Transmigrated as the Emperor, but Slacking Off - Chapter 13

When Wen Xing returned to the palace, he was so exhausted that he had no energy left to settle scores with Ning Wujie regarding the horse-riding incident. He quickly washed up, changed into clean clothes, and collapsed face-first into the soft bedding of his imperial couch.

Buried in his pillow, he let out a comfortable sigh. After sleeping in a dilapidated temple for a night, his bones felt like they were falling apart; nothing beat the cushions of the palace.

The imperial physician arrived to check his pulse, but Wen Xing didn’t move. It was the old eunuch who stepped forward to nudge him and help him flip over. He felt like a slab of meat on a cutting board, being flipped to the other side.

Only when the physician took his pulse did Wen Xing slightly lift his eyelids. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Ning Wujie, who had also changed into clean clothes but remained standing guard nearby.

Huh?

Given the temperament of this “overachiever,” shouldn’t he have rushed off immediately to handle official duties? Usually, he avoided the Emperor like the plague; why was he staying by his side today?

After checking the pulse, Imperial Physician Zhai Yuanqing bowed his head. “Your Majesty is fine. You are merely exhausted and need more rest.”

Wen Xing jerked his chin toward Ning Wujie. “Physician Zhai, take a look at Ning Wujie’s wound.”

Ning Wujie looked up. This faint-hearted ruler is concerned about my injury? But thinking back, the Emperor had stared at his wound last night and asked about it again this morning. Was it because he cherished him?

Heh. If that were the case, why go to a brothel? Likely just easily swayed by a pretty face.

Nevertheless, Ning Wujie turned around and slid off half of his sleeve. The blood-stained bandage wrapped around his right arm was a jarring red. The youth had only bared half his shoulder, revealing tight and well-proportioned lines of muscle. Half a shoulder blade was clearly visible, and the lines of his slightly rising back muscles disappeared beneath the clothes he had yet to remove.

Against the light, his broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted silhouette looked like a drawn bow a young body filled with power ready to explode at any moment. Wen Xing, reclining on the couch, admired the scene and sighed inwardly: This is what they call “looking lean in clothes but having muscle underneath.”

Zhai Yuanqing carefully sliced open the bandage with a surgical knife, observed the wound, and nodded. “The cut isn’t deep, but to avoid scarring, it should be stitched.” He turned back to Wen Xing. “I shall take Lord Ning to another place for the procedure.”

Wen Xing curled his lips. “Stitch it right here.” He hadn’t seen enough yet. He pointed to the soft lounge chair by the window. “Sit down.”

Ning Wujie hesitated for a moment but eventually turned around and sat as ordered. Zhai Yuanqing took out medicinal wine, needles, and thread. After disinfecting the area, he said, “It will hurt a bit. Please endure it, Lord Ning.”

Ning Wujie stared straight ahead. “Pray proceed, Physician Zhai.”

As the needle pierced through his flesh, dots of crimson blood seeped out. Hiss… Wen Xing felt a phantom pain. In his previous life, he had been cut by a gun’s slide and required seven stitches. Because the anesthesia wore off early, it had been agonizing. How can this kid be so expressionless while getting dozens of stitches?

Then Wen Xing saw Ning Wujie’s brow furrow slightly. So, he wasn’t entirely emotionless.

Wearing a grin, Wen Xing tried to distract him. “Is Lord Ning not busy with official duties today?”

“I am busy.” Ning Wujie glanced at the flesh being pulled by the long needle on his arm, then flatly looked away.

Observing the furrow in the youth’s brow, Wen Xing intentionally provoked him. “Then why stay here guarding me? Could it be that Lord Ning…” He walked over and playfully pinched the youth’s chin. “…has also fallen deeply in love with me?”

Forced to tilt his head back, the youth met Wen Xing’s gaze with dark, heavy eyes. Wen Xing saw the handsome brows slowly knit together with rejection, yet the tips of his ears turned a shade of pink. Works every time, Wen Xing thought.

Ning Wujie stared at him without flinching. “Your Majesty just survived an assassination attempt. Are you not even a little afraid?”

Wen Xing was startled. Ning Wujie gave a slight shake of his head to toss off the fingers messing with his chin. “I see the palace security is no different from usual. What is Xing He doing?”

Wen Xing realized. This stubborn man is staying by my side because he’s afraid someone will strike within the palace?

Xing He, hearing his name, flipped down from the rafters and argued indignantly, “I just haven’t had time to set things up yet…”

“Where are the guards? Where is the Imperial Guard?” Ning Wujie questioned. “Is there no one else besides you to arrange things for this bedchamber?”

Xing He was speechless. Seeing the boy stunned, Ning Wujie spoke coldly: “I see the security here is lax. The guards must be incompetent. Perhaps it’s better to have my people take over.”

Wen Xing was surprised. “Aren’t your people busy investigating the case?”

