Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 66

Wu Jing was making demands of Ning Qinghong.

 

He had even said, “Don’t.”

 

Wu Jing watched him carefully and added, “It’s uncomfortable.” He expressed his feelings, “I’m not happy.”

 

It wasn’t so much unhappiness as an intense embarrassment that made him want to curl up. He felt like he was on fire, not just wanting to cover his ears but also Ning Qinghong’s mouth.

 

But Ning Qinghong’s gentle tone, his soothing voice, and his embrace didn’t make Wu Jing feel like those words were insulting.

 

*So, what was it?*

 

He was so innocent that he didn’t even understand what flirting meant, and he pondered confusedly.

 

Ning Qinghong’s light laughter came through Wu Jing’s palm. He asked, “Is Wu Wu really unhappy?”

 

Wu Jing’s eyes were uncertain. He couldn’t find the words to describe his strange feelings, not even a term to summarize them. He was left confused and troubled.

 

He didn’t dare to lie to Ning Qinghong again, fearing that he might be tricked again.

 

Ning Qinghong softly suggested, “Then, let’s be a bit more subtle later?” There seemed to be some deeper meaning in his words.

 

Wu Jing, thinking he was finally being let off the hook, nodded innocently, relieved, and cautiously removed his hands from covering Ning Qinghong’s lips.

 

Ning Qinghong carried him for a while, then pushed open the door to the bath chamber and instructed the servants outside, “Burn all the dirty clothes.”

 

Wu Jing didn’t dare look up, burying his face in Ning Qinghong’s shoulder. He didn’t even lift his head, only revealing his flushed ears through his damp hair. He heard the two palace servants respond quietly, “Yes.”

 

After an indeterminate amount of time, they returned to the bedroom. Wu Jing heard Ning Qinghong tell the night watchmen, “Clean up the tea spilled on the floor and throw away any bedding stained with it.”

 

Tea.

 

Wu Jing’s breath became shallow. He was carried to the tea table and set down. Ning Qinghong had the servants bring a dry cloth and began carefully drying his hair.

 

The servants were quick and efficient, and soon everything was cleaned up and the bedding replaced with new ones.

 

Wu Jing’s wet hair was dried to a degree. He stayed completely silent while the servants were around, and once everything was tidy, he sat on Ning Qinghong’s lap to wash up with toothpaste. The servants held the copper basin while he cleaned his face himself.

 

Everything was cleaned up. Because he wasn’t wearing shoes, Ning Qinghong personally carried him to the bed. “Wu Wu? Lift your hands and take off your outer garment.”

 

Wu Jing instinctively extended his hands, watching as Ning Qinghong removed their outer clothes and had them taken away. Ning Qinghong then instructed, “Just guard the door tonight.”

 

The servants knelt and responded, “Yes.”

 

Wu Jing’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively moved towards the inside, curling up with the soft new bedding, pressed against the wall.

 

Ning Qinghong leaned against the head of the bed and waved, “Come over.”

 

Wu Jing hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit scared as he approached, holding the bedding, unsure of what Ning Qinghong wanted to do.

 

As soon as he moved next to Ning Qinghong, he was half-embraced. He watched as Ning Qinghong took out a jade box, dabbed a bit of fragrant ointment on his fingertip, and carefully applied it to his eyes.

 

“You cried for almost an hour or two. Your eyes were only just starting to heal but are already swollen again.” He sighed lightly, but his movements remained slow. After applying the ointment, he had Wu Jing sit up and slowly straddle him.

 

Since they were on the bed, Wu Jing dared not move and sat rigidly on Ning Qinghong.

 

Ning Qinghong softly comforted him, “Sleep now.”

 

The boy, with swollen eyes, tentatively leaned closer, curling up against Ning Qinghong’s warmth, like a koala clinging to him.

 

Gradually, Wu Jing, inhaling the calming scent and feeling the warmth of the autumn night, relaxed.

 

All the earlier fears by the bed vanished without a trace.

 

They didn’t disappear by magic; they were gradually eased away by Ning Qinghong.

 

Wu Jing asked softly, “Brother, aren’t you sleeping?”

 

His voice carried a drowsy tone.

 

Ning Qinghong, with his eyes closed, was deep in thought. His drowsiness was mild, but he forced himself to rest. Hearing Wu Jing, he lightly chuckled, “Brother is afraid Wu Wu will have nightmares and cry out in the middle of the night.”

 

Wu Jing hesitated, then shook his head, “I won’t have nightmares. You need to sleep too.” He said earnestly.

