Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 12

Wu Jing was stunned.

 

He glanced at the person lying next to him, then at the golden canopy above his head, and then at the Ninth Elder who was sleeping beside him. He slowly lowered his head and glanced at the hand he was holding.

 

He couldn’t help but swallow hard.

 

He still felt a bit uncomfortable, his head was still dizzy, and he had a dry mouth and throat due to the fever. His throat was inflamed and painful.

 

But compared to yesterday when he was delirious with fever, his condition wasn’t much better. At least now, Wu Jing could remember that while he was semi-conscious, this person, whom he had thought was crazy, had called the imperial physician for him, fed him medicine and food, and stayed by his side.

 

This person seems to be really good,

 

Not as bad as others say.

 

People are most vulnerable when they are sick, and Wu Jing couldn’t forget the care Ning Qinghong had shown him yesterday. He couldn’t just wake up and treat him like an enemy.

 

From now on, I won’t curse you in my heart,

 

Wu Jing silently thanked him in his heart.

 

He carefully prepared to let go of Ning Qinghong’s hand. As soon as he moved, he noticed a slight change in the steady breathing beside him. Just as he was about to look over in a daze, he met Ning Qinghong’s particularly calm gaze.

 

When Ning Qinghong woke up, he was exceptionally calm, with no remnants of sleepiness in his eyes, despite only having slept for two or three hours.

 

His body had already sent him the signal that he had rested enough, and on a normal day, he would have had surplus energy after dealing with today’s court matters.

 

Meeting the bewildered gaze of the emperor, Ning Qinghong’s thoughts lingered for a moment on how to deal with this troublesome brat. Then he calmly called out, “Fuchen.”

 

He withdrew his gaze and got up from the bed.

 

Fuchen, who was waiting on the side, emerged from behind the screen and whispered, “Master, you’re awake?” He spoke softly, “The memorials on today’s court matters discussed by the cabinet scholars have all been submitted. I don’t know if you will summon them. They are still waiting outside.”

 

Ning Qinghong raised his hand, and Fuchen handed him a booklet with a yellow seal. After flipping through it quickly, he smiled, “With the Left Prime Minister taking the lead on the flood matter, the rest are not major issues.”

 

Fuchen asked, “Shall I have someone escort the ministers out of the palace?”

 

Ning Qinghong closed his eyes lightly, “Yes.”

 

Fuchen left the hall to give the order, and the room returned to silence.

 

Ning Qinghong was about to stand up when the hem of his clothes, left on the bed, was pulled by someone. He turned around faintly and didn’t say anything.

 

It was deliberate.

 

Although Wu Jing didn’t understand, according to his character, he couldn’t just watch Ning Qinghong leave like that. He hesitated and called out, “Brother?”

 

The pain in his throat made his speech sluggish, and his words came out softly, muffled, and a little hoarse.

 

It was like being faced with Ning Qinghong’s cold face for the first time, especially aggrieved.

 

Ning Qinghong looked surprised, “So the emperor can speak?”

 

Wu Jing was stunned for a moment, not knowing what was going on.

 

Ning Qinghong bent down, pinched the cheeks of the emperor, and lifted them, “Open your mouth.”

 

Wu Jing instinctively opened his mouth.

 

After being fed medicine and food yesterday, this action had become muscle memory for him. As soon as Ning Qinghong said it, he subconsciously followed suit.

 

Ning Qinghong looked at him seriously for a while before sighing softly, “I thought His Majesty had lost his tongue.” He said each word slowly, “And became mute.”

 

Wu Jing’s reaction was slow, and he hesitated to retort, “I’m not mute… it hurts. Wu Wu can speak.”

 

The boy’s speech was confused, but it didn’t prevent Ning Qinghong from understanding. Ning Qinghong didn’t know which aspect of Wu Jing’s serious explanation touched him, and he chuckled softly, “Wu Wu is a little mute, isn’t he?”

 

Wu Jing shook his head, “Ah—Brother, listen, there’s sound.”

 

Ning Qinghong asked in return, “Is that so?” He was puzzled, “Then why didn’t His Majesty say a word in the inner chamber all day yesterday?”

 

Wu Jing blinked blankly.

 

Ning Qinghong said, “When it rains, those dogs, slaves, and pets will run home. But when people are hungry or thirsty, why don’t they make a sound?”

 

Wu Jing looked puzzled.

 

In his heart, Wu Jing silently recited,

 

He’s a fool, he can’t understand, he can’t understand.

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled lightly, “Since His Majesty doesn’t shout when he’s hungry or thirsty, he endures the discomfort with dignity.” He uttered a few cruel words, “So Wu Wu doesn’t need to eat today.”

