Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 146

Wu Jing took the back route home again, to avoid having his disappearance from the house captured by surveillance cameras.

 

He checked his phone and saw the extra zeros in his bank account. After hesitating, he made no changes but simply removed the phone’s password, leaving it on the screen showing his account balance.

 

His parents knew his bank password and gave him a generous allowance every year. Although Wu Jing felt that if something unfortunate did happen, his parents wouldn’t see this as consolation, he couldn’t think of a better solution.

 

Before leaving, Wu Jing took out his phone and reviewed the prescription he had seen earlier, pacing anxiously around the room.

 

Ning Qinghong was sitting at the table, looking down at a diary in his hands.

 

Wu Jing, no longer concerned about Ning Qinghong reading his diary, anxiously curled up in his embrace. “Brother, aren’t you worried at all?”

 

He mumbled.

 

Ning Qinghong merely smiled and replied in a calm tone, “Wu Wu should sleep for a while. When you wake up, we’ll be there.”

 

Wu Jing wasn’t originally tired, but as he breathed in the faint scent of floating gold from Ning Qinghong, he grew more and more drowsy. Soon, he fell asleep in Ning Qinghong’s arms, breathing steadily and softly.

 

He slept deeply, and after what seemed like a long time, he was woken by a commotion and the sound of many people around him.

 

“Quick, summon the imperial doctor!”

 

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

 

“Master An, the master from the South has fainted—”

 

“Your Majesty, is the Dragon Body unharmed?”

 

“Quick, call the imperial doctor—”

 

“First let the imperial doctor tend to the master from the South. I am fine. Help the Emperor over here.” Then came the familiar voice, calm and steady, “There’s no need to panic.”

 

With a clear leader, everyone immediately became organized and followed orders.

 

Wu Jing felt himself being lifted by palace servants in his dazed state, and he was soon held by someone else.

 

As he was still half-asleep, he slipped down, but was gently lifted and held.

 

Ning Qinghong, tall and graceful, held Wu Jing quietly, waiting for the doctor’s results.

 

Fuchen reported quietly, “Master, there have been no major issues in the palace over the past three months, although public sentiment has been slightly unsettled. The cabinet ministers dare not plot rebellion, but the Left Chancellor’s faction has been pressing petitions to see the Emperor, causing some unrest among the people.”

 

“However, the Left Chancellor did not dare to break into the ancestral temple. The Inner Guard has been strictly guarding the area, and no information has leaked out.”

 

“The only issue is that the master from the South has not eaten or drunk anything for the past three months and has been sitting in meditation with his eyes closed.”

 

Fuchen spoke quickly and anxiously, “As soon as the master appeared, he fainted and has been taken aside to wait for the doctor.”

 

Ning Qinghong made a gesture indicating that he understood and ordered, “Have the spell array on the Dragon Vein cleaned.”

 

Fuchen knelt and replied, “Yes.”

 

Wu Jing struggled to open his eyes, feeling disoriented. He saw white candles everywhere in the hall, which were used for sacrificial rites. The hall was decorated with portraits of aged emperors.

 

Clearly, this was the ancestral temple of the Da Zhou dynasty.

 

He looked up from Ning Qinghong’s shoulder, confused. “…Brother?”

 

Ning Qinghong remained calm and gently reassured him, “Wu Wu, don’t be afraid.” When the imperial doctor hurried in, Ning Qinghong explained, “We are under the Da Zhou’s Dragon Vein. Three months ago, Brother passed away here.”

 

He gently lowered Wu Jing and took his hand, walking towards the doctor. “How is it?”

 

The doctor bowed first, “Replying to His Majesty, the person is not seriously harmed; it seems to be a faint caused by overexertion. Once he wakes up, there should be no issues.”

 

Fuchen was surprised but kept quiet, afraid of giving the wrong impression to the doctor.

 

Wu Jing, still feeling like an outsider, stared blankly. His hand was suddenly lifted, “Let’s check if the Emperor is alright?”

 

Everything was fine. Even though Wu Jing had gone to the other side, this body was well cared for.

 

Ning Qinghong knew the situation but still had the doctor take another pulse to confirm there were no issues before letting him leave. “What should be said and what should not be said—”

 

He left his sentence unfinished, implying what he wanted.

 

The doctor immediately knelt and said, “This subordinate understands.”

 

He then quickly retreated.

 

Ning Qinghong continued, “Have the person taken down and well cared for. Grant some gold, silver, and jewels. When he wakes, let him come to see me.” After giving these instructions in a cold tone, he softened and looked at Wu Jing. “Wu Wu, are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

 

It was now late at night.

 

Wu Jing nodded and left, looking back three times. After a while, he finally sorted out the sequence of events from Ning Qinghong’s words. He asked softly, “Why did he help us?”

