Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 3

These pastries are exceptionally delicate.

Sprinkled with golden flower petals on top, kneaded into the melt-in-your-mouth pastries, the sweet osmanthus honey envelops the tongue upon the first bite, spreading sweetness between the lips and teeth.

Delicious.

Wu Jing hasn’t had something decent in a very long time. Even though these pastries were found, he squats on the ground, eating with utmost seriousness.

Very cherished.

He initially planned to have just one bite, but unable to resist, he ate the whole thing. After the first one, he thought about the second… and then greedily considered finishing the entire plate.

Although he doesn’t know who the person in the official robe was, being able to stroll freely in the palace suggests a high position. They were willing to feed such delicious pastries to a little cat.

They surely wouldn’t come back for this abandoned plate of pastries.

Since it’s become discarded, there’s no harm in taking it.

Wu Jing picks up the whole plate of pastries, intending to take it away quietly. Before doing something mischievous, he knows he needs to observe his surroundings.

When he’s alone, the palace attendants usually don’t stay by his side. The two from earlier have already left.

In theory, no one should see—

As he tilts his head and raises his gaze, he momentarily freezes. There are still some pastry crumbs on his lips as he stares at the young man in the red robe who has returned at some point.

The other is tall and elegant, with warm eyebrows and eyes.

At a glance, he exudes an air of grace and elegance.

Ning Qinghong lowers his eyes, quietly observing Wu Jing, who is crouching on the ground with a cat in his arms.

The eunuch holding the cat watches his surroundings with a calm expression. When they were halfway there, the master inexplicably turned back, leaving Fu Chen puzzled. Only when he sees the Emperor, who is now squatting on the ground, does Fu Chen realize that the master probably noticed someone peeking on the side earlier.

Luckily, the master’s mood is still good.

Fu Chen deeply bows, refraining from saying much.

Wu Jing, feeling somewhat guilty, wipes his mouth and pushes the plate back, apologizing, “I didn’t mean to take it.”

Ning Qinghong looks at him for a while before turning to ask, “Fu Chen, who is this?”

Fu Chen bows low, “Your Majesty, it’s the Emperor.”

Ning Qinghong moves his eyebrows slightly, as if smiling, “The Emperor?”

Wu Jing remains silent, staring blankly at the person.

Always remembering that he’s a fool.

Ning Qinghong then gently asks, “Is it delicious?”

Wu Jing nods, “Delicious!”

Ning Qinghong says, “Then it’s a reward for you.” He seems to be in a good mood, saying, “Take it.”

Fu Chen reminds in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the Imperial Cabinet scholars are waiting at the Golden Luang Hall.”

Ning Qinghong says, “Is that so?” Then, as if recalling, he says, “Let’s go.”

Fu Chen asks, “What about this cat?”

Ning Qinghong lifts a finger and casually strokes the cat, “Send it back later.”

After that, he turns and leaves unhurriedly.

From start to finish, except for the initial two questions, he doesn’t look at Wu Jing again. After they leave, the young man maintained his position, still squatting on the ground.

Wu Jing inexplicably feels that in the eyes of the other person, he is no different from that cat. Encounter, exchange a few words, but ultimately, he won’t be taken seriously.

In simple terms, just three words: He doesn’t care.

He simply doesn’t care whether he exists or not.

But why does it matter?

They were originally strangers. The other person doesn’t mind him taking things, even willing to give him a plate of pastries. That’s already good enough.

When Yan He comes over again, Wu Jing has finished the entire plate of pastries. He has tucked the plate into his sleeve, carefully hiding it.

Yan He looks at the time, “Your Majesty, it’s time to go back.”

Before noon, the palace attendants will come on time to take Wu Jing back to the palace.

Wu Jing pretends not to want to go, “Don’t want to.”

Seeing him not cooperating, Yan He threatens, “Little fool, are you going or not?” She lowers her voice, “After you finish your meal, you have to go and pay respects to the Empress Dowager. If you delay, you’ll have a hard time.”

She goes on for a long time, but the young man still looks bewildered.

Finally, Yan He has no choice but to forcefully pull the little fool back. Lunch is still the same plain congee and pickles. Now, even in the Yongxin Hall, there are only a few palace attendants left. Besides the two places where Wu Jing usually stays, the desk and the bed, the rest of the place is covered in dust, with no one bothering to clean.

Accompanied by this bowl of plain congee, it feels even more desolate.

After Wu Jing reluctantly finishes the bowl, he rests on the desk for a while before seeing Yan He, who has also finished her meal, coming to collect the bowl and chopsticks.

A quarter of an hour later, he is taken out.

