Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 105

The clear wine that Ning Qinghong was warming had a rich fragrance.

 

Wu Jing was initially worried that Ning Qinghong might notice that his jar didn’t smell of wine. Only after Ning Qinghong agreed did Wu Jing bring out his white jade jar.

 

True to his noble background, the jar was exquisite. Under the candlelight, you could faintly see the clear water inside, its elegance undeniable.

 

Wu Jing removed the stopper from the jar.

 

Before he could react, Ning Qinghong took it from him. The jar that Wu Jing held with both hands was effortlessly lifted by Ning Qinghong with one hand. He leaned over, protecting Wu Jing, and poured the contents into a wine glass on the tea table.

 

Sitting face-to-face with Ning Qinghong, Wu Jing couldn’t see what was happening behind him until the glass of “wine” was handed to him.

 

Ning Qinghong played with the glass between his fingers, not examining or savoring it closely, but merely glanced at it with a calm smile and asked, “What kind of wine did Wu Wu bring back? It’s as clear as water, and the flavor seems very mild.”

 

Wu Jing’s heart skipped a beat.

 

Ning Qinghong continued, “The wine tastes so faint.”

 

Wu Jing’s heart slowly settled.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “What kind of wine is this? It looks quite good. Why don’t you let Brother try some?”

 

Wu Jing’s heart leapt again. He quickly grabbed the glass from Ning Qinghong’s hand, exclaiming, “No!” Then, in a flustered state, he added, “I-I didn’t mean that.”

 

He stumbled over his words.

 

“There’s only a small jar. We’ll be drinking for a long time. If you drink it, I-I won’t be able to drink much longer, and then I’ll have to drink your wine. I-I can’t handle much alcohol.”

 

His words were incoherent, and he didn’t even know what he was saying.

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled, “Alright, if Wu Wu doesn’t want Brother to drink, then I won’t.” He finally let it go and picked a gold ingot from the pouch in Wu Jing’s lap.

 

Wu Jing held his breath to see it was gold.

 

Ning Qinghong drank three glasses of wine without changing his expression and said lightly, “You can’t just have one glass for a penalty. Isn’t that right, Wu Wu?”

 

Wu Jing’s heart tightened. Seeing his glass contained clear water, he nodded carefully.

 

The next round, Wu Jing drew a silver ingot. Before he could react, Ning Qinghong drank another three glasses of wine and asked, “Since Wu Wu drew a silver ingot and doesn’t need to drink, does that mean Brother has to drink three more glasses?”

 

Wu Jing, dazed, nodded.

 

At this rate, Ning Qinghong had drunk six glasses of wine, which seemed like a win for him. That should be okay, right?

 

Ning Qinghong set two rules at the beginning, and after drawing two ingots, put them back. He drew a silver ingot and smiled at Wu Jing without speaking.

 

Wu Jing was momentarily stunned and hesitantly drank three glasses of water.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, returned the silver ingot to the pouch, and gestured for Wu Jing to continue.

 

Wu Jing held his breath, carefully reached into the pouch, took out one ingot and put it back, then took a second one, hesitated, and finally picked one. It was gold. He looked dejected and drank three more glasses.

 

While others were lively and enjoying the game, the two of them were quiet. The boy sat obediently on Ning Qinghong’s lap, drinking glass after glass of water.

 

Because they were so close, their breaths mingled in the quiet moments.

 

After Ning Qinghong’s initial two rounds of drawing, he never drew another gold ingot.

 

Wu Jing’s luck was poor, with more gold ingots. He drank a lot of water, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, and his stomach began to swell.

 

Wu Jing felt worse with each drink, his face scrunched up. After drinking three more glasses with his eyes closed, he finally couldn’t help but check how much he had drunk. “Wait, wait a moment.”

 

He picked up the jar that Ning Qinghong had left on the table. It felt suddenly light when he lifted it.

 

Wu Jing was stunned and held it up to the candlelight, unable to believe it. He lowered his head, peered into the jar, and confirmed that he had drunk half of it.

 

He looked up in a daze.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “What’s wrong, Wu Wu?”

 

Wu Jing shook his head instinctively and whispered, “Nothing.” He glanced again in disbelief, shook the jar, and placed it back on the stone table, feeling confused and unable to figure out what was wrong.

 

Wu Jing then turned to take the small wine jug from the table. Though nearly empty, it was definitely less than what he had drunk.

 

He looked at Ning Qinghong, who, despite drinking so much, remained composed.

 

Feeling increasingly disheartened, Wu Jing said, “Let’s continue playing.” He still didn’t want to give up.

 

Ning Qinghong asked, “Does Wu Wu still want to play with Brother?”

 

Wu Jing stubbornly nodded.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed softly, leaned in to kiss him, and whispered, “Alright, then let’s continue.”

 

As Ning Qinghong gently kissed him, Wu Jing’s lips parted slightly, unable to close. The scent of wine from Ning Qinghong’s lips and breath made him breathe heavily.

 

It felt like he had swallowed some wine as well,

 

His face flushed with a tipsy redness.

 

Ning Qinghong said softly, “Isn’t it Wu Wu’s turn to draw now?”

 

Wu Jing reached in and drew an ingot, which turned out to be gold again. Tears nearly fell from his eyes. “Why is it always me? It’s so unfair.”

 

He wiped his eyes, took a deep breath, and drank from the glass Ning Qinghong handed him. As he took a sip, he asked in a daze, “Why… why does it taste like alcohol?”

