Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 4

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Ning Qinghong turned around, and as the eyes of the young emperor met his, he paused, his expression unreadable for a moment.

But there was still a smile on his face.

Fu Chen stood silently on the side, not daring to breathe, wondering why the new emperor, who used to fear him, would now come forward to greet him.

It was strange.

Wu Jing, still learning to read people, felt something odd about the way this person looked at him without speaking. He began to regret calling out to the person.

Ning Qinghong asked, “Why not continue hiding?”

His voice was soft, his tone gentle, sounding like a spring breeze. Wu Jing almost responded but thankfully restrained himself, pretending not to understand, clinging to the unanswered question like a fool.

Wu Jing asked again, “Brother, will you come here tomorrow?”

Ning Qinghong didn’t answer immediately. He gestured, “Go, bring the pastries from yesterday.”

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up.

Fu Chen asked, “What about this little animal?”

Ning Qinghong took the small yellow dog and said, “It’s fine.” He watched Fu Chen hurry away.

Wu Jing asked again, “Pastries?”

Ning Qinghong, intermittently petting the little stray dog, said with interest, “For you.”

Wu Jing questioned, “Tasty pastries?”

Ning Qinghong affirmed.

Unlike yesterday, it seemed he had developed some interest in the young emperor. Half-smiling, he observed him as if assessing something.

Ning Qinghong asked, “Do you want some?”

Wu Jing nodded.

Ning Qinghong said casually, “Really? Doesn’t Your Majesty dislike sweets?”

Wu Jing pursed his lips and unconsciously said, “Who is Your Majesty?”

As soon as he realized it, his face turned pale, and his heart raced. He almost revealed too much.

Fortunately, Yan He sometimes called him Your Majesty privately. As a foolish child, he would ask, “Who is Your Majesty?” Yet, Yanhe would still address him that way next time unless he was truly angry, then he would call him foolish child.

Ning Qinghong didn’t speak again. He looked down, gazing at the enchanting Luoyang peony in front of him as if his interest had been drawn away.

Although his expression seemed gentle, Wu Jing felt that this person’s temperament was unpredictable. He became alert for the first time.

In no time, Fu Chen returned with a plate of pastries, bowing respectfully. “Master.”

Ning Qinghong glanced at him and said, “This peony can be called the beauty of the country. Bring a plant back to the mansion.”

Fu Chen acknowledged, “Yes.”

Ning Qinghong then made another gesture.

Wu Jing, bewildered, saw Fu Chen approaching with the plate of pastries. Respectfully, he bent down and offered it to him.

Experiencing such treatment for the first time, Wu Jing was momentarily dazed. However, he understood that the eunuch’s true respect was not for him but for the person behind him.

When Fu Chen returned earlier, he only paid respects to that person and completely ignored him, which made it clear how the master felt.

The fact that he called him “Your Majesty” just now was suspicious.

Wu Jing’s mind raced, but in the next moment, he heard Fu Chen say, “Your Majesty, please take it.”

The young emperor held the plate of seemingly cheap pastries, smiling as if he had received a great benefit, extremely pleased.

“Is it for Wu Wu?” He looked up at the man in red.

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Eat more if you like.”

Wu Jing, holding the plate, looked at the person’s fingertips caressing the small yellow dog in his arms. Suddenly, he had a strange feeling, as if this person considered him a clinging little creature, finding it amusing.

Losing interest, he raised his fingertips casually, rewarded him with a few random words, and wanted to send him away.

It all depends on his mood.

Wu Jing wasn’t greedy. Getting a plate of pastries made him very happy. He took it, and seeing Fu Chen stepping back behind the person, the two walked away slowly.

He suddenly spoke, “Thank you, brother!”

Ning Qinghong paused his steps, turning slightly to look back.

The young emperor held the plate of seemingly worthless pastries, smiling with joy as if he had gained a tremendous advantage.

“Goodbye, brother.”

Ning Qinghong smiled and continued walking.

As they left the imperial garden and headed straight to the Imperial Medical Pavilion, Fu Chen, trying to engage in a pleasant conversation, asked, “Why does the Emperor seem closer to the master these days?”

Ning Qinghong lifted the small yellow dog shaking in his arms, only saying four words, “It’s quite amusing.”

Fu Chen inquired again, “Should we bring this little creature back to the mansion after it’s healed?”

Ning Qinghong casually said, “Just throw it away.”

