Raising Wolves CHAPTER 10

 

 Raising wolves  

 Chapter 10

Translated by : DANMEI HEAVEN

Chapter 10

The moment Lu Qingze closed his eyes, Ning Juan felt as if all the blood in his body had turned to ice.

Mechanically, he checked Lu Qingze’s breathing. Only when he detected faint signs of life did his rationality return. Clutching Lu Qingze tightly, he barked, “Where are the imperial physicians?!”

The Imperial Guards on night patrol had subdued all the assassins. Their leader, clad in a feiyu uniform with a xiuchun saber at his waist, knelt with a thud: “Your Majesty, this humble official Zheng Yao has arrived too late to protect you. I beg for your forgiveness! The imperial physicians are on their way. Since Grand Tutor Lu has lost too much blood, we can first apply this hemostatic powder to his wound.”

This was the man Lu Qingze said could be trusted?

Ning Juan stared at him coldly.

The gaze of a child barely over ten years old actually made Zheng Yao break out in a cold sweat.

During Emperor Chong’an’s reign, the Imperial Guards had been oppressed by the Eastern Depot, living like grandsons. After the eunuch faction was purged, the Eastern Depot lost its power, but the civil official faction led by Wei Helong continued to suppress military officials. The Imperial Guards still lacked a backbone and remained insignificant.

Promoted to commander of the Imperial Guards, Zheng Yao had lived aimlessly, resigned to his fate. After the new emperor’s ascension, he had considered whether to observe the young emperor and test whether he was worthy of loyalty.

Having seen Emperor Chong’an panic and scream when assassinated, Zheng Yao couldn’t help but steal a glance at the new emperor. The cold severity on the young boy’s face surprised him.

Rumors outside claimed the new emperor was foolish and weak, a puppet in Wei Helong’s hands.

But Zheng Yao sensed that this was a wolf biding its time, hiding its fangs and claws.

Almost instantly, he made up his mind.

At the same time, Ning Juan said indifferently, “Bring it here.”

Without hesitation, Zheng Yao presented the hemostatic powder with both hands. Ning Juan took it but didn’t immediately apply it to Lu Qingze. Instead, he drew a dagger from his sleeve and, without blinking, slashed his own arm. Blood welled up.

Changshun, still dizzy from being thrown, rubbed his head and gasped at the sight: “Your Majesty!”

“I am the emperor.” Ning Juan uncorked the medicine bottle, his dark pupils like unfathomable abysses as he stared at Zheng Yao. “Commander Zheng, you must take responsibility.”

Zheng Yao shuddered inwardly: “Y-Yes!”

Ning Juan poured the powder onto his own wound. When the bleeding stopped quickly, he carefully parted Lu Qingze’s thin, blood-soaked sleeping robes and sprinkled the powder on his injury.

Even unconscious, Lu Qingze curled slightly in pain.

His already pale face was now utterly bloodless, though a few drops of blood had splattered across it, one landing precisely on the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye—a hauntingly beautiful sight.

Ning Juan took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of plum blossoms now tainted with thick blood.

He calmed completely and wiped the blood from Lu Qingze’s eye. “Someone, carry my teacher carefully inside and cover him well. He’s afraid of the cold.”

After the assassins’ rampage, few palace servants remained, most frozen in terror. The Imperial Guards stepped forward to help carry Lu Qingze inside.

The ground was littered with bodies, blood flowing like ink in the night. The thought that Lu Qingze could have become one of them made Ning Juan’s heart clench uncontrollably.

But he remembered Lu Qingze’s words: A ruler must not show joy or anger.

So he calmly asked Zheng Yao, “Did you find out who sent them?”

The atmosphere in the courtyard was unnervingly tense, almost suffocating. The Imperial Guard restraining the assassin swallowed hard: “Your Majesty, they’re all dead soldiers. There are no identifying marks on them. The others took poison as soon as they were captured. This one…”

He hesitated. “His tongue has been cut out, and he seems mentally dull.”

It was unlikely they’d get any answers.

Ning Juan knew well that many wanted him dead, but few would dare act.

He looked up, his dark gaze settling on the dead soldier kneeling under guard—the one who had stabbed Lu Qingze.

The still-small young emperor bent down, picked up the fallen blade, and gripped the bloodstained sword. Step by step, he approached the assassin.

The sword scraped against the stone tiles with an unpleasant, grating sound, clear and drawn-out, sending chills down everyone’s spines.

Ning Juan stopped before the assassin, his expression blank. “Did Ning Cong send you?”

Such dead soldiers were specially trained, their eyes lifeless and devoid of emotion as they stared numbly at him.

