Transmigrated as the Emperor, but Slacking Off - Chapter 18

Inside the prison of the Bureau of Investigation.

The sound of whipping and curdling screams wove into a terrifying, hellish echo, crashing and reverberating against the stone walls. The prisoner was bound to an iron pillar, his midsection enduring an unprecedented battering. Dazed and fading, the man had lost count of how many punches he had taken; his internal organs felt displaced, and agonizing pain churned in his abdomen like a steel blade.

Thud—

As another punch landed, another rib snapped. Shards of bone pierced his lungs, and blood erupted from his mouth.

“My Lord.” Seeing the prisoner’s pupils begin to dilate, an investigator couldn’t help but interject, “Leave him a breath of life.”

Ning Wujie’s black Yesa robes were already stained with foul blood. Hearing this, he grabbed the prisoner’s jaw, his sharp gaze observing the pupils. He let out a cold snort and finally stopped his movements. “Useless thing.”

He let go, and the prisoner’s head slumped powerlessly, producing only ragged, wheezing gasps. The investigator noticed that Ning Wujie’s lowered fists were covered in blood; it was impossible to tell which was the prisoner’s and which was from Ning Wujie’s own split skin.

The investigator was secretly horrified. Previously, though their Lord interrogated suspects personally, he had always maintained his composure. Moreover, the Bureau had countless torture implements; there was never a need, as there was today, to use such a cruel method personally smashing a prisoner’s ribs one by one and becoming covered in filth. The Commander had always treated his official uniform with great respect.

Today’s Ning Wujie, however, looked like a judge crawled out of hell. Just standing near him and feeling that murderous aura made one’s spine turn cold. The investigator had a chilling suspicion: Ning Wujie wasn’t here today to solve a case, but simply to vent his rage.

Ning Wujie let his hands hang as if drained of strength. He turned and walked to a water basin; the moment his fingers touched the water, it stained the clear liquid red. He stared blankly at his reflection in the bloody water.

Memories flashed uncontrollably in his mind. The more he recalled, the more those contradictory, inexplicable actions of his found their explanation. Those strange emotions buried deep in his heart became clearer, howling like a trapped beast, wanting to tear apart the cage and reveal the bloody truth.

His fist clenched again and smashed violently into the water. The bloody water splashed, staining his robes. He closed his eyes and took a deep, long breath, forcing himself to stop thinking.

“My Lord, shall we continue the interrogation?” his subordinate’s voice came from nearby.

Ning Wujie snapped back to reality, took a cloth from his subordinate to wipe his hands, and said without looking up: “Liu Xiao, a ‘well-filler’ (assassin) for Huanhai Tower. Human trafficking, forcing people into prostitution, private usury, arson, and murder he has done every evil deed.”

After wiping, he tossed the cloth aside, leaving the split knuckles on the back of his hands to bleed continuously. He turned back, his icy gaze locking onto the prisoner, his voice bone-chillingly cold: “If I threw a punch for every person you killed, I fear you wouldn’t survive to see tomorrow’s sun. Tell me the Tower Master’s whereabouts, and I’ll grant you a swift death. Otherwise, I have a hundred ways to make you wish you were dead.”

The prisoner hung his head, his breathing shallow. “I… I’ll confess everything…”

“Those things,” the prisoner wheezed in an extremely weak voice, “were all… ordered by the Tower Master. I am just a… a thug.”

“Where did the Tower Master flee to?”

“I don’t know… the specifics. I only know… he ran toward Southern Chuan.”

At that moment, an attendant found the interrogation room. “My Lord, Lord Wu Jing of the Three Thousand Camp seeks an audience.”

Ning Wujie said coldly to his subordinate, “Record his confession. Keep him alive.”

“Yes.”

Ning Wujie went to his residence to change into clean robes. Before he could step out, he heard Wu Jing’s voice from a distance: “You truly were at the office!”

