Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 98

When it’s said to be an hour, it truly is an hour.

Wu Jing’s tears kept flowing, feeling as though his skin was about to break and swell, and he was in severe discomfort, unable to endure the constant pressure from both sides.

No matter how much he cried or begged, Ning Qinghong did not stop.

His waist bent further and further backward.

He couldn’t control himself at all and could only lean forward as much as he could to make himself more comfortable, trying to bear the pressure.

Despite Ning Qinghong using minimal force and only lightly grinding with his teeth, Wu Jing’s whimpers became more chaotic.

He became bolder.

There was pushing away, pleading for mercy,

and even cursing.

“I said, don’t bite, didn’t you hear… didn’t you?”

“Are your ears sick too—”

Wu Jing suddenly shuddered, “It hurts, it’s painful…” He gasped, “Brother, ah, loosen, loosen—”

“I’m sorry.”

“I won’t say anything more, I won’t…”

Ning Qinghong softened his touch and kissed the young man’s lips, his fingers delicately kneading the jade. He applied a soothing balm to the slightly swollen lips, then slowly moved it to the reddened neck and continued down to above the waist.

The jade seemed to be made of a very special material; even after so long, the balm remained cool, causing a reflexive reaction as soon as it touched.

It immediately turned from soft to red and swollen.

Although it was swollen, the coolness and warmth made Wu Jing wish it could stay longer, but he was too embarrassed, turning his face away, sitting with his snow clothes half open, and uncomfortably exhaling small breaths.

After the balm was fully applied, Ning Qinghong used his fingers to gently massage from the lip beads down to the end, making sure to cover every spot.

His hands became sticky with the balm. He then washed his hands in a basin of warm water, while Wu Jing, taking advantage of his absence, hastily tidied his clothes and secretly curled up under the blanket.

As if afraid of being embarrassed.

But when Ning Qinghong lay down, Wu Jing moved closer, unconsciously nestling more tightly into his embrace.

He tried hard to share the warmth of the blanket on this chilly autumn night.

Soon, Wu Jing fell asleep dependently in Ning Qinghong’s arms, completely different from his fearful expression yesterday. Ning Qinghong, gently stroking Wu Jing’s hair, also closed his eyes after a while.

The next morning, Wu Jing woke up precisely on time, his body’s internal clock urging him to get up and get ready. But the fatigue from the past two days made him not want to move at all.

After some effort, he opened his eyes, lingering in Ning Qinghong’s embrace, and noticed the attendant outside the screen softly urging, “Your Majesty? Your Majesty—”

Wu Jing immediately tried to sit up, but before he could, he was pressed back down by the hands around his waist and back. The young man, just awake, felt even softer and warmer than usual, his face hazy, barely able to open his eyes, staring blankly at Ning Qinghong.

Ning Qinghong didn’t lift his eyes, only instructing, “Go ask for leave from the Guozijian.”

The attendant quickly complied and went out.

Hearing the voices of the servants, Wu Jing opened his eyes wide and hurriedly said, “No need to ask for leave, I’m not very tired. I can go to class.”

Ning Qinghong remained silent, silently holding him close.

Wu Jing waited for a while, but since Ning Qinghong did not speak, and he was really tired, he relaxed, relieved that he didn’t have to attend class, and hesitated before curling back up in Ning Qinghong’s arms, soon falling back asleep.

He slept deeply until late in the morning. When Wu Jing woke up, he found that Ning Qinghong seemed to still be asleep.

Or perhaps he wasn’t actually asleep; Wu Jing couldn’t tell if he was awake or not, but he could clearly see the fatigue in Ning Qinghong’s eyes.

Wu Jing tried to get up to go to a small room. As soon as he moved, he heard Ning Qinghong softly say, “Wu Wu, where are you going?”

He paused for a moment, then obediently answered, “I’m going to the small room.”

The hand that was resting on the young man’s back paused before lifting away.

Wu Jing went to the small room, washed up with the prepared water, then returned to the tea table to get some pastries and tea. After eating a couple of pieces, he lay on the bed and asked if Ning Qinghong wanted any.

Ning Qinghong didn’t say anything, just slightly raised his fingertip, indicating Wu Jing to come closer.

Wu Jing quickly ate a few more pastries, swallowed the tea, wiped his hands clean, and then climbed back onto the bed, nestling into Ning Qinghong’s arms.

He remained silent, just quietly watching as Ning Qinghong closed his eyes again. After a while, Wu Jing carefully buried his face, obediently holding onto him.

After half an hour, it seemed that a light autumn rain had begun to fall outside the window. Inside the room, a warm stove was burning, filling the space with a soothing scent. The candle flickered, casting a wavering light and the sound of crackling flames.

Wu Jing felt so comfortable that he wished he could stay there forever, drifting in and out of sleep. No matter when he woke, he remained beside Ning Qinghong, not going anywhere.

He just quietly kept company.

When the attendant brought lunch, it included a bowl of medicinal soup and some of Wu Jing’s favorite foods, but knowing that the elder might eat some, there was also a portion of light vegetables for him.

The servant quietly set the food down and left without urging the master to eat.

Wu Jing, smelling the food, couldn’t resist and said softly, “Brother? I’m hungry.”

Ning Qinghong slightly lifted his eyelids and said after a moment, “Go ahead.”

Wu Jing hesitated a little, then cautiously asked, “Could you carry me there?”

Finally, with Ning Qinghong accompanying him, Wu Jing was brought to the dining table in the outer room. After trying some food with him, he was then carried to a spring chair by the window.

A while later, when the servant saw that the food on the table had been touched, he changed his action from reheating the food to cleaning up the leftovers.

He respectfully and silently withdrew.

The autumn rain continued all day, and Wu Jing stayed quietly with Ning Qinghong throughout, hardly leaving his side.

The day passed in a daze.

The next morning, when Wu Jing was awakened at dawn, he wasn’t as tired as the previous day. The attendant, holding a scarlet official robe, knelt on the ground, and asked Ning Qinghong, who was wearing a snow-white robe by the window, “Sir, should you change into the morning court robes?”

Ning Qinghong slightly raised his fingertip, indicating refusal.

Wu Jing’s swelling and bruises had subsided. He was dressed in the emperor’s morning court robes, mentally preparing himself for a long time.

Today, he was to attend court on his own.

Wu Jing couldn’t blame anyone for not accompanying him, and just before leaving, he looked back with some worry.

Behind him, Ning Qinghong, dressed in a snow-colored robe with crane patterns, stood tall and straight, with his brows slightly lowered. Even without any expression, his strategic demeanor was evident.

In that moment, as the young emperor was about to leave, he turned and quickly ran back to Ning Qinghong, throwing himself into his embrace, and whispered, “I’ll be back soon.”

Even though he was also anxious about the upcoming court session, he tried to bury himself warmly and carefully rubbed his face against Ning Qinghong’s side, comforting him, “I’ll come back right after court.”

He knew that Ning Qinghong wanted him to stay by his side yesterday.

Not going anywhere.