 

He could understand the second half of the sentence.

 

Wu Jing widened his eyes, “I want to eat!”

 

Ignoring Wu Jing’s plea, Ning Qinghong released his face and stood up straight, “Servant, come and change.”

 

Wu Jing knew that the other party was well-intentioned and wanted to teach him, but he couldn’t help but panic in his heart, afraid that if he went hungry for a day, this illness would really take his life. He got up from the bed, knelt down, grabbed Ning Qinghong’s clothes, and looked at him with pleading eyes, saying in a muffled voice, “It hurts, Wu Wu can speak… it hurts.”

 

Ning Qinghong’s steps paused slightly, and he looked back, “Did it hurt yesterday too?”

 

Wu Jing thought for a long time before hesitantly nodding, probably lying.

 

Ning Qinghong asked quietly, “Anything else?”

 

Wu Jing didn’t know what else he wanted to ask and was momentarily at a loss.

 

Ning Qinghong didn’t look at him anymore, raised his brows, and washed up.

 

Then, palace attendants came in, surrounded Ning Qinghong, and helped him into a crimson official robe and a Nine-Beam Court Crown.

 

Wu Jing watched as a palace attendant brought Ning Qinghong a cup of morning tea, and suddenly realized that he was extremely thirsty and uncomfortable. He vaguely understood something and said, “… Wu Wu is also thirsty.”

 

Ning Qinghong heard him and gestured with his hand.

 

A palace attendant came over with a copper basin to cleanse the emperor’s face. After Wu Jing endured the discomfort and rinsed his mouth, he finally received a cup of tea similar to the one Ning Qinghong had just drunk.

 

He held the teacup and sipped it slowly.

 

The pain in his throat immediately eased a lot.

 

Wu Jing plucked up the courage to tug at Ning Qinghong’s clothes, “Brother, hungry.” He couldn’t let him go without eating.

 

Ning Qinghong said, “Order a meal.”

 

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up, he knew he was just scaring him!

 

Wu Jing was attended to by palace servants, dressed in shoes and socks, and finally put on a somewhat decent imperial robe. He then noticed that everything around him had become much more luxurious. Not to mention the brocade quilt and jade pillow on the bed, even the bed canopy had been changed to a new style.

 

The most obvious change was the well-fitted and smooth robe he had just changed into, with a white face and a red base, and golden silk patterns.

 

With attendants holding a copper mirror in front of him and another carefully combing his hair from behind, Wu Jing was transformed into an extremely dignified figure.

 

After getting cleaned up, he followed Ning Qinghong, who led him to the dining hall. When Wu Jing was about to sit down, he was ordered, “Stand.”

 

Wu Jing stood obediently, stealing glances at the expression of the Ninth Elder, not knowing what had happened.

 

After speaking, Ning Qinghong started to eat on his own.

 

Fuchen gently served dish after dish to his master. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the emperor was almost mesmerized by his master’s bowl, unable to stop himself from salivating. He glanced at the Ninth Prince, who was calmly eating his meal.

 

He wondered what had happened while he went to the cabinet.

 

He wiped the sweat off secretly, knowing that the emperor was still ill. Yesterday, Judge Zhang had said to take good care of him. Great Zhou only had this one emperor, and nothing could happen to him.

 

Fuchen, carrying the feather Fuchener on his arm, subtly nudged the emperor, who was standing foolishly.

 

Wu Jing stumbled two steps, ending up next to Ning Qinghong. His body, which had just been braced, now lost all its strength, and he felt dizzy.

 

Wu Jing tugged at Ning Qinghong’s clothes, “Wu Wu is hungry, wants to eat.”

 

Ning Qinghong paused his movements for a moment and repeated, “Anything else?”

 

Wu Jing racked his brains and suddenly had an idea. He tentatively said, “When thirsty, want to drink water; when uncomfortable, want to make a sound.”

 

“Should tell Brother about everything.”

 

Ning Qinghong said, “Sit down.”

 

Fuchen hurried to arrange the meal for Wu Jing and said with a smile, “His Majesty doesn’t like congee, so I’ll go get a bowl of soup.”

 

After Wu Jing sat down and waited for the meal, he heard this and looked at Fuchen with confusion.

 

Fuchen continued, “Yesterday, His Majesty had a fever, and the imperial physician said he should eat liquid food. But no matter what congee the imperial kitchen brought, His Majesty refused to eat it.”

 

“It was the Ninth Prince who ordered to bring a bowl of meat soup.” He placed a bowl of fragrant black chicken soup beside Wu Jing, and also served half a bowl of rice. “Look, even the rice today is specially stewed soft.”

