Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 42

The night market of Great Zhou was exceptionally lively, bustling with people coming and going.

 

Among the passersby were armed guards patrolling back and forth, giving the scene an air of noise without chaos.

 

The group was dressed either luxuriously or richly, their fur coats made from fine white fox fur, looking exquisite and luxurious. Several attendants followed behind them.

 

Ning Qinghong did not avoid the crowd and walked at the front.

 

Wu Jing followed behind him, overwhelmed by everything around him. His eyes reflected the flickering light from lanterns hanging on shop stalls, making his eyes sparkle.

 

Due to the large crowd, he nervously held Ning Qinghong’s hand, like a small animal suddenly taken out, constantly looking around.

 

Both fresh and curious.

 

In Wu Jing’s mind, he kept refreshing — Wow, there really are street performers spitting fire and drinking wine like in TV dramas, and over there, shadow puppets! So many people!

 

The aroma of meat pies is so enticing.

 

I want to buy some!

 

Wait, he seems to have never seen a copper coin until now, not even the gold leaves used in the palace to reward servants.

 

But it couldn’t be said that Ning Qinghong treated him unfairly. Wu Jing’s living and daily expenses were all excellent, but there was no need for him to use money in the palace.

 

Even as a fool, he didn’t even know the concept of needing money.

 

Wu Jing could only watch eagerly. He saw a stall selling rice cakes right next to him. The vendor was pounding rice with a stone mill on the street, mixing it with red dates and sprinkling it with powdered brown sugar before putting it into a steamer.

 

It emphasized pure handcrafting and original flavor.

 

Passersby could smell the fragrant rice everywhere, making them even more hungry.

 

Want to eat.

 

Wu Jing watched intently, completely unaware of his surroundings, until he bumped into Ning Qinghong’s back. He realized that Ning Qinghong had stopped in front of a stall selling delicate silk fans.

 

After picking one up and examining it, he put it back down.

 

Although Ning Qinghong’s eyes and brows were gentle, the merchant dared not speak because of their imposing presence, especially when Ning Qinghong’s red official robe was glimpsed under his fur coat. The merchant only awkwardly smiled and asked if they wanted to buy a fan.

 

Wu Jing also curiously followed his gaze.

 

Ning Qinghong was bumped into, and he looked at him calmly and said, “If Wu Wu wants something, just say so.”

 

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up instantly, “I want that!” He pointed to the rice cakes they had just passed.

 

Ning Qinghong glanced at the eunuch behind him, and a palace attendant quickly bought it and brought it back.

 

Wu Jing held it to eat.

 

After Ning Qinghong spoke, whenever Wu Jing looked at something and showed interest, the palace attendant would go and buy it for him.

 

But his stomach was small, and he wanted to eat everything. After taking a bite of each item, he couldn’t eat anymore.

 

Ning Qinghong only glanced at the silk fan a couple of times before putting it down. He seemed genuinely interested and not just bringing Wu Jing along. He was also experiencing the lively atmosphere.

 

After eating half full, Wu Jing stopped. He didn’t want to waste any food, so he slowly finished what he had bought earlier.

 

He followed behind Ning Qinghong, the novelty wearing off, and he slowly started to enjoy the feeling of strolling around, but more importantly, observing.

 

Observing the other.

 

Wu Jing originally thought that Ning Qinghong, surrounded by palace attendants in the palace, would be far removed from the noisy civilian night market. After all, the wrinkles in his robe had to be ironed flat with a gold bucket by palace attendants.

 

But the reality was completely different from what he had imagined.

 

He was led by Ning Qinghong, walking and stopping, and even stopped in front of a shadow puppet stall on the street. The surroundings were crowded with pedestrians. Even when there was space beside them, the chatter and discussion continued unabated, especially disturbing.

 

Ning Qinghong stood still for almost a quarter of an hour until the shadow play came to an end and revealed its final outcome. Only then did his eyes and brows move slightly, showing a faint smile that made him look approachable.

 

Gradually, Wu Jing shifted his curious gaze from the night market to Ning Qinghong.

 

Seeing this person stop to watch a martial arts show that was so rough it felt like rocks on the chest, he could stop and watch for a moment.

 

At the center of the night market was an old locust tree ten meters tall, too wide for five people to hug. They happened to walk there and stopped, with octagonal lanterns hanging from the branches.

