Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 2

The next day, early morning.

Wu Jing woke up naturally. Although he was the emperor, being a fool meant he didn’t have to attend the early court sessions, now handled by the rumored Jiu Qian Sui.

The imperial power was a mere formality, and Great Zhou existed in name only.

But what did he care about?

Wu Jing got up, clumsily dressed in elaborate attire. The clothes were ill-fitting, and the only eye-catching piece was the ceremonial robe, worn only once during the former emperor’s ascension.

Wu Jing washed his face with the already cold water in a bronze basin, put the wet cloth aside, and rinsed his mouth with tooth powder. He looked at himself in the bronze mirror, struggling to tie his messy black hair into a presentable style.

Ready for another day of playing the fool.

In the first few days, he wasn’t familiar with the situation. He almost got mistaken by the palace staff as the emperor recovering from his insanity. He overheard someone say, “Jiuqian Sui won’t let the emperor regain his sanity,” which scared him away.

Now, every day, he had to go to the imperial garden, play with mud, and pick small flowers.

Maintaining the act.

Today’s mud-digging process went smoothly as usual.

He glanced at the flower wreath he made a few days ago in the corner, hidden under the grass. He made sure no one found it.

However, today, it was different. Even though it was still Yan He on duty, she walked far behind Wu Jing. Seeing the emperor squatting on the ground, planting small flowers under the sun, she found a cooler spot for herself.

One flower, two flowers…

The simple flower wreath was decorated exquisitely.

Wu Jing sat in the corner, huddled up, almost invisible. The palace staff didn’t want him in prominent places, fearing he might disturb the noble ones. So, he spent his time amusing himself in the inconspicuous corners of the imperial garden.

But—

Behind him, there was always a secret passage where people sneaked around every day. Today there seemed to be three people.

Two were standing, and one was being carried by the others.

“Is this person still breathing?”

“Probably not. Lord An ordered to drag the body out, wrap it in straw mat, and throw it into the common burial ground.”

“Ah, his fate is sealed, running into Jiuqian Sui’s wrath.”

“Don’t say more. This path is close to the exit from the palace. Let’s go quickly.”

“Wait, who?!”

Wu Jing held his breath as the two eunuchs walking quickly sent the person they were carrying to the ground. Wu Jing’s gaze fell on a bloody, bluish-white hand.

Seemingly freshly dead, the body wasn’t stiff yet. When it fell to the ground, it made a muffled sound.

Great, stumbled upon a murder scene.

Wu Jing raised his head and met the eyes of the two eunuchs who were sent to leave. One of them approached, saying, “Who are you?”

In his confused state, Wu Jing pouted and cried out, “Sister Yan He, there are bad people!”

Yan He, who was cooling off in the shade, rushed over, took a quick look, and focused on the body. She forced a smile and asked the two eunuchs, “Are you the internal guards under Lord An, wearing blue robes with red lining?”

The eunuch gave a disdainful look at the dirt-covered boy, then glanced at Yan He’s attire. He smiled insincerely, “Indeed.”

The other eunuch sighed in relief, “This fool really scared us.” He coldly looked at the boy huddled on the ground, then snorted, “This idiot.”

Yan He anxiously said, “Gentlemen, Jiuqian Sui visits His Majesty every ten days. Please don’t leave any injuries on him.”

Ignoring Yan He’s words, the eunuch who had grabbed Wu Jing’s wrist didn’t release it.

Yan He urged, “Your Majesty, quickly respond!”

The eunuch didn’t care, stared at Wu Jing, and sneered, “You didn’t see anything today? Understand?”

Wu Jing, remembering his act, cried, “I, I understand.”

Only then did the eunuch let go, shaking off his hand vigorously. He glared at the dirty teenager and coldly said to his companion, “Let’s go.”

The two eunuchs were efficient. Wu Jing, taking a quick look, only saw the body they were dragging. Wearing a guard’s uniform, they left, leaving behind a large bloodstain on the stone path.

Yan He looked at the trembling young emperor, still staring at the purple wrist, and said softly, “Little fool, stay here and don’t move.” She turned and left.

Wu Jing, feeling the pain in his wrist, remembered his role and cried, “Sister Yan He, it hurts!”

Yan He picked up the flower wreath that fell on the ground and felt a bit soft-hearted. She looked at the trembling young emperor, pulled him up, and said, “You shouldn’t play here for the next few days, understand?”

Wu Jing, still sniffing, nodded and held Yan He’s sleeve. “I understand, Sister Yan He. It hurts.”

Yan He looked at him, feeling a headache, and brought Wu Jing to another corner of the Imperial Garden, instructing, “This area is close to the harem, not far from where the Empress Dowager and consorts reside.”

Halfway through her words, she grew annoyed, “Forget it, you won’t understand even if I tell you.”

“Stay here and don’t run around.”

Wu Jing nodded and found a spot to sit down again, maintaining his act of daydreaming, although his mind was in chaos.

He remembered the shallow pond where he used to catch fish. Overnight, it had been filled, as Yan He mentioned.

Suddenly, a faint mewl came from a distance.

Wu Jing turned his head to see a small cat.

It seemed very young, not much bigger than a palm, with a shrunken belly, appearing starved. It weakly mewled, continuously calling.

Wu Jing looked at his own stomach; he hadn’t eaten today. He couldn’t find any food to feed the little cat.

So, he retreated to his corner, pretending not to have heard.

“What’s that sound?”

A gentle and refined male voice echoed in his ears, magnetic and unhurried.

Unable to resist, Wu Jing looked towards the distance and was momentarily stunned.

The person wore a crane-patterned court robe, with bright red wide sleeves trailing on the ground. Standing sideways, the red attire softened his imposing aura. His black hair flowed down, revealing a side profile that even the imposing red clothes couldn’t diminish.

Behind him followed a humble eunuch, bowing respectfully. “Master, there’s only one person in the palace who keeps a cat. It’s probably one that escaped from the Empress Dowager’s palace.”

The eunuch smiled, “It looks like it just left its mother, wandered here in the Imperial Garden, and got lost.”

Wu Jing just watched as the man in red crouched down, carefully picking up the small cat, speaking softly, “It may be hungry for so many days, quite pitiful.”

The eunuch, bending over, added, “Master, please wait a moment.”

After a short time, the two departed, leaving behind a plate of delicately crafted pastries on the ground. The smooth porcelain plate rested quietly on the soil.

Wu Jing swallowed and looked around, confirming no one was nearby. He cautiously walked to the spot where the two had stood, squatting down in front of the plate of pastries.

The youth gingerly picked up a piece of pastry from the ground, treasuring it as he took a bite.

He was just stealing a bite,

Surely, he wouldn’t be discovered?