Fu Chen concurred in a low voice, “Indeed, so as not to dirty the floors in the mansion.”

After dressing the wound at the Imperial Medical Pavilion, Ning Qinghong instructed, “Go to the Yangxin Palace and summon someone.”

Fu Chen immediately replied, “Yes.”

Once outside the hall, the gatekeeper approached with flattery, “Does Supervisor An have any instructions?”

Fu Chen handed over the small yellow dog, “Feed this animal, then put it back in the imperial garden.” He paused, lowering his voice, “Bring someone who has served the Emperor in recent days.”

The young eunuch hurriedly agreed, “Yes, Master’s orders will be carried out immediately.”

Fu Chen, smiling, said, “Absolutely do not disturb anyone.”

–

Yangxin Palace

Wu Jing squatted in the Imperial Garden, finishing the plate of pastries. After erasing all traces, he was brought back before noon by the palace maid on duty today.

Lunch was a plate of bland vegetables.

He took a short nap after eating and, by the afternoon, noticed the absence of Yan He, who should have been on duty. Normally, at this hour, Yan He would have already come to wake him.

But today, for the first time, there was no sign of anyone.

With no one supervising him, Wu Jing didn’t need to pretend to be crazy or foolish. He leisurely cleaned the porcelain plate used for the pastries with a cloth and then tucked it under the dragon bed.

Carefully stacked beside the plate from yesterday.

It wasn’t until the evening that Wu Jing saw Yan He bringing dinner. It was no different from the previous days, still unappetizing.

Yan He looked at the fool with a furrowed brow. After Wu Jing reluctantly finished eating, he said, “Sleep early tonight. Tomorrow, you need to go to the Imperial Study.”

Wu Jing continued eating, pretending not to hear.

Yan He, annoyed by this fool’s indifference, said, “I kindly advise you. You should listen.”

“When you meet the Jiu Qiansui tomorrow, don’t be disrespectful and shout loudly. Otherwise, even Yama won’t be able to save you.”

“Clang—”

Wu Jing’s silver spoon collided with the porcelain plate suddenly. He pretended it was accidental, carefully wiping away the splashed soup with a cloth.

Yan He, frustrated, said, “Did you hear me?”

Wu Jing nodded reluctantly, “I heard.”

When Yan He left with the food tray, and there was no one else in the hall, Wu Jing suddenly stood up, circled around the table, muttering to himself, “What do i do, what do i do…”

Why did the murderer suddenly want to see him?

Could it be that tomorrow is the tenth day?

Also, why should they meet in the Imperial Study?

What’s the purpose?

He had never been to the Imperial Study and didn’t know the protocol for such meetings. The murderer couldn’t really be concerned about whether he was doing well or not, right?

Wu Jing looked at his own wrist.

Under the wide sleeves, a slender and weak forearm was exposed, as if it could easily break with a gentle grip.

He had become so thin, wouldn’t it be obvious at a glance that he was not doing well?

Would he be allowed to leave after a brief glance?

Wu Jing wandered aimlessly in the hall like a headless fly, only falling asleep around midnight. He didn’t sleep for long before being startled awake by the image of those pale dead hands in his dreams.

He gasped for air, curling himself into the blankets.

The young figure wasn’t large; from a distance, the bedding only formed a quiet little ball, remaining still for a long time.

Only Wu Jing knew, he was now terrified to the point of nearly crying.

He didn’t want to die, nor did he want to be hurt.

He was most afraid of pain.

Even if he stumbled and fell on ordinary days, his family would worry about him. From childhood to adulthood, they had pampered him.

Even when he angered them, they would scold him for a few words, but his parents had never laid a hand on him.

Now, Wu Jing still felt a lingering pain on his wrist from the previous day in the Imperial Garden when the eunuch carrying the corpse pinched it. It still hurt when touched.

He bit his lip hard, enduring the discomfort. Gradually, in a daze, he fell asleep again.

The next day, at the hour of 巳 (snake), Wu Jing was awakened by Yan He.

In a daze, he only heard Yan He’s anxious tone, “Why is His Majesty still sleeping? Didn’t we discuss going to the Imperial Study to meet Lord Jiu Qiansui yesterday?”

“Hurry up.”

“Lord Jiu Qiansui finished morning court, just met with the Cabinet Scholars, and is currently in the Imperial Study reviewing documents. Supervisor An said that His Majesty must meet him before the Jiu Qiansui leaves the palace.”

Wu Jing woke up instantly.