Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 85

The things were completely beyond Wu Jing’s comprehension, and he couldn’t even imagine how they were supposed to be inserted.

 

Given his limited experience, his first thought was that it would be extremely painful.

 

Besides the fear of pain, there was also a sense of panic.

 

He didn’t want to be forced into becoming like that.

 

It was so frightening.

 

Wu Jing desperately shrank back, whimpering and trying to avoid it.

 

Ning Qinghong had no choice but to stop and leaned in to stroke the boy’s black hair. “When did I say I would punish Wu Wu?”

 

The space in the intricately carved wooden cabinet was extremely cramped.

 

After Ning Qinghong entered, it felt like Wu Jing’s personal space was gradually being occupied by him. The already small area became even tighter, and Wu Jing felt trapped with no place to hide.

 

The boy curled up pitifully in the corner, crying and frantically trying to resist in fear.

 

Wu Jing resisted being held by Ning Qinghong.

 

He knew that if he stayed in this cramped space, he would soon be carried out, and right now, only this small space gave him a sense of security.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed softly and bent down, “Wu Wu?” His voice was gentle. “What’s wrong? Tell your brother.”

 

Wu Jing tightly pressed his lips together and shook his head, hugging his knees.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled. “Then come over here yourself,” he said softly. “Don’t keep your brother waiting.”

 

His tone suddenly grew a bit cold.

 

Wu Jing’s tears flowed even more fiercely. As Ning Qinghong’s demeanor changed and he seemed to be losing patience, Wu Jing was too frightened to disobey.

 

After taking several deep breaths, trembling, he leaned toward Ning Qinghong.

 

No matter how scared he was, he had to cling to his neck.

 

Ning Qinghong finally carried Wu Jing out, feeling his trembling body. He paused briefly before sitting down in a nearby armchair.

 

His earlier coldness softened into helplessness.

 

He no longer tried to scare the boy.

 

Ning Qinghong gently patted Wu Jing’s back, running his fingers through the boy’s black hair, and asked with a sigh, “What does Wu Wu think your brother should punish him for?”

 

He waited for a moment but was met only with silence.

 

Besides the suppressed sobs in his arms, there was no other sound.

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled softly. “Has your brother’s attempts to comfort you become ineffective?”

 

He had deliberately frightened the boy, which was utterly cruel.

 

Wu Jing shivered. “No, no.”

 

Seeing that Wu Jing was willing to speak, Ning Qinghong’s tone became gentler again. “Then let me ask Wu Wu once more?”

 

Wu Jing couldn’t bring himself to speak, only shaking his head.

 

Ning Qinghong truly didn’t understand what Wu Jing was crying about and had tried several methods to figure it out, but with no success. He sighed, “Since Wu Wu won’t say, then we won’t discuss it.”

 

“But your brother still needs to say something.”

 

Ning Qinghong picked up something from the tea table. He held up a cloth pouch, and a metallic clinking sound was heard from inside. He leaned down and asked, “Wu Wu, take a look. Do you like it?”

 

Wu Jing didn’t dare lift his head, burying himself in Ning Qinghong’s shoulder, too scared to look.

 

Ning Qinghong explained, “This pouch was hastily made by the Tailoring Bureau this afternoon. The design isn’t very beautiful, but it’s decent enough.” He continued, “There’s no need for gold leaves outside the palace, so I only had them fill it with some silver coins.”

 

“When you’ve used it up, just let your brother know.”

 

“I’ll put more in for you.”

 

A pouch? Silver coins?

 

What are these?

 

Wu Jing gasped, taking a long time before daring to slightly turn his head to look outside. He saw a pouch adorned with gold threads and decorated with tassels of mythical creatures like unicorns and phoenixes. It was bulging, as if it contained a lot of silver.

 

The boy was stunned. Then Ning Qinghong placed the pouch in his arms and picked up another one from the table, saying, “If you don’t like this one, how about this design?”

 

Wu Jing blinked, his tears falling as he saw that the new pouch was shaped like a cloth tiger. It was also bulging and very cute.

 

Wu Jing, feeling shy, was embarrassed to use such a childish pouch in front of others. Ning Qinghong had prepared different styles to cater to his feelings.

 

Ning Qinghong gently asked, “Or does Wu Wu like both?”

 

After a long while, Wu Jing hesitantly nodded, looking at the two pouches placed in his arms.

 

Ning Qinghong smiled. “Then keep them well?” He said, “Your brother didn’t prepare any silver for Wuwu. I forgot.”