A moment later, Wu Jing entered the room on his own, beaming at the sight of him. “I was thinking if I didn’t run into you at the office, I’d go to the palace to find you.” There was a Marquis Ning residence in the capital, but Ning Wujie was too busy; he usually worked in the Imperial Study or handled cases at the Bureau. Since returning to the capital, he had truly “passed his home three times without entering.” However, his mother had died young, and the residence held only a few old servants and laborers besides himself.

Ning Wujie composed himself, masking his murderous intent with a normal expression. “Why are you here?”

“I’m about to leave, aren’t I? Came to say goodbye.”

Ning Wujie understood. “The military supplies are ready.”

“Yes,” Wu Jing said, punching Ning Wujie’s shoulder. “You truly are a prophet exactly one month! I depart for the Northwest tomorrow.”

Ning Wujie’s voice was somewhat muffled. “I trouble you to make the trip on my behalf.”

“What nonsense is that? There’s no need for such talk between us.” Wu Jing spoke with some emotion. “Thinking back, if His Majesty hadn’t supported you so strongly in court last time, how could the embezzlement case have been handled so smoothly? The funds for military supplies wouldn’t have come down so fast.”

He looked around to ensure no one else was in the room before leaning into Ning Wujie’s ear. “I was originally quite worried about you, but seeing how well the Emperor treats you, he must truly cherish you. Now I can leave with a peace of mind.”

He babbled on, completely unaware that Ning Wujie’s face grew darker with every word.

“And do you know? Since that last evening session, the Emperor issued an edict forbidding the court and the public from gossiping about you, otherwise they’ll be charged. My ears have been much quieter in the military camp lately; I used to always hear people saying—”

“Enough,” Ning Wujie cut him off. “Stop talking about this. Come, I’ll see you off.”

Wu Jing’s eyes lit up. “Excellent! But a farewell requires wine.” He smiled as he spoke. “I know your family has many rules against drinking, but this is different. At most, you can just drink a little. Anyway, the Old Marquis and your eldest brother aren’t here; no one can control you.”

Wu Jing was prepared for the usual back-and-forth, but to his surprise, Ning Wujie agreed immediately: “Fine.”

“Eh? Strange. Why are you so agreeable today?”

Ning Wujie didn’t answer. He took a cloak and walked out with Wu Jing. As they reached the Bureau gates, a young eunuch approached and bowed slightly. “Lord Ning. His Majesty summons you; pray make a trip to the palace.”

Ning Wujie’s face darkened. “What business does His Majesty have?”

The eunuch was startled. Every time he came to deliver a message, Ning Wujie always went without question; why was he asking for a reason this time? Still, he replied respectfully, “His Majesty did not specify.”

“Since he did not specify, it is likely not urgent. Pray inform His Majesty that this subject has official business and cannot go.” With that, without waiting for the eunuch’s reply, he grabbed Wu Jing and walked away.

Wu Jing’s eyes widened. He looked back at the eunuch left stranded at the gate, then at Ning Wujie, who was pulling him along with large strides. He said in shock, “Wujie, you… you…” He pointed at Ning Wujie for a while, but simply didn’t dare to utter the words “defying an edict.” He processed it for a moment and exclaimed, “You wouldn’t be… acting arrogant because of his favor, would you?”

A vein pulsed in Ning Wujie’s temple. He decided to ignore this fool.

Wu Jing was dragged into a private room of a tavern, his head filled with confusion, and was pushed into a chair by Ning Wujie. Wu Jing was stunned; what day is it? Only now did he notice that Ning Wujie’s expression had been sour since the start.

The waiter entered enthusiastically. Wu Jing quickly ordered food and wine to dismiss him, then looked at Ning Wujie with concern. “What is wrong with you today?”

Ning Wujie’s gaze was cold. He simply said, “Nothing.”

Wu Jing: …Nothing? If the anger in Ning Wujie’s eyes could take physical form, this tavern would already be a sea of flames. Wu Jing had never possessed a sensitive heart for reading people; facing a “bottled-up” person like Ning Wujie, he could only guess wildly. “Oh, I see. You’re unwilling to serve someone with your looks, aren’t you?”

To dare refuse the Emperor’s summons… it must be that the long-suppressed indignation has finally exploded. A common man’s rage defying an edict even at the risk of his life. That’s the spirit of my brother!

