Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 96

Wu Jing stared pitifully at Ning Qinghong.

 

After a moment, Ning Qinghong finally compromised, closing his eyes in agreement.

 

Wu Jing’s eyes brightened instantly. Overjoyed, he was about to run outside the bedroom to inform Fu Chen, who was waiting outside.

 

But before he could, the person in front of him slightly furrowed his brows and extended a finger, saying, “Come here.”

 

Wu Jing paused for a second before extending his hand. In the next moment, he felt a gentle pull.

 

Slowly, the boy followed the pull and stood up, dazedly being guided to sit on Ning Qinghong’s lap.

 

With a slightly cold tone, Ning Qinghong asked, “Why do you like squatting on the ground so much?”

 

Before Wu Jing could process the subtle reprimand, he heard Ning Qinghong’s softened voice ask, “Why make yourself shorter for no reason? What kind of behavior is that?”

 

Wu Jing kept his head down, trying to figure out what those words meant. Confused and unable to comprehend, he eventually chose to let it go and timidly asked, “So, will you join me for lunch, Brother?”

 

It was as if someone else was talking about serious matters, while he was simply concerned with food.

 

Ning Qinghong looked at him for a while, sighed lightly with a hint of helplessness, and called out, “Someone—” He glanced toward the door, but before the servants could enter, Wu Jing’s face suddenly filled his view.

 

His black hair contrasted with his fair skin, and his delicate features were striking.

 

Wu Jing leaned in, gazing at Ning Qinghong with hopeful eyes, cautiously probing, “If we eat in the room, it will smell everywhere.” He tugged at Ning Qinghong’s sleeve, pulling it slightly, then leaned in closer, wrapping his arms around Ning Qinghong’s neck and pressing his face against him. In a small voice, he pleaded, “Brother, Wu Wu wants to go out to eat.”

 

After pushing his luck, he quickly added, feeling guilty, “If you don’t want to go out, we can eat here too.”

 

Ning Qinghong stroked the back of Wu Jing’s head, paused for a moment, then looked toward the door where the servants were waiting and instructed, “Prepare the meal.”

 

He lifted the boy in his arms as he stood up.

 

Noticing Ning Qinghong’s movement, Wu Jing instantly beamed with joy, wanting to bury himself into Ning Qinghong’s embrace, but feeling a bit shy, knowing that many would be watching once they went outside. He hesitated, then shyly moved his face, which was pressed against Ning Qinghong’s side, and buried it into Ning Qinghong’s shoulder.

 

It wasn’t the fact that Ning Qinghong, whom he had comforted while sick, was willing to go out with him for a meal that made him happy; rather, Wu Jing realized that in certain matters, Ning Qinghong seemed to be very indulgent towards him.

 

As long as he didn’t go too far, Ning Qinghong would let him do as he pleased.

 

Yet, in some things, Ning Qinghong wouldn’t allow any refusal from him. Wu Jing puzzled over this for a while, but such thoughts felt wrong. After all, it was always him who first spoke kindly, who first agreed to Ning Qinghong’s requests.

 

Ning Qinghong had never forced him; rather, it was always him who ended up backing out, only to feel scared afterward.

 

It wasn’t the inescapable facts, or the overwhelming feelings of embarrassment, or the mind-numbing pleasure that terrified him the most. Instead, it was the inexplicable fear that gripped him every time.

 

Like a fledgling bird, Wu Jing fluttered around this vast territory, trying to test the limits of the owner’s boundaries and understand his habits. But he often ended up getting lost, confused by Ning Qinghong’s whims.

 

Sometimes, Wu Jing’s eyes would crinkle with happiness, but then he’d scrunch up his little face in deep thought, his brows furrowed with worry.

 

In the end, unable to figure it out, he’d console himself to stop overthinking, shifting his thoughts to the delicious food he could eat later.

 

He had spent the entire morning studying, so his stomach was almost growling with hunger.

 

Wu Jing touched his belly and looked down, realizing he was still being carried by Ning Qinghong. He paused for a moment, then instinctively looked up, meeting the gaze of Ning Qinghong, who was looking down at him.

 

Blushing, Wu Jing quickly pulled his hand away from his belly, pretending as if he hadn’t done anything, and turned his face away, continuing to lie quietly on Ning Qinghong’s shoulder.

 

In the Ning household’s kitchen, the dishes had been carefully prepared under Manager An’s supervision. The food was all on the lighter side, with the only meat being delicately steamed fish fillets. Even the soup had been strained of all meat and vegetables, leaving only the clear, refined broth.

