Chapter 239 Human Instinct
After the Seventh Prince returned to the palace with two bottles of medicine, he went to Hu Zhouquan's residence immediately.
Because Hu Zhouquan was flogged, he could no longer follow the Seventh Prince. After being beaten, he was carried to a remote palace where the cleaning eunuchs lived.
The Seventh Prince asked around before finally finding out Hu Zhouquan's whereabouts from Eunuch Hu.
When he found the dilapidated palace where Hu Zhouquan was, Hu Zhouquan was lying on the bed, looking utterly hopeless.
No longer do the young eunuchs surround him and call him "Little Eunuch Hu".
There's no one to pour me a drink of water.
The palace eunuchs all knew that if someone received such a beating, they would basically be barred from following the prince.
Looking at the dilapidated surroundings, Hu Zhouquan felt utterly hopeless.
If he had known that when the Seventh Prince wanted to climb the tree, he would have knelt down and howled but held onto the Seventh Prince's legs to stop him from climbing!
Now...
We can only wait to die here...
Hu Zhouquan finally understood what his master had said.
In the palace, a eunuch's life was the least valuable.
Palace maids could at least wait until the day they were released from the palace, but eunuchs, once they entered, meant certain death within its walls...
Hu Zhouquan felt that his life was coming to an end.
He's only eighteen years old, and he likes to go outside the palace with the Seventh Prince.
I enjoy observing everything happening outside the palace...
"Hu Zhouquan! Are you awake?"
Hu Zhouquan was still in a daze when he seemed to hear the familiar voice of the Seventh Prince.
He's probably dreaming!
Hu Zhouquan sighed as he lay there.
How could it be the Seventh Prince! This is the lowest-ranking palace, where even the lowest-ranking eunuchs live. It's been in disrepair for years, and it leaks everywhere. How could the Seventh Prince be here?
Besides, isn't it normal for eunuchs to be beaten? Do you expect any master to always remember you?
He was thinking of closing his eyes and sleeping a little longer.
Since my lower body is still sore and numb, I should be able to sleep for a while!
"Hey, Hu Zhouquan, are you asleep?" The Seventh Prince nudged Hu Zhouquan's shoulder.
It was only then that Hu Zhouquan realized what was happening. He turned his head with difficulty and saw the Seventh Prince's worried face.
He was followed by two eunuchs who originally lived there.
He was startled and instinctively reached down to greet the Seventh Prince.
But this movement aggravated the area that had been hit with the paddle, and the area that was already numb with pain experienced another excruciating pain.
Seeing that Hu Zhouquan was in so much pain that cold sweat was pouring down his forehead, the Seventh Prince quickly patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't move! Lie down and rest to recover."
Get well soon and come back soon. I feel a little uneasy without you by my side.
Upon hearing the Seventh Prince's words, Hu Zhouquan suddenly began to shed tears.
"Your Highness, you...you still want me to go back!"
"Why not? What? Have you found someone else?" the Seventh Prince asked with a smile.
Hu Zhouquan quickly shook his head, wiping away tears as he did so.
Master is right, I should take good care of myself and recover properly.
Once you've recovered from your injury, you can go back to doing whatever you normally do...
"Your Highness, what brings you here? Are you being followed? This place is remote; you should go back soon!"
Has His Majesty punished you? It's all my fault for not taking good care of you.
Hu Zhouquan rambled on and on.
The seventh prince felt a little sad after hearing this. He looked around at his surroundings and felt even more upset.
He knew what people in the palace were like; it was in their nature to fawn over the powerful and bully the weak...
Even an unfavored master is treated coldly, let alone a eunuch...
Thinking of this, the Seventh Prince took out a few gold ingots from his purse and tossed them to the two cleaning eunuchs behind him.
"You two go out first. I have something to discuss with Hu Zhouquan."
Upon seeing this, the two eunuchs quickly bowed and retreated.
Once only the two of them were left in the room, the Seventh Prince looked at Hu Zhouquan and spoke.
I'm so sorry!
Hu Zhouquan...
"Your Highness, what did you say? This... Why are you saying this to your servant!"
"This servant truly cannot accept this..." Hu Zhouquan anxiously tried to struggle to his feet and kowtow to the Seventh Prince.
But my lower body felt like it was broken; I couldn't move it.
The Seventh Prince is the master, and a favored one at that. Let alone a eunuch, even the sons of noble families would be punished because of the prince.
What merit or ability did he possess to deserve those three words from the Seventh Prince?
"Your Highness, you are making this servant feel ashamed."
"Your servant..." Hu Zhouquan's face was covered in tears; he truly didn't know what to say.
"Alright, the fact that you still have the energy to cry means you're in good spirits."
Don't worry, I asked the eunuchs who carried out the execution, and they said they were careful when they hit him. It looks scary, but it's just a superficial injury that will heal in about half a month.
My aunt gave me two bottles of medicine. This bottle contains pills for internal use, one pill a day, taken with warm water before bedtime.
There is also a bottle for external application. Apply a small amount of powder to the wound twice a day.
I went to the Imperial Hospital and they said to avoid strenuous activity for a while.
The seventh prince placed the two bottles of medicine by the bedside as he spoke.
Looking at the two porcelain vases, Hu Zhouquan lay on the bed and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Alright, stop crying. You're older than me! I've stopped crying now, why are you still crying?"
"If you keep doing this, don't ever come back to my side again," the Seventh Prince laughed.
Hu Zhouquan quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.
"Your Highness, I'm fine, it's just that it hurts."
"Your Highness, please go back! The food here doesn't taste good."
The Seventh Prince nodded, then looked around at the surroundings and sighed.
Everything was old and dilapidated...
"I'll go and talk to Father and Mother later, and ask your master, Eunuch Hu, to stay with me during this time."
Once your injuries have healed, he can return to his mother's place.
"Take good care of yourself, I'm leaving!"
After the Seventh Prince finished speaking, he patted Hu Zhouquan on the shoulder again before leaving the room.
As soon as he stepped out of the room, the two eunuchs waiting outside immediately knelt down.
"Hu Zhouquan will be recuperating here these days. Once he is fully recovered, he will return to my side."
Keep an eye on things. If you need anything, go to the Imperial Household Department.
Just say it was me who said it.
If anyone refuses to give it or makes excuses, just tell me when I come next time.
Here, this is a reward for you. You've worked hard these past few days.
After the seventh prince finished speaking, he took off the purse tied around his waist and threw it to the two eunuchs.
"Your servants obey! We will take good care of Eunuch Hu!" The two eunuchs hurriedly kowtowed.
The seventh prince didn't say anything and walked away with his hands behind his back.
After he left, the two eunuchs opened the purse and were so frightened they almost screamed.
Inside were eight gold ingots, four round and full pearls, and two fifty-tael silver notes...
"Young Master Hu, are you thirsty? I'll get you some water right away."
"Young Master Hu, I will apply the medicine for you shortly."
"What would you like to eat? We'll fetch it for you from the kitchen."
......
Hu Zhouquan turned his head to one side, not wanting to say a word.
When they were first brought here, these two didn't look like this at all.
The two of them certainly made a lot of sarcastic remarks...
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