Ning Wujie pressed his throbbing temple and took a deep breath, speaking gloomily: “If you can’t speak properly, you can shut up.”

At that moment, the waiter placed the wine and food on the table. Wu Jing hurriedly poured wine for Ning Wujie, fawning with a laugh: “Cool your fire.”

In the past, it was extremely difficult to persuade Ning Wujie to drink; he always had various reasons to refuse. Everyone in the military camp knew that anyone who could get the young Marquis Ning to have a cup at the table could brag for three days. He was prepared for a struggle, yet Ning Wujie didn’t even lift his eyelids; he raised the cup and downed it in one go.

Wu Jing: Eh?!! He looked at the dark-faced Ning Wujie, then at the empty cup, his eyes widening as he tentatively filled it again. Ning Wujie raised the cup again. With a clack, the cup hit the table empty again.

Wu Jing: !! This time, he could brag for more than three days. Realizing he might have broken a record, his eyes filled with excitement. Caught up in the moment, he beckoned the waiter to replace the cups with large bowls. “Come, come, come! It’s rare for you to give such face today; I’ll risk my life to accompany a gentleman.” He filled his own bowl and raised it. “Brother, I—”

Before he finished, Ning Wujie had already drained his bowl.

“Whoa!” Wu Jing marveled. “What a temper.”

For every bowl Wu Jing poured, Ning Wujie drank it without a word. As the empty bowls piled higher, Wu Jing’s thick skull finally seemed to grasp the situation. The excitement in his gaze faded, replaced by sympathy. He drained his own bowl, patted Ning Wujie’s shoulder, and sighed with self-perceived thoughtfulness: “Brother, I understand you.”

Ning Wujie frowned, sensing he was about to hear something completely irrelevant again.

“We are warriors; who wants to bear the reputation of ‘serving with looks’?”

At the words “serving with looks” again, Ning Wujie grit his teeth.

“But he is the Emperor, after all. We, as subjects, can only obey.”

Ning Wujie’s long eyelashes were hidden under his skeletal fingers. Hearing this, he lifted them slightly, a flicker of light shining in his dark pupils. “Yes, he is the Emperor,” he whispered. And a faint-hearted ruler!

Wu Jing didn’t catch the subtext and nodded. “Exactly. So, you can’t just follow your whims. You must realize that your every move affects the Ning family and the Old Marquis. Even if you don’t think of yourself, think of the Ningyuan Army. If you provoke the Emperor, they will inevitably be implicated.”

Ning Wujie closed his eyes deeply. He had drunk too fast earlier and had no immediate reaction. Now that the alcohol was hitting him, a layer of faint red spread from the collar of his white undergarment.

Wu Jing continued babbling: “Not to mention coveting a subject’s beauty, the Emperor has the power of life and death over us; both thunder and dew are imperial grace. For the peace of the Northwest, just… endure it, alright?”

“Covet?” Ning Wujie let out a scoff. The drunkenness was hitting him, and dizziness surged uncontrollably. As soon as he closed his eyes, he felt the world spinning. His voice became deep and raspy. “Who exactly is coveting whom?”

Wu Jing didn’t understand this sentence. “Eh? Isn’t it the Emperor who covets you?”

“Me?” Ning Wujie laughed—a laugh that made his shoulders tremble and his chest heave. “I am a subject…”

Wu Jing was confused. “Yes, as subjects, we cannot—”

“How can a subject… covet the Sovereign?” At this, Ning Wujie thought of something and suddenly grit his teeth in rage: “Especially that faint-hearted ruler!”

Wu Jing: ?! No… wait a minute. Was he hallucinating? Wasn’t it the Emperor who liked Ning Wujie? Wu Jing’s eyes widened. He grabbed Ning Wujie’s shoulder and stared at him, questioning loudly: “What the hell did you say?!”

Inside Funing Hall.

