Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 93

The hollow copper ball contained mercury and had a small bell inside. It was only about two fingers wide, not very large, and wouldn’t cause too much discomfort.

 

What was unbearable was its placement.

 

Ning Qinghong withdrew his finger, lowered his gaze, and used a clean hand to slowly pick up the items from the ground. He returned everything, except the jade, into the wooden box.

 

The boy in his arms was quiet, curled up against him.

 

Ning Qinghong half-embraced him, and after everything was picked up, he leisurely lifted Wu Jing from the ground, supporting his buttocks and gently stroking his black hair.

 

He walked to the bedroom door, pushed it open, and stepped outside.

 

The boy was only draped in an outer garment. Even in the night, the dim light from the palace lanterns exposed their intimate pose.

 

The night wind made the boy’s skin exposed to the cold, despite the wide sleeves of Ning Qinghong’s official robes.

 

When he was ill, the household servants did not attend to him, and there was no one outside. Ning Qinghong carried him straight to the hot spring.

 

Wu Jing seemed to have fallen asleep, remaining still and quiet, not struggling at all, completely limp in Ning Qinghong’s arms.

 

Only Ning Qinghong’s hands became increasingly sticky, continuously and silently exuding.

 

The sound of the copper ball’s movement was muffled inside his body, and only when close could one hear the faint noise.

 

Ning Qinghong listened to the sound, glanced at the boy resting against his neck, revealing only a small portion of his flushed face, his black eyes half-open, with dilated pupils, and his blurred vision unfocused.

 

Tears continued to flow, soaking Ning Qinghong’s collar, but there was no sound of crying.

 

The boy’s lips were slightly parted, his tongue unconsciously sticking out, and when it touched Ning Qinghong’s neck, it was almost hot to the touch. Saliva flowed from the corners of his lips, wetting Ning Qinghong.

 

Occasionally, the boy’s tongue would extend further out, almost opening his lips fully, exhaling with a gasping sound, tilting his face slightly, his dark pupils almost rolling back, barely keeping open.

 

He would occasionally shiver in Ning Qinghong’s embrace.

 

His limbs were limp, unable to hold onto anything, completely relying on Ning Qinghong to support him. His fingertips were increasingly sticky, nearly dripping with moisture.

 

Occasionally, a faint sound of dripping was heard, nearly wetting Ning Qinghong’s official robes, leaving a reddish stain.

 

When they reached the hall with the hot spring, he had already started unconsciously seeking a higher level of stimulation, lightly licking the skin of the person in front of him with his exposed tongue.

 

Ning Qinghong was not aroused when ill; he had little interest, and his mood was harder to stimulate. The simple act of the boy resting quietly in his arms and sleeping next to him was more soothing.

 

As he stroked the boy’s black hair, Ning Qinghong looked at him for a while before lightly smiling and sighing, “Wu Wu, you’re really amazing.”

 

Although he was aroused, he didn’t pursue it further. He finally set Wu Jing down on a nearby beauty couch.

 

Ning Qinghong’s fingers were sticky from holding him. He looked down at the boy, his own dark hair falling over his face, hiding his expression.

 

He could only see him holding the boy’s ankle, lifting it high.

 

Wu Jing didn’t even know how to resist, his eyes blankly gazing upward. He couldn’t even close his mouth, let alone care about being meticulously examined with a gaze, feeling deeply embarrassed.

 

He was truly pitiful.

 

He didn’t even realize when the copper ball was removed. His mind was blank, unable to remember the time or place, or even his own name.

 

He was just being held by the ankle, trembling.

 

The copper ball fell to the ground with a clinking sound, rolling to the edge and directly dropping into the hot spring, splashing water everywhere.

 

The splash sound was as vague to Wu Jing as everything else. Although the ball was gone, the aftereffects still lingered.

 

He didn’t even realize he was being observed.

 

Ning Qinghong waited until the boy was finished before lifting him again, speaking softly, “Let’s clean up first so as not to dirty the water in the spring.”

 

He didn’t get a response for a long time and, regardless of the boy’s state, took a nearby towel.

 

Wu Jing was forced to kneel with his waist and abdomen against Ning Qinghong’s shoulder, bending forward. The towel, made of silk, was even smoother than satin.

 

However, the wiping action was too much for him, who had just finished.

 

No matter how many times Ning Qinghong wiped or how many towels he used, he couldn’t clean it up. It wasn’t until Ning Qinghong used a new towel to plug the area that Wu Jing let out a small whimper.

 

Finally coming to his senses.

 

After this ordeal, Wu Jing was too embarrassed to cry out loud. He didn’t resist or struggle when Ning Qinghong moved him. He quietly curled up, nestling into his arms.

