Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 13

Yangxin Hall, Imperial Study.

 

Yan He was summoned once again. She answered any questions asked of her, but never spoke more than necessary.

 

After a moment, the eunuch waved his hand, dismissing the attendants, and quietly retreated to Ning Qinghong’s side, waiting silently for further instructions, even though the emperor had only asked one question at the beginning and had not spoken since.

 

Only when there were only a few memorials left on the imperial desk did a quiet voice sound in the spacious study: “Investigate.”

 

As soon as the words fell, the sound of footsteps followed closely.

 

The internal guards were efficient. Within moments, every detail, large and small, since the Emperor ascended to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, was reported to Ning Qinghong.

 

At that moment, he was leaning against the window sill of the study.

 

Timing was perfect, with only a few memorials left to review, Ning Qinghong moved to the low table, taking up a leisure book and quietly perusing it.

 

The informant knelt beside him, speaking softly.

 

Ning Qinghong multitasked, and after a while, he found the local gazetteer he held in his hand uninteresting. He glanced through a few pages absentmindedly and had a chessboard brought over by the eunuch.

 

The black and white chess pieces were made of warm jade, and as they touched the specially made chessboard, a crisp sound of gold and stone rang out, like a leisurely melody.

 

He played against himself, smiling inexplicably. “Master Li is indeed a lover of chess. I somewhat miss the game we played before he left the capital.”

 

However, Master Li had been exiled to the Southern Barbarian lands under Ning Qinghong’s impeachment during the late Emperor’s reign, and this chessboard had been found hidden deep in the storage room of the Internal Guards’ residence when they ransacked his house.

 

It was obviously a cherished possession.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed regretfully.

 

Fanning the chess pieces, he also commented, “I heard that Yongchang has a chessboard made of rhinoceros horn and ivory, mixed with yellow dragon jade, which is no less exquisite than the one in my hands.”

 

Ning Qinghong made a move, “Forget it.”

 

The informant continued, “The Emperor’s mental faculties are not fully intact. He spends most of his time indulging in pleasure. I have reported everything else.”

 

Ning Qinghong waved his sleeve, and the orderly arrangement of black and white pieces on the chessboard became a mess. He grabbed a handful and casually put them into the jade box. “Fuchen, pick out all the black pieces.”

 

His words seemed to carry deeper meaning.

 

Fuchen complied.

 

Ning Qinghong looked at the informant, “All those involved, from top to bottom, even if they’re just greedy for a penny, should be replaced.”

 

Fuchen chuckled as he picked out the black pieces, “Master is right. These people can’t be kept. It’s time to vent some anger for His Majesty.”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled lightly, “Vent anger?” He seemed to realize something, “Yes, it’s time to vent anger.”

 

Fuchen thought to himself that it would be difficult to persuade His Majesty at the moment, as he didn’t take the words of informants seriously.

 

He couldn’t fathom what was on His Majesty’s mind at the moment.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed, “The Internal Guards’ residence is full of corruption and filth. It’s time for a thorough overhaul.” His voice was extremely soft, “Otherwise, when everyone is colluding against me, pretending to obey while secretly disobeying, I might as well call them all ‘Your Excellency.'”

 

Fuchen immediately knelt down, trembling with fear, not daring to utter a word.

 

Ning Qinghong picked up the leisure book again, leaning back in the Grand Secretary’s chair. The light filtered through the window, casting vague patterns on his crimson official robe, leaving a floral patterned shadow on the floor.

 

He sipped his tea and said lightly, “You may leave.”

 

Shortly after, cries of all sizes could be heard throughout the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Even the Wardrobe Department and the Imperial Kitchen were thoroughly cleaned, with a new batch of people replacing the old ones.

 

The Yangxin Hall was significantly emptier, plunged into an inexplicable silence.

 

In this quiet stillness, Ning Qinghong caught a faint scent of blood in the air, but it was quickly cleared, replaced by the calming fragrance he was familiar with.

 

As noon approached, the sunlight outside the window became slightly glaring. Ning Qinghong slowly lifted his gaze towards the light, his eyes momentarily lost in the dazzling brightness.

 

The hall was silent, not even the sound of a falling needle could be heard.

 

Ning Qinghong closed his eyes, his expression gradually turning cold. His eyes, when reopened, seemed to contain a hint of weariness. “Prepare the sedan, we’re returning to the mansion,” he commanded.

 

Observing his master’s demeanor, Fuchen noticed the change in Ning Qinghong’s expression. Ning Qinghong glanced at him indifferently, his tone icy. “What are you looking at?”

 

Trembling, Fuchen replied, “My lord, after lunch, weren’t you supposed to discuss morning court matters with the ministers in the Yangxin Hall?”

 

“Have no interest,” Ning Qinghong replied tersely.

 

—

 

Wu Jing woke up abruptly to a piercing scream. In the moment between sleep and wakefulness, the scream seemed distant yet near. But when he opened his eyes, everything was eerily silent.