 

Wu Jing visibly deflated, but when he saw some of his favorite pastries on the table, his spirits lifted again. His mood, however, turned cautious when he noticed a half-bowl of medicinal soup placed nearby.

 

After arranging the dishes, Fu Chen tactfully led the surrounding servants outside, leaving the two masters alone in the dining hall.

 

Ning Qinghong raised his hand to pick up the bowl of medicinal soup, but before he could touch it, Wu Jing lunged forward, grabbing it with his slender hands and hastily drinking it down.

 

Wu Jing took a deep breath and, without a word, gulped it down. The sour and bitter taste was so unpleasant that his entire face scrunched up, and tears welled in his eyes. He tried to speak, but his voice came out strained, “It’s been a long time since I’ve had it, and I… I suddenly wanted to try it again.”

 

He had to swallow down the bitterness with every word, his brows tightly knitted as he forced himself to endure. His eyes were so wet he could barely keep them open, yet he still insisted, “It’s still so bitter… but, but it’s good.”

 

Realizing he misspoke, he hurried to correct himself.

 

Ning Qinghong sighed softly, “Not bitter?”

 

Wu Jing nodded, “Bitter—” Then, realizing his mistake, he quickly shook his head, “N-No, it’s not bitter.”

 

Ning Qinghong gently placed the bowl back on the table with a crisp sound and carefully wiped the remnants of the soup from the corners of Wu Jing’s mouth with a clean cloth, pressing lightly.

 

Although he didn’t say a word, he also didn’t look at Wu Jing.

 

Seeing Ning Qinghong’s cold expression, Wu Jing thought he was truly upset. His body stiffened, and he lowered his head, feeling both guilty and at a loss, as if he was ready to obediently accept whatever punishment was coming.

 

He clutched Ning Qinghong’s sleeve with his fingers, as if preparing to beg for forgiveness.

 

His mouth was still filled with bitterness, the medicinal taste lingering on his tongue, making him press his lips together tightly in discomfort, completely unaware that his expression had become pitiful.

 

In the next instant, Ning Qinghong’s lips unexpectedly covered his, catching Wu Jing off guard. He instinctively opened his mouth slightly, staring blankly at Ning Qinghong as he moved gently.

 

Ning Qinghong kissed him lightly, like a dragonfly skimming the water, sharing the bitterness between them. His fingers caressed Wu Jing’s neck and ears, kneading gently in a slow and unhurried rhythm.

 

It wasn’t heavy or overly passionate, just a pure and intimate touch, yet it was so tender that it brought tears to Wu Jing’s eyes. Dazed and confused, he remained lost in the moment until he was finally released from the kiss.

 

Ning Qinghong then brushed his lips lightly against Wu Jing’s ear and neck.

 

His voice was soft as he said, “Alright, I’ll eat with you.” Sighing near Wu Jing’s ear, he added, “You don’t have to go through all this trouble.”

 

“Your eyes are so bitter that you can’t even open them, and yet you still lie to me.”

 

“Why are you so…”

 

He trailed off, shaking his head with a small, amused smile.

 

Usually, Ning Qinghong hated when others tried to guess his thoughts. It annoyed him when people would go to great lengths to conceal their true intentions, only for him to see right through them, and in the end, they always got it wrong. Calling them “clever” was an overstatement.

 

But Wu Jing was different. His schemes were written all over his face, clumsy and full of holes, leaving him worn out and making it impossible for Ning Qinghong not to give in.

 

Wu Jing was like a fledgling bird, stumbling along the way because he wasn’t paying attention, ending up with dirt all over his face, getting lost and disoriented.

 

Yet, no matter how difficult it was, he would still make his way to Ning Qinghong’s side, not even understanding why he was doing it.

 

He just knew that when someone treated him well, he wanted to treat them well in return.

 

Wu Jing could only ask, almost dumbfounded, “Really?”

 

Ning Qinghong picked up his chopsticks and brought a piece of fish to Wu Jing’s lips.

 

Wu Jing smiled shyly and happily, though he wasn’t fully satisfied. As he ate, he mumbled, “But I have to go back to school later. I haven’t spent much time with you.”

 

He asked, “Brother, will you go for a walk with me?”

 

Ning Qinghong agreed, giving in.

 

Only then did Wu Jing, satisfied, start eating the delicious food.

 

He noticed that even though Ning Qinghong had agreed, he didn’t eat much due to his lack of appetite. However, Ning Qinghong still called for a half-bowl of medicinal soup and drank it.

