Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 49

—

 

*What kind of thing could it be?*

 

Wu Jing was curious, but he could only pretend not to understand.

 

Ning Qinghong remained silent, merely closing his eyes, looking almost the same as when Wu Jing had slept in his arms for an entire day before.

 

However, Wu Jing wasn’t as scared this time. Instead, he observed Ning Qinghong’s expression with closed eyes.

 

His mind was somewhat muddled, as if one riddle after another was mixed together, each intertwining and converging into the person before him.

 

But no matter how closely Wu Jing looked, he couldn’t figure it out, as Ning Qinghong seemed no different from when he would normally hold him while resting his eyes.

 

Gradually, Wu Jing dismissed his doubts.

 

*What kind of illness is not being able to sleep?*

 

*It’s probably just insomnia.*

 

By the time of the mao hour (around 5 a.m.), the sky was slightly bright.

 

Fuchen led the palace servants inside. Upon seeing the Prince, he hesitated for a moment, unsure, and cautiously asked, “Your Highness, it’s time for court.”

 

Ning Qinghong, still with his eyes closed, took a moment to remember. “Is today the day for issuing the decree?”

 

Fuchen immediately replied, “Yes, it’s time to finalize the appointments for the Spring Examination officials. If Your Highness does not make an appearance… I’m afraid the Left Chancellor’s faction—” He glanced at the Prince’s expression and then asked, “If Your Highness is going, shall I have the Imperial Hospital prepare some medicine and burn the golden incense for another two quarters of an hour?”

 

This was a significant matter.

 

Ning Qinghong responded briefly, “Start with the less important matters first.”

 

That meant the court session should proceed as usual, with important matters postponed until his arrival.

 

Fuchen caught on immediately and compiled.

 

The Imperial Hospital had prepared medicinal pouches year-round, so within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the medicine was delivered to the Yangxin Hall, which Ning Qinghong drank in one go.

 

The incense was lit.

 

Ning Qinghong gave concise instructions: “Take His Majesty to breakfast and change him into court attire.”

 

Wu Jing couldn’t understand why he was involved. Groggy, he was helped up by the palace servants and led away. He was still drowsy, thinking he could take a nap once the incense was lit.

 

Unexpectedly, he was rushed off to have breakfast.

 

After washing up, having a half-bowl of medicinal food, and some light snacks, Wu Jing was dressed in his court attire and taken to the Golden Throne(Jinluan) Hall.

 

He was drowsy and nearly fell asleep again when he heard someone below ask, “Why has Lord Ning not arrived yet?”

 

Barely awake, Wu Jing peered down through the beaded curtain, which served as his second veil, preserving the dignity of the Emperor of the Great Zhou.

 

The young emperor, who had been slouching on the dragon throne, finally sat up straight. Fortunately, he paid no attention to the ministers below, and the court officials, since the addition of this beaded curtain, had stopped trying to observe the emperor behind it.

 

This greatly improved Wu Jing’s comfort.

 

After the question, the court fell silent. The eunuch from the Inner Guard bowed slightly before the imperial steps and replied, “The Prince will arrive shortly. The ministers may proceed with court matters.”

 

Someone scoffed, “Since when does a eunuch have the right to speak in the Golden Throne Hall?”

 

*Such audacity.*

 

Wu Jing couldn’t help but shuffle a little to the left, away from the minister below who was making thinly veiled insults, to avoid getting caught in the crossfire when the real eunuch arrived.

 

The eunuch from the Inner Guard remained unfazed, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything. The next moment, he suddenly knelt down outside the hall, kowtowing and loudly announcing, “The Prince has arrived—”

 

At his words, all eyes immediately turned toward the hall entrance.

 

Ning Qinghong had not ordered a formal announcement, and he hadn’t even changed into court attire. Wearing his usual robe, he strolled leisurely into the hall as if he were just making an appearance.

 

He wore a loose, pale blue robe with gold thread, made of rain silk brocade sent from the southern region, with subtle crane patterns. He also had a thin fur cloak draped over his shoulders, his expression calm.

 

As he moved, one could faintly see the imperial decree in bright yellow silk, which Ning Qinghong casually held between his fingers.

 

His gaze briefly passed over the minister who had spoken out of turn earlier, showing no emotion as he moved on.

 

The minister broke out in a cold sweat, nearly collapsing to the floor.

 

“The Emperor has a decree, which Ning Qing will announce.” Ning Qinghong said, slightly raising his fingers for a palace servant to take and open the decree.

 

“Ministers, please kneel.”

 

He stood tall and straight, his voice calm.

 

As the court officials all knelt, Ning Qinghong was the only one standing. He looked up, seeming to make eye contact with Wu Jing, who was staring dazedly from behind the curtain.

 

Indeed, Wu Jing was watching him.

 

Ning Qinghong, uninterested in maintaining appearances, didn’t follow the previous court custom of bowing three times and kowtowing nine times to the dragon throne along with the other ministers.

 

He did things simply according to whether he wanted to or not.

 

“First year of Xian Ning, eighth month, gengwu day.”

 

“Zheng Wu, a Minister in the Ministry of Rites, shall be promoted to Secondary Grade Two Imperial Academy Scholar, with Huang Huairen as the Chief Rites Officer. Zhang Songyun, a Secondary Grade Four Imperial Academy Scholar, along with five Hanlin scholars—Hanlin Academy Scholars Wang Fuzhen, Yue Fucheng, Gong Liangping, and Hanlin Academy Lecturers Zou Bolang and Cao Qi—will serve as the examiners for the Xian Ning second-year Spring Examination. They will draft questions on classical texts, poetry, and essay topics.”

