Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 5

Wu Jing woke up late, urged by Yan He’s repeated prompts. He was pushed to wash and then put on a somewhat decent outer robe.

 

Dressed in pure white, his black hair cascaded behind.

 

Wu Jing didn’t even have time to swallow a mouthful of the morning congee; it was untouched, he was led out of the sleeping palace in the Imperial Harem.

 

The Imperial Study was in the west warm pavilion of the Imperial Harem, just a short fifteen-minute walk away. For the first time, Wu Jing saw the palace he lived in so neatly arranged.

 

Everywhere was free of dust, even the bronze lions guarding the palace gate were polished to a bright shine, and the yellow glazed screen on the wall was almost translucent.

 

Palace maids and eunuchs kept passing by, and every five steps, there was a solemn guard with a sword.

 

The intimidation was overwhelming.

 

It seemed as if Jiu Qiansui Emperor had come, and the place that usually felt like a cold palace suddenly came to life.

 

There were so many people.

 

Wu Jing had mostly been alone during these days, and this was the first time he had seen so many people since he arrived. He couldn’t pretend anymore, feeling overwhelmed.

 

He dared only lower his head, reaching out his fingertips to tug at Yan He’s hem, closely following her steps, not daring to fall behind or look around.

 

Wu Jing bit his lip, terrified.

 

Yan He walked forward with lowered eyes. Glancing back, seeing his appearance, she could only offer a comforting sentence, “Your Majesty, don’t be afraid.”

 

Wu Jing tightened his grip, nodding hesitantly, “I’m not afraid; Yan He sister, protects Wu Wu.”

 

But Yan He remained silent, feeling helpless.

 

She was just a palace maid; it was difficult enough to take care of herself.

 

Seeing her silence, Wu Jing didn’t blame Yan He.

 

Although she had called him a fool and even eaten half of his fish without his consent, this palace maid sister had never intentionally bullied him.

 

He was already content.

 

Passing through the last palace wall, Yan He stopped, turned around, and said, “Your Majesty, we’ve arrived.”

 

Wu Jing sneakily raised his eyes and saw two little eunuchs guarding the door of the Imperial Study. Yan He took two steps forward, whispering something, and the other party also lowered their voices, “His Majesty is reviewing documents; wait outside for a moment and don’t disturb him.”

 

Yan He quickly agreed.

 

Soon after, a eunuch came out to report, “His Majesty has granted permission; you may enter.”

 

Yan He said, “Yes,” turning back, “Your Majesty, go in quickly. Don’t let His Majesty wait too long.”

 

Wu Jing swallowed nervously, blinked, “Go where?” He pretended not to understand, “Isn’t Yan He sister coming in with Wu Wu?”

 

Yan He shook her head, “Your Majesty, this servant cannot enter.”

 

Wu Jing pursed his lips, showing resistance.

 

He genuinely didn’t want to go in; he always felt like there was a guillotine waiting for him inside.

 

Yan He comforted him, “Your Majesty, be good. There are interesting things and delicious food inside. Hurry and go in.”

 

Wu Jing, with a reluctant look, “Then, then Wu Wu will go in.” He was really hesitant, “Yan He sister will wait outside for Wu Wu, okay?”

 

Yan He, “Okay, okay.”

 

Wu Jing took three steps but turned around, led by the door-guarding eunuch into the room. The hall was filled with a warm fragrance; although it was early autumn, the morning air was still a bit chilly. As he walked in, he could faintly smell the misty fragrance of hot tea.

 

Lingering on the tip of his nose, and then drifting away.

 

Wu Jing dared not look around, just kept his head down, standing in the middle of the hall. To ease his nervousness, he quietly picked at his own hands.

 

The wide sleeves covered most of his half hand, only revealing a few slender fingertips. After a while of picking, the fingertips were rubbed red.

 

But so much time had passed, and no one paid him any attention.

 

Wu Jing could only hear the quiet sound of someone flipping through documents, the continuous scratching of a pen, and it seemed like a eunuch was grinding ink nearby.

 

He smelled the warm tea and the fragrance of ink and paper at the tip of his nose, feeling the surroundings so quiet that he could hear his own breath.

 

He hadn’t had breakfast this morning, and these days he couldn’t eat enough. After standing for just a short while, Wu Jing was already feeling overwhelmed.

 

It seemed like low blood sugar, dizzy, chest tight, short of breath, and his stomach was growling in hunger.

 

Everywhere was uncomfortable.

 

Wu Jing had seen some palace intrigue dramas, and now he felt like the intentionally embarrassed cannon fodder in those stories.

 

Pathetic.

 

Suddenly, the person seated seemed to stop writing, and the sound of cup and porcelain clinking followed. Then, a somewhat familiar voice spoke, “The tea is cold.”