 

But he had eaten at least a little,

 

and that made Wu Jing very happy.

 

He still felt a surge of eagerness and curiosity, as if the fear from last night had faded significantly from his memory.

 

Ning Qinghong had agreed to accompany him for a walk around the residence, but in reality, it was only Wu Jing who was truly enjoying himself. The other merely sat quietly in the pavilion, leaning against a spring chair with his eyes closed, idly tapping the armrest with his fingers.

 

In the distance, several servants were holding the memorials submitted by court officials today, just waiting for the prince to be in the mood to read a couple of them.

 

Wu Jing played with the birds perched under the eaves for a while, poking their beaks with his fingers. By chance, he caught the gaze of Fu Chen, who was waiting in the distance.

 

Fu Chen almost knelt before the emperor in reverence, holding the memorials and practically begging him to think of a solution.

 

Startled, Wu Jing quickly moved away from the direction in which Fu Chen had knelt, realizing belatedly that he had forgotten this detail. He immediately stopped teasing the birds and instinctively looked at Ning Qinghong, who was resting with his eyes closed.

 

It was the first time Wu Jing had so many tasks to handle, so it was normal for mistakes to occur, especially since Wu Jing had no concept of managing state affairs.

 

Fu Chen’s anxious attitude made Wu Jing think it was something serious, so he hurried over, not knowing how to begin, and asked cautiously, “When are you going to look at the memorials today? If it’s delayed, will it cause a lot of trouble?”

 

Ning Qinghong paused his finger tapping on the armrest, lifting his fingertips slightly. With his eyes still closed, he soon felt the boy holding his hand, and moments later, he sensed him leaning into him, even without opening his eyes, knowing that Wu Jing was eagerly waiting for his response.

 

“The inner cabinet of the former dynasty and the Imperial Guards of the inner palace restrain each other. While I’m not around, they serve as checks on one another, with spies monitoring in secret. All three groups report to me alone, so no major disturbances will arise.”

 

“As long as the inner cabinet ministers handle things carefully, there won’t be any mistakes. If a disaster that could destroy the country did occur, it wouldn’t be up to Fu Chen to come and beg you.”

 

“The entire court would be kneeling at my residence gate long before that.”

 

Ning Qinghong spoke at length before slightly lifting his eyes to look at Wu Jing. “But since Wu Wu wants to handle it, how about I let you look at the memorials today?”

 

Wu Jing was momentarily stunned, shaking his head like a rattle drum. “No, I can’t, I can’t do it.” He hurriedly said, “I don’t want to handle it, no, I mean, I do want to, but I want you to do it—”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled faintly, “If you don’t want to, then why did you come to me so eagerly after just a few words from someone else?”

 

Wu Jing had no idea what he had done to displease Ning Qinghong. The constant stream of questions left him flustered, so he just shook his head, “No, not at all.”

 

Ning Qinghong looked at him for a moment before lowering his gaze and speaking more gently, “Since Wu Wu skipped his studies today, you should review all the memorials after you return to the residence and compare them with the inner cabinet ministers’ decisions.”

 

How long would that take?

 

Wu Jing shook his head.

 

Ning Qinghong gently stroked his back and whispered, “Since you’ve learned to read, you should put it to some use and learn something, right?”

 

Wu Jing, who had thought of arguments, found he couldn’t voice them and, after a moment, realized that Ning Qinghong might have a point.

 

“Besides handling things for your brother, you should also learn to manage other affairs.”

 

“Don’t be afraid.”

 

Ning Qinghong added these three words.

 

 

After nightfall, Wu Jing slumped over the desk, drowsily staring at the memorials in his hands. He had just eaten, and it was only the hour of Xu, not too late. He had only gone through a few memorials.

 

He hadn’t felt tired at first, but after just a few glances, his eyes grew heavy with sleep.

 

Each document was filled with complaints, written in full-page classical Chinese, about matters like the Assistant Minister of Rites privately practicing superstitions or accusations of someone being wasteful or behaving improperly. Though Wu Jing could recognize the characters, they were difficult to read, and he struggled to judge who was right and who was wrong.

 

After finishing them all, he moved on to another small memorial that recorded how the inner cabinet ministers had handled these issues.

 

This particular memorial had been presented by a spy from the Imperial Guards, intended for Ning Qinghong to review, but it was now placed before Wu Jing.

 

Fu Chen stood by, serving tea and water, trembling with fear, not knowing what the prince was thinking by letting the emperor personally write comments on the memorials.

