Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 99

Today, Wu Jing attended court alone, sitting on the Dragon Throne, listening to the officials’ bowing and greetings. Subconsciously, he glanced toward the spot where Ning Qinghong should have stood.

That spot was empty.

Completely empty.

The absence created an irregularity in the procession, but no one had the courage to fill the void.

Ning Qinghong did not come. All the delicious food that Wu Jing loved, prepared specifically for him, was gone. However, tea and snacks were still set aside.

Since the Emperor came to the morning court in Ning Qinghong’s absence, the officials’ gazes were filled with uncertainty as they rose from their seats. Even the once-vigorous Left Chancellor, now appearing frail and aged, looked on with concern.

His once-cloudy, old eyes were now gradually clearing. Throughout the court session, he frequently glanced at the empty Dragon Throne behind the curtain.

Although Ning Qinghong was not present, his residual influence remained. Most of the officials were still loyal to him, and the cabinet ministers managed state affairs without causing any disruptions.

The court session passed slowly amid Wu Jing’s nervousness. He managed to stay awake the entire time, relieved when it was finally over.

After the court, an attendant assisted the young Emperor out, saying, “Look, Your Majesty, you’re already looking listless from hunger. I’ll have the imperial kitchen prepare some of your favorite dishes right away.”

“Since the court ended early today, there’s still half an hour before the si time. You have time to eat and then go to the National Academy.”

“However… if you’re worried about the Elder, you could go back to the residence and have breakfast with him. Should we request another leave from the National Academy?”

Wu Jing hesitated.

He had already requested leave once. Requesting again today might not be appropriate. Yet, he had forgotten this detail before leaving the palace and had told Ning Qinghong he would return soon.

While speaking, the young Emperor was led to the side hall. The servants helped him remove his twelve-tassel crown and take off the imperial robe, changing him into everyday clothes.

He wore a light yellow silk robe with a longevity pattern, draped with a tea-colored crane cloak. After a full day of rain, the weather turned chilly, and the air was crisp.

The specially chosen outfit highlighted the young man’s delicate and refined appearance.

Once the jade crown was properly placed, he looked like a precious young lord. He even wore a silver ingot-patterned necklace made of agate and white jade, and the white translucent warm jade ornaments on his waist made a jingling sound as he walked.

It was clear at a glance:

The young man had been well cared for.

Wu Jing touched a qilin pouch hanging from his waist. He had been reminded to bring some silver with him when he left the palace, so the servants had not forgotten to give him money.

The pouch contained some small silver coins and a few ornate gold nuggets for use at the National Academy.

Wu Jing hesitated, biting his lip. He looked at the small gold ingot and said with an unrecognized sense of longing, “Maybe I shouldn’t go today…”

He felt guilty. He had never been so reckless during school before, skipping just because he wanted to spend time with someone. The words “to hang out” seemed unpleasantly appropriate, but he couldn’t think of a better way to describe it. He muttered, “I’ll have breakfast at home with him.”

Fu Chen smiled widely, “I’ll take care of it right away.” If his masters were happy, he was happy too.

Wu Jing reprimanded himself internally, deciding that he couldn’t spend another day lying around with Ning Qinghong. He needed to have Ning Qinghong accompany him to study and teach him to read…

And also—

“Your Majesty—!”

As he stepped out of the hall, a loud call startled him. He stood frozen, then heard the person sighing in a mournful tone, “This old minister has come to see Your Majesty.”

Fu Chen’s expression darkened. He glanced sharply at the gatekeepers surrounding the Left Chancellor and said, “Who knows when the Inner Guard taught you these clumsy ways? The Left Chancellor has been waiting outside. If it weren’t for His Majesty seeing it, you wouldn’t know how much longer he would have been neglected.”

“Since this has happened, if His Majesty is startled, you’ll pay for it.”

“Clumsy” and “eating inside and out”—

These terms were a clear reprimand directed at the Left Chancellor.

The palace servants immediately knelt, saying, “Your Majesty, spare us! We tried to stop him, but the Left Chancellor insisted on following us inside. We could only keep him outside.”

Fu Chen sneered, “Be quiet. The Left Chancellor has always been honest. How could he do something so improper? You lowly servants have no right to make accusations.”

The Left Chancellor’s aged face darkened. How could he not hear the eunuch’s hidden scorn? He was almost out of breath from anger, saying, “This old minister insisted on seeing His Majesty—”

Fu Chen’s expression changed to a smile as he interrupted, “Left Chancellor, these people have offended you. I’ll deal with them. Don’t worry about it. According to the rules of the Inner Guard, they’ll receive their punishment.”

