Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 33

The usual burning of floating golden scent had a calming effect, but if burned excessively, it also had a sedative effect. For Ning Qinghong, he had grown accustomed to it over the years; the scent had minimal effect on him, but it was better than nothing, so he continued using it.

However, for Wu Jing, the floating golden scent was like a sleeping pill. The young emperor lay in Ning Qinghong’s arms, being repeatedly woken up but unable to shake off the drowsiness. He felt his whole body was limp, and though he wanted to wake up from the sleep, his limbs were soft and powerless.

Eventually, when he was woken up again, he drowsily nuzzled Ning Qinghong’s neck in a pleasing manner. This time, when he fell asleep again, no one woke him up.

Wu Jing had a full sleep. When he woke up again, it was a natural awakening because his body had slept long enough. Even though the medicinal effect was still present, it brought him back to consciousness.

His body, however, was still weak, in a state of extreme fatigue. He felt his stomach growling with hunger, having missed dinner, and his body ached from maintaining the same position for too long.

But he lacked the strength to seek food or change to a more comfortable position.

He didn’t know what was happening to him, but he just wanted to stay curled up like this.

When Wu Jing opened his eyes, he found himself still lying on Ning Qinghong. He didn’t know how much time had passed, only that Ning Qinghong seemed not to have slept when he woke up.

He didn’t know why he had such a thought, but Wu Jing looked at Ning Qinghong, who was staring quietly in the dark, and suddenly thought this.

The other person shouldn’t be as tired as he was, because he wasn’t asleep, but maybe he also didn’t have the energy to do anything.

Wu Jing, still groggy, closed his eyes again and faintly heard footsteps. He opened his eyes to see Fu Chen carrying something, perhaps a bowl of dark, foul-smelling medicine.

“Master, the medicine prepared by the court physician is ready. It will soon be time for the morning court. Do you want to drink it? It will give you some energy to handle court affairs.”

Did he sleep for that long?

How many hours had passed?

Drinking medicine? What kind of medicine?

It didn’t sound like a simple treatment.

And this person didn’t look sick either.

Because of the pungent smell of the medicine, Wu Jing felt it was unpleasant and couldn’t help burying his face deeper into Ning Qinghong’s shoulder.

This medicine was to be used together with the floating golden scent. Fu Chen held the tray, almost kneeling. Usually, when the master found it difficult to sleep, lighting the calming incense allowed him to sleep for a few hours. After the period of illness passed, he could sleep normally without the incense.

But during illness, it was the opposite.

Apart from preferring quiet, the sleeping hours became extraordinarily long. This medicine, combined with the floating golden scent, could keep the master in a state of calmness while having enough energy to handle affairs.

Though minimal, It at least maintained a facade of calm.

But Wu Jing knew nothing about this, only feeling that everything in the past two days was strange.

For instance, now, Ning Qinghong’s hand on his back seemed to move slightly, rubbing something, and he said casually, “Am I raising a bunch of useless people in the cabinet?”

Fu Chen’s hand trembled holding the tray. “If Your Highness does not oversee them, and the decisions made by the cabinet ministers are unfavorable—”

Before he could finish, Ning Qinghong, lacking patience for pleasantries, decided, “Whoever makes a mistake will be replaced.”

“The Internal Guard’s blades are sharpened daily; they must be put to use.” He paused, his tone slightly cold, and said softly, “Now get out?”

The meaning was clear: any minister who dared to act on their own would face the Internal Guard’s blades at their throats.

A blatant threat.

None of the usual gentleness seen when discussing matters with the cabinet ministers.

Fu Chen had no choice but to retreat with the medicine. With the little patience Ning Qinghong had left, he dared not push further.

Wu Jing perked up his ears, listening secretly, terrified by the coldness in Ning Qinghong’s voice, not daring to make a sound. Even though the hand at his waist was uncomfortable, he bit his lip to endure it.

He could bear it, but his starving stomach couldn’t.

“Growl—”

Wu Jing hesitated for a moment, then pretended as if nothing had happened, not making any movements to indicate it was him who made the noise.

After waiting for a while, he only felt the hand on his back waist slightly shifting downwards, pressing against his side, then switching to his stomach.

No more movement.

Wu Jing was stunned for a while before realizing that this person was overly using his stomach as a hand warmer! If it were any other day, he would have asked if he was hungry and taken him to eat.

He secretly opened his eyes and found that Ning Qinghong had closed his eyes again.

Wu Jing moved slightly, not very pleased.

Ning Qinghong frowned slightly, seemingly annoyed by his disturbance. “Don’t move.”

