Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 37

Wu Jing’s treasured items were returned to their original place following Ning Qinghong’s command. Fu Chen personally left the palace, carefully bringing them back and placing them exactly where they had been, ensuring that even the positions of the stones were perfectly restored. The traces of disturbed dust were also meticulously covered up, making it impossible to tell that anything had been moved.

 

Unaware of this, Wu Jing received a message from Yan He before lunch, telling him to check the place again, as it was unlikely anyone had cleaned that area. For a moment, he was confused, almost believing that the morning’s events were just a figment of his imagination.

 

Lost in thought, he was led to the dining hall.

 

It couldn’t have just disappeared, right?

 

Wu Jing was getting anxious, almost wanting to rush back to his quarters to check again.

 

Could it really disappear into thin air?

 

He tugged on Yan He’s sleeve, a bit scared, and followed closely behind her. He only felt relieved when he saw Ning Qinghong waiting for him, feeling a sense of reality.

 

Despite his usual fear of Ning Qinghong, his vigilance was surprisingly low.

 

Today’s lunch was also sumptuous.

 

However, when Wu Jing tried to pick up some meat, he was stopped by Ning Qinghong again, who signaled Fu Chen to bring in some lighter dishes.

 

Fu Chen glanced at the seemingly indifferent Ning Qinghong, then at the young emperor, and suppressed his own suspicions.

 

With practiced composure, he served the emperor.

 

The master’s intentions were beyond the comprehension of mere servants.

 

Seeing the plate full of greens, Wu Jing’s face fell, his displeasure evident as he sighed.

 

“What’s making you unhappy?” Ning Qinghong asked with a smile. He had no strict rules about not speaking during meals, “Brother only promised you breakfast, not lunch.”

 

His eyes twinkled as he teased, “Come on, Wu Wu, you don’t want to be a picky eater, do you?” He narrowed his eyes slightly, “Hmm?”

 

Wu Jing immediately settled down, obediently picking up his chopsticks to eat the vegetables, “Wu Wu isn’t picky.”

 

Ning Qinghong laughed, “If Wu Wu finishes his meal obediently, how about I grant you a wish?” His voice lowered with interest, “Anything you want.”

 

Seemingly hinting at something.

 

He smiled again, “It’s a reward for being good these past two days.”

 

Wu Jing, confused, felt a bit timid, fearing that Ning Qinghong was joking. But then he heard Ning Qinghong repeat himself, as if worried he wouldn’t understand, “Wu Wu can ask Brother for anything, but only this once.”

 

The last four words carried a heavy emphasis, like a hint. Ning Qinghong watched the young emperor with a faint smile.

 

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up. He asked, confirming, “Brother won’t trick Wu Wu?”

 

Ning Qinghong nodded slightly, smiling, “When have I ever broken a promise?”

 

Wu Jing immediately buried his head and awkwardly used his chopsticks to grab all the greens at once. Finding it difficult, he ate slowly.

 

His cheeks bulged as he struggled to chew through the tough, fibrous vegetables.

 

His jaw ached from chewing, but he didn’t dare to spit it out.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed softly, “Alright.” His tone was helpless, as if he hadn’t just been watching this struggle. It was as if he would grant the reward regardless of Wu Jing’s eating.

 

He used his chopsticks to gently pull out the clump of chewed vegetables from Wu Jing’s mouth.

 

Afraid he would go back on his word, Wu Jing instinctively closed his lips and leaned back, mumbling, “Wu Wu… almost swallowed it.”

 

Before he could finish, the jade chopsticks deftly slipped between his lips, pulling out the chewed vegetables and placing them on a porcelain dish without a trace of disdain.

 

“Now, tell me, what is it you want so much?” Ning Qinghong asked with a smile, setting down his chopsticks.

 

Wu Jing, thinking he had failed, brightened up immediately, looking at the table full of meats, and echoed Ning Qinghong’s words from the morning, “Wu Wu wants to eat whatever he wants!”

 

Ning Qinghong paused for a moment before asking with a soft laugh, “Is that really what you want to ask Brother for?”

 

Wu Jing nodded vigorously, “Brother won’t trick Wu Wu.”

 

Ning Qinghong narrowed his eyes meaningfully and said, “Alright, eat.”

 

Wu Jing ate his meal happily, though Ning Qinghong’s meal was even lighter than in the morning and he did not take his medicine. Wu Jing, losing his appetite just watching, buried his face and tried to ignore it.

