurry earlier that he had barely noticed the wound, simply applying the medicine before rushing out. Now that the immediate crisis had passed, the matter returned to him.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, “Does Your Majesty know how I came by this injury?”
Tantai Yi narrowed his golden eyes but said nothing.
Song Pu pressed gently, “Your Majesty?”
Instead, Tantai Yi said, “I have noticed that Lord Song is rather duplicitous. I told you to call me Yuan Yu, yet you do not. I told you to use the jade insert, yet you did not, and even lied to me. Had you not confessed while drunk, I might still be in the dark. Do you truly think I would not punish you?”
Song Pu stiffened. He had not expected his drunken self to betray him so thoroughly. Embarrassment and panic surged together, his face flushing red.
“…Words spoken in drink cannot be taken seriously. I did use it—”
“And you still lie?”
The sudden sharpness in Tantai Yi’s voice made him flinch. Under that relentless gaze, he held out for only a moment before giving in.
“I… I did not use it. I was afraid. I was wrong. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
Tantai Yi’s tone softened. “I was indeed furious. But I also saw your sincerity. You served me with that mouth of yours, and quite diligently at that. I will let the matter pass.”
The implication struck Song Pu like a blow. He froze, then asked, clinging to a faint hope, “What does Your Majesty mean… by that?”
Tantai Yi arched a brow. “Ah, you do not remember. Then let me put it another way. You played the flute for me.”
The phrase echoed in Song Pu’s mind again and again. He was not so ignorant as to miss its meaning. His mind went blank, his face burning scarlet.
Just hearing it was mortifying enough. And he had actually done it?
Song Pu covered his mouth in shock.
Seeing his flushed face and embarrassed expression, Tantai Yi himself recalled the scene, heat rising faintly to his own cheeks. Still, he spoke with solemn gravity.
“Though I have overlooked it, the fact remains that you deceived me. You avoided the matter out of fear, and in doing so, made it difficult for me to see your sincerity. If this continues, I will be deeply disappointed.”
Song Pu lowered his head. He could not refute it.
“I… will do my best.”
“Your best?” Tantai Yi said. “I will give you another chance. Give me your word.”
Song Pu clenched his teeth. “I will use it. I will not deceive Your Majesty again.”
He had not expected things to be resolved so lightly. Or rather, not lightly at all. The price had already been exacted.
Yet he could not deny it. If their relationship was to continue, such matters were inevitable. Avoidance would only lead to greater conflict later.
Tantai Yi had treated him well. It was only reasonable that he give something in return.
At last, he made his decision. “I will do it today.”
Tantai Yi said, “I shall inspect it.”
Song Pu flushed deeply. “Your Majesty, that is not appropriate.”
“You have deceived me too many times. Without inspection, how am I to know the truth?”
“This time, I would not dare—”
“I do not believe you.”
Damn it. He truly could not drink ever again.
He should have known that lying to Tantai Yi would eventually backfire. And yet he had still dared to test his limits. Now, with no way out and no ground to stand on, matters were spiralling beyond his control.
Upon returning home, Song Pu opened the cabinet and took out the box of jade inserts.
Even glancing at the largest one, which Tantai Yi had claimed matched his size, made him feel as though he might split apart.
That was less a tool and more a sword. Even with ten years of gradual practice, there was no way he could accommodate it.
Closing his eyes, he reached instead for the smallest piece of jade.
