Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 111

In two days, it will be the Double Ninth Festival. The markets have already started selling chrysanthemum wine, and the cornelian cherries worn as charms are also in season. Even though the crowded streets of the capital don’t have osmanthus trees, there are still sweet osmanthus cakes being sold.

Wu Jing had just finished school and, after jumping out of the carriage, wanted to buy everything from the market with his pouch. He was curious and asked Ning Qinghong, “Today seems different from usual?”

Ning Qinghong replied calmly, “In two days, it will be the Double Ninth Festival. Both the palace and the common people will hold ceremonies.”

Wu Jing, unfamiliar with this festival, noted that in his previous life, the Double Ninth Festival wasn’t considered a major celebration.

He smelled the aroma of chestnuts in the air.

Looking around, he saw some well-off families’ servants carrying live crabs in the market. It was indeed crab season.

Wu Jing couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Ning Qinghong laughed softly, “Shall I have someone prepare some for Wu Wu to eat tonight?”

Wu Jing nodded eagerly.

Ning Qinghong asked, “How about some chrysanthemum wine to go with it?”

Wu Jing looked suspicious and asked, “Can I drink it?”

“Of course,” Ning Qinghong said. “In two or three years, you’ll be of age, so it’s time to learn to drink wine. As long as you don’t get drunk outside, you can have some.”

Wu Jing was somewhat convinced, “Really?” He also said in a somewhat threatening tone, “Then you mustn’t bully me if I get drunk.”

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Then hurry and buy some of your favorite wine and cakes.”

Wu Jing, with his pouch in hand, spotted a crowded wine shop and hurriedly squeezed his way through without noticing Ning Qinghong’s unspoken words. A secret guard disguised as a common servant followed to ensure he didn’t get lost.

When they returned to the residence, Wu Jing had bought some candy, held two stacks of osmanthus and chestnut cakes wrapped in oil paper, and had two small jars of wine carried by the servants.

He had snacked on a piece of osmanthus cake on the way, its sweet fragrance still lingering, and happily finished exploring the night market while holding Ning Qinghong’s hand.

Ning Qinghong gently tugged him back, smiling half-heartedly, “Slow down.”

Wu Jing held out the half-eaten cake towards Ning Qinghong’s mouth, “Brother, eat too.”

Ning Qinghong took a bite and continued discussing serious matters, “In two days, there will be a grand sacrificial ceremony in the palace. Wu Wu should attend as well.”

Unlike the Mid-Autumn Festival inquiry, this time Ning Qinghong directly asked Wu Jing to go. He instinctively shook his head to refuse but heard Ning Qinghong continue, “With brother here, you don’t need to be afraid.”

“Just recite a few words of blessing in front of everyone, and show your face. Brother will be right beside you.”

Ning Qinghong gave a gentle “Hmm?”

Seeing the insistence in his words, Wu Jing reluctantly agreed, “Just a few words?”

Ning Qinghong nodded slightly.

Wu Jing replied, “Alright then.”

After some hesitation, he took another bite of the cake and leaned in, feeding Ning Qinghong. They continued to eat together, sharing bites of food.

The chef at the residence had prepared fresh crabs, steamed in a bamboo basket. Although eating crabs is mainly about the enjoyment of peeling them oneself, the rules were such that the crabs were pre-peeled to avoid getting the master’s hands dirty. Fortunately, two crabs were left unpeeled for Wu Jing.

He ate some of the pre-peeled crab legs and, after peeling a few himself, carefully sipped a bit of the chrysanthemum wine he had bought. The wine was sweet and refreshing, with just a hint of alcohol.

In contrast, Ning Qinghong ate slowly, using a fine silver spoon and not his hands. However, he still ate the crab leg meat that Wu Jing, with his dirty hands, offered to him.

Wu Jing’s face was smeared with crab juice and his cheeks flushed from the wine. He took a few more bites of rice and carefully peeled another crab leg, leaning in with his face smeared and asking, “Eat, brother, can’t eat anymore?”

Ning Qinghong sighed lightly and ate the crab meat, nearly touching Wu Jing’s fingers.

Wu Jing stared at him, his face flushed and breath growing lighter from intoxication. His heartbeat was quick, but he was too dazed to know what he wanted.

Ning Qinghong smiled gently, “Wu Wu?”

Wu Jing let out a soft “Hmm?”

He was somewhat drunk, but the concentration of the rice wine was not enough to make him fully intoxicated. His body was heated by the alcohol, and his head was also throbbing.

Ning Qinghong asked, “Has Wu Wu finished eating?”

Wu Jing nodded.

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Then shall I wash Wu Wu’s hands and then go back?”

Wu Jing nodded again.

Ning Qinghong gestured with his fingers.

A servant then brought over a copper basin filled with warm water and soap pods.

Ning Qinghong, without any hesitation, took the boy’s dirty hands and placed them in the basin. He carefully cleaned them with soap pods and warm water, then changed the water to clean his hands thoroughly.

Finally, he took a damp cloth and asked the boy to come closer, smiling, “Wu Wu, your face is all messy from eating. Come here.”