 

Ning Qinghong whispered in his ear, “Wasn’t it Wu Wu who cried non-stop, saying he felt uncomfortable everywhere, and wouldn’t let brother say anything?”

 

Wu Jing froze, his voice growing smaller, feeling guilty, “Well, I won’t have nightmares.”

 

Ning Qinghong asked, “Really?”

 

Wu Jing nodded, “You should sleep too.”

 

Ning Qinghong paused, then smiled, “Then brother will lie down and hold Wu Wu while sleeping?”

 

Wu Jing hesitated but eventually nodded.

 

He sat up, crawled into the bedding, and when Ning Qinghong also lay down, he reached out to hug Ning Qinghong’s waist. In the dim light, he moved tentatively, only to have his hand suddenly grasped firmly by Ning Qinghong because he couldn’t see clearly.

 

Ning Qinghong slowly pulled Wu Jing’s hand over and waited for the boy to lean in. He whispered, “Wu Wu was very beautiful earlier.” He embraced him, as if comforting him, “And very cute.”

 

He chuckled, “Brother likes you very much.”

 

Wu Jing paused in the darkness, holding back his shy embarrassment, unsure what was beautiful or cute about it, or why Ning Qinghong liked it.

 

He didn’t understand why Ning Qinghong was saying these things. He used to rack his brain trying to figure out what Ning Qinghong was thinking, but now it seemed different.

 

Ning Qinghong was sharing his thoughts with him.

 

He heard Ning Qinghong patiently say, “It’s not about bullying you. Don’t overthink it.”

 

Wu Jing couldn’t help but tug at his clothing, asking hesitantly, “It’s not embarrassing?”

 

Ning Qinghong laughed, “Not embarrassing.”

 

It was only the beginning.

 

Ning Qinghong patted his back, laughing and sighing lightly, “Alright, sleep now.”

 

After a long time, Wu Jing reached out in the dark, kissing Ning Qinghong’s cheek, “Brother, sleep too.”

 

He even quickly forgot that it was clearly Ning Qinghong who had played tricks on him. He only blamed himself for a short while and was still naively remembering the habits between them, the things Ning Qinghong had taught him to do before bed.

 

He kissed Ning Qinghong softly, not fully understanding what he was doing.

 

Wu Jing slept soundly through the night, completely relaxed.

 

The next day, Ning Qinghong had already finished his morning court duties by the time Wu Jing finally got out of bed. Wu Jing got up only after Ning Qinghong had met with the ministers from the cabinet.

 

After yawning and washing up, and changing into new clothes, Wu Jing curiously watched the servants of the Ning residence style his hair and put on his crown. Last time he was here, he hadn’t been so bold, afraid to look around.

 

This time, as he walked from the bedroom to the dining hall, he curiously observed everything around him, a bit awkwardly trying not to act too impudently, as if he had moved to a new place and was starting to familiarize himself with his new surroundings.

 

After finishing his breakfast, he was taken to the study. Despite Ning Qinghong having recently taken up residence in the Yangxin Hall, the study had been rearranged with new items, including many new medical texts, while the shelves for official documents remained empty.

 

“Your Majesty, His Highness said you should read and practice calligraphy in the study until he returns, and you mustn’t be idle,” a servant said quietly.

 

Wu Jing wasn’t sure if he should continue pretending to be ignorant in front of others, so he acted as if he hadn’t heard. Once the servants left with the tea and snacks, he was left alone in the large study.

 

The young emperor sat at the desk, staring at the stack of books and documents. After flipping through a few pages, he felt bored and closed them again.

 

He didn’t understand them.

 

Wu Jing obediently sat for a while, then, seeing that no one was watching, he looked around with curiosity and stood up to start exploring.

 

 

When Ning Qinghong pushed the door open, Wu Jing was standing on a chair, trying to reach a delicate glass and porcelain flower on a high shelf. Other items on the shelf had clearly been moved around.

 

It was obvious he had been playing with them secretly.

 

Seeing this, Fuchen who followed Ning Qinghong gasped, “Your Majesty—!”

 

Wu Jing suddenly jerked his hand.

 

Fuchen hurried in, carefully supporting the young emperor, “Your Majesty, that is a diplomatic gift from the Western Rong kingdom to the late Emperor from a few years ago. Please be careful, and come down quickly.”

 

Wu Jing, feeling guilty, lowered his hand.

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled, “It doesn’t matter if it breaks; it’s just an inanimate object.” Once Wu Jing was down, he beckoned, “Wu Wu, come here.”

 

Wu Jing ran up to him, “I didn’t break anything.”

 

He said it with his eyes downcast.