 

The dim candlelight gathered, shining through the cowhide lantern paper, making the night as bright as day.

 

On the lower branches were red silk, all covered with words. Wu Jing watched as the other stopped and glanced at him, half smiling, saying, “Will you be on the gold list? There are many students going to the capital for the exam this year.”

 

The eunuch said, “Sir, you are right. The guards of the Inner Guards found that the number of boats coming and going at the pier has increased.”

 

Ning Qinghong glanced at something from the corner of his eye, turned his profile, and smiled, asking, “Why are you staring without blinking? Don’t you know how to read?”

 

Wu Jing suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and met Ning Qinghong’s smiling eyes, with red silk and octagonal lanterns reflecting each other behind him.

 

The lights were bright.

 

Wu Jing blinked in a daze, and his hand held by Ning Qinghong was lifted, lightly tapped on the forehead with the back of his hand.

 

He instinctively closed his eyes, hearing Ning Qinghong chuckle softly, “Why do you look so inexperienced? Lost in wonder again.”

 

“Wu Wu must hold onto Brother tightly, don’t get lost.” After thinking about it, as if realizing he couldn’t expect Wu Jing to restrain his curiosity, Ning Qinghong smiled again, “Never mind, there are many people here.”

 

As he moved his hand away, Wu Jing opened his eyes and saw Ning Qinghong reaching for his stomach, asking, “Is Wu Wu full?”

 

Wu Jing still had half a piece of rice cake in his hand, while the eunuch held a half-eaten oil cake, half a string of candied haws, and half a bag of chicken pieces.

 

He nodded somewhat guiltily.

 

Ning Qinghong took the rice cake from him, handed it to the eunuch, and instructed, “Bring the carriage, we’re going to the city moat.”

 

The city moat?

 

What place was that?

 

Wu Jing thought Ning Qinghong was taking him to see the night view by the river, maybe even experience lanterns being floated on the river, and followed him cheerfully.

 

It wasn’t until they got off the carriage and saw a five-story painted boat moored by the bank that he was suddenly amazed by this massive structure.

 

Compared to the last time, Ning Qinghong walked very slowly this time, even entering from the front deck.

 

It was the first time Wu Jing had seen this, he was completely new to everything he saw, and when he saw the beautiful sisters dancing on the drum surfaces the size of a palm, he looked around in all directions with curiosity.

 

Clearly the Emperor, yet he seemed truly like Ning Qinghong said, inexperienced in worldly matters. However, the person holding his hand was not walking fast, giving Wu Jing ample time to satisfy his curiosity.

 

Ning Qinghong and his entourage walked smoothly without any hindrance,

 

there were no rude people to stop them.

 

Until Wu Jing inadvertently saw behind the screen on the deck, a woman in a dance costume lying in the arms of a young man, then realized what this place was.

 

He suddenly retracted his gaze, no longer daring to look around indiscriminately.

 

Is this an ancient brothel?

 

I really want to see, but…

 

Wait, why did he bring me here to the brothel for fun?

 

Wu Jing tagged along like a little quail, pretending to be curious but actually itching to bury his face in Ning Qinghong’s body.

 

Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief after climbing upstairs.

 

Just then, the accompanying person returned after inquiring and reported, “Sir, there happens to be a literary gathering here today. They have invited a qin player to perform downstairs, but they won’t clear out until the end of the evening.”

 

It didn’t seem like such a scandalous place?

 

Wu Jing listened sneakily. He didn’t think Ning Qinghong came here for whatever that was, without any reason; it just felt out of place.

 

Wu Jing subconsciously glanced at the people around him.

 

Ning Qinghong said calmly, “No rush, it’ll be soon.”

 

After ascending several floors and passing through several quiet corridors, they stopped in front of a chamber. Pushing open the intricately carved wooden door, the familiar scent of Floating Golden Jade greeted them again.

 

The room was empty, with only warm wine, tea, and snacks arranged. The position was excellent, allowing them to hear the drumbeats below but shielded from the noisy voices. As Wu Jing passed by a wooden window, he instinctively glanced over. If someone spoke loudly, he could catch every bit of it.

 

There were quite a few entertainments around.

 

Octagonal lanterns with riddles, wooden frames selling masked and floral lanterns, and in the distance, there was even a game of passing flowers with different drumbeats for each song, all of which were pleasing to the ear.

