Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 51: Touched

Chapter 51: 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.

"You said, Ho Sheng had already awoken?" Zheng Haoyuan’s eyes flickered with a strange light. "What did Ho Sheng say?"

Xing Xiu was startled but dared not conceal the truth.

"Replying to Your Highness, I do not know. Eunuch Ho Sheng dismissed everyone before speaking with the Noble Consort," Xing Xiu answered tremblingly, knowing that upon hearing this Zheng Haoyuan would head straight out.

"Fourth Prince—"

Before Zheng Haoyuan reached the door, Noble Consort Wen had already arrived with a large entourage.

"Fu Gong, how are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?" Noble Consort Wen grabbed Zheng Haoyuan’s arms, examining him from top to bottom.

The light in Zheng Haoyuan’s eyes receded halfway, somewhat timidly seeking to escape from this embrace, was Mother Consort aware? Aware of what the Second Prince intended to do, but had not succeeded.

"Mother Consort." Zheng Haoyuan’s voice was feeble, much like a child fearing a stern elder.

"Quickly, back to the bed, Imperial Physician," Noble Consort Wen said, personally guiding Zheng Haoyuan to the bed.

Zheng Haoyuan did not resist, observing Noble Consort Wen’s gold- and silver-embroidered skirt piling at his feet, displaying its original and sudden expanse on the floor: blossoming peonies and vibrant green leaves, all exuding regal opulence.

Noble Consort Wen, watching Zheng Haoyuan obediently lying on the bed, urged the Imperial Physician once again before taking a seat beside the bed.

"Fu Gong—" Noble Consort Wen dismissed the palace maids, looking meaningfully at the ten-year-old Zheng Haoyuan in front of her. She did not doubt Ho Sheng’s words; Ho Sheng wouldn’t dare to concoct such a lie to deceive her.

Only, such truth stirred a mix of emotions within her. She knew somewhat of the things Fu Xin did; she thought she could ignore those young men and women, everyone else.

Noble Consort Wen took a deep breath. Fu Xin was dead, his plans unrealized, and the living had to keep living on. There was no choice left for her, and even if there was, she wouldn’t have consented, Fu Gong, despite his mischief, was her only solace.

"Fu Gong, Ho Sheng did not clarify everything, there are things Mother Consort wants to ask you," Noble Consort Wen tried to inquire in as calm a manner as possible.

Zheng Haoyuan immediately became nervous, his frantic gaze briefly met with his mother consort’s before he lowered his head again.

"Mother Consort, I didn’t know. I woke up and found myself in that cave, and then, then it was Second Brother—he, Second Brother said, he wanted my body." Zheng Haoyuan’s voice trembled, and his eyes instantly turned red, tears falling like pearls.

Noble Consort Wen gripped Zheng Haoyuan’s hand tightly, her heart aching.

"Gonggong, don’t be afraid. If Mother Consort had known, she definitely wouldn’t have let you... Second Brother do this, so what Ho Sheng said was all..." Noble Consort Wen choked up. She wasn’t a fool, the situation in the cave, the warriors recruited by the loyalty of the Wen Family, the injuries of Master Yin He, all told her that Fu Gong hadn’t lied, the facts were just so. She just didn’t know whether to feel relieved or sorrowful, as Heaven took one son and yet saved another.

But they were both her sons, what did she do wrong? Why must she accept this reality?

"Mother Consort, it’s my fault. Had I not come to the Traveling Palace, this wouldn’t have happened..." Zheng Haoyuan immediately raised his tearful eyes, looking at Noble Consort Wen.

"It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault." Noble Consort Wen’s heart clenched; it was her fault for not protecting Fu Xin and Fu Gong well, not just this time, but also the next.

If it weren’t for Ho Sheng, Fu Gong would have been doomed; by that time...

She knew Ho Sheng’s capabilities better than anyone else; otherwise, she wouldn’t have placed Ho Sheng by Zheng Haoyuan’s side.

"It’s my fault. If I had stayed properly in the Imperial Palace, Second Brother wouldn’t have died..." Zheng Haoyuan cried, his self-reproach deepening because of Noble Consort Wen’s distress.

"Gonggong, Mother Consort tells you, it’s not your fault. Ho Sheng made it very clear, and those two loyal warriors of the Wen Family who took you out were also found," Noble Consort Wen’s heart softened, and she reached out to embrace Zheng Haoyuan on the bed, stroking the young man’s nape, "Mother Consort now has only you as a son; it’s Heaven’s blessing, Heaven saved you."

"Mother Consort—" Zheng Haoyuan cried into Noble Consort Wen’s chest, his heart finally settling into his chest since waking up.

"Fu Gong—"

...

"Really, no good deed goes unpunished, why lock us up?" Xue Liu yelled across the courtyard; the guards outside didn’t move an inch, sealing off all exits of the courtyard.

After going back and forth three times, Nanny Yun finally unwrapped the whole situation from Xing Yu’s mouth.

"Ah, my goodness, if only you knew, why go and save anyone?" Nanny Yun finally expressed the same exasperation as Xue Liu.

"Commandery Princess, how can you not worry, just letting Noble Consort Wen bully people?" Nanny Yun couldn’t stay seated; this place wasn’t the Imperial Palace, as if Noble Consort Wen had the final say, to lock up as she pleased. After all, there was a Commandery Princess and the Crown Prince.

Zheng Nianru didn’t think much of it; the Second Prince was dead, and the outcome seemed right yet not right.

In her previous life, she and Zheng Haoyuan had no interactions at all, and she didn’t know what happened before or after the death of the Second Prince, nor whether Zheng Haoyuan had a striking contrast in personality.

And with Noble Consort Wen locking them up now, it was mainly because she feared them leaking the ugly truth.

Her own son trying to kill another son also seemed nothing new to Zheng Nianru.

The present Emperor had also killed plenty of his own brothers; her father, Prince Duan, seemed to have thoughts of killing the Emperor as well.

"The Commandery Princess can still laugh." Lady Wen complained softly; she had said it before, the Fourth Prince really wasn’t their match. Leaving aside the Crown Prince, who didn’t work steadily, often fluctuating, and now here they were.

The Traveling Palace was so far away, firstly, it was doubtful whether the news could even reach the Crown Prince’s ears, let alone whether the Crown Prince would come to save them or not.

"Commandery Princess, should we send a message to the Crown Prince?" Sending one to Prince Duan would also do.