 

Ning Qinghong replied gently, “Initially, Brother only promised some money to the South. Over the past three months, we had to arrange for Da Zhou to send fifty thousand measures of grain to the neighboring country to help them through the winter disaster next year.” He added, “It’s also a way to establish a friendly relationship with a neighboring country.”

 

Wu Jing seemed to understand only partially. “So, is he really okay?” He looked up, “I think I heard something about not eating or drinking for three months…”

 

But he’s still alive; is he really human?

 

Wu Jing swallowed, feeling it was beyond his comprehension.

 

Ning Qinghong reassured him, “Wu Wu doesn’t need to worry about this.” He spoke softly, “After this month, there should be no more issues. We’ll send the person back to the South with the royal guards.”

 

“You probably won’t see him again after this.”

 

Wu Jing nodded, still somewhat confused. He got into the sedan chair for the dining hall but then worriedly asked, “And brother’s blood?”

 

He realized his concern belatedly.

 

Ning Qinghong was candid, his tone calm, “One drop per day for a month can be used to draw the spell array.”

 

Wu Jing felt a bit overwhelmed and puzzled, “But… but I didn’t see any wounds on you.”

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled, “Naturally, it was done after healing to avoid causing Wu Wu any worry, wasn’t it?”

 

Wu Jing felt like crying again, burying his face in Ning Qinghong’s embrace and tightening his arms, “I just remembered, your birthday must have already passed.”

 

In Wu Jing’s memory, he had only spent six days on the other side, but six months had seemingly vanished from his life.

 

In the blink of an eye, winter’s heavy snow had turned into late spring, and the weather had warmed up. He was not used to the lighter clothing.

 

The stark contrast from the cold winter made Wu Jing acutely aware of how much Ning Qinghong had done for him, not just because of his sudden disappearance.

 

Ning Qinghong gently asked, “What would Wu Wu like to give Brother for his birthday?”

 

Wu Jing hesitated, looking down. “I haven’t thought of anything.”

 

Ning Qinghong’s response was meaningful, “Oh, really?”

 

Wu Jing pretended not to hear.

 

Soon, after their meal at the palace, they returned to the Ning residence. Wu Jing went to change first while Ning Qinghong reviewed the past three months’ court affairs in the study.

 

Wu Jing, wearing a red silk robe with floral embroidery, was a bit awkward as he walked, cautious not to trip. He peeked at the door, waiting eagerly.

 

When Fuchen returned, Wu Jing’s eyes lit up as he whispered, “Did you get it?”

 

Fuchen presented the item, “Your Majesty, look.”

 

Wu Jing gratefully took the wine jar and excitedly ran off.

 

As the night deepened, the candle wax dripped slowly. Wu Jing, exhausted, fell asleep at the desk.

 

His long sleeves revealed his slender, recently nourished wrists. His white skin and delicate features showed a hint of red from sleep, with marks from his position. Soon, he was gently lifted by Ning Qinghong.

 

Wu Jing drowsily opened his eyes, rubbing them. “Brother?”

 

Ning Qinghong softly asked, “Why not sleep on the bed?”

 

Wu Jing, barely awake, clung to him and nuzzled his face, murmuring, “…Waiting for Brother to come back.”

 

Still half-asleep, his eyes barely open. Noticing Ning Qinghong’s matching red attire, Wu Jing began to fidget, struggling slightly but too tired to move much. He tried to get down but was held tightly. His speech was broken, “No… no, there’s still something left to do…”

 

The boy’s warm body pressed close, his soft, flushed face snuggling against Ning Qinghong, mumbling, “Want to… drink… toasting wine with Brother.”

 

Ning Qinghong paused, then sat back at the desk with Wu Jing in his arms. His tone was gently affectionate, “How would Wu Wu like to drink?”

 

Wu Jing, still dazed, was given a sip of warm wine from Ning Qinghong’s lips. His brain short-circuited, and he breathed out in warmth as Ning Qinghong kissed him for a long time. Soon, Wu Jing began to whimper and cry.

 

The boy, seemingly drunk and confused, kept whining and snuggling closer, with a tearful voice, “Brother… didn’t drink toasting wine…”

 

Ning Qinghong, half-amused and half-resigned, stopped and gently guided Wu Jing’s hand to join in drinking.

 

Wu Jing, feeling fuzzy, leaned in to drink, with his nose almost touching Ning Qinghong’s. He sipped the wine slowly, with tears falling onto his lashes, and swallowed them.

 

After finishing the cup, Wu Jing seemed even more intoxicated, his face flushed with disappointment, his eyes drooping, and his belly slightly distended. He sat in Ning Qinghong’s lap, whining and complaining, “Can’t… can’t marry Brother…”

 

Wu Jing’s tears nearly fell, “It’s hard… hard…” He nestled deeper, murmuring sleepily, “Love… Brother, love…”

 

Ning Qinghong lowered his eyes slightly, tenderly kissing him.