Chapter 9: A Parasite.

"Your Highness!Your Highness!" Han Shuo anxiously shook the unconscious Feng Yuan.

Near the bed there were stains of blood on the floor probably mouthfuls of blood Feng Yuan spat the previous night. Han Shuo blamed himself for not being there when Feng Yuan needed him the most.

Feng Yuan's condition had deteriorated that Master Chen himself came to examine Feng Yuan. Feng Yuan had fallen into a coma and Master Chen suggested him to be give daily injections for seven days. Master Chen injected Feng Yuan on the first day and instructed Han Shuo to inject him for the remaining days. After a week Feng Yuan finally opened his eyes.

"You're finally awake,"Han Shuo uttered in delight.

"How many days have I been unconscious?"

"Seven."

"Did your Shifu come?"

"Yeah on the morning you became unconscious."

"Then why are you still sad now that your Shifu came?"

"Because...because he said you'll live for approximately one year,"Han Shuo said in a rueful tone.

"I'm the one who will die why are you sad instead? Or that's how a parasite feels when the host is about to die?"

"I'm not a parasite. The relationship we have between us is symbiotic."

Feng Yuan snorted ,"Symbiotic? How is it symbiotic when one benefits more than the other. If I didn't pay you for being my doctor only then would our relationship be symbiotic."

"But you do have a lot of money so you shouldn't mind giving some to me. I always heard from my sect brothers when they snuck out of the sect that you are very rich and you used to throw money on women," Han Shuo argued.

"Since you want my money that much then I'll ensure before I die you will be the one to inherit all my possessions. But don't poison me just to get the inheritance otherwise I will haunt you for life."

"I will never poison you,"Han Shuo swore.

"Where is my wheelchair?"Feng Yuan asked his eyes scanning around the room.

"My Shifu said you shouldn't use it because the poison will continue seeping into your bones if you keep moving around so I hid the wheelchair."

"Where did you hide it?"

"You expect me to tell you?"

That afternoon Han Shuo went to the kitchen to get Feng Yuan his lunch now that he had regained his consciousness. When he reached the kitchen the palace maids were already there,some teasing him. Han Shuo was a shy person so he normally found it hard to defend himself in front of the palace maids.

"You girls how can you bear to bully such a cute boy?"Jiang Ruonan ,the head of kitchen maids asked smiling at Han Shuo benignly.

"Sister Ruonan ,do you like him?"one of the palace maids asked.

"Not really. We are from the same tribe our antecedents said it's not appropriate for us to marry each other furthermore Shuo Shuo here is younger than me so he's likey younger brother."

'Shuo Shuo!'Han Shuo's expression darkened when he heard the new nickname he had been given. Why were all the nicknames given to him so ridiculous?

"Sister Ruonan likes his Highness the Crown Prince,"another palace maid commented.

"Is he still the Crown Prince?"Another palace maid whispered.

"You can't say that ,you'll be thrown out of the palace."

"I don't like him. Before my parents died they betrothed me to my childhood friend but some years back he was killed in the forest when he went out to hunt. I only loved him and will continue loving only him even in death,"Jiang Ruonan spoke wistfully tears rolling down her beautiful cheeks.

"Sister Ruonan this is the first time I've heard you talk about your family. How can a beautiful girl like you have such a sad story?"one of the palace maids said sympathetically.

Han Shuo didn't know how to act in such a situation. Jiang Ruonan wiped her tears , grabbed the tray and helped Han Shuo carry it.

"Sister Ruonan actually you don't have to help me carry it, I can carry it myself."

"It's okay I'm happy to help you,"Jiang Ruonan smiled.

"His Highness was right to say I'm a parasite. I can't actually defend myself. Back at my sect I relied on my master and my sect brothers and now here I am at the palace depending on you and His Highness."

"Don't belittle yourself. Rely on people while you have a chance to. You can come to me if those girls bully you again,"Jiang Ruonan handed over the tray to Han Shuo.

"Thank you Sister Ruonan,"Han Shuo bowed thankfully and left.