This is Wu Jing’s first time meeting the Empress Dowager since he arrived. He doesn’t even know if he has any blood relation with her. He worries that he might reveal something when they meet.

However, not long after Wu Jing has been waiting in the sun for who knows how long, he realizes that he probably has no connection with the Empress Dowager.

This routine greeting is probably just for appearances.

Whether the Empress Dowager sees him or not, no one cares. As long as someone comes, pays respects, this matter will be considered done.

In the vast deep palace, he looks around but finds no familiar faces.

Wu Jing lowers his eyes, pondering something.

He doesn’t know how much longer he has to wait.

He looks at Yan He, who is standing respectfully at the door. Feeling a bit bored, he lifts his robe and sits on the steps.

Yan He catches sight of this scene from the corner of her eye, her heart jumping to her throat. She lowers her voice and shouts, “Your Majesty! Stand up!”

Wu Jing pretends not to hear.

After all, he is a fool; not understanding the rules is normal.

Apart from the rumored Jiu Qiansui, no one dares to harm him. At most, they just withhold some of his privileges. But now, he is already living in such a miserable state, so what is there to fear?

He who has nothing to lose fears nothing.

Wu Jing sits on the steps, chin resting on his arms, seemingly on the verge of falling asleep. In about the time it takes for a cup of tea, footsteps approach from a distance.

Somewhat crisp.

Different from the silent steps of eunuchs and the sword sounds that accompany the movements of guards, it sounds like a palace maid.

Wu Jing initially planned to ignore it, but for the first time, the footsteps stopped by his side. Circling around twice, a voice filled with disdain said, “A fool is still a fool.”

“No rules, no manners.”

The figure of the seated youth seems to stiffen for a moment. He buries his head a bit deeper.

But no one cares.

Wu Jing, as if he didn’t hear, quietly listens to Yan He praising him with good words, “Senior palace maid, since the Empress Dowager is too busy, let this servant take His Majesty back first?”

The maid said, “Hurry up, you can’t sleep here. Sleeping at the entrance of the Empress Dowager’s palace. Teach this fool a lesson.”

“You’re the fool.”

Suddenly, a muffled sound echoed.

Wu Jing lifted his face, expressionless. His retorts were whispered, resembling a defiant child.

Yan He was startled, hastily reprimanding, “Your Majesty, this is the personal maid in the Empress Dowager’s palace, Aunt Jiao Bai.”

Her tone was urgent, and anyone could sense the implied meaning – people favored by the Empress Dowager couldn’t be offended.

But he’s just a fool, right?

Jiao Bai gritted her teeth, “What did you say?!”

Wu Jing snorted.

Enraged, Jiao Bai raised her hand, intending to grab Wu Jing who was sitting on the ground.

Yan He quickly lowered herself, “Aunt Jiao Bai, His Majesty’s temperament is childlike, you—”

Before she could finish her sentence, when Jiao Bai was about to touch Wu Jing, he raised his face, eyes showing a hint of fear but still innocent, “When I see my brother Qiansui in a few days, I’ll tell him someone bullied me!”

Jiao Bai hesitated for a moment when her hand was about to touch Wu Jing. His mention of “Qiansui” made her uncertain. She glanced at Yan He, then back at Wu Jing, silently questioning.

Is it possible that Qiansui, who usually pays little attention to the Emperor, would intervene?

But when she thought about Qiansui’s ruthless methods, she couldn’t help swallowing nervously. Jiao Bai found it hard to believe, “Yan He, is what he said true?”

Yan He glanced at Jiao Bai, then at Wu Jing, and replied hesitantly, “Qiansui indeed visits His Majesty from time to time.”

Jiao Bai paused for a moment, her imposing aura weakened. She repeated with uncertainty, “Qiansui?” She looked at Yan He and then at Wu Jing, secretly questioning.

Jiao Bai, feeling frustrated, raised her hand, seemingly about to grab Wu Jing sitting on the ground.

Yan He quickly complied, pulling up Wu Jing’s sleeve, and took him away.

Wu Jing, pretending to be triumphant under the pretense of being a fool, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Following Yan He, he walked away, turning back to give a smug look to the maidservant who had been bossing him around.

If he had a tail, it would be wagging high.

After leaving the Empress Dowager’s Ciren Palace, Yan He finally realized that the Emperor, whom she thought was a bit too clever today, was, after all, just a fool. She frowned and looked back.

At this moment, Wu Jing truly looked like a fool again, smiling foolishly at her.

Yan He felt that she might have overthought it, kindly advising, “Your Majesty, you must never use Qiansui’s name lightly in the future. If it reaches his ears, you might be in trouble.”

