Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 22

Wu Jing never considered that his sleeping quarters, cleaned to spotless perfection, would still allow the presence of these so-called treasures under his bed. It was simply permitted by someone.

 

Back then, when Ning Qinghong heard the attendants’ report, he merely closed his eyes slightly and didn’t give it much thought.

 

Because no one was keeping a close watch, Wu Jing had a good sleep and woke up naturally, now full of energy. He no longer showed the lethargy from yesterday’s fright. As usual, he tugged on Yan He’s sleeve and asked, “Where is brother?” before happily going to eat breakfast.

 

Wu Jing had a plan in mind.

 

Since Ning Qinghong wasn’t around, he could run to the imperial garden after breakfast and play with the cat. What he missed out on yesterday, he would make up for today by petting the cat thoroughly!

 

But as soon as he stepped out, he was stopped.

 

Yan He blocked the Emperor, “Where does Your Majesty intend to go?”

 

Wu Jing looked at her in confusion, not understanding what Sister Yan He was saying. He tried to move to the side, “Move, move.”

 

He meant for Yan He to step aside.

 

As the naive Emperor who loved to play, only the Grand Eunuch could manage him. To Yan He, he was just an ignorant child who gave her headaches.

 

Yan He asked again, “Where do you want to go play?”

 

Wu Jing, held by his sleeve, couldn’t go anywhere. “Play with the cat, Sister, take Wu Wu to play with the cat.”

 

Yan He shook her head, “No.” She dutifully conveyed the orders from the inner guard, “The Grand Eunuch has instructed that you can go anywhere today except the imperial garden.”

 

Afraid Wu Jing wouldn’t understand, she rephrased, “In short, you can’t go to that cat.”

 

Wu Jing pouted, “No.”

 

Why was that person still holding a grudge from yesterday? He cursed repeatedly in his mind.

 

He didn’t want to trouble Yan He but had to maintain his role as the simple-minded emperor, so he kept tugging on her sleeve, looking for a chance to sneak away.

 

Though his sneaking wasn’t serious, just for show, if he really disappeared, Yan He would be the one punished. 

 

However, just as Wu Jing made a few steps towards the hall’s door, a stream of palace attendants flowed in, one after another, kneeling before him.

 

Using their bodies, they formed a human wall.

 

The hall’s door was instantly blocked by the kneeling attendants. On closer inspection, some were trembling, terrified that if the Emperor ran out, their lives wouldn’t be spared today.

 

Wu Jing stood there, pretending to be frightened, then ran back to hide behind Yan He, acting as if he didn’t understand what was happening.

 

This time, he was genuinely a bit scared by the scene.

 

Yan He said, “Your Majesty, please return.” She bowed respectfully, inviting the Emperor to go back.

 

Listlessly, Wu Jing was led back to shake his rattle.

 

Confined in his quarters all morning, he truly feared the Grand Eunuch’s temper and couldn’t understand why he was so angry.

 

After all, he hadn’t touched the cat with his hands.

 

Even the cloth tiger he had been squeezing in frustration was carefully adjusted back to shape to avoid being discovered.

 

Only at lunch was he allowed to leave his quarters, led by an attendant without a word, just following.

 

Usually, Yan He brought the meal trays, but today it was a different palace maid, making Wu Jing instantly realize who wanted to see him.

 

Sure enough, he was taken to the dining hall, where he saw a familiar figure in a red official robe.

 

Ning Qinghong seemed to have just arrived, sitting at the table, slowly washing his hands. The dishes on the table had been tested with silver needles, and the steward was setting up the meal.

 

Wu Jing cautiously peered through the door crack, afraid to enter.

 

Brother had left him yesterday; even a simpleton could sense the other’s mood.

 

Since the Grand Eunuch remained silent, no one dared to lead the Emperor inside.

 

Wu Jing could only smell the aroma of the food, swallowing his saliva repeatedly.