 

“In the future, when Wu Wu goes out with others, he can buy some snacks and interesting things, but he must not be so reckless.”

 

“As for drinking, Brother has also heard the explanation. It was said that Wu Wu didn’t drink at first but was curious and tried a sip later.”

 

“It’s normal for Wu Wu to not handle alcohol well on the first try. There’s no need to apologize to Brother.”

 

“Instead, it would be better to go to the teacher tomorrow and apologize for skipping school, as you need to understand some manners.”

 

Wu Jing felt a bit dizzy upon hearing this. Ning Qinghong responded with a soft “Hmm?”, and Wu Jing, still dazed, nodded slowly. After a while, he sniffed and asked, “Brother, are you… not angry?”

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled, “Wu Wu didn’t skip school with me, so why should Brother be angry?”

 

Wu Jing scolded himself, “I skipped school and drank, not studying well.” He wiped his tears, “And Brother had to come and get me.”

 

Ning Qinghong helplessly explained to everyone, “The students who study with Wu Wu are all sons of influential officials from the capital or local areas. Their elders are very aware and will give strict instructions before sending them to the imperial academy.”

 

“Even if they misbehave privately, they won’t show it openly and wouldn’t dare lead Wu Wu astray.”

 

“As long as Wu Wu is playing with them, Brother isn’t worried.”

 

After several rounds of drinking, everyone was indeed playing a drinking game, where they would propose a character, and each person would compose a poem, song, or verse containing that character.

 

Even drinking was done in an elegant manner.

 

After hearing this, Wu Jing’s tears slowly subsided. He cautiously touched the two pouches in his arms, still uncertain and with lingering unease, and asked, “These two are really from Brother?”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled and confirmed.

 

Wu Jing opened the pouch shaped like a qilin and crane, finding some silver pieces and copper coins inside.

 

He then awkwardly opened the other pouch shaped like a cloth tiger, and after pouring out its contents, discovered it contained various shaped gold and silver ingots.

 

Small ones, in the shape of plum blossoms, begonia flowers, circles, and small ingots. These gold and silver pieces were exquisitely crafted with auspicious inscriptions like “Longevity,” “Success,” and “Wish Fulfilled,” each unique.

 

They were not suitable for spending but were perfect for holding and admiring.

 

Wu Jing was not entirely sure and asked again, “These are really for me?”

 

Ning Qinghong teased, “If Wu Wu doesn’t want them, Brother will take them back.”

 

Wu Jing tightened his grip on the two pouches, holding them close, “I want them!”

 

Ning Qinghong chuckled softly.

 

After Wu Jing calmed down, feeling a bit embarrassed, he wiped his tears and carefully placed each gold and silver ingot back into the cloth tiger pouch, thinking about where to hide it.

 

While he was packing, suddenly someone gently kissed the corner of his mouth. Wu Jing looked up in surprise and met Ning Qinghong’s smiling eyes. He heard Ning Qinghong ask, “Wu Wu, can you now tell Brother why you were crying just now?”

 

Wu Jing recalled and suddenly stopped packing the gold and silver ingots, wondering if Ning Qinghong was trying to bribe him or coax him with these gifts.

 

He swallowed nervously, closed his eyes reluctantly, and hastily packed everything back, handing it over, “I don’t want them. Please take them away.”

 

Ning Qinghong paused, “Why does Wu Wu not want them anymore?” He had a good temper.

 

Wu Jing hesitated to speak, “I… whatever you give me, I can’t play with those.”

 

Ning Qinghong asked, “What are those?”

 

Wu Jing looked at him for a while, hesitated and fearful, pointed to the small box on the table beside the bed, and then quickly retracted his hand, “It’s… that.”

 

Ning Qinghong looked over.

 

In the next moment, Wu Jing was unexpectedly picked up by Ning Qinghong, who carried him to that side. The boy stiffened instantly, watching as Ning Qinghong calmly opened the box.

 

Ning Qinghong then gently fiddled with the small balls inside, the messy cloth bag, and the half-open jade box.

 

He had previously asked Fu Chen to prepare it, but after it was ready, the box was left here.

 

Fu Chen had been instructed to guard the emperor.

 

Ning Qinghong realized only now.

 

“Is Wu Wu really this scared?”

 

After a moment, he asked softly.

 

Wu Jing finally nodded, carefully watching Ning Qinghong’s expression, similar to how he had earlier asked him to throw away that string of prayer beads.

 

“Brother, throw them away.”

 

“Okay?”

 

—

 

The author’s note: 

 

Qinghong: ?