Ning Juan didn’t seem to care. He nodded. “You may die now.”

The next moment, the dull sound of flesh being pierced rang out, and blood splattered onto the young emperor’s face.

Under the moonlight, the bloodied blade gleamed coldly. Everyone’s pupils constricted.

Zheng Yao’s long-dormant blood, however, boiled at that moment.

How could the mediocre, cowardly former emperor have sired such a son?

In that instant, he made his final decision. Dropping cleanly to his knees, he clasped his fists and bowed his head, offering his first act of loyalty: “This humble official is willing to serve Your Majesty with the devotion of a dog or horse!”

Ning Juan released the sword hilt and studied Zheng Yao.

The gaze above him was heavy, as if weighing and probing. After a long silence, Zheng Yao heard the young emperor ask, “Can you serve as my blade?”

Under that stare, Zheng Yao declared solemnly, “I would die ten thousand deaths without regret.”

Ning Juan didn’t respond. After a long pause, he tossed something onto the assassin’s corpse.

Zheng Yao’s eyes widened in shock.

This young emperor is even more profound than I imagined.

At a glance, he recognized it—a genuine jade pendant bearing the private emblem of the Prince of Shu’s residence!

Ning Juan took the handkerchief Changshun handed him and wiped the blood from his face and hands indifferently. “Do you know how to report what happened tonight in the Qianqing Palace?”

Zheng Yao’s mind raced. Respectfully, he replied, “When this humble official arrived with reinforcements, Your Majesty had already fainted in Grand Tutor Lu’s arms. During the struggle, this jade pendant fell from the assassin’s robes.”

Ning Juan nodded and turned toward the warm chamber.

Pausing, he added, “One more thing.”

“Your Majesty, please speak.”

"...When the assassin attacked, he slashed Grand Tutor Lu's face."

He didn't want anyone else coveting Lu Qingze anymore.

Zheng Yao was momentarily stunned, not quite grasping the deeper meaning behind this.

But having just pledged his loyalty, without yet demonstrating his capabilities to His Majesty, asking too many questions would make him seem rather unintelligent.

He bowed deeply, directed the removal of the corpses from the courtyard, picked up that jade pendant, prepared to make use of it, left some men behind to patrol the Qianqing Palace strictly, and ensured everything was secure.

Lu Qingze remained completely unaware of all that had transpired outside.

The knife wound had landed on his shoulder; fortunately, it hadn’t hit any vital points, but blood loss had left his already frail body even weaker. By the time he hazily awoke, several days had already passed.

The bedding beneath him was dry, soft, and warm, and there seemed to be something warm and small curled up beside him.

Still half-asleep, Lu Qingze instinctively reached out to touch it but accidentally tugged at the wound on his shoulder. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead, jolting him fully awake. His eyes hadn’t even opened yet, but a thought flashed through his mind: I’m still alive?

Then his body caught up with his consciousness. With great effort, he lifted his eyelids and noticed a small figure curled up beside him.

Lu Qingze squinted and looked down.

Ning Juan was curled up, hugging himself, asleep quietly beside him.

The usually cold-tongued, fierce little emperor slept in a docile manner, his soft black hair spread out, his eyelashes lowered, making his delicate, fair face appear soft and innocent—like a kitten seeking warmth.

Lu Qingze wondered if he was still dreaming.

Had the little brat really come to sleep beside him?

His movement startled Ning Juan awake. The young emperor opened his eyes, paused for a moment, then brightened: "Teacher, you’re finally awake!"

Lu Qingze: "..."

Was he hallucinating?

Ning Juan usually tried hard to appear mature and composed, but now he couldn’t hide his joy. He wriggled out from under the covers and called out to the outside: "Shunzi, summon Imperial Physician Yuan immediately—Teacher is awake!"

Changshun, who had been waiting in the outer chamber, responded promptly and hurried off to fetch the doctor.

Lu Qingze tried to move again but was gently pressed back by Ning Juan: "Teacher, your injury is on the shoulder. Be careful not to move."

At this point, Lu Qingze was fairly certain he was awake. He eyed the little emperor’s flushed face and raised an eyebrow: "Oh? So now Your Majesty finally remembers that I am your teacher?"

Ning Juan grew uneasy: "I... Teacher, are you angry?"

Watching the little emperor’s reaction, Lu Qingze felt a strange sense of accomplishment, as if he’d tamed a young wolf who didn’t know how to retract its claws into a puppy. He teased lightly: "Seems like taking this knife wound was worth it—at least it made Your Majesty realize my value."

Ning Juan pursed his lips.