 

As usual, after lunch, Wu Jing followed Ning Qinghong to the Imperial Garden for a walk. However, it wasn’t long before Fu Chen persuaded Ning Qinghong to leave.

 

Wu Jing heard clearly.

 

“Master, the state affairs have piled up over the past few days. We won’t be able to finish until midnight. Perhaps it’s best to prioritize the time and discuss state matters with the ministers at Yueji Palace?”

 

Ning Qinghong seemed to glance at Wu Jing and said, “Take care of the Emperor.” Just like when he left earlier, he reminded Wu Jing to play by himself.

 

The afternoon quickly passed, and night fell. As Fu Chen had said, Ning Qinghong did not come for dinner, and the attendants in the Yangxin Hall had changed.

 

Without Ning Qinghong’s supervision, Wu Jing enjoyed his dinner thoroughly. After a hot bath, he eagerly climbed into bed and told the palace maids that he was going to sleep. He obediently covered himself with the quilt.

 

Once the lights were out, Wu Jing waited a while before carefully climbing out of bed. Mimicking his actions from the morning, he lay on the bed, peering underneath.

 

Although the lights were off, some moonlight shone through the window, illuminating the area clearly.

 

Huh?

 

Wu Jing rubbed his eyes, thinking he might have been mistaken. After confirming he wasn’t, his eyes widened.

 

He hadn’t seen them in the morning, so why were they there now?

 

Was he just sleepy-eyed in the morning?

 

They were indeed there.

 

Along with Yan He’s ointment, his plate and small stones, and even the set of nine bronze rings.

 

Curious, he crawled off the bed, lay on the floor, and reached under the bed, muttering to himself.

 

Wu Jing became increasingly self-doubting.

 

Did he have a dream in the morning and mistake it for reality? It seemed so strange.

 

Thinking of something, he crawled back onto the bed, tossing the covers around as if looking for something.

 

“Where is it, where is it…” He busied himself for half an hour, but when he still couldn’t find it, he sat down in confusion, “It didn’t fall to the ground. Did it really disappear?”

 

Wu Jing talked to himself.

 

For some reason, he felt hot that night. He tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep.

 

Unbeknownst to him, half an hour after his breathing became steady, a hidden guard, confirming the emperor wouldn’t wake up, quietly left.

 

Heading straight to Yueji Palace.

 

The palace was still brightly lit. As Fu Chen had said, Ning Qinghong had been busy with state affairs, using it as an excuse for the young emperor. While Ning Qinghong reviewed documents, Fu Chen ground ink for him, preparing to check outside when a spy walked in briskly.

 

The spy knelt and reported, “Master.”

 

Ning Qinghong finished his last stroke, had the documents collected, and, holding a cup of warm sake, leisurely sat in the grandmaster chair, listening, “Speak.”

 

“After pretending to sleep, the Emperor got up less than a quarter of an hour after lights out to check under his bed,” the spy reported meticulously. “He muttered to himself, counting something.”

 

“Due to the darkness and the Emperor blocking the view, I could only catch glimpses,” the spy continued. “I couldn’t identify what it was.”

 

Ning Qinghong asked, “Counting what?” He spoke slowly, “Repeat it.”

 

The spy looked conflicted, “The Emperor was counting one, two, three, four…”

 

Counting wasn’t the issue; the problem was being discovered. The spy had to strain to hear the faint words.

 

Ning Qinghong seemed to smile, “Counting one, two, three?” He recalled something but it wasn’t the same matter, “Really?”

 

The spy nodded, “Indeed.”

 

Ning Qinghong half-closed his eyes, sipping from his jade cup, thinking. After a moment, he asked, “Did he stop at ten?”

 

The spy was surprised, “Yes, Master. How did you know?”

 

Naturally, because there were only ten stones on the plate, nine bronze rings, and a box of worthless ointment.

 

Ning Qinghong pondered silently, then asked, “What happened next?” He moved slightly, revealing an object in his sleeve.

 

A gold phoenix piece, split in two.

 

The missing half of the nine bronze rings’ rod that Wu Jing couldn’t find.

 

Ning Qinghong played with it idly in his hand.

 

“After that, the Emperor crawled under the bed again, searching for something. He didn’t find it and overturned the bed, looking for half an hour before giving up, still muttering about its whereabouts.”

 

Ning Qinghong paused, then laughed softly.

 

Author’s Note:

 

Wu Wu (wide-eyed): Really?