 

Another slightly sharp voice followed, “I’ll go get a new pot.”

 

Wu Jing’s ears were buzzing, and the surrounding sounds seemed distant, as if separated by a barrier.

 

He was enduring the discomfort solely through sheer willpower.

 

Vaguely, the sharp voice seemed to give some instructions to the guarding eunuch. As soon as the words were spoken, Wu Jing heard the person seated say, “When did His Majesty arrive? Why wasn’t there any announcement?”

 

“Look at me, I can’t even read the documents clearly.”

 

“Someone, provide him a seat.”

 

Finally, he could sit down!

 

Wu Jing relaxed for a moment.

 

Maybe the person wasn’t that bad after all. Perhaps, they genuinely forgot? No one reminded him when he entered; maybe it wasn’t a big deal.

 

He was so relieved that he wanted to say thank you.

 

Wu Jing was a bit dazed, not understanding how he changed his view of the rumored murderous and insane Jiu Qiansui in just a few minutes.

 

He thought the person was a bad guy before entering.

 

A eunuch brought a chair and placed it on the right side of the imperial desk. Wu Jing, who was still standing in the middle of the hall, was respectfully supported by someone.

 

Even through the sleeves, Wu Jing could feel the cold fingers of the eunuch on his arm. The eunuch tried to support him, but it took a while before the young emperor could take a step, moving slowly as if dragging time.

 

He had just felt the difficulty of standing, and now there was finally a chair to sit on. However, it seemed like a trap waiting for him to fall into.

 

Wu Jing’s back suddenly felt cold.

 

He had just sat down, and he involuntarily closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

 

No, he couldn’t be deceived by these sweet words.

 

Wu Jing was about to sneak a glance when he heard very light footsteps behind him. Wu Jing glanced back and saw a little eunuch carrying a tea tray. Afterward, the tea tray was placed on the table beside him.

 

Since the teacup was placed on the right side of the table, Wu Jing, who was sitting on the right, was very close to the steaming tea tray.

 

As the eunuch poured hot tea, Wu Jing couldn’t help but shrink his arm and lean backward.

 

Suddenly, a sharp voice sounded behind him, saying, “Be careful. If you scald His Majesty, you won’t have a good ending.”

 

Wu Jing was startled, shaking for a moment.

 

Not only him but also the eunuch carrying the tea was startled by this unexpected voice. Perhaps, like Wu Jing, he was extremely scared, unable to control himself at any slight movement.

 

In the next instant, the teacup fell to the ground with a bang.

 

Tea splashed everywhere.

 

Wu Jing, following the sound, saw a corner of a red official robe stained with tea.

 

The red robe fabric was excellent, smooth as satin, without a single wrinkle.

 

“Bang—”

 

Another muffled sound.

 

Wu Jing was startled again; his mind was tense, and with each sound, he felt like he was being shocked. Suddenly, the person kneeling down violently knocked his head on the ground. Each time he lifted his head, Wu Jing could see a pool of blood forming on the ground.

 

His lips turned pale, and the fingertips in the sleeve trembled incessantly.

 

So terrifying.

 

“Bang—”

 

The eunuch’s blood splashed onto the edge of Wu Jing’s robe.

 

It was so terrifying.

 

Wu Jing dared not move.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

A familiar voice sounded in front of him, gentle in tone and slow in pace, as if it were close.

 

“Why is your face so pale?”

 

“Didn’t you just stand for a short while?”

 

Again, the voice chuckled, “Why have you been keeping your head down?”

 

The cold fingertips unexpectedly touched Wu Jing’s chin, lifting his face slowly. With a gentle sigh, “You’re sweating already.”

 

Their eyes met suddenly.

 

Wu Jing widened his eyes, looking at the person in front of him with disbelief. The person was wearing a red robe, smiling and looking a bit worried.

 

It was the same person from yesterday!

 

No, no, it was the day before yesterday… the one who brought him pastries these two days. He thought he was some important official.

 

The person behind Wu Jing said, “Your Majesty, be careful not to catch a cold.”

 

The person in the red robe seemed addicted, using his fingertips to touch the curled eyelashes of the young emperor, who was still moist from being frightened.

 

The young man couldn’t help but shiver again, looking pitiful and adorable.

 

The expression in the eyes of the person in the red robe suddenly changed, seemingly smiling but not really.

 

Wu Jing suddenly felt that the person in front of him was looking at him like a small animal, discovering a new amusement.

 

Now, with heightened interest, he was patient, willing to tease anything amusing.

 

Although there were narrow smiling eyes in front of him, Wu Jing, like a cautious little deer, felt that behind those eyes might be something trying to strip his skin, trying to smell his scent like a wolf or leopard.

 

He couldn’t distinguish whether it was good or bad.