Ning Wujie replied: “We don’t know who the perpetrator is yet. Since they failed once, they will surely try a second time. If they have a way to strike inside the palace, then the Imperial Guard might not be safe. Besides, the Bureau of Investigation has the duty to protect the Sovereign…” He paused, seemingly undergoing an intense internal struggle.

After a long while, he seemed to reach a compromise with himself. “The Imperial Study where I reside is not far from Your Majesty’s bedchamber. If anything happens, I can look after you in a timely manner.” Due to his busy workload and constant summons by the Emperor, Ning Wujie had long ago moved into the Imperial Study.

Xing He pouted. “Master! I can do it! I don’t need him!”

Ning Wujie said coldly, “The Emperor’s safety is no place for your momentary pride. Furthermore, I hear you often sneak out of the palace for weeks at a time. As the Commander of the Bureau, how can I entrust the Emperor’s safety to a guard as flighty as you?”

“You!” Xing He was so angry he clenched his fists and flew forward to strike.

Ning Wujie sat motionless, catching the punch with a single palm. He flipped his hand and pushed, the force of his qi vibrating through his palm and knocking Xing He back several steps. Xing He planted his foot firmly, ready to strike again, but was stopped by Wen Xing: “Xing He!”

Xing He’s fist froze in mid-air. He turned his head indignantly, only to have Wen Xing flick him on the forehead. “Striking without permission again.”

Xing He pouted, his chest heaving with anger. He finally pointed at Ning Wujie and hissed, “I see you’re injured, so I won’t fight you today. Some other day… just you wait!” With that, he flipped back onto the rafters, sitting cross-legged and glaring at Ning Wujie as if cursing him with his eyes. It made Wen Xing want to laugh.

By then, Zhai Yuanqing had packed his needles. “It is done, Lord Ning.”

Ning Wujie was slightly dazed. Distracted by Wen Xing’s teasing, he hadn’t noticed the stitching was finished. He glanced at his arm it was already medicated and bandaged. He nodded slightly. “My thanks, Physician Zhai.” Zhai Yuanqing bowed and took his leave.

Ning Wujie rose, dressing himself while speaking to Wen Xing. “For safety’s sake, I shall arrange for the Bureau to take over Your Majesty’s security. Also, I beg Your Majesty not to leave the palace at will for the time being.”

Wen Xing narrowed his eyes and playfully joked, “So Lord Ning is so worried about my safety that he wants to guard me personally? I am so moved.” He emphasized the word “moved.”

Seeing the Emperor’s blatant gaze as if he wanted to swallow him whole the heat of it made Ning Wujie quickly look away. He said woodenly, “Your Majesty need not be concerned. I am merely fulfilling my duty as a subject. I take my leave.” In an instant, the youth disappeared.

Wen Xing watched his departing back and smiled. Half an hour later, a dozen shadow guards silently took their positions in the hidden corners of the bedchamber.

The assassination case remained a mystery for now, and Ning Wujie threw himself into the massive case of embezzlement from the national treasury. He was so busy he handed the assassination investigation to his subordinates. Within ten days, the entire court was in a state of lamentation. The Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department were the first to be hit, with countless officials hauled into the “Zhaoyu” (prison). Other departments also saw numerous arrests.

Ning Wujie looked at the Emperor, who was reclining on the couch in a “sleeping immortal” pose, resting his head on one hand with his eyes closed. Ning Wujie lowered his gaze and said: “The Ministry of Revenue’s records show 13.51 million taels of silver in the treasury. I ordered an inspection of every silver ingot. Excluding the lead-core fakes, only 2.73 million taels remain.”

The Emperor’s long eyelashes slowly lifted, revealing half of his blue-grey eyes. “Is there more?”

Ning Wujie continued: “The inner treasury is slightly better. Most of what was lost were antiques and treasures entered into the records before the 23rd year of Yongguang. Some have been recovered. Additionally, the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Rites have instances of substituting quality goods with inferior ones or selling off supplies.”

Ning Wujie paused, his eyes showing a flicker of doubt. “Strangely, the Ministry of War has the fewest issues. Only some military supplies in the Guangji Warehouse were found to be poorly maintained, which is a common occurrence.”

Wen Xing raised an eyebrow. The case had started with a military supply backlog in the Ministry of War, yet in the end, that ministry turned out to be the cleanest. “So, what Shao Jian’an did really had nothing to do with the Ministry of War?”

Ning Wujie lowered his eyes. “The Vice Minister of Revenue confessed in prison that he obtained tiger bones from the Imperial Pharmacy to bribe Shao Jian’an. His goal was to delay the release of treasury funds to prevent the discovery of the empty treasury. Because every department had committed theft, they often covered for one another or even swapped goods. Only the Ministry of War refused to join them, forcing them to bribe the presiding official.”

Wen Xing realized the truth. Indeed, if Xu Zhongyun wanted to do this, he wouldn’t need to bribe his own subordinates. But Wen Xing noticed a loophole: “In such a large case, why haven’t I heard you mention the Minister of Revenue?” Logically, with that department having the largest deficit, the Minister should be the primary suspect. Why only the Vice Minister’s confession?