Wu Jing obediently tilted his face up, feeling the cloth gently wiping his face. The cloth, soaked in hot water, was warm and very comfortable.

Ning Qinghong carefully cleaned him, then bent down to pick him up and started walking back.

Wu Jing rested his head on Ning Qinghong’s shoulder, feeling a bit dizzy.

He vaguely seemed to hear Ning Qinghong giving instructions to a servant, “Bring that thing from the storeroom…”

What red thing?

Wu Jing couldn’t hear clearly, but he was surrounded by the smell of alcohol. He was taken to the bath to wash up. He was kissed for a long time, and after finally finishing the bath, his whole body felt flushed.

Wearing only a snow-white robe and draped in a crane cloak, he was carried back.

In the bedroom, the servants outside were discreetly dismissed by the attendant with a dust whisk. Wu Jing, uncomfortable, sniffled and dared not make a sound, clinging tightly to Ning Qinghong.

Once the door was closed, he let out a soft “whimper.”

“Brother… it hurts.”

He was uncomfortable from the kisses and did not find relief.

In these days, he had been very clingy. After their mutual understanding, he and Ning Qinghong kept kissing and hugging. The more he felt uncomfortable from the kisses, the more he wanted to cling to Ning Qinghong.

Ning Qinghong kissed him as he walked, soothing him softly, “Where does it hurt, Wu Wu?”

Wu Jing’s eyelids were wet with tears, too embarrassed to say a word. Dazed by the kisses, he was almost sinking into this gentle situation.

He didn’t even realize when he was seated on the couch, completely lost in the drunken haze, feeling uncomfortable as Ning Qinghong’s fingers traced him, intermittently whimpering.

But because it wasn’t quite hitting the right spot, he wasn’t crying too hard.

The wooden box by the bed was opened again, and several hollow bells tied with red strings were taken out. Ning Qinghong placed them silently into the box.

The red strings hung between his soft, white legs.

Wu Jing immediately trembled all over, crying out and trying to hide against Ning Qinghong. He wanted to cling even more, feeling so uncomfortable that he didn’t think of escaping.

He just wanted to be freed.

Ning Qinghong’s expression remained unchanged, softly saying, “Brother said, Wu Wu, you mustn’t say I’m unreasonable at night.”

He wrapped the red strings around the boy’s hands and feet.

Wu Jing couldn’t break free, left alone on the bed. The curtains outside the bed were drawn down without him knowing, trapping him in this small space where no one could see.

The boy was still half-drunk, truly being tormented. At this time, he still didn’t know what was happening, only remembering to find his brother.

With tearful eyes and muffled sobs, gasping, his cries grew unbearable. Muddled, he called out “Brother,” curling up, being tossed by the objects.

But his hands and feet were still bound, unable to free himself, enduring it stubbornly.

He had just used the small room to relieve himself during the bath, and now he had leaked more, mixing with the bedding, wetting a small portion.

The candlelight flickered slightly in the night, and some candle wax dripped down. The warm fragrance mingled in the tent, driving away the autumn chill with the charcoal fire.

After being left for half an hour,

The curtains were finally lifted.

The boy curled up in the damp bedding, his tongue unable to retract, his face flushed red, with his mouth wide open but no sound coming out, only saliva dripping.

Occasionally, he would turn his eyes, trembling, and some more liquid leaked out.

When Ning Qinghong picked him up, his hands were almost slick. As he let the boy go, Wu Jing just curled up, shivering, burying himself in Ning Qinghong’s embrace, “Brother, Brother…”

He could only mumble these two words.

In his confused state, he seemed even more obedient.

Ning Qinghong had not yet had the chance to comfort him when Wu Jing cried out again, with the liquid dripping onto his clothes.

Wu Jing, having been softened for a long time, was then agitated, trembling even more. Crying out incoherently, he was in a panic, desperately seeking relief before the imminent situation.

He fumbled with trembling fingers, grabbing Ning Qinghong’s hand, trying to touch and comfort himself, not knowing what he was doing, whimpering and crying out.

Ning Qinghong comforted him, “Wu Wu? It’s alright, it will be over soon.” He said softly, “Hang in there, be good?”

His voice was so gentle, but his fingertips pulled out the red strings in one swift motion.

The boy immediately trembled all over, arching his body, going mute. He raised his face high, gasping with his mouth wide open, quietly soaking his clothes.

Ning Qinghong’s hands were covered with liquid.

The Double Ninth Festival – The **Double Ninth Festival** (九九重阳节, Jiǔ Jiǔ Chóngyáng Jié), also known as **Chongyang Festival**, is celebrated on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. It is a traditional Chinese festival with a history dating back over 2,000 years.

Key Aspects:

– **Commemoration**: The festival is associated with paying respects to the elderly and honoring ancestors.

– **Customs**: Typical activities include climbing mountains or tall buildings, enjoying chrysanthemum flowers, and drinking chrysanthemum wine.

– **Symbolism**: The number nine is considered auspicious and symbolizes longevity and good fortune.

The festival has evolved over time and is celebrated with various customs and activities depending on the region.