 

With just a glance, Ning Qinghong noticed the timid young Emperor peeking in but hesitant to come closer. He seemed to smile, waving him over, “Wu Wu, why don’t you come in?”

 

Only then did Wu Jing walk in hesitantly, stopping in front of Ning Qinghong, looking pitifully at the food on the table but not daring to sit and eat.

 

He knew brother was angry.

 

However, Ning Qinghong’s face showed no sign of displeasure, his tone gentle, “Eat.”

 

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up. He glanced at Ning Qinghong once, then again, cautiously asking, “Can Wu Wu eat?”

 

Ning Qinghong replied with a smiling “Mm.”

 

Despite being on edge, Wu Jing did not miss a single bite of his meal. He was just more restrained than usual. Seeing Ning Qinghong eating quietly, seemingly no longer angry, Wu Jing finally let out a sigh of relief.

 

He thought the matter was settled.

 

After the meal, Ning Qinghong washed his hands and face, and sipped some tea to cleanse his palate. Wu Jing watched him get up, knowing that he was heading to the imperial garden.

 

Wu Jing obediently stood up, intending to follow as he had done the past two days.

 

But as soon as he got up, he was stopped by the palace attendants.

 

The attendants said nothing, merely knelt silently at Wu Jing’s feet, forming a human barrier to block his way.

 

Wu Jing could only watch as Ning Qinghong walked further and further away, leaving behind only the cold, distant figure in his red official robe.

 

Did he really have to hold a grudge this long?!

 

Wu Jing felt his lifespan shortening.

 

Wu Jing was not used to people kneeling before him. When someone knelt in front of him, he panicked and turned around. No matter which direction he turned, there were people kneeling in front of him, blocking his way.

 

He was so anxious he was about to cry.

 

“Brother!”

 

Wu Jing couldn’t hold it in any longer and called out with a sob.

 

Ning Qinghong paused, stopped at the palace door, and turned back smoothly. He stood tall and looked over unhurriedly.

 

Wu Jing, seeing his lifeline, looked at him with red, panicked eyes. Though no one had touched him, he felt as if he were being forced into a desperate situation.

 

He looked both pitiful and adorable.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled slightly and asked leisurely, “What’s the matter?”

 

As soon as he spoke, the palace attendants retreated, making way for Wu Jing to approach Ning Qinghong.

 

Wu Jing immediately ran over and, like a small cannonball, threw himself into Ning Qinghong’s arms, clutching him tightly like a fledgling bird returning to the nest. “Wuwu wants to go,” he babbled incoherently. “Wants to play with brother, wants to play with brother.”

 

Ning Qinghong remained still and asked, “Does Wuwu want to go to the imperial garden with brother?”

 

Wu Jing, burying his face in Ning Qinghong’s chest, nodded continuously. “Yes, Wuwu wants to go.”

 

Normally, Ning Qinghong would have already patted his back to comfort him, but this time he remained motionless.

 

Wu Jing, clumsy as he was, didn’t know how to make things better. He just kept his face buried and repeated, “Brother, don’t be mad.” He said over and over, “Wuwu was wrong.”

 

“I won’t touch the cat again.”

 

“Wuwu didn’t touch the cat.”

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled softly. “Brother isn’t angry.”

 

Wu Jing stubbornly said, “Brother is angry.”

 

Ning Qinghong finally sighed and stroked Wu Jing’s head, his fingers running through Wu Jing’s dark hair. “Brother is just teaching Wuwu how to speak properly.”

 

Wu Jing repeated Ning Qinghong’s last two words, “Speak properly?”

 

“Did brother ever teach you that if Wuwu wants something, he should tell me?” Ning Qinghong said gently. “Running around while I’m asleep, why is Wuwu so disobedient?”

 

Wu Jing, looking down like a scolded chick, mumbled, starting to understand why Ning Qinghong was upset.

 

Wu Jing just shook his head, “I didn’t run around. Wuwu was obedient.”