Wen Xing watched the night sky outside, too restless to sleep. Zhai Yuanqing had only said the residual toxins faded slowly; he hadn’t said the poison had a stimulant effect. His body was tired and wanted sleep, yet his brain refused, leaving him perfectly alert. It was tormenting him so much he wanted to curse.

Today, he needed someone to read stories to him to induce sleep more than ever. He was already in a terrible mood due to the residual toxins, but the messenger eunuch added fuel to the fire.

“Lord Ning said he still has official business to attend to. He… won’t be coming today.” As the eunuch spoke, he cautiously peeked at the Emperor on the couch.

Li Dequan was slightly shocked. Eh? The little beauty is actually defying an edict. Usually, he came the moment he was called; what was happening today? He observed the Emperor’s face and broke into a cold sweat for Ning Wujie. Today’s Sovereign was not so easy to talk to.

Sure enough, Wen Xing sat up, his face grim. I truly have spoiled that boy too much, haven’t I? Spoiled him until he’s arrogant enough to openly defy an edict?

Wen Xing let out a cold laugh. “Go again. Bring him to me whether he’s dead or alive. Otherwise, treat it as defiance of an imperial decree.”

The messenger eunuch complied repeatedly and retreated. Wen Xing narrowed his eyes. When that boy enters the palace, I’m going to give him a proper lesson. Otherwise, he’ll truly think he can walk all over me!

Inside the tavern suite.

Ning Wujie frowned, his eyes already reddened by the alcohol, looking at his brother with a vacant gaze. Wu Jing’s head had become two, swaying in a blur. Yet his consciousness was still somewhat clear, so he swatted away Wu Jing’s hand from his shoulder. “What did I say?”

Wu Jing’s eyes widened. “You said nothing? Then I was hallucinating?” He yelled, “I’m not drunk; my hearing is excellent! Be honest, are you… do you like the Em—”

Before the words finished, a hand blocked Wu Jing’s mouth. “Shut up.”

Ning Wujie still sat perfectly upright. One hand held Wu Jing, while the other raised a wine bowl to his lips. Wu Jing grew annoyed, broke free from Ning Wujie’s grip, and tried to snatch the bowl. Without lifting his eyelids, Ning Wujie held the bowl and blocked Wu Jing with a single palm.

Wu Jing was swatted away, then clenched his fist and charged. “Damn it, stop drinking!”

For a moment, the room was filled with the wind of punches and palms. Ning Wujie held the bowl in one hand while trading moves with Wu Jing; not a drop of wine was spilled. But the more he channeled his qi, the faster the alcohol circulated. Before long, his brain turned to muddle, and his footing faltered, revealing a gap.

Wu Jing seized the opportunity, his leg snapping out in a kick. The wine bowl exploded, shattering into pieces. Wine splashed everywhere, and Ning Wujie was stunned.

Wu Jing was fuming. No wonder his childhood friend had been off all day. This is a disaster! Seeing the bowl shattered, Ning Wujie tried to grab the teapot, but fortunately, Wu Jing was faster. Wu Jing swept all the wine off the table, handed it to the waiter outside, and slammed the door shut.

He turned back and scolded: “You are not allowed to drink anymore! Listen to me. If the Emperor likes a subject, that is an honor. But if a subject dares to covet the Sovereign, that is called having ‘intentions of treason’! Do you understand? If your father found out about this, he’d beat you to death!”

“Be quiet!” Ning Wujie’s eyes were now a burning crimson. He glared at Wu Jing. “I told you… to be quiet.”

Wu Jing was actually chilled by that terrifying gaze, and his words stopped. Ning Wujie’s fists were clenched so tight his nails nearly pierced his flesh. Who would ever like that faint-hearted ruler! Full of nonsense, lazy in administration, and easily swayed by beauty! I don’t like him. I won’t let anyone know! Yes, no one can know.

“…No one… will ever know.”

Perhaps the fight earlier had triggered the drunkenness; Ning Wujie suddenly felt the world spin. A moment later, he lost his balance. His vision went black, and he swayed forward, collapsing. Wu Jing was fast, catching him in a flash; Ning Wujie fell against his shoulder.

