Chapter 51: Touched
"Ah—Ah—" Zheng Haoyuan woke up with a high-pitched scream only to find himself lying on an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by palace maids whom he did not recognize.
"Ho Sheng, Ho Sheng—" Zheng Haoyuan called out loudly.
"Fourth Prince, Fourth Prince, Steward Ho is injured. We are the palace maids from Bushou Palace, sent by Her Highness to attend to your needs," Xing Xiu said anxiously, stepping forward, trying to get closer when a pillow was hurled at her head.
"Quickly fetch the Imperial Physician and report to Her Highness that the Fourth Prince is awake," shouted the palace maid at the door as she hurried off.
Zheng Haoyuan looked at the palace maid in front of him; her face looked familiar, as if she belonged to his mother consort’s entourage.
"What happened to Ho Sheng?" Zheng Haoyuan asked, knowing that Ho Sheng and his cousin had rushed over to save him, and he had witnessed the sinister black mist seeping into Ho Sheng.
"Replying to the Fourth Prince, Eunuch Ho Sheng initially seemed fine and was conscious, but suddenly he fell unconscious again and began talking nonsensically. Now the Imperial Physicians are treating him with all their might," Xing Xiu replied, faintly stating that Ho Sheng’s injury was very peculiar—it seemed like poisoning yet not quite, sometimes lucid, other times insane, not so much sick as... possessed.
Hearing the palace maid’s words, Zheng Haoyuan immediately tried to get out of bed to look for Ho Sheng.
"Fourth Prince, Fourth Prince, you mustn’t get down," Xing Xiu quickly said, stepping forward to help, but Zheng Haoyuan pushed her to the ground and attempted to leave.
"Fourth Prince—" Xing Xiu was frightened yet dared not approach further.
Zheng Haoyuan suddenly stopped and turned to look at Xing Xiu on the floor.