 

The fragrance of sake and the matching of tea and snacks were perfect, even better than what the imperial kitchen prepared.

 

Wu Jing was so captivated that he couldn’t take his eyes away, and he didn’t even notice when Ning Qinghong let go of his hand.

 

He said it would be quick, and indeed, not even the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had passed. Wu Jing watched as the drumming dance stopped abruptly. On the stage erected for performances, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were arranged, and ink paintings were hung up.

 

A man carrying a wooden xylophone, hidden from notice in the corners, ascended the stage, while the dancing girls disappeared suddenly.

 

The sound of the xylophone was superior, but accompanied by the frivolous painting, it gave off a faintly weird feeling of affectation.

 

Wu Jing subconsciously turned his head to look at Ning Qinghong, only to realize that he hadn’t even glanced at him just now. Carelessly, Ning Qinghong let go of his hand, letting Wu Jing explore on his own.

 

Inside the compartment, the scent of floating gold leaf quietly drifted.

 

Ning Qinghong hadn’t removed his fur coat. His crimson sleeves emerged from the white fox fur, and he rolled them up slightly while brewing tea, his eyes half-lidded, seemingly indifferent.

 

It felt like he had come here just to enjoy the scenery, listen to the music of the qin, and leisurely drink tea and wine.

 

It wasn’t until Wu Jing heard Ning Qinghong faintly say, “Go fetch some sweet soup,” and saw the eunuch take out a few gold ingots from his long sleeves, carefully holding them as he went down.

 

Wu Jing instantly dispelled the thought of Ning Qinghong enjoying a carefree life in the wilderness. Every bit of his leisure revealed an underlying wealth, supported by mountains of gold.

 

Yet, it also carried a sense of inevitability.

 

Ning Qinghong seemed to sense the gaze behind him. He straightened up, casually glanced over, and smiled, “Come here.”

 

He slightly opened his palm towards Wu Jing.

 

Wu Jing walked up to him, subconsciously taking his hand and looking up at him, somewhat puzzled as to why Ning Qinghong called him over.

 

But Ning Qinghong just lowered his eyes, carefully observing Wu Jing, as if contemplating something.

 

At that moment, a palace servant happened to return. On a wooden tray, besides the sweet soup favored by the emperor, there was a long jade cigarette holder wrapped in emerald green silk.

 

After placing the sweet soup on the table, the servant bent down and carefully filled the cigarette holder with tobacco. It hadn’t been lit yet, but Wu Jing couldn’t help but sniff the fruity aroma emanating from it, curiously looking over.

 

The servant said, “Master, this tobacco is newly arrived on the boat, brought from the south. It’s simmered with jujube juice and infused with mint leaves. However, the new physician at the mansion added some medicinal ingredients from the floating gold leaf…”

 

Before he could finish, Ning Qinghong extended his fingertip.

 

Even though it hadn’t been lit yet,

 

the servant could only respectfully present it.

 

Before Wu Jing could react, Ning Qinghong changed the orientation of the agate jade cigarette holder, pressing it against his lips.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled ambiguously and softly said, “Why do you always stare at me?”

 

“Isn’t taking you out to play enough?”

 

“What does brother want to do, and Wu Wu wants to follow?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Open your mouth.”

 

Wu Jing instinctively opened his lips, but his mind was still curious about the peculiar blend of tobacco that the servant mentioned. He forgot all about it until the tobacco hadn’t been lit yet and only used his tongue to taste the agate jade cigarette holder.

 

Like a small animal, he unconsciously tilted his head, not understanding what he was doing.

 

Ning Qinghong raised his fingertip, lightly touching Wu Jing’s forehead, as if reprimanding the boy for such behavior, and smiled, “Wu Wu can’t taste that.”

 

He finished speaking and seemed to raise his finger again.

 

The servant lit the tobacco.

 

Wu Jing’s nose detected a scent stronger than the floating gold leaf, carrying a light, sweet aroma of jujube sugar. Before he could react, he saw Ning Qinghong easily change the orientation of the cigarette holder that he had just licked with his thin lips, gently opening them.

 

Like he was doing something perfectly natural again, seeing Wu Jing stunned, he looked over with a smile and softly asked, “What now?”

 

He lightly held Wu Wu’s earlobe, gently rubbing it with his fingertip.

 

“Wu Wu’s ears are all red.”

 

Like a sigh and a smile.