The eunuchs quickly bowed to the Left Chancellor, easily placing the blame on him.

Only Wu Jing, not catching the undercurrents, thought Fu Chen was genuinely defending the old minister and that the Left Chancellor was being considerate. They seemed to be in good spirits.

Hearing about the punishment made him anxious, but he felt powerless to intercede and prevent the Left Chancellor from being punished.

Seeing the Left Chancellor clutching his chest in silence, and the eunuchs going off to receive their punishment, Wu Jing instinctively took a couple of steps back and stayed close to those who served him, rather than those who served the Left Chancellor.

Favor and distance were visible at a glance.

The poor Left Chancellor, unable to catch his breath, coughed violently and glared at Fu Chen, “You… you… treacherous—”

Fei Chen applied eye medicine to his master, thinking that since the Lord was not present, he couldn’t let the naive young master be deceived. Naturally, he maintained a forced smile and interrupted, “I’m not sure if the Left Chancellor is here to discuss something with Your Majesty. Lord is still in the residence waiting for Your Majesty.”

The Left Chancellor coughed violently.

Wu Jing glanced around, feeling a bit helpless, and asked quietly with concern, “He’s coughing so badly, should we call a doctor?”

Fei Chen immediately bowed respectfully, “Your Majesty need not worry. The Left Chancellor—”

The Left Chancellor couldn’t hold it in any longer, “Your Majesty! This old minister indeed has important matters to discuss with you. May I ask if you can dismiss a few people?”

Wu Jing was taken aback by this sudden question and, feeling a bit embarrassed to refuse the elderly man, nodded, “Then make it quick?”

He hurried back.

Wu Jing walked towards the stone railing with the Left Chancellor, while Fei Chen and the other eunuchs waited not far off.

On the high platform, with the autumn wind blowing, Wu Jing wrapped his crane cloak tighter around himself and looked at the Left Chancellor with curiosity, “Do you have something to discuss with me?”

He was now clearly on Ning Qinghong’s side, but he didn’t know the Left Chancellor personally and wasn’t sure whether the man was good or bad. From the previous events, it seemed that the Left Chancellor was a good minister.

Wu Jing was impartial towards people, but the influence of Ning Qinghong was inevitable, so his gaze was particularly cautious.

The Left Chancellor examined Wu Jing up and down for a moment, then sighed in relief, “Has Your Majesty’s illness truly recovered?”

Wu Jing hesitated and nodded, clumsily lying, “Had a fever, and my head was burning… and it’s better now.”

The Left Chancellor’s eyes immediately filled with tears of joy, “That’s good, that’s good.” He continued, “But Your Majesty may not know, you’ve been by that traitor Ning’s side recently. This old minister is afraid that you might be misled by treacherous people, which is why I came to see you.”

“That traitor holds great power. This old minister dared only to come today when Ning is not here, and Your Majesty has come to court. I risked my life to come to you.”

Wu Jing began to swallow nervously, wishing he were deaf. He was unsure whether to stay or leave, and forced himself to listen.

“Your Majesty! The Great Zhou has been controlled by this eunuch for many years. If you are willing, this old minister will go through fire and water to take back the power.” The Left Chancellor knelt on the ground, “I am willing to die a thousand deaths!”

He asked, “Does Your Majesty wish to trust me?”

Forget about trust, Wu Jing was scared to death. He was afraid these words might be overheard by others. He was still present; he hoped there would be no misunderstanding.

Wu Jing quickly crouched down to help him, “Don’t say that, get up quickly.”

The Left Chancellor was overjoyed.

Wu Jing said earnestly, “Don’t come looking for me again in the future.”

The Left Chancellor’s face stiffened.

“I don’t know anything, can’t even read a few characters, and cannot shoulder such a heavy responsibility. Moreover—”

The Left Chancellor immediately knelt again, “This old minister will definitely teach Your Majesty the ways of ruling.”

Wu Jing continued with a hint of reluctance, “I feel like he’s handling the state affairs quite well.”

The Left Chancellor was in despair, “That traitor poisoned the late emperor, caused the death of three princes in a palace coup, and personally executed the former crown prince!” His words were full of sorrow, “How many ministers have been punished, exiled, and had their families annihilated?”

“That traitor’s hands are stained with countless lives!”

“Corruption and bribery! Cruel and inhumane!”

“Your Majesty, you must not be blinded! Favoring villains while distancing yourself from loyal ministers—”

“Favoring villains? Distancing yourself from loyal ministers?”

A familiar voice came from behind Wu Jing. He turned around in a daze.

Ning Qinghong, in a crimson official robe, a crane cloak, and a nine-beam crown, smiled warmly and asked, “Is that so?”