 

Ning Qinghong, with a faint smile, said, “Really?” He added, “Since Wuwu can’t learn, he won’t need to go to the imperial garden anymore.” He loosened his hold as if to leave.

 

Wu Jing, scared, clung tightly to him. “Wuwu wants to play with brother, wants to play with brother.” He was truly on the verge of tears.

 

Ning Qinghong stopped again and asked, “Does Wuwu want to go to the imperial garden?”

 

Wu Jing nodded earnestly, “Yes, want to go with brother.”

 

Ning Qinghong continued, “Does Wuwu want to play with the cat in the imperial garden?”

 

Wu Jing didn’t dare nod this time. After a while, he said sullenly, “Yes.”

 

“Wuwu wants to play with the cat.”

 

Ning Qinghong suddenly chuckled softly, his voice gentle. “Alright.” He patted Wu Jing’s hair, “Brother agrees.”

 

He agreed, so Wu Jing could go.

 

Wu Jing mustered up his courage, “Thank you, brother.”

 

He slowly released Ning Qinghong, knowing that the matter was considered settled.

 

Wu Jing finally understood why he had touched the cat through his sleeve and why Ning Qinghong was still upset with him.

 

He couldn’t fathom his slightest likes and dislikes.

 

But Wu Jing was already clinging to this thigh, and it was his initiative. Now that he realized it wasn’t as easy to hold as he thought, he wished he could regret it.

 

The palace attendants in the imperial garden were holding the small lame cat, and as soon as Wu Jing arrived, they respectfully placed it in the Emperor’s arms.

 

Wu Jing, holding the cat through his sleeve, looked eagerly at Ning Qinghong. “Can Wuwu touch?”

 

Ning Qinghong nodded, “Touch.”

 

Wu Jing dared to extend his fingertips and gave the little yellow cat a good pet. Ning Qinghong simply sipped his tea, truly as he said, neither displeased nor showing any other emotion.

 

As they walked, the attendant spoke of the best scenery in the imperial garden and which valuable flowers were in bloom, arousing the Emperor’s interest.

 

They stopped by the lake, where Ning Qinghong sprinkled some fish food, watching the fish in the pond eagerly eating, a scene of leisure and elegance.

 

When Wu Jing had enough playtime, he wiped off the cat hair from his hands with a wet cloth. The attendants carried away the basin, and Ning Qinghong raised his hand slightly, and a eunuch came forward with something.

 

Wu Jing took a careful look and couldn’t look away.

 

It was the little tabby cat!

 

The attendant smiled, “The Empress Dowager heard that the Emperor wanted this, so without hesitation, she sent it over and said there was no need to return it, just take it.”

 

As if evading a plague, it was truly pampered to walk around the nine thousand years.

 

Everyone knew what was going on, but the attendant continued, “The Empress Dowager meant well. This old servant just wants to say that His Majesty only wants to play with it for a while, and Your Highness, you don’t intend to take it away.”

 

The Emperor’s mansion couldn’t possibly keep such a thing, nor could it be sent to the Yongxin Palace today for Wu Jing’s attendants to take care of.

 

The attendant saw through it clearly; the master was fishing for someone.

 

After all, children love these little things. If they are satisfied all at once, they won’t listen anymore. Although the Emperor is not a child, his mind is useless, but it doesn’t matter.

 

But Wu Jing didn’t know, he looked blankly as the attendants placed the little tabby cat in his arms, feeling a bit at a loss as he held it. He listened to Ning Qinghong say, “Since Wuwu likes these little things, brother will give them to Wuwu to play with.”

 

“But you can’t play for too long, you have to return it.”

 

“Next time you want to play—”

 

Wu Jing instinctively interrupted, “Do I need to tell brother?”

 

Ning Qinghong nodded.

 

The little milk cat in his arms was well-behaved according to the palace rules, meowing and licking his fingertips. Wu Jing felt the sticky warmth and couldn’t help but feel happy for a moment, looking up.

 

“Wuwu will remember.”

 

The young Emperor looked even more obedient than the cat.