Ning Wujie replied, “When the investigators went to arrest him, he had already hanged himself at home.”

Wen Xing: “So, there is someone behind the Minister.” He didn’t believe someone in that position would commit suicide out of a weak psychological state. The only possibility was that someone held a leverage over him or silenced him.

Ning Wujie: “When I went to seize the Huanhai Tower, the owner had already received word and vanished. Since they dared to auction treasures from the inner treasury, they must have backing from court powers. I can continue following this lead.”

Wen Xing nodded. At this point, Ning Wujie suddenly knelt on one knee. “The officials of the Six Ministries are in collusion, embezzling countless amounts of state funds. I request permission to seize the assets of the implicated officials to replenish the treasury and fund military supplies and disaster relief.” Ning Wujie thought about the urgent need for funds for the Ningyuan Army and the Huainan floods. Will this hedonistic Emperor allow me to touch those funds? If he refuses…

As he was thinking of how to persuade him, he heard the Emperor say lazily, “Granted.”

Ning Wujie was stunned.

“From now on, you make the decisions on these matters. You don’t need to ask for my permission.”

Ning Wujie’s pupils shrank as he looked up at Wen Xing. Allowing me to decide on such vast sums of silver? Is he not afraid I am the same as those embezzlers? When a faint-hearted ruler cherishes someone, can he be indulgent to this extent?!

Wen Xing’s energy for the daily report was spent. He rubbed his temples tiredly. “I have a headache from listening. Come over and massage them for me.”

Ning Wujie frowned and looked at Li Dequan, who was waiting nearby. The old eunuch buried his head into his stomach and quietly stepped back two paces to minimize his presence. Seeing no reaction, Wen Xing glanced at Ning Wujie. “Why aren’t you moving?”

Ning Wujie remained expressionless. “I do not know how. Please let Eunuch Li do it.”

“If you’ve never done it, you can learn. You still have much to learn regarding the Way of Serving the Sovereign.” Wen Xing narrowed his eyes, sneering in his heart. I don’t care if you truly don’t know or are just pretending. He still remembered the horse-riding incident. He hadn’t mentioned it lately only because he was considerate of Ning Wujie’s busy schedule. Now that the case was mostly settled and the military supplies resolved, it was time to get his payback.

He jerked his chin toward the eunuch. “Let Li Dequan teach you.”

Li Dequan, pretending to be invisible, immediately put on a smiling face and walked over. He sat on a low stool behind Wen Xing, placed two fingers from each hand on Wen Xing’s temples, and began to knead gently. “Lord Ning, please look. Massage like this. You must be gentle.”

Ning Wujie watched the eunuch’s dainty fingers, his brow twitching. He looked away and said woodenly, “I am a martial artist with heavy hands. I fear I might injure Your Majesty.”

Wen Xing said coldly, “Ning Wujie, are you defying an imperial edict again?” Ning Wujie’s frown deepened. “Are you not afraid I will take your broth—”

Before he could finish, Ning Wujie stepped forward and angrily shoved Li Dequan aside, taking his place to interrupt his words. Wen Xing’s lips curled. He swallowed the rest of the threat.

Ning Wujie closed his eyes tightly, telling himself in his heart: To protect my brother, I must endure. After bracing himself mentally, he placed his index and middle fingers stiffly on Wen Xing’s temples and began a slow massage.

But as soon as he moved, he heard Wen Xing let out a “Hiss.” “Gently.”

Ning Wujie felt he was already being very gentle, using no force at all. Is this Emperor a bit too delicate? Then he saw the Emperor lean back, falling softly onto his shoulder. His train of thought stopped abruptly.

The Emperor said impatiently, “Massage more gently. I want to sleep. You are not allowed to stop until I am asleep, and you are not allowed to hurt me.”

Ning Wujie’s whole body stiffened; he dared not move. Soft cushions supported Wen Xing’s waist, while his cool, thin shoulder rested against him. Dark strands of hair kept brushing against Ning Wujie’s neck, making his heart itch. Looking down, he could see the Emperor’s long, dark, and thick eyebrows. His eyelids were long, forming a beautiful curve when closed. Seeing the person in his arms furrow his brow in a silent urge, Ning Wujie quickly began to massage even more lightly.

This time, he didn’t hurt the Emperor.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he heard even breathing. Realizing Wen Xing was fast asleep, Ning Wujie stopped his movements but didn’t dare leave. He let Wen Xing lean against his shoulder as the scent of ambergris permeated his every breath.

His eyes were dark those deep, pool-like eyes had lost their light, leaving only a bottomless pitch black. He pinched his fingertips, trying to extinguish the strange sensation brought by the lingering touch of that smooth skin.

Inside Funing Hall in the deep of night, the flickering candlelight projected the silhouette of the youth holding another person onto the window paper, freezing it into a painting.