The Tale Of Mei Xiang

第八章 (Chapter 8)

第八章

It was the feeling of someone's fingers on my wrist that woke me up. 

My eyelids felt heavy and my body was so numb so I didn't make an effort to move. The thought of me already made me feel exhausted. My memories were scrambled; I couldn't remembered what had happened. 

"Guniang's condition has slightly improved from yesterday. She should be waking up soon, your highness," what sounded like an old man's voice said which just further confused me. 

"Thank you, physician. Someone please escort him out and take the medication from him," a familiar voice ordered but I couldn't put a finger on who's voice it was. 

I felt a feather-like touch on my cheek which lingered there for a few minutes and heard a soft whisper in my ear, "I'm sorry Mei Xiang."

Then the person was gone and I fell back into unconsciousness.

------

The next time I was awake, I felt more conscious and I could recall what had happened. 

"Why hasn't she woken up yet?" the 4th Prince asked, his tone hard and demanding. 

My body was numb to me and I couldn't feel anything at all. I yearned to tell them that I was awake but I had no strength to do anything. Instead, I just listened on the conversations between those people taking care of me. 

"Your highness," the physician who had been treating me replied, his voice sounding a bit shaky, "her body is quite weak and she takes more time to recover. I'm sure she'll wake up soon."

"Are you sure that you haven't been lying to me and she isn't dead?"

"Yes, your highness. If your highness doesn't trust me, then why is her body still warm? Her body needs time to recuperate."

I heard the 4th Prince breath out heavily. "Okay then. If she doesn't wake up in two days, you and your family will be punished."

At that moment I felt bad for the physician since it wasn't his fault. Whether or not I was able to move again wasn't up to him and he was already helping me speed up the process. It was because of the 4th Prince's servant that I'm this sick anyways. 

"Yes, your highness."

"Send someone to escort him out."

I felt something warm intertwining with my hand, squeezing it. "Please wake up soon."

With all the strength I had gathered, I squeezed his hand back and let out an exhausted breath.

------

My body felt so heavy due to the many days I spent lying down on the bed. 

The 4th Prince refused to let me get up from the bed and even had guards placed outside my room so I can't get out. Not only that, he had assigned two maids to attend to me and they haven't left my side the whole time. 

Until now that I came up with a way to get rid of them. It was unnerving to have someone watch my every move and attempt to help me with every thing I do. All I had to do was drink up all the water and one of them would go out to refill the pot.