Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 58

It was already Mid-Autumn Festival.

 

Would the moon here be as large and round as it was in his memory?

 

Wu Jing took another cautious bite, but even though he hadn’t finished chewing the previous bite, it was too sweet, and his tongue was feeling sticky.

 

Fortunately, Fu Chen soon brought a cup of clear tea.

 

Ning Qinghong took a bite with the tip of his chopsticks and said, “Use the original style.” After speaking, he glanced at the young emperor who was sipping the tea and staring vacantly at the pastries on the plate. He half-smiled and said, “If Wu Wu likes it, have the imperial kitchen make more.”

 

He didn’t receive a response.

 

Wu Jing seemed lost in thought, staring quietly at the small mooncake, which had been cut into quarters, leaving only a tiny piece.

 

The steam from the tea blurred his vision.

 

He appeared to be in a daze.

 

Fu Chen, anxious, didn’t know how His Majesty could ignore the words of the eldest prince. He dared not interrupt but could only watch.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled and called softly, “Wu Wu?”

 

He called again softly.

 

Wu Jing blinked dazedly, looked over in confusion, and seemed to tilt his head as if questioning whether he was being called.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed and smiled, “It’s nothing.”

 

Wu Jing looked even more puzzled.

 

Ning Qinghong wiped his hands, rinsed his mouth, and then stood up. “Take today’s memorials to the imperial study. As for the person who died in the Yueji Palace this morning,” he said calmly, “he committed suicide out of guilt after being exposed for embezzling disaster relief funds.”

 

“Have the body re-sewn and wrapped in straw mats, then send it back to his home and ensure it is buried.”

 

“The evidence of embezzlement is kept by the Inner Guard. Send it to the Dali Temple, draft a public document, and as for his family, there is no need for complete extermination, just expel them from the capital.”

 

His tone was calm and unwavering.

 

Ning Qinghong turned a blind eye to the minor manipulations his subordinates performed in court as long as the embezzlement wasn’t severe, the hands extended weren’t too long, and the boundaries were respected. He remained completely unaware.

 

But every person’s weakness was thoroughly investigated by the Inner Guard.

 

Now, it was time to use that information.

 

Fu Chen bowed and replied, “Yes.” He turned and left quietly, quickly giving orders.

 

In the dining hall, only Wu Jing remained stiffly seated. His breathing became labored. Even though Ning Qinghong explained why the person had to be killed, he still couldn’t accept that a life could end so quietly and naturally.

 

But Ning Qinghong had not done anything wrong.

 

He had merely done what a ruler should do.

 

The other party had not killed the innocent indiscriminately; he would soon diligently handle court matters and might even teach the nominal emperor how to read and write.

 

Moreover, Ning Qinghong seemed to be ill.

 

Although Wu Jing didn’t know what illness he had,

 

It appeared that he was already quite exhausted.

 

Wu Jing’s tense nerves relaxed as he reassured himself. He noticed a palace servant approaching with a warm, damp cloth to wipe his hands.

 

The young man carefully put down his teacup. Before he could react, Ning Qinghong had taken the cloth from the servant and looked at him. “Wu Wu, come here.”

 

Wu Jing stood up awkwardly, hesitated, and walked over to him. The steam from the tea made his vision hazy, and he avoided looking directly at Ning Qinghong.

 

He lowered his head, staring at the tips of his cloth shoes and the hems of their clothing, his eyelids trembling.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed lightly and said, “Extend your hand.”

 

Wu Jing obediently stretched out both hands, passing them over slowly, his compliance apparent.

 

He kept his eyes down, watching as Ning Qinghong wiped his hands with the damp cloth, meticulously cleaning each fingertip and between his fingers. After a long time, Wu Jing dared to lift his eyes and looked up carefully.

 

Ning Qinghong also lowered his gentle brows. Even though his thin lips did not move, his demeanor seemed to be a gentle smile, and his unhurried movements conveyed a unique warmth.

 

Wu Jing felt inexplicably that only when Ning Qinghong was with him did he show such a demeanor. Unconsciously, his previous anxiety vanished without a trace.

 

The young man blinked dazedly.

 

Ning Qinghong finished wiping and, lifting his gaze, met Wu Jing’s eyes. He seemed to smile and gently asked, “Why does Wu Wu like to watch his brother daze off so much?”

 

Wu Jing instantly turned away, his ears turning red. He stammered and shook his head.

 

Ning Qinghong placed the used cloth on the plate held by the palace servant. “Let’s go.”

 

Wu Jing had treated the tea as a mouth rinse and didn’t ask for it to be cleaned again.

 

He looked carefully at Ning Qinghong, then quickly moved his gaze away as if burned, but obediently reached out to hold his hand.

 

The young man wrapped his slender fingers around Ning Qinghong’s long fingers, following him obediently.

 

Even if he was embarrassed or shy,

 

Some habits are not easily changed.

 

He had already gotten used to it.

 

Holding hands when leaving, gently touching the corners of Ning Qinghong’s eyes before sleep, staying obediently in his arms, and being comforted.

 

So when Ning Qinghong leaned in, Wu Jing would instinctively tiptoe and kiss his lips.