 

“The Court Astronomer, Rong Ziwen, shall select an auspicious date for the examination.”

 

“The Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary Fu Lian, along with the Deputy Minister of Rites and Imperial Academician Xing Licheng, will serve as deputy examiners.”

 

“The Left Chancellor, Wang Yu, shall serve as the chief examiner.”

 

“These three shall oversee the examination and review the papers. This is the Emperor’s decree—”

 

It’s Clearly a Den of Dragons and Tigers!

 

Except for Wu Jing, who couldn’t understand what was happening, the other officials, upon hearing the decree, immediately thought the same thing: *It’s clearly a den of dragons and tigers!* 

 

Other than the Minister of Rites and the Sacrificial Wine of the Imperial Academy, the Hanlin scholars and lecturers would eventually enter the Grand Secretariat.

 

Among all the selected candidates, the Left Chancellor stood out the most.

 

Moreover, the Left Chancellor was already at an age where he was nearly ready to retire, yet he was appointed as the chief examiner for something as trivial as the Imperial Examination. It was clearly overkill.

 

The faction within the Grand Secretariat had practically laid out their schemes in plain sight, making the Left Chancellor’s faction so furious they almost spat in disgust.

 

Discussion erupted instantly.

 

The person who had previously mocked didn’t even have the chance to interject again, now reduced to a mere nobody.

 

Before the group could reach any conclusion, Ning Qinghong lowered his gaze slightly, with a faint, almost mocking smile. “Left Chancellor, why haven’t you accepted the decree yet?”

 

His tone was casual, with an unmistakable weariness between his brows, as if staying another moment was too much trouble.

 

The Left Chancellor remained silent, deeply brooding.

 

Ning Qinghong continued, “In that case, Ning Qing will handle another matter first.” He sighed softly, “Whoever he was just pointing at and insulting, let that person drag him out.”

 

“Let him experience what it’s like to have a eunuch discuss court matters in the future.” He didn’t avoid using the term at all.

 

The eunuchs from the Inner Guard acted swiftly and cleanly, carrying out the punishment just outside the hall. The screams echoed up to the heavens.

 

Ning Qinghong’s expression didn’t change; it remained indifferent.

 

But the Golden Throne Hall fell quiet.

 

Wu Jing understood what was happening this time.

 

He clutched his small porcelain figurine, scooting further to the right, swallowing nervously in fear.

 

*When the gods fight, mortals suffer.*

 

He wanted to cover his eyes, afraid of seeing something bloody, and wished he could just bury his head like an ostrich.

 

“Minister… accepts the decree.”

 

The Left Chancellor rose and knelt deeply.

 

Realizing that the Emperor of the Great Zhou was truly beyond saving, no matter how hard the Left Chancellor’s faction fought, they could not outmaneuver Ning Qinghong.

 

Even if they managed to win, what would be the point? Could they usurp the throne? In the end, the person sitting in that position would be no different than it was now.

 

Ignoring the pleas from his faction members to reconsider, the Left Chancellor accepted the imperial decree from the palace servant with both hands, saying to the dragon throne, “This old minister will not fail in his duty.”

 

Wu Jing, still confused, didn’t understand what had happened. He only thought that it wasn’t a bad idea to take the Imperial Examination seriously, given its importance in ancient times.

 

Ning Qinghong uttered a few words, “If there’s nothing else, court is dismissed.” With that, he turned and began walking out of the hall. Wu Jing was stunned, almost instinctively wanting to follow.

 

But seeing that the court officials hadn’t dispersed yet, he fearfully stayed seated on the dragon throne.

 

Usually, when court was over, Ning Qinghong would wait, help him down, and then they would go to breakfast together.

 

Wu Jing watched as the Grand Secretariat ministers scrambled to chase after the Prince, calling out repeatedly, “Lord Ning! Lord Ning!”

 

He sat back on the dragon throne.

 

Fuchen, who was waiting outside, blocked the ministers, saying, “The Prince is in a bad mood today. If the ministers have something to discuss, perhaps it would be better to come back tomorrow.”

 

Upon hearing this, the ministers belatedly realized why the Prince had carried out the punishment during court. It was because he was in a bad mood and didn’t want to bother with all the formalities and protocols.

 

But the matters at court were indeed pressing.

 

“That imperial decree was issued so suddenly, and there are still important matters to discuss. Would Fuchen Gonggong please ask if Lord Ning could stay for another half-hour at the Yueji Hall?”

 

The ministers of the Grand Secretariat all agreed.

 

Fuchen ran off to ask, and then returned to indicate that the Prince had agreed.

 

Wu Jing, however, was fixated on the words “bad mood.” He initially reassured himself to stay put, but after hearing this, and seeing Yan He, who had come from the side hall to take him back, he hesitated for a moment.

 

He couldn’t resist and quietly followed after.

 

First year of Xian Ning, eighth month, gengwu day.

 

– **”First year of Xian Ning” (咸宁元年)**: This indicates the first year of the reign title “Xian Ning.” Chinese emperors often adopted reign titles (年号, niánhào) to mark periods of their rule. “Xian Ning” would be the title of that era, so this date is in the first year of that period.

 

– **”Eighth month” (八月)**: This refers to the eighth month of the lunar calendar, not the Gregorian calendar.

 

– **”Gengwu day” (庚午日)**: The Chinese calendar uses a 60-day cycle called the sexagenary cycle to name days. “Gengwu” is the seventh pair in this cycle.

 

So, this date would be translated as: 

 

**The Gengwu day of the eighth month in the first year of the Xian Ning era.**