Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 68

*Fifty-five strokes.*

 

Wu Jing’s eyes widened immediately. He was sitting in Ning Qinghong’s lap, and even if he wanted to run, it would be difficult.

 

He had always thought that Ning Qinghong was just joking.

 

Or not exactly joking, but he felt that Ning Qinghong’s gentle tone suggested he wouldn’t really hit him. However, now that he saw the wooden ruler on the table and heard the sound in his ear, he immediately froze, helplessly clutching Ning Qinghong’s sleeve and shaking his head.

 

How could it be true that he would be punished with a stroke for every mistake?

 

He had just memorized one text; if he had to memorize one text every day with so many mistakes, wouldn’t it amount to hundreds of strokes in ten days?

 

Ning Qinghong raised his finger slowly towards the wooden ruler.

 

Wu Jing reacted instantly, raising his hand to tightly hold onto Ning Qinghong’s arm, almost wanting to press it against his chest.

 

The youth’s wide sleeves fell in disarray, revealing his slender wrist. Even with all his strength, he could easily be pulled away.

 

Wu Jing anxiously pleaded, “The previous one doesn’t count.” He shook his head, speaking softly, “Don’t use it.”

 

He was so frightened he stuttered, “I, I can memorize it again, don’t, don’t hit me.”

 

“I worked on it for a long time; it’s too difficult.”

 

“I’m really trying to remember it.”

 

Wu Jing spoke incoherently, “But I can’t remember it. I’m writing carefully, not slacking off. I don’t want to make mistakes.” He was on the verge of tears, “Please don’t use it.”

 

“Brother, don’t use it.”

 

The youth was almost crying, his cheeks flushed red from anxiety. He kept shaking his head and saying “no,” wanting to stay as far from the wooden ruler as possible, backing up quickly into Ning Qinghong’s embrace.

 

As soon as Ning Qinghong mentioned the punishment, the attending servant had tactfully led the others away. It was one thing for the emperor to be punished, but the face of the Son of Heaven(basically ruler of china) could not be lost.

 

At this moment, only the two of them were left in the room.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed softly, “Was that lantern Wu Wu’s? Did Brother not mention it in advance?”

 

Wu Jing nodded and shook his head, “I took it, but I don’t want it anymore. I’ll return it to you.”

 

Ning Qinghong gave a half-smile, “How come Wu Wu is still denying it?”

 

Wu Jing said in a panic, “It’s unfair.” He calculated in his mind, feeling wronged, “One lantern, so many strokes, it’s not fair.”

 

“I’m not denying it.”

 

“I’m not denying it.”

 

He was so flustered he could only repeat himself.

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled, “And the mistake was due to Wu Wu daydreaming, right?”

 

Wu Jing didn’t want to admit it but had to, “Yes, yes, but—”

 

Ning Qinghong gently asked, “Didn’t Brother tell you in advance?”

 

Wu Jing was brooding, sweating lightly, and nodded with his head down.

 

Ning Qinghong said calmly, “Put out your hand.”

 

Wu Jing’s eyelids trembled, “No.”

 

His courage had grown a lot.

 

Ning Qinghong spoke slowly, “Wu Wu be good, today we’ll only use the ruler once, and then you can go have lunch.” He smiled lightly, “If a student in the Imperial Academy is caught daydreaming, they would be hit with a bamboo stick.”

 

“Brother promises to use only this wooden ruler.”

 

“Hmm? Let go.”

 

Wu Jing exhaled, quickly hiding under Ning Qinghong’s arm, not daring to open his eyes. After being coaxed for a while, he trembled and reluctantly let go, glancing at the wooden ruler through his blurred vision, then quickly turning his face away.

 

He extended his trembling fingers, fearfully stretching out his hand, nervously opening it. While glancing at Ning Qinghong’s movements, he couldn’t stop himself from pulling at Ning Qinghong with his other hand.

 

He wrapped his arms around Ning Qinghong’s neck, burying his face, breathing heavily and tearfully saying, “Brother isn’t someone else.”

 

Ning Qinghong paused slightly with the ruler in hand, lightening his grip, and made a swift but gentle stroke.

 

Wu Jing instantly felt a sharp pain in his palm, both numb and aching. He couldn’t help but cry out, “It hurts, it hurts.”

 

Ning Qinghong set down the ruler. The strike was gentle, but because the ruler was heavy and Wu Jing was terrified, the pain felt more pronounced.

 

He examined Wu Jing’s hand carefully.

 

The youth’s palm only had a faint pink mark, likely to fade within a quarter of an hour.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed softly, “Does Wu Wu fear pain this much?” He lowered his voice, “What should we do in the future?”