 

“What happened to His Majesty?” a familiar female voice came from outside the curtain.

 

Confused, Wu Jing blinked. “Sister Yanhe?” he said, bewildered. “Wu heard it, and then it was gone.”

 

He was puzzled. Did he mishear?

 

Sister Yanhe lifted the curtain. Somehow, her face looked paler than usual, though she remained composed. “His Majesty had a nightmare? Well, it’s good that he’s awake. It’s time for lunch.”

 

She guided him towards the dining hall.

 

Wu Jing’s attention shifted. “Food?” he repeated excitedly. “Wu is eating.”

 

In the past few days, he had no reaction when Sister Yanhe mentioned meals. But now, with the emperor’s changes noticed by Sister Yanhe, she naturally paid attention. Thinking about the scene just now, she soothingly comforted the young emperor, “Yes, it’s time to eat.”

 

Wu Jing eagerly changed his clothes, tidied his hair, and eagerly followed Sister Yanhe, already anticipating what delicious food he would get to eat later, while silently thanking Ning Qinghong once again.

 

Prepared to play the fool and be fed by the other party, but upon entering the dining hall, there was no one else present besides the waiting palace attendants.

 

There was no familiar figure in crimson official robes.

 

Wu Jing was momentarily stunned. Guided by Yanhe to the main seat, he couldn’t help but wonder why he was seated there. Normally, it was Ning Qinghong who sat in that position. Why was it him now?

 

Didn’t they usually have lunch together?

 

The table was filled with a variety of dishes, despite Wu Jing being the only one dining. The palace attendants served the food with utmost respect and precision, silently attending to their tasks without a word spoken.

 

Only Yanhe, seated beside Wu Jing, coaxed, “Your Majesty, please have your meal. You’ll need to take your medicine later.”

 

Wu Jing hesitated, looking around. Slowly, he tilted his head and asked, “Brother is gone.”

 

Yanhe didn’t understand at first. “Who is Your Majesty referring to?”

 

She couldn’t imagine anyone daring to address the great Ning Qinghong like that.

 

Wu Jing reminded, “The brother who gave Wu Wu delicious food.”

 

Yanhe’s eyes widened in realization. ” Lord Ning Qinghong ?”

 

Wu Jing silently nodded in his mind, but on the surface, he furrowed his brows, as if not understanding those four words.

 

Yanhe understood. “The Lord has left the palace and returned home for lunch.”

 

This left Wu Jing dumbfounded. How did he manage to sleep and find the person gone when he woke up? But then again, it seemed natural; no one would bother explaining to a fool.

 

Especially someone of that status, who didn’t need explanations.

 

Wu Jing took a few bites of his meal, still enjoying it, but somehow not as much as the morning meal. Two quarters of an hour after finishing his meal, a bowl of medicine was brought to him.

 

After swallowing a few sips, a familiar sweet treat was presented.

 

This time, instead of gulping it down, Wu Jing savored it in his mouth like candy, reluctant to let go of the sweetness.

 

After finishing one, swallowing it down, Yanhe asked, “Your Majesty, would you like more?”

 

Could he have more?

 

Wu Jing belatedly realized, oh, that person who wouldn’t let him have more isn’t here anymore, so of course he can have a second one!

 

Without hesitation, Wu Jing picked up another with his jade chopsticks and put it in his mouth. But after holding it in for a moment, he felt the lack of bitter taste from the lingering medicine, and the overly sweet liquid made his already sore throat even more uncomfortable.

 

He held the second sweet in his mouth, cheeks slightly puffed, quiet for a while before tugging at Yanhe’s sleeve.

 

The young emperor sat beside the desk, looking up at the maid standing beside him, “Sister Yanhe, will Brother come to play with Wu Wu this afternoon?”

 

“Your Majesty, it’s not for us to inquire about Lord Ning Qinghong’s whereabouts,” Yanhe said.

 

Wu Jing made a puzzled expression.

 

Yanhe had to simplify her explanation, “He probably won’t come.”

 

After a while, Wu Jing finally uttered a slow “Oh.”

 

In the following days, he indeed never saw Ning Qinghong again.

 

But during these days, Wu Jing noticed many changes in the Yangxin Hall. It seemed that many of the palace attendants he couldn’t name before were gone, and there were many others whose names he also couldn’t recall.

 

His bedchamber was adorned with many decorations now, and every morning, a palace attendant would clean it, always leaving it spotless.

 

Even after Ning Qinghong left, those silk blankets, jade pillows, and beautiful clothes, as well as delicious food, were not taken away.

 

And no one called him a little fool anymore.

 

Everyone treated Wu Jing like a true emperor.

 

But today was the tenth day,

 

And he still hadn’t seen him.

 

Author’s Notes:

 

Wuwu looking out, Wuwu feeling lost 

 

PS: The chessboards of the Yongchang Prefecture are mostly made of agate and other natural minerals, not rhino horn or ivory. This was randomly made up in the text.