 

Even at night, he would unconsciously roll over to snuggle up to Ning Qinghong, like an octopus, holding on.

 

It seemed that this way, he could sleep better and sweeter.

 

Piece by piece, bit by bit,

 

He had become accustomed to it.

 

Even due to this habit, he was slow to react to changes and could not pinpoint when their relationship became so intimate.

 

It seemed that naturally, upon waking up,

 

It was like this.

 

As Wu Jing followed Ning Qinghong out, he couldn’t help but glance back at the mooncake on the porcelain plate, which was missing a small corner because he had taken a bite.

 

It looked different from the ones wrapped in packaging in his memory, but it was still just as delicious.

 

In the next moment, he stumbled because he wasn’t paying attention. He came back to his senses and turned to see Ning Qinghong looking at him with a helpless half-smile.

 

“Why is Wu Wu walking without looking where he’s going again?”

 

“You’ll end up falling and then crying on your brother’s shoulder.”

 

Wu Jing was momentarily stunned. He shook his head, trying to say something but finding no words, so he just shook his head again and unconsciously tightened his grip on Ning Qinghong’s hand.

 

The dependency in the young man’s eyes seemed to increase.

 

After a long pause, Wu Jing finally spoke quietly, “Brother… Please wait, okay?”

 

Ning Qinghong asked gently, “Do you want your brother to walk more slowly and wait for you?”

 

After a moment, Wu Jing nodded slightly.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Alright.”

 

He slowed his already leisurely pace even more, and the young man who had been following him gradually walked alongside him.

 

Ning Qinghong casually glanced around as if thinking about something, whether it was court affairs or the person beside him.

 

Wu Jing was stealing glances at him.

 

Ning Qinghong was particularly sensitive to gazes and soon lowered his brows, glancing at Wu Jing’s profile. He didn’t say anything but seemed to respond with a slight “Hmm?”

 

Caught off guard, Wu Jing’s mind went blank, and he asked the question he had been pondering for a long time.

 

“Do we watch the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival?”

 

The young man’s eyes were filled with expectation and a bit of nervousness about whether it would be successful. But having asked, he was certainly braver than before.

 

Ning Qinghong thought for a moment, “There will be a palace banquet at night. Before the banquet, Wu Wu still needs to have dinner with the Empress Dowager, the Dowager Consort, and the two princesses. It’s a family dinner.”

 

Wu Jing’s eyes fell, but he comforted himself, thinking it was good to meet his family here since he had never met them.

 

The disappointment in his heart gradually turned to happiness with this thought.

 

Ning Qinghong continued, “If Wu Wu doesn’t want to go, then you don’t have to.”

 

Wu Jing was momentarily surprised and looked at him eagerly.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “The streets are very lively on Mid-Autumn Night. It’s much better to go out and walk around than to be stuck in the palace.” He asked, “Do you want to go?”

 

Wu Jing nodded repeatedly, “Yes.” After a moment’s hesitation, he looked at Ning Qinghong seriously, “Will Brother accompany me to see the moon?”

 

He looked hopeful, as if expecting something.

 

Ning Qinghong half-smiled and said, “Of course, I’ll accompany Wu Wu.”

 

Hearing this, Wu Jing genuinely smiled, his eyes curving happily.

 

He didn’t quite understand why he was so happy.

 

Ning Qinghong thought for a moment, “But the palace banquet can be skipped. The family dinner is still necessary.”

 

To the court officials, the emperor’s presence at the palace banquet was insignificant, as his presence or absence made little difference.

 

As for Ning Qinghong, it was merely a matter of a few words.

 

The family dinner in the harem was simply for the Mid-Autumn Night’s reunion, and whether Wu Jing attended or not wasn’t crucial, but attending would have positive symbolism.

 

After a moment, Ning Qinghong asked, “If Wu Wu doesn’t want to go, it’s not a problem.” He couldn’t intervene in the harem matters directly but could instruct the Inner Guard to report that the emperor could not attend due to illness or other reasons.

 

The harem would not be unreasonable, as Wu Jing had been excused from paying respects to the Empress Dowager for several days, hinting at his lack of importance.

 

It appeared to be handled smoothly because Wu Jing was alone in the palace, without power or influence, and neither the former court nor the harem cared much.

 

Ning’s residence, though bustling, had no one who had succeeded in visiting despite Ning Qinghong’s permission.

 

Wu Jing, however, looked up at Ning Qinghong, and with a sincere expression said, “I want to go.”

 

He wanted to see his true blood relatives here.

 

Ning Qinghong agreed, “Then let’s go.” He added, “Just don’t let anyone bully you.”

 

Wu Jing didn’t quite understand why he might be bullied just for attending a meal.

 

Although he had sensed some dislike from the Empress Dowager when he visited her last time, he thought it was just for a meal.

 

Wu Jing felt a bit anxious but reassured himself with the presence of others, including the Dowager Consort who cared for a little tabby cat.

 

There were also two princesses. Were they his elder sisters or younger sisters?

 

Wu Jing pondered slowly. He was an only child with many cousins.

 

This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival should be just as lively as before, right?

 

Author’s Note:

 

WUwu (Misses home): Seeking comfort from Brother.jpg