 

His words seemed to carry deeper meaning.

 

Wu Jing couldn’t hear what he was saying, only holding back tears, feeling that the pain from that one stroke was worse than anything else, enough to make him cry until he nearly lost consciousness.

 

Ning Qinghong comforted him, “If you can’t endure just one stroke, how will you handle so many?”

 

Wu Jing could only repeat, closing his eyes tightly, and tearfully asking, “What should I do?”

 

Ning Qinghong also appeared troubled, smiling faintly, “Yes, what should we do?”

 

Wu Jing couldn’t answer, only sniffling.

 

“Alright.” Ning Qinghong sighed, took Wu Jing’s hand, and gently kissed the reddened palm. “Brother will apply some medicine to ease the pain.”

 

Wu Jing felt the touch on his palm, momentarily stunned, and opened his eyes with the courage to look. He noticed the faint red mark and then gazed at Ning Qinghong’s face.

 

His breath momentarily caught.

 

Wu Jing watched as Ning Qinghong gently blew on the red mark and softly asked, “Not crying anymore?”

 

The youth shook his head in a daze.

 

It seemed not so serious, and the pain wasn’t as bad as he thought.

 

Ning Qinghong applied a soothing ointment to Wu Jing’s palm. The ointment was cooling, and the burning sensation disappeared instantly, making the mark seem to vanish in the blink of an eye.

 

Wu Jing slowly stopped crying, feeling embarrassed to continue, but still turned his face away and remained silent.

 

He was somewhat upset.

 

Ning Qinghong set down the ointment, took a cloth to wipe his hands, and put the wooden ruler away. After finishing these tasks, Wu Jing was still staring at his palm, sulking.

 

Ning Qinghong used the cloth to wipe away his tears, “Wu Wu? Look up.”

 

Wu Jing turned his face away, “Don’t wipe it.”

 

Finally Speaking Out

 

When Ning Qinghong spoke first, Wu Jing couldn’t hold back and said softly, “You can’t always be like this.” He hesitated but still looked up at Ning Qinghong, “You have to ask for my opinion. Only if I agree will it count.”

 

He didn’t know why he said this. Although Ning Qinghong was comforting him, and he didn’t feel uncomfortable, Wu Jing instinctively felt that if he were to stay with someone for a long time…

 

He didn’t continue his thought, feeling a bit flustered. Even now, he couldn’t sort out the complex relationship between them.

 

He vaguely felt that things had changed between him and Ning Qinghong compared to before, but if some things didn’t change with the shift in their relationship, he would feel uncomfortable.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled and repeated, “I should ask Wu Wu’s opinion?”

 

Wu Jing hesitated for a moment and nodded.

 

Ning Qinghong half-smiled, “Alright, next time I will definitely ask.”

 

He spoke meaningfully in a soft tone.

 

Wu Jing hesitated, “Really?”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Of course.” He repeated, “I always keep my word.”

 

Wu Jing wasn’t quite convinced. He pursed his lips, wanting to say something but not sure what to ask. Then Ning Qinghong said, “Does Wu Wu still hurt? Are you ready to have lunch?”

 

“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

 

“Do you want to?”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “So, after lunch, do you want to take a nap with brother or play around the mansion by yourself?” He continued to ask one question after another, “Originally, brother wanted Wu Wu to learn some characters this afternoon, practice a few times.”

 

He asked again, “Would Wu Wu like to rest or study characters?”

 

Following Ning Qinghong’s series of questions, Wu Jing slowly answered according to his train of thought, “Take a nap with brother?”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled and replied, “And what else?”

 

Wu Jing expressed his thoughts, “I want to rest for a while, then study characters.”

 

Ning Qinghong softly said, “Alright, we’ll do whatever Wu Wu wants.”

 

Wu Jing felt disoriented, sensing something was off. Ning Qinghong’s tone made him uneasy. He swallowed and tentatively asked, “Then, we won’t use the ruler?”

 

“I will study diligently and not slack off.”

 

“Can we agree on that?”

 

Ning Qinghong, with a half-smile, said, “Alright.” He softened his tone and coaxed, “Then we won’t use the ruler on Wu Wu’s palm.”

 

Wu Jing asked uncertainly, “Really? Do you keep your word?”

 

Ning Qinghong repeated, “Of course.” He said in a leisurely manner, “Brother listens to everything Wu Wu says and asks for Wu Wu’s opinion. Don’t sulk or ignore brother, okay?”

 

Wu Jing nodded absentmindedly.

 

**Author’s Note:**

 

Wuwu: Respectful and Pretentious 0.0