 

Ning Qinghong inspected him carefully, “Brother is more worried about the object falling on Wu Wu. I’ll have someone bring it to you next time.”

 

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up, “Okay.”

 

Ning Qinghong led him to the desk. His previous smile faded as he gently asked, “Did Wu Wu play all morning?”

 

Wu Jing explained, “I couldn’t understand it, so I didn’t slack off.”

 

Ning Qinghong’s voice softened, “You didn’t practice calligraphy either.”

 

Wu Jing bit his lip and fell silent.

 

The attendant managed to put the porcelain flower back on the shelf but almost dropped it due to a slight tremor caused by the conversation.

 

The attendant wondered if the emperor had called for him.

 

He observed Ning Qinghong’s expression and saw that he was speaking to the emperor as usual, but briefly glanced at the attendant. Realizing something, the attendant quietly left.

 

Ning Qinghong took out a book and said, “Today’s study is on the Four Books and Five Classics. Wu Wu can choose any book. Besides recognizing the characters, you also need to learn the sentences and be able to recite the entire book. Brother will test you on the meaning of the texts.”

 

He said gently, “No slacking off.”

 

Wu Jing was still trying to figure out what the meaning of the texts was when he heard Ning Qinghong’s final sentence. He swallowed nervously and heard Ning Qinghong say, “You need to learn some things, otherwise, if others bully you, you won’t even know.”

 

“You won’t even be able to come running to tell me.”

 

“If I’m not available and can’t keep an eye on you, what then?”

 

Ning Qinghong set the book aside, “Since you stayed up late last night, I didn’t call you today. But from now on, you need to wake up at the fifth watch every day and go to court with me.” He smiled and sighed, as if meaning something deeper, “So that there won’t be any gossip in court.”

 

“Wu Wu, listen. Don’t come crying to me later.”

 

Wu Jing, stunned by the information, watched as the attendant brought in something.

 

Ning Qinghong, still in his official crimson robes with intricate crane embroidery, reached out with his fingers to take a long, heavy wooden ruler, about four inches long, and placed it on the desk with a “thud.”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled and asked, “Wu Wu, why aren’t you speaking?” He softly inquired, “Are you not done playing yet?”

 

Wu Jing immediately reverted to his earlier timid self, shaking his head, “No, I’m done playing.”

 

He stuttered.

 

The boy couldn’t help but tug at Ning Qinghong’s sleeve, looking up with hope, “Do I really have to memorize the whole book?”

 

Ning Qinghong cruelly replied, “Naturally.”

 

He smiled gently.

 

Author’s Note:

 

Wuwu (Eyes Wide Open): Dejected.jpg

 

You can always trust in the aftermath of Qinghong (max, not really)

 

The **Four Books and Five Classics** are foundational texts in Confucianism, forming the core of traditional Chinese education and philosophy.

 

### **Four Books (四书, Sì Shū):**

1. **Great Learning (大学, Dà Xué):** Focuses on self-cultivation, the cultivation of virtue, and governance. It was originally a chapter in the Classic of Rites.

   

2. **Doctrine of the Mean (中庸, Zhōng Yōng):** Discusses the importance of moderation and harmony in personal conduct and governance. It also emphasizes the cultivation of one’s moral nature.

   

3. **Analects (论语, Lún Yǔ):** A collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius and his disciples, highlighting Confucian ethics and philosophy.

   

4. **Mencius (孟子, Mèng Zǐ):** A compilation of the teachings of Mencius, a Confucian philosopher who expanded upon Confucius’s ideas, particularly on human nature and government.

 

### **Five Classics (五经, Wǔ Jīng):**

1. **Classic of Poetry (诗经, Shī Jīng):** A collection of 305 poems that cover various themes such as love, politics, and ritual, serving as a reflection of ancient Chinese society.

   

2. **Book of Documents (书经, Shū Jīng):** A compilation of speeches, historical records, and proclamations from ancient Chinese rulers, outlining the principles of good governance.

   

3. **Book of Rites (礼记, Lǐ Jì):** Describes the social norms, rituals, and ceremonies of ancient China, providing a blueprint for moral behavior and social order.

   

4. **I Ching (易经, Yì Jīng):** Also known as the Book of Changes, it is a divination text that uses hexagrams to offer guidance on decision-making and understanding the flow of change in the universe.

   

5. **Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋, Chūn Qiū):** A historical chronicle of the state of Lu (Confucius’s home state), which reflects on the events of the period and offers moral lessons.

 

These texts have profoundly influenced Chinese thought, culture, and government for thousands of years, and they continue to be studied and revered in East Asia and beyond.