 

When these memorials were returned to the ministers tomorrow, and they saw that the handwriting, while similar to the prince’s, clearly wasn’t his, how much turmoil would it cause in the court?

 

Recently, the Left Minister’s faction had finally been subdued due to the imperial examinations, but if they found out that the prince was teaching the emperor how to wield power, they might start plotting again.

 

Though Fu Chen was deeply concerned, he dared not say a word, only glancing nervously at the emperor, whose mind wasn’t focused on the task, and then at the prince, who was resting with his head propped on his hand.

 

Fu Chen brought another cup of hot tea forward and respectfully asked, “What is Your Majesty looking for?”

 

Wu Jing had flipped through the small memorial four or five times, his face full of confusion, and instinctively asked, “Is this incomplete? Why isn’t there any record of how these matters were handled?”

 

Fu Chen dared not look closely, only offering a nervous guess, “Your Majesty must be joking. The person who submitted this secret report would need a lion’s courage to dare omit anything. Perhaps these were trivial matters, and the inner cabinet ministers didn’t pay them much attention?”

 

Before he could finish speaking, the prince’s voice came coldly from behind, “Get out.”

 

Fu Chen immediately knelt and bowed to the prince, quickly retreating with the other servants, closing the bedroom door behind them as if he couldn’t leave fast enough.

 

Wu Jing was left sitting there, holding the small memorial in confusion. After a while, he cautiously sat up straight, not daring to let his mind wander.

 

Maybe it was because Ning Qinghong had agreed to many of his requests today, but he wasn’t as scared as before.

 

He would glance at the memorials for a few moments, then sneak a look at Ning Qinghong.

 

Today, Ning Qinghong was wearing a dark green long robe with wide sleeves, embroidered with a peacock pattern and water motifs. In the dim candlelight, the dark shadows it cast made him appear inscrutable.

 

The room was warmed by a brazier, so it wasn’t too cold. A crane cloak was draped over a wooden rack beside him.

 

His long black hair was half-loose behind him, and although his robe was loose, it was layered, exposing only his slender fingers.

 

Wu Jing stared at him in a daze for a long time, lost in thought, before lowering his head and bringing the memorials and secret reports he couldn’t understand over to the tea table beside Ning Qinghong.

 

Gathering his courage, he climbed onto the spring chair, kneeling beside Ning Qinghong, and carefully tilted his head to observe his expression.

 

Ning Qinghong half-opened his eyes, meeting the boy’s gaze as he leaned forward. He slightly closed his eyes, silently asking what Wu Jing wanted.

 

Wu Jing whispered, “I don’t understand. Can you explain it to me?” He added, “I won’t ask anyone else, just you.”

 

“I didn’t understand anything earlier, but as soon as you explained it, I got it.” He clumsily said, “At noon today, I was only worried that not reading those memorials would cause trouble.”

 

The closer Wu Jing got, the wider his eyes opened, his breath subconsciously held as he stared blankly, “I was well-behaved at school today, only listening to the teacher’s lectures and not talking to anyone else. As soon as class ended, I came back.”

 

“I was worried about you, so I didn’t spend an extra moment outside, thinking that when you felt better, I could go out and play with others.”

 

“I didn’t want to go to school in the first place; I wanted to stay here with you. But you spent so much time arranging it for me, so I didn’t want to say I wouldn’t go.”

 

Wu Jing moved close enough, his lips just a breath away from Ning Qinghong’s thin lips. His face flushed from his ears to his eyes, and with a mix of nervousness and innocence, he leaned in and kissed him.

 

It was a real quick peck, barely touching, but it made a faint “smack” sound.

 

Wu Jing stared wide-eyed as the moisture from his lips transferred to Ning Qinghong’s, his mind foggy. He swallowed, his voice dazed, “You have to tell me, or I won’t understand.”

 

His words were clumsy and jumbled, “I… I can’t guess.”

 

“You’re sick right now… not feeling well, I… I know, so it’s okay if you don’t want to talk.”

 

“But I also don’t want to make you feel worse because of me.”

 

“I want you to feel better.”

 

Ning Qinghong didn’t dodge or avoid him; instead, he smiled slightly and asked softly, “What does Wu Wu want to hear from brother?”

 

Wu Jing stammered, wanting to speak but hesitating, his face flushing red while his eyes became misty. He still looked up at Ning Qinghong, waiting expectantly. His voice grew quieter.

 

“You’re… you’re jealous…”

 

“Aren’t you?”

 

**Author’s Note:**

 

Wuwu: Starting to be bold.