Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 83

“I’m going to sleep in late tomorrow. Don’t wake me up.”

Wu Jing, having finished crying, said through his sniffles.

After he calmed down, he realized he had been tricked again. Now that Ning Qinghong was in a good mood, why did he have to go so far to please him?

Ning Qinghong patted his back gently. “Anything else?”

Wu Jing made another request. “I want to eat what I like.”

He wanted to get everything out in one go.

Ning Qinghong agreed, “Okay.”

Wu Jing wiped his tears and said, “I don’t like that bead. Take it away.”

Ning Qinghong asked, “What bead?”

Wu Jing described it quietly, “The scary-looking bead.”

The few things that had frightened him before were probably the items Ning Qinghong had used to scare him. Ning Qinghong glanced at the top of the bookshelf in the study, where the human bone beads were used as decoration. He smiled and said, “I’ll take it away tomorrow. I’ll do whatever Wu Wu says.”

Wu Jing felt braver, perhaps thinking that anyone would be accommodating at this moment. However, he hesitated and clung to Ning Qinghong, mumbling, “Can you tell me why you… got sick?”

Ning Qinghong, gently stroking his hair, seemed indifferent. “There’s not much to say.” He then asked softly, “Would you like to wash up, or should I help you clean up?”

Wu Jing was momentarily stunned. The bold attitude he had previously seemed to retract. Not knowing why Ning Qinghong wouldn’t tell him, he bit his lip and was distracted by the latter part of Ning Qinghong’s statement.

In a small voice, he said, “I feel sticky. I need to wash.”

He no longer needed guidance and dared to describe his feelings to Ning Qinghong.

Ning Qinghong picked him up and, while walking, casually touched him with his fingertips. “It’s a bit moist.”

A large area was damp.

Wu Jing was caught off guard by the touch. Even through the clothes, he immediately tensed up, but he didn’t resist as strongly as before. He buried his face deeper, saying, “Don’t…”

Despite his words, his heated breath was fully directed at Ning Qinghong.

The bath was filled with hot spring water, always warm, and didn’t require anyone’s instructions to use.

Wu Jing was carried to the hot spring pool. He didn’t dare to look and just clung to Ning Qinghong, like a small quail, remaining completely still.

Everything was done by Ning Qinghong’s hands.

Wu Jing followed whatever Ning Qinghong did, whether lifting his legs or otherwise, treating it as if it wasn’t part of himself.

Total trust and dependence.

Ning Qinghong meticulously cleaned him with a cloth, quietly watching Wu Jing’s reactions. Seeing that Wu Jing, exhausted, had fallen asleep on his shoulder in the sound of water, Ning Qinghong thoughtfully narrowed his eyes.

He softly called, “Wu Wu?”

Wu Jing, confused, woke up again. Though tired, he maintained basic awareness, asking, “What does Brother want me to do?” He yawned, “Is it cleaned up?”

He clearly knew what Ning Qinghong was doing but was still able to fall asleep.

Wu Jing didn’t receive a response but was met with a gentle kiss on his forehead. He looked up dazedly, meeting Ning Qinghong’s obscure eyes.

It seemed like Ning Qinghong was contemplating something. The next moment, he smiled faintly, as if finally having waited for something.

Wu Jing’s drowsiness vanished completely. He swallowed nervously, only to hear Ning Qinghong say, “It’s cleaned. If Wu Wu is tired, he can sleep now.”

Wu Jing shook his head, driven by a sense of urgency. He flattered, “Let’s sleep together.”

Ning Qinghong smiled, carrying him back to the edge of the pool.

Wu Jing’s wet clothes were changed, and after drying off with a cloth, he was dressed in fresh clothes.

Wu Jing sat on the couch while Ning Qinghong went behind the screen to change. They then both returned to the bedroom.

Ning Qinghong’s clothes were also soaked, and much of him was wet.

Wu Jing had grown accustomed to this. He hadn’t even seen what Ning Qinghong’s body looked like yet, while he himself had been seen completely.

He remembered how Ning Qinghong appeared distinguished, with long, slender fingers and callouses on his fingertips, sometimes causing him slight pain.

Wu Jing, struggling to stay awake, looked at the floor but then noticed a corner of a crane-patterned snow garment that had fallen.