Looking at the man who had almost passed out from drink, Wu Jing let out a “tsk.” In the end, it’s my brother who is trapped by love. Damn it… Wu Jing felt a deep sense of helplessness. Why did he have to find out today? How could he go to the Northwest in peace? And how would he hide this from the Old Marquis’s sharp eyes? Wu Jing had never had confidence in his acting skills; he felt a massive headache coming on.

A long sigh echoed in the quiet room.

Two eunuchs supported Ning Wujie as they stumbled into Funing Hall. Wen Xing, who was sitting on the couch flipping through a storybook, looked up at the commotion. He saw Ning Wujie’s arms draped over the eunuchs’ shoulders, his head slumped, and his long ponytail tilted to the side across his chest.

He couldn’t help but frown. He was about to ask something when he smelled the alcohol. “What happened?”

The eunuch lowered his head. “Lord Ning… is drunk.” When the messenger went to summon him, before he could even read the imperial edict, he found Ning Wujie passed out drunk on the bed at the residence, impossible to wake. But the edict was to bring him “dead or alive,” so the eunuch had no choice but to carry him over.

Wen Xing was surprised. Would the usually composed Ning Wujie also get drunk? His curiosity piqued, he rose and walked over. He studied the newcomer, reached out to pinch Ning Wujie’s chin, and lifted his face.

Ning Wujie’s eyelashes fluttered open. His half-veiled dark eyes reflected the candlelight, showing two tiny fragments of light like stardust. His crimson eyes held the faint watery mist of drunkenness; the moisture seemed to blur the red hue, like vermilion ink spreading across paper, reaching from the corners of his eyes to his cheeks.

This time, his face was truly red. Previously it had only been his ears; this was the first time Wen Xing had seen Ning Wujie with a flushed face. He’s actually quite good-looking.

Wen Xing called out: “Ning Wujie.”

Ning Wujie seemed to be recalled to his senses by the voice. He processed it for a moment and let out a long, heavy breath. In his blurred vision, he saw a white silhouette swaying in the light. The figure was thin, with broad yet slender shoulders carrying an air of lazy, ethereal grace. Just like the immortal in his memory, standing under the tree at night, slaughtering all in his path with a sleeve-arrow.

He recognized this figure. He would recognize it even if it were burned to ashes. Why must it be you? A cold light flickered in his eyes, and he let out a cold scoff: “Faint-hearted ruler.”

The two eunuchs were terrified, wishing they could bury their heads in the ground. Lord Ning is far too bold, daring to curse the Emperor to his face! They waited in trepidation for the Emperor’s thunderous rage, but to their surprise, Wen Xing didn’t flare up; instead, he let out a chuckle.

Then they heard their Sovereign say, “Place him on my Luohan couch.”

Eunuchs: !! Is there truly someone in this world who can curse the Emperor to his face without being torn apart, and instead climb onto the dragon bed?! Is Lord Ning’s beauty truly that terrifying?

Your Majesty, your reason is being swayed by beauty!

The two eunuchs seemed dazed until Li Dequan stepped forward sharply and slapped the boys on the head. “Go on, quickly.” They snapped back to reality and hurriedly carried him over.

Li Dequan understood his Sovereign’s intention perfectly he was going to favor the little beauty! This is the right way, Li Dequan thought. This is how an aphrodisiac should be neutralized. Zhai Yuanqing said the Emperor only needed to endure for two days; what a quack!

He happily settled Ning Wujie, dismissed all the servants in the hall, and even glanced at Xing He on the rafters, beckoning with his hand and mouthing: “Come down.” Xing He pouted and didn’t move. Li Dequan urged him again with exaggerated facial expressions.

Glancing over, his Sovereign was already sitting on the edge of the couch. Hiss… Will there be some scenes unsuitable for children later? Li Dequan waved frantically at Xing He, gesturing: “If you don’t come down, I’m confiscating all your fruit!”

Xing He stuck out his tongue and flipped out the window. Li Dequan beamed, bowed, and retreated, closing the door behind him. The dim yellow candlelight flickered, casting the silhouettes of a seated figure and a lying one onto the curtains.