Truthfully, he had known from their first meeting that Lu Qingze treated him well.

He just hadn’t been sure whether Lu Qingze would abandon him like that palace maid from before—after all, before abandoning him, she had also treated him well.

But Lu Qingze was clearly different. From the very beginning, his approach had been unlike anyone else’s.

Lu Qingze didn’t tease the child further. His gaze swept over Ning Juan: "Alright, no need to dwell on trivial matters. Were you injured? How many days have I been asleep? What’s the situation outside?"

Ning Juan silently tugged his sleeves to hide the cuts on his arms and answered obediently: "I wasn’t hurt. The Imperial Guards captured all the assassins. It’s been four days now. Teacher’s foresight was brilliant—the jade pendant indeed played its part. Ning Cong has been arrested by the Imperial Guards and is now awaiting trial under the Ministry of Justice."

Originally, Zheng Yao had been eager to drag Ning Cong to the Northern Administrative Office to restore the Imperial Guards’ fearsome reputation. But after being coldly scolded as an "idiot" by Ning Juan, he broke out in a cold sweat and realized his mistake, suppressing the impulse.

The commander of the Five Military Camp was a staunch supporter of Wei Heling. It wasn’t yet time to clash head-on with him.

After hearing about the events of the past few days, Lu Qingze understood.

In the original story, the Imperial Guard Commander Zheng Yao was ruthless and brutal, the most loyal subordinate of the tyrannical emperor. He wasn’t supposed to pledge allegiance until a few years later, but Lu Qingze’s influence had likely accelerated the plot.

This was a good thing.

Ning Cong had secretly gifted the jade pendant, with only the eunuch who delivered it as a witness—but Ning Juan had already dealt with him. Ning Cong had ended up hoist by his own petard, probably spitting blood in frustration.

Though the jade pendant alone couldn’t definitively prove he had orchestrated the assassination, it was enough to mire him in scandal.

The matter could have been downplayed—Ning Cong could have stubbornly denied it, claiming he’d been framed. But as a feudal prince, his position was inherently sensitive, especially with the new emperor freshly enthroned. With the Prince of Jing secretly aiding and Wei Heling pushing from behind, he was in for trouble.

Most importantly, after this incident, Ning Cong would no longer be able to linger in the capital. That greasy, disgusting nuisance would finally be forced to return to his fiefdom, and Ning Jing would have to leave soon as well.

Lu Qingze was quite satisfied.

The two chatted for a while longer, and soon the physician arrived—the same Imperial Physician Yuan who often attended to Lu Qingze. But before the physician entered, Ning Juan suddenly got up and drew the bed curtains, having the doctor examine Lu Qingze through the fabric.

Imperial Physician Yuan seemed accustomed to this.

Lu Qingze sensed something was off but didn’t speak up immediately. After the physician prescribed a recuperative formula and left, he turned to the little emperor, whose expression now seemed somewhat guilty: "Alright, out with it. What’s going on?"

Ning Juan said cautiously, "If I tell you, will you promise not to be angry?"

Lu Qingze: "No promises."

Ning Juan lowered his head, unconsciously fiddling with the corner of the blanket. Nervous, his voice softened: "I... spread word outside that... the assassin injured Teacher’s face."

Lu Qingze: "..."

What a filial child you are.

Still, this face of his had indeed caused him plenty of trouble, both in the past and now.

Especially with this assassination attempt—it was almost certainly Ning Cong’s doing. While Ning Cong’s direct attack was partly motivated by his ambition for the throne, the rest was likely indirectly due to Lu Qingze himself. After all, Ning Juan had offended Ning Cong several times to protect him.

Ning Juan had done this for his own good.

Lying prone for so long had left his blood circulation poor, making him uncomfortable. Lu Qingze shifted slightly and said lazily, "Well done. I suppose I’ll have to follow in Prince Lanling’s footsteps now."

Ning Juan secretly sighed in relief, a soft smile appearing on his face.

At least this would reduce the number of people coveting his teacher.

Their thoughts didn’t quite align, but it didn’t stop the harmonious atmosphere.

Lu Qingze asked a few more questions, and Ning Juan answered each one perfectly.

The more perfect his answers, the more Lu Qingze felt he’d forgotten something. But his mind was still foggy from just waking up. As he pondered, Changshun’s voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, Steward Chen from the Lu residence is here again. Shall we refuse him today as well?"

Lu Qingze finally remembered. He turned to Ning Juan in shock.

The little emperor pouted, a hint of unwilling resentment in his expression: "...Bring him in."

Shunzi, it seems you don’t want your salary this month.

 CONTINUE