His eyes widened instinctively, and he looked up.

He saw that Ning Qinghong had already changed into lower garments and was putting on a satin snow robe made of precious silk.

Ning Qinghong was half-turned, with some still-damp water spots on him. After simply putting on the robe, he leisurely tied the sash.

Wu Jing glanced quickly and then instinctively closed his eyes tightly, but his mind kept replaying the image.

Pale skin, well-proportioned limbs, covered with a thin layer of muscle, tall and graceful, but surprisingly, without any visible scars, looking as though he hadn’t suffered any past injuries leading to his illness.

Most importantly, he saw the bite marks he had left last time.

The scabs were visible, and it seemed like Ning Qinghong had deliberately not used good medicine, with the outlines of the bite marks still showing, forming rough skin.

Had he bitten so hard at that time?

Wu Jing wondered blankly.

Before he could react, Ning Qinghong pinched his ear with his fingertips and leaned down to ask, “Why are your ears so red, Wu Wu?”

Wu Jing’s face turned red as well. “It’s because you were changing in front of me.”

Ning Qinghong laughed, “Wu Wu is the first one to see.” He then asked, “Shall I let Wu Wu get used to it more in the future?”

Wu Jing shook his head repeatedly. “I’m tired.”

Despite his words, he couldn’t help but keep sneaking glances at Ning Qinghong, especially at the collar of his clothes. He stared for a while, then trembled and looked away.

Once Ning Qinghong finished adjusting his clothes, Wu Jing snuggled back into him and fell asleep again, not having been carried very far before falling asleep.

This time, he wasn’t disturbed.

He slept dreamlessly through the night.

As the imperial academy had a day off, so did the officials in the court. When Wu Jing woke up, Ning Qinghong had already been up for a while and was reading a secret report presented by a spy.

Fuchen was waiting outside, speaking softly, afraid of waking the still-sleeping emperor. “Master, His Majesty hasn’t returned to the palace for almost half a month.”

“There have been some rumors inside and outside the court, but they only know that the Yangxin Palace is unoccupied and do not know where His Majesty is resting now.”

“However, the Left Chancellor has already heard some news from the academy.”

It was rare for the old master to send a young man to the academy. At first, no one dared to speculate, but with Ning Qinghong appearing frequently in front of the academy in recent days, the news had solidified.

Ning Qinghong calmly said, “Let His Majesty attend court in a couple of days.”

Fuchen asked in a low voice, “What if someone from the Left Chancellor’s side comes into the academy?”

Ning Qinghong replied, “Don’t worry about it. With the imperial examination coming up, the Left Chancellor will be too preoccupied to care.”

“But since the old master is better now, why not let His Majesty move back to the Yangxin Palace? You could personally teach him and put the ministers’ minds at ease.” Fuchen tried to persuade further. “In a few days, everyone will know that His Majesty is staying in your residence.”

Ning Qinghong replied calmly, “Even if I moved into the Yangxin Palace, no one would dare to criticize.” He closed the report and said, “Since His Majesty is enjoying himself at the academy, let him stay there. It’s good for him to talk to others more.”

Wu Jing, who had been eavesdropping, was momentarily stunned.

Ning Qinghong then said, “If anyone from the cabinet has objections, have them come to me personally.” He added softly, “Rather than relying on rumors and having others pass messages, Fuchen, is that clear?”

Fuchen immediately knelt, “When I presented the petition in the cabinet, the ministers did mention it briefly. This servant knows the rules and wouldn’t dare to accept any benefit. I am only acting as a messenger. Please be clear with the master.”

After waiting anxiously for a while, he finally heard the old master’s casual dismissal, “You may go.” Fuchen sighed in relief and kowtowed, “Thank you for your mercy.”

Just as he was about to leave, he heard his master say, “Wait.”

Ning Qinghong asked, “Have the items been prepared?”

Fuchen hurriedly replied, “The items you instructed this morning were secretly arranged. I went around and instructed the hidden guards to prepare them. It naturally takes some time.”

Ning Qinghong acknowledged with a faint sound and gestured with his hand.

Fuchen received the order and quickly left.

Wu Jing was thinking about how to act natural while opening his eyes when he heard Ning Qinghong set down the paper and ask with a smile, “When did Wu Wu wake up?”

“How much did you overhear?”