 

Was it the taste left by Ning Qinghong’s kiss just now?

 

Wu Jing had already swallowed the drink, his head turned to mush and his whole body started to feel hot.

 

It was just one glass.

 

He finished the remaining two glasses. Since the alcohol content was low, he still had some awareness left, though he felt a bit dizzy. When he saw Ning Qinghong consistently drawing gold ingots, his spirits lifted again.

 

But he kept drawing gold ingots himself.

 

After three more glasses, Ning Qinghong gave him some water to help him stay somewhat aware.

 

Seeing Ning Qinghong seemingly having bad luck, always drawing gold ingots, Wu Jing smiled with his eyes squinting, finally finding the fun in the game. “Drink up quickly, finish it all!” Then he remembered something and changed his words, “If you can’t drink anymore, remember to tell me.”

 

Ning Qinghong drew another gold ingot and pretended to drink two more glasses of wine before stopping, half in resignation, “Alright, Brother can’t drink anymore.”

 

Wu Jing’s eyes brightened immediately. He leaned in closer, “Then you need to be punished.”

 

Ning Qinghong nodded softly, “Brother will accept Wu Wu’s punishment, alright?”

 

Wu Jing frowned, “I won’t punish you.” Speaking with a slurred voice, he said slowly, “I-I’ll ask you some questions, and you must answer truthfully.”

 

His fingers clung to Ning Qinghong’s collar, tightly gripping it. He felt dizzy with his eyes wide open, and finally slumped into Ning Qinghong’s embrace.

 

His face and nose pressed against Ning Qinghong’s shoulder, he exhaled hot breaths and breathed through his mouth, still clutching the collar tightly, half-closing his eyes and speaking softly, “Brother can’t lie or deceive me. You must tell me the truth, alright?”

 

Ning Qinghong turned his face to look at him, “Alright.”

 

Wu Jing looked at Ning Qinghong’s face up close, and for a moment, he was stunned. “Brother is so handsome.”

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled softly, “What does Wu Wu want to ask?”

 

Wu Jing was pulled back to attention and immediately asked, “Why did you do this this morning? Is it because of your illness…” He couldn’t continue, his eyelids growing wet, “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I want you to be well and stay with me always.”

 

As he spoke, he almost started crying again.

 

Ning Qinghong gently comforted him, “It’s just precaution. Brother won’t get sick, so Wu Wu doesn’t need to worry.” He paused, “Besides me, Wu Wu should have a place that will never betray you and will never be aligned with me, as long as Wu Wu is on the throne and is part of the Great Zhou royal family—”

 

Wu Jing tugged at his collar, sitting up unsteadily and leaning close to Ning Qinghong’s face, his cheeks flushed pink. “I-I don’t want to hear that.”

 

Ning Qinghong stopped talking.

 

Wu Jing looked seriously, though somewhat dazed, at Ning Qinghong’s eyes. His heart was tightly clenched and beating rapidly. “I like you.”

 

The boy’s body was both hot and soft, struggling to breathe, and he asked, “Do you like me too?”

 

After a moment, or what felt like a long time in the quiet, Wu Jing heard a soft sigh in his ear, “Yes.”

 

Wu Jing was stunned for a long time, his mind blank, unable to think of anything else. His vision seemed empty except for the person in front of him.

 

He stared intently at Ning Qinghong’s eyes and lips,

 

Unconsciously leaning in to kiss.

 

With a soft “smack,” the boy’s kiss was hesitant and lingering, his lips almost touching Ning Qinghong’s, separated only by a thin, butterfly-like layer of air.

 

Wu Jing looked at him with eyes full of anticipation, holding his breath, “Really, really?”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Really, I’m not lying to Wu Wu.” He closed his eyes halfway and kissed Wu Jing, a bit helplessly saying, “Is this what Wu Wu wanted to ask Brother?”

 

Wu Jing was speechless from the kiss, his mouth filled, and he mumbled incoherently.

 

Ning Qinghong’s movements were gentle and lingering.

 

Wu Jing felt like he was melting in Ning Qinghong’s arms, his whole body going limp. The alcohol had clouded his mind, and he vaguely heard Ning Qinghong asking if he wanted to continue playing.

 

He panicked and shook his head, grabbing Ning Qinghong’s hand and placing it on his slightly swollen stomach. “No more, no more. I’ve drunk so much water, I’m full, I really can’t drink anymore.”

 

He didn’t notice Ning Qinghong’s unchanged expression when he mentioned “drinking water,” as if he had already known.

 

Ning Qinghong comforted him, “Then should Brother put away Wu Wu’s pouch?”

 

Wu Jing nodded, watching Ning Qinghong tighten the pouch and shake it in his hand. He asked reflexively, “Why are you always so lucky?”

 

Ning Qinghong picked him up and explained, “Because Wu Wu showed me the pouch when it was spread out. After we started playing, you didn’t mix up the ingots inside, so Brother remembered their positions. Each time, Brother listened to the sound and knew the position.”

 

He recounted everything exactly as it happened.

 

Wu Jing murmured, “Oh,” and, feeling dazed, complimented, “You’re amazing.” He was getting tipsy and asked, “Am I being carried by you?”

 

Ning Qinghong replied softly.

 

Wu Jing, feeling woozy, asked reflexively, “It’s very late, we should go to sleep.” He then felt uncomfortable, “Brother, I think I need to go to the bathroom…”

 

Ning Qinghong replied to the first part, “Yes, it’s very late.”

 

Wu Jing, still dazed, continued, “So, where will you take me?”