 

When placed alone on the beauty couch, he didn’t disobey and clung to Ning Qinghong.

 

Ning Qinghong said calmly, “Wu Wu, sit by yourself for a while.”

 

Wu Jing buried his head and nodded.

 

With the servants absent, Ning Qinghong had to handle the clothes in the warm room himself. When he entered, Wu Jing was in the same position he had been in, and when he came out with the clothes, Wu Jing remained in that position.

 

He didn’t even dare to quietly take out the towel with his fingers, merely huddling quietly with his knees drawn up.

 

This position allowed one to see at a glance, even from the side, a small white towel exposed beneath his bent knees.

 

It was completely soaked.

 

When Ning Qinghong bent down to pick him up, even though Wu Jing trembled with fear, he obediently allowed himself to be held.

 

Wu Jing rested on Ning Qinghong’s shoulder. His tears had dried up, and he could no longer cry, but his eyelids and the tip of his nose were still damp, and his face was flushed.

 

He looked dazed and a bit confused,

 

But very well-behaved.

 

It would probably take a long time for him to fully recover.

 

Ning Qinghong carefully wiped him with a soapwort cloth. Even as he removed the towel and wiped every part of him, Wu Jing kept his lips sealed, obediently opening his mouth and remaining still.

 

He kept his head lowered, emotionally dazed, yet attentively watching Ning Qinghong’s actions.

 

He didn’t even feel embarrassment anymore.

 

Wu Jing was then lifted onto the shore and placed on a couch. He was wrapped in a bathrobe, staring vacantly as Ning Qinghong returned to the bath to change clothes.

 

After Ning Qinghong had cleaned himself and changed into a bathrobe, Wu Jing still maintained the position he had been left in, not looking around, only keeping his head down, not even wiping the water from his body with the robe.

 

Only when Ning Qinghong picked him up again, helping him dry off and changing him into clean, warm clothes that had been scented did Wu Jing finally come to his senses.

 

Ning Qinghong, standing tall, said to Wu Jing sitting on the couch, “Come here.”

 

Wu Jing hesitated for a moment, then carefully and quickly got off the couch and ran over, taking Ning Qinghong’s outstretched fingertip.

 

Ning Qinghong led him outside the warm room, glancing down at the boy’s dazed and obedient expression, and sighed lightly, “Wu Wu, are you going back on your own?”

 

Wu Jing was momentarily stunned.

 

Ning Qinghong released him, saying, “Go back to the previous courtyard and stay there for a few days.”

 

“Go on.”

 

Wu Jing’s hand was released, and he looked up at Ning Qinghong with a blank expression as he returned to the warm room, watching the ornate wooden door close before his eyes.

 

He stood there for a long time before slowly walking outside.

 

He walked step by step, not rushing to escape, obediently making his way to the hall door and pushing it open.

 

The warm, golden fragrance of the room was quickly replaced by the chill of the autumn night outside. It should have felt like a relief, but Wu Jing couldn’t adjust; his legs still felt weak.

 

Feeling tired from standing, he wanted to crouch down and sit outside, hugging his knees, but when he looked back at the width of the threshold, his hand unconsciously rested on the door frame.

 

If he pushed open the door, someone would pick him up, speak to him gently, and kiss his brows affectionately.

 

And he wouldn’t have to do anything.

 

But it wasn’t just because of this that he hesitated. It was also because, although he imagined being terrified, he couldn’t move his legs.

 

Maybe it was because it felt comfortable, or perhaps it didn’t cause him pain or suffering.

 

There were many uncertainties he couldn’t figure out.

 

But he knew there would be good food, drink, and a warm place waiting for him if he left, and the other place wasn’t bad either. He would just need to wait a few days before returning to his usual self.

 

He knew Ning Qinghong wasn’t pushing him away,

 

But rather giving him another chance.

 

Wu Jing took a deep breath, his earlier uncried emotions making him want to cry again. He wiped his tears and sniffled, slowly making his way back.

 

Occasionally looking up, stopping to hold back his tears before continuing.

 

He walked back and forth, and after some effort, reached the hot spring. Ning Qinghong had already left the warm room, dressed in a clean snow-white robe and a thin camellia-red long-sleeved gown.

 

He had neatly folded the towels and clothes on the ground, preparing to burn them so the servants wouldn’t notice anything unusual.

 

Just as he was drying his hands, moving slowly and methodically with a towel, Wu Jing suddenly ran up from behind, unable to hold back his tears any longer.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed, putting down the towel, turning to look at the boy who was sobbing against his neck, and asked, “Why aren’t you scared anymore?”

 

Wu Jing sniffled, his words unclear, “Scared, scared.”