Wu Jing felt stifled.

He wasn’t a large pillow!

He wanted to eat and sleep!

At this moment, Fu Chen came to take away the medicine and returned to the hall. “Your Highness, you haven’t eaten all day. Shall I have the servants bring breakfast?”

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up, loudly wishing for it in his mind.

Ning Qinghong replied, “No need.”

Wu Jing felt crestfallen.

Fu Chen wiped his sweat and cast a glance at Wu Jing, then asked again, “Does Your Majesty want to have breakfast?” He repeated, “Breakfast, something to eat.”

Wu Jing’s spirits lifted, successfully resisting the urge to sleep and pretended to have heard the voice, muttering to himself, “Something to eat.”

“I’m hungry, I want to eat,” he said, trying to describe it with the last bit of energy, “My stomach… is bloated.”

He gently moved Ning Qinghong’s hand, which was placed on his stomach, slightly downwards, pressing it against his lower abdomen. “Brother, Wu Wu wants to go to the restroom.” Wu Jing spoke hesitantly, then couldn’t help but close his eyes.

He felt Ning Qinghong’s fingertips on his stomach burning, even through several layers of clothing, almost reddening his entire body.

He couldn’t help it; the palace maids, fearing he wouldn’t understand, used the term “restroom” instead of toilet for him.

Wu Jing feared that the fingertips placed on his stomach would act like before, not moving but kneading gently, so Ning Qinghong didn’t make any moves this time, just looked at him calmly. After a moment, he shifted his gaze to Fu Chen.

Fu Chen explained, “His Majesty probably wants to relieve himself.”

Ning Qinghong closed his eyes and seemed to find it troublesome. “Take him.”

Wu Jing finally got off him, but his legs were weak, needing assistance with every step. Once he was far from the incense burner and into the partitioned study, he felt slightly better. He had the strength to push away all the palace attendants.

As he closed the door, he saw Ning Qinghong still sitting there.

His expression was still cold and calm.

As if he were a different person.

After Wu Jing finished dealing with his physical needs in a slow manner and freshened up, he came out again. Ning Qinghong was still sitting there.

Then he was taken by the palace attendants to the dining hall. On the way, he saw Ning Qinghong, who had just come out from another hot spring in the Yangxin Hall, with half-wet hair scattered. Since his usual attire was not prepared in the Yongxin Hall, he wore only a white cloud-patterned inner garment and draped the untied crane-repaired official robe over it.

In front of them sat a soft sedan chair, the palace attendants lifting the curtain and waiting for the Lord to enter.

Were they leaving the palace?

For some reason, Wu Jing felt that this time Ning Qinghong would be like last time, not entering the palace for more than ten days after leaving.

He couldn’t help but stop.

In the next moment, Ning Qinghong seemed to have eyes on his back. He was extremely sensitive to eye contact, casually turning his gaze over and seeing the young emperor standing foolishly in place.

He looked as if he wanted to call him over but hesitated.

Just staring blankly at him, not doing anything else.

After a long time, Wu Jing realized that Ning Qinghong seemed not to have moved, neither waving for him to come nor silently saying “come over.”

Just standing there quietly, looking at him with an expressionless gaze, as if waiting for him to come over by himself.

Wu Jing couldn’t help but follow Ning Qinghong’s gaze like this. When he came in front of him, he couldn’t understand why he had walked over so foolishly just now.

Ning Qinghong lifted his fingertips, his gaze cold. Wu Jing couldn’t help but close his eyes, and the next moment, he realized that his dangling black hair had been tucked behind his ear by Ning Qinghong.

Ning Qinghong seemed to have said one more word than necessary, only asking with his eyes. Wu Jing didn’t speak, so he was about to retract his hand.

But the next moment, even Wu Jing himself didn’t react. He grabbed Ning Qinghong’s outstretched fingertips.

Ning Qinghong paused again, looking down silently at him.

Wu Jing bit his lip and tried to think hard about what he wanted to say. “Brother, shall we eat together?” He spoke slowly.

Ning Qinghong uttered three words concisely, “Eat by yourself.”

Wu Jing widened his eyes in disbelief.

He felt aggrieved. Usually, Ning Qinghong wouldn’t refuse him. Wu Jing thought for a moment, then tried, with a bit of intuition, “Does Wu Wu want brother to feed him?”

He felt Ning Qinghong’s fingertips, which he had circled, pause slightly. Wu Jing carefully let go of his hand, preparing to obediently wait for Ning Qinghong to lead him.

Good, there was no resistance when he let go of his hand.

He got it right.