Wu Jing, acting like he didn’t understand, tilted his head.

Back in the sleeping hall, Wu Jing didn’t go out again today.

In the middle of the night, he lay on the bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep, thinking about things and counting them in his heart.

Encountering those two eunuchs today, according to Yan He, they were from the Internal Security Bureau’s Chief Security Officer. Wu Jing didn’t know who this Chief Security Officer was, but he must be a powerful figure. They dared to be arrogant with him and Yan He because they had powerful backing.

In Ciren Palace, Yan He showed great respect to Jiao Bai, who had the Empress Dowager’s support. Therefore, Yan He treated her cautiously, turning a blind eye to some matters. Jiao Bai also didn’t take him, the foolish Emperor, seriously.

What about him?

Today, he used the name of Qiansui to scare Jiao Bai away. However, it was clear that Jiao Bai was not afraid of him but rather the ruthless and indifferent Qiansui.

It seemed like everyone had a powerful backer, to thrive in the deep palace.

Wu Jing, carrying this thought, fell asleep in a daze. The next day, he woke up as usual, got out of bed after washing up, and drank a tasteless bowl of porridge.

Due to not sleeping well yesterday, he came to the Imperial Garden in a tired state. Finding a place to sit, he curled up and fell asleep.

Today, Yan He wasn’t on duty; another unfamiliar maid brought him here and disappeared somewhere, only reminding him not to wander around and stay in this corner.

The palace forbade Wu Jing from going to bright places, such as the resting pavilions and main roads, to avoid disturbing the nobles passing by.

They were afraid of causing trouble for the nobility.

The shallow water pool from the day before, which was usually ignored, somehow got filled up.

Wu Jing was dressed a bit lightly today, and the green outer garment made his exposed skin unusually fair. As autumn arrived, he felt a bit cold and, feeling restless, he found a place in the garden and sat down, hugging his knees.

If it wasn’t for maintaining his persona, he would have gone back to sleep long ago.

Insects chirped, birds sang incessantly, and he slept in turmoil. When the familiar male voice sounded again, he was a bit slow to react.

“Why are you lying here?”

“Come here.”

It was the person from yesterday.

Wu Jing woke up from his dream, blinking as he looked over. The man today was still in his morning court attire, standing in the distance, the red robe almost sweeping the ground. He was half-bent, reaching out to a small yellow dog lying on the mud and grass.

Clearly defined joints, slightly curved fingertips.

The Fu Chen was still hanging low behind him, accompanying him like yesterday. He was bent over, talking to a small yellow dog that was lying on the ground. He seemed to be showing kindness, but the Fu Chen, low behind him, reminded him that this person was not to be trifled with.

“How lively the Imperial Garden was with a cat yesterday and a dog today.”

The little yellow dog, who had been vigilant just moments ago, now became extremely docile as the man picked it up, not minding the dirt. Lifting the broken leg, he carefully examined it, “It seems to have been broken for quite some time. The blood has dried.”

The small yellow dog, which had been on guard just now, now became extremely obedient when the man picked it up. It seemed to be trembling all over, and even the throat was making a “gulu gulu” sound.

Dogs are the most intelligent, and it seems to have sniffed something bad.

Wu Jing faintly felt that something was wrong, but a strange thought emerged in his mind—a thought that he couldn’t resolve before going to bed last night.

Fu Chen said, “It’s a pitiful one.”

Ning Qinghong smiled, “It’s quite obedient too.” He thought for a moment, “Fu Chen, go to the imperial hospital.”

Fu Chen was a bit surprised, with a smile, “It turns out that the master is kind-hearted.”

Ning Qinghong touched the little dog, “Look, it’s still trembling.” He seemed to smile but not smile, murmuring softly, “This dog is more clever than people.”

Fu Chen suddenly realized that he had said the wrong thing, bowing his head tightly, holding his breath, “Should the master still go?”

Ning Qinghong put the little dog in Fu Chen’s arms, “Go, why not?”

When the little yellow dog was placed in Fu Chen’s arms, it stopped trembling instantly, curling up its broken leg, nestling in the eunuch’s hands.

“It’s so severely injured; it needs to be treated.”

“Is that so?”

Fu Chen quickly agreed with a small yes.

This person looks kind, caring for small animals, and generous. I don’t know if he’s good at carrying big things.

But Wu Jing thought for a moment,

How can a bad person like cats and dogs?

So when Ning Qinghong turned to leave, a probing yet bold voice suddenly sounded behind him, “You…”

“Will you come again tomorrow?”

Author’s note:

Wu Wu: He must be a good person