 

His voice was very soft, and even though he was crying heavily, he still didn’t dare to avoid answering.

 

“But I said before…”

 

“I… I keep my promises.”

With the servants absent, Ning Qinghong had to handle the clothes in the warm room himself. When he entered, Wu Jing was in the same position he had been in, and when he came out with the clothes, Wu Jing remained in that position.

 

He didn’t even dare to quietly take out the towel with his fingers, merely huddling quietly with his knees drawn up.

 

This position allowed one to see at a glance, even from the side, a small white towel exposed beneath his bent knees.

 

It was completely soaked.

 

When Ning Qinghong bent down to pick him up, even though Wu Jing trembled with fear, he obediently allowed himself to be held.

 

Wu Jing rested on Ning Qinghong’s shoulder. His tears had dried up, and he could no longer cry, but his eyelids and the tip of his nose were still damp, and his face was flushed.

 

He looked dazed and a bit confused,

 

But very well-behaved.

 

It would probably take a long time for him to fully recover.

 

Ning Qinghong carefully wiped him with a soapwort cloth. Even as he removed the towel and wiped every part of him, Wu Jing kept his lips sealed, obediently opening his mouth and remaining still.

 

He kept his head lowered, emotionally dazed, yet attentively watching Ning Qinghong’s actions.

 

He didn’t even feel embarrassment anymore.

 

Wu Jing was then lifted onto the shore and placed on a couch. He was wrapped in a bathrobe, staring vacantly as Ning Qinghong returned to the bath to change clothes.

 

After Ning Qinghong had cleaned himself and changed into a bathrobe, Wu Jing still maintained the position he had been left in, not looking around, only keeping his head down, not even wiping the water from his body with the robe.

 

Only when Ning Qinghong picked him up again, helping him dry off and changing him into clean, warm clothes that had been scented did Wu Jing finally come to his senses.

 

Ning Qinghong, standing tall, said to Wu Jing sitting on the couch, “Come here.”

 

Wu Jing hesitated for a moment, then carefully and quickly got off the couch and ran over, taking Ning Qinghong’s outstretched fingertip.

 

Ning Qinghong led him outside the warm room, glancing down at the boy’s dazed and obedient expression, and sighed lightly, “Wu Wu, are you going back on your own?”

 

Wu Jing was momentarily stunned.

 

Ning Qinghong released him, saying, “Go back to the previous courtyard and stay there for a few days.”

 

“Go on.”

 

Wu Jing’s hand was released, and he looked up at Ning Qinghong with a blank expression as he returned to the warm room, watching the ornate wooden door close before his eyes.

 

He stood there for a long time before slowly walking outside.

 

He walked step by step, not rushing to escape, obediently making his way to the hall door and pushing it open.

 

The warm, golden fragrance of the room was quickly replaced by the chill of the autumn night outside. It should have felt like a relief, but Wu Jing couldn’t adjust; his legs still felt weak.

 

Feeling tired from standing, he wanted to crouch down and sit outside, hugging his knees, but when he looked back at the width of the threshold, his hand unconsciously rested on the door frame.

 

If he pushed open the door, someone would pick him up, speak to him gently, and kiss his brows affectionately.

 

And he wouldn’t have to do anything.

 

But it wasn’t just because of this that he hesitated. It was also because, although he imagined being terrified, he couldn’t move his legs.

 

Maybe it was because it felt comfortable, or perhaps it didn’t cause him pain or suffering.

 

There were many uncertainties he couldn’t figure out.

 

But he knew there would be good food, drink, and a warm place waiting for him if he left, and the other place wasn’t bad either. He would just need to wait a few days before returning to his usual self.

 

He knew Ning Qinghong wasn’t pushing him away,

 

But rather giving him another chance.

 

Wu Jing took a deep breath, his earlier uncried emotions making him want to cry again. He wiped his tears and sniffled, slowly making his way back.

 

Occasionally looking up, stopping to hold back his tears before continuing.

 

He walked back and forth, and after some effort, reached the hot spring. Ning Qinghong had already left the warm room, dressed in a clean snow-white robe and a thin camellia-red long-sleeved gown.

 

He had neatly folded the towels and clothes on the ground, preparing to burn them so the servants wouldn’t notice anything unusual.

 

Just as he was drying his hands, moving slowly and methodically with a towel, Wu Jing suddenly ran up from behind, unable to hold back his tears any longer.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed, putting down the towel, turning to look at the boy who was sobbing against his neck, and asked, “Why aren’t you scared anymore?”

 

Wu Jing sniffled, his words unclear, “Scared, scared.”

 

His voice was very soft, and even though he was crying heavily, he still didn’t dare to avoid answering.

 

“But I said before…”

 

“I… I keep my promises.”