Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 119

Wu Jing was originally panting, but with each successive shiver, his back tightened, and his wrists were pulled up high. His slightly parted lips grew wider with each gasp, and his throat emitted incoherent cries, which eventually grew nearly silent. He was left feeling weak, turning his eyes over, and letting out a long sigh.

On his flushed and damp face, the moisture mixed with lifeless tears, flowing down the corners of his lips into his neck.

The red silk ribbon used was chosen for its softness; even if one struggled, it wouldn’t cause harm. However, the pulling inevitably put strain on his wrists. If his legs were too weak to stand, his wrists would turn red from the pressure.

When he was forced to hang in the air, he continued to shiver and was scorched by the heat.

Seeing that Wu Jing was losing consciousness, Ning Qinghong stopped, fearing that further pulling might cause real harm. The moment he released him, Wu Jing fell weakly, letting out a muffled cry as he collapsed into Ning Qinghong’s embrace.

He didn’t recover for long before seeking comfort, curling into Ning Qinghong’s arms, his arms too weak to stretch out, trembling as he held himself close.

Out of fear, he squeezed tighter, his state of disorientation evident.

Ning Qinghong’s attempts to soothe him were in vain, so he took the opportunity to untie the red silk ribbon from Wu Jing’s arms, speaking softly, “Brother has untied Wu Wu. It’s okay now.”

Although it was he who had tormented him, he was now playing the role of the savior.

Wu Jing could barely speak, his words coming out as incoherent cries, “Brother, Brother, save, save… don’t… afraid, afraid.”

Ning Qinghong patted his back gently, “Brother has saved Wu Wu. It’s okay, alright?” He added, “Wu Wu, look for yourself. There’s nothing on your arm anymore, is there?”

Wu Jing, with teary eyes, glanced down and saw that everything was indeed gone. He became even more reliant on the person who rescued him, unconsciously clutching at his clothing and burying himself deeper into his embrace, only able to let out shuddering whimpers and not daring to lift his head.

Ning Qinghong’s fingers gently stroked the back of his head, “Why is Wu Wu so scared?” His tone was tender, almost teasing, “All better now.”

He continued, “I heard that today in front of the court officials, Wu Wu had the demeanor of an emperor. How come here with me, you act like a clueless chick?”

Ning Qinghong laughed, “Lately, the court officials are almost spreading rumors that Brother has become Wu Wu’s favored official.”

Wu Jing frantically shook his head, wishing he could cover his ears, feeling as if once he heard Ning Qinghong’s words to the end, it would truly be the moment he was tormented to death.

He wanted to delay it, to delay it.

Tears kept falling.

“But after all this time, Wu Wu hasn’t grown braver. Every time, it’s Brother who attends to you.”

“This isn’t a lie, is it?”

Wu Jing didn’t dare lift his head, crying intermittently, shaking his head like a quail.

Ning Qinghong spoke softly again, “If Wu Wu says it’s not this rumor, then it must be another?” He smiled, “They say Wu Wu is Brother’s pet, like the little fox servant the Empress Dowager keeps.”

He lightly asked, “Is that so?”

Few dared to insinuate about their relationship privately. Even those few with such audacity, once detected by the inner guards, would be dealt with cleanly by Ning Qinghong’s people.

He said this only because Wu Jing didn’t know better.

Wu Jing “whimpered” and didn’t dare to make a sound.

Ning Qinghong’s voice softened, “Is Wu Wu silent in agreement?” Without waiting for a response, his tone turned slightly cold, “If so, why not observe any decorum and cling to someone like this?”

“You shouldn’t be curled up on the ground. When Brother strokes your back, you can’t help but arch up under his fingertips.”

In the next moment, his voice softened again.

Ning Qinghong spoke this way, his fingertips lightly resting on Wu Jing’s waist, patting him intermittently.

This didn’t resemble a pet at all.

Clearly, it was just a pretense.

Wu Jing buried himself tightly, “Brother, Brother, no…”

Ning Qinghong’s tone was somewhat mocking, “Why aren’t you going?”

Wu Jing felt he was on the verge of crying out of breath, feeling deeply wronged and terrified to disobey. He slowly knelt up, hesitating for a quarter of an hour, then gingerly held Ning Qinghong’s shoulders, bending his waist and resting for a while.

He then cautiously placed his toes on the ground, still trembling and crying, and gradually moved down.

He couldn’t stand steadily, quickly collapsing to the ground, letting out a few more whimpers, noticing the gaze above him, and taking deep breaths while crying.

Finally, he turned over and slumped down.

He performed the actions described in human terms.

His entire soft body was flushed pink, his tear-streaked face tightly closed, exposed to the high gaze, and growing even more flushed.

Without anything blocking, the sensation of water flowing down his body became more pronounced. Wu Jing breathed in small gasps, emitting faint sounds, and unconsciously rubbed his soft face against the soft fox fur on the ground.

His hair fell down, disheveled, and soaked with tears.

The person behind him did not touch him at all,

Only he unconsciously rubbed his legs.

Ning Qinghong said quietly, “Why is Wu Wu still like a pet, always leaking—whether it’s water or…?”

He softly left out a word, making sure Wu Jing heard it clearly.

The sudden shame

caused Wu Jing to involuntarily emit a muffled little cry from his throat in one tight squeeze.

He just admitted it himself.

Wu Jing later felt embarrassed and his tears flowed more fiercely. He cried so intensely.

Ning Qinghong had to get up and gather him into his arms.

Once Wu Jing was in the familiar embrace, he couldn’t stop crying, his sobs intensifying, emotions overwhelming, and his psychological defenses crumbling at the edge.

Ning Qinghong silently held him.

Wu Jing’s cries became incoherent, and after saying a few words, he had to swallow, gasping, “No, it’s not the rumor.” He clung tightly to Ning Qinghong, “I like Brother, and Brother likes me too.”

“It’s not…”

“Afraid… so embarrassed… like… sob.”

Repeating these two or three words over and over.

Ning Qinghong gently asked, “Does Wu Wu like Brother this much?”

Wu Jing didn’t respond, still crying with his head down, mumbling, and saying again, “Like Brother.”

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Brother heard it.”

He seemed finally in good spirits, lifting Wu Jing up and carrying him to the couch, soothing him repeatedly.

“All right, all right, don’t cry, it’s okay.”

“Only Brother and Wu Wu know, it’s not embarrassing at all.”

“Not embarrassing, shall Brother give Wu Wu a kiss?”

Ning Qinghong kissed him for a long time, then kissed the tear marks on his face, “Crying so hard that your eyes are red, should Brother kiss you again?”

“No one dares to spread rumors about Brother and Wu Wu,” he continued softly, “it’s all fake.”

“…”

Wu Jing curled up tightly in his embrace, gradually relaxing in his repeated reassurances, and fell into a drowsy sleep.

Ning Qinghong finished up, wiped Wu Jing clean with a damp cloth, and fearing to wake him after he had finally been soothed to sleep, didn’t take him out for a bath.

As the candlelight dimmed, the night passed dreamlessly.