 

“Your Majesty, please eat.”

 

Wu Jing was stunned for a moment before picking up his chopsticks.

 

Fuchen then served some soft and tender minced meat. He was accustomed to reading people’s expressions, so whenever Wu Jing stared at a certain dish for a while, he would considerately serve it.

 

Wu Jing ate comfortably, and even his throat didn’t hurt as much.

 

After finishing the meal, he returned to the sleeping quarters near the dining hall. Somehow, he didn’t go to the study today but temporarily used the desk in his own hall.

 

Wu Jing saw Ning Qinghong start reviewing documents again, so he wisely stayed silent. He knelt on the side, and the next moment, the palace servants brought him his medicine for the day.

 

The bitter medicinal smell permeated the air.

 

Wu Jing secretly glanced at Ning Qinghong, daring not to mention the bitterness. He resolutely picked up the bowl and gulped it down, his face wrinkled in disgust.

 

The palace servant wiped away the medicine residue from the corner of his mouth, took the bowl, and brought a plate of honeyed treats.

 

After drinking the medicine, Wu Jing listlessly picked up a piece of honeyed jujube with his jade chopsticks. As soon as it entered his mouth, he recognized it as the honeyed jujube he had been fed while half-unconscious yesterday.

 

Just as sweet as yesterday,

 

But delicious.

 

Wu Jing ate whatever was given to him, saving Fuchen from the trouble of speaking more than necessary. He was obedient.

 

He inexplicably understood why the Ninth Prince kept this little fool by his side.

 

After finishing one treat and wanting another, he heard a voice in his ear, “Wu Wu can only eat one.”

 

He looked up blankly and met Ning Qinghong’s faint smile.

 

Seemingly accommodating,

 

But not giving Wu Jing any room to be willful.

 

Wu Jing tepidly responded with an “Oh” and stopped eating.

 

Was this person always watching him? Only then did he realize he wanted to sneak another treat.

 

The honeyed treats were swiftly removed by the palace servants.

 

Ning Qinghong opened the next document and sighed lightly, “The imperial physician said His Majesty must abstain from food, so I can only be more careful.”

 

Didn’t understand.

 

Wu Jing boredly lay his head on the table, earnestly counting how many brushes were on the table. Slowly, he started feeling drowsy.

 

He was now in the sleeping quarters, with the bed not far away, as if Ning Qinghong knew he would feel sleepy after taking his medicine.

 

Wu Jing’s head slowly nodded, and in the next moment, it hit the table with a “thud,” instantly waking him up. He was afraid of disturbing Ning Qinghong while he reviewed documents.

 

He had counted them, and there were four or five stacks of documents, each about the length of a forearm. Originally, all of this would have been his workload, but if it were Wu Jing, he probably wouldn’t finish reviewing them in a whole day.

 

But Ning Qinghong’s speed was fast; he scanned them quickly, made annotations with a red brush, and immediately had the important ones sent out by the palace servants.

 

If he ever had the chance to wield the power of the emperor, Wu Jing probably wouldn’t want it. Otherwise, within three days, Great Zhou would surely fall.

 

He wasn’t from this dynasty, nor did he have the sense of honor and disgrace that came from being the last descendant of the Great Zhou imperial family.

 

He wasn’t feudal either; instead, he felt that the Ninth Prince didn’t oppress the people of Great Zhou, and he wasn’t a bad person. Therefore, managing state affairs might not be impossible.

 

Slowly, Wu Jing felt drowsy again.

 

He went to tug at Ning Qinghong’s clothes, “Brother, I’m sleepy, want to sleep.”

 

Ning Qinghong stopped writing and stood up, “You can only sleep for half an hour. His Majesty still needs to take medicine in the afternoon.”

 

Wu Jing wrinkled his nose, seeming quite unhappy, “Just a short nap?”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Is Wu Wu throwing a tantrum?”

 

Wu Jing asked, “Tantrum?”

 

Ning Qinghong didn’t argue with the little fool who didn’t understand what he was saying, and led him to the bedside.

 

Wu Jing waited for the palace servants to help him change into night clothes. After looking at the elaborate dragon bed for a while, he suddenly had a mischievous idea.

 

When everything was ready, Ning Qinghong whispered softly, “Okay, Wu Wu, go to sleep.”

 

Wu Jing lay down, seeming very tired, and hugged the soft bedding drowsily, “Brother is so nice, Wu Wu has never slept under such a warm blanket before.”

 

Ning Qinghong suddenly stopped moving.