62 Imperial Secrets - Part 1 (2/2)

Meanwhile, Ning Fu had almost bitten through his nails, he was so worried listening to The Empress Dowager's words.

Was His Majesty critically ill?

Was it some illness that couldn't be disclosed?

Otherwise, why would that mama-bear be so cautious to even have the shadow guards leave their posts and speak so hesitatingly to her child? Even His Majesty had replied after a short tense silence.

What did all this mean?

Meanwhile, the physician took the emperor's pulse very seriously. A few minutes later he switched to the other hand. The fear and concern in The Empress Dowager and Ning Fu's heart increased hypothetically with each passing second.

The Imperial Physician bowed to both the exalted personages and with a sigh said, ”Your Majesty, there isn't any problem with your body. You are in your optimum health physically.”

Su Li thought that that was the end of the physician's visit. On the other hand, The Empress Dowager grew even more worried and upset.

Ah! What was wrong with her child?

She was happy that there wasn't a physical problem that renders him incapable of continuing their line but then why had he requested her with such a grave and sad face to postpone his marriage?

Ah! She couldn't understand.

What was she not comprehending?

At the end of the day, what was the problem with her son?

Ning Fu also gave a sigh of relief once he heard the physician's diagnosis. However, his relief was short-lived.

The Empress Dowager turned towards the physician and questioned, ”If there is no issue with His Majesty's body, do you mean to say it could be something else?”

The physician squirmed at his spot and even Su Li wondered what had happened to the lady?

Other mothers would be happy that their child was fit and fine and she was saddled with someone who was nitpicking that she was in the pink if her health?

What the!

Meanwhile, the physician was lamenting his fate. He had thought that checking up on His Majesty would increase his prestige in The Imperial Medical Hall but here he was between a rock and a hard place.

Still, he gathered the tatters of his diminishing courage and spoke with a tremble in his voice, ”It seems the problem plaguing His Majesty is physiological.”

All three of them - Su Li, The Empress Dowager and Ning Fu were shocked by the physician's non-sequitur.

What and what?

What was this person jabbering on about?

The Empress Dowager was even more fretful.

She questioned, ”What do you mean that the problem is physiological? Don't beat around the bush and come straight to the point.”

The Imperial Physician didn't dare look at His Majesty any longer and replied, ”It could be that His Majesty is working endlessly without proper rest which could be affecting his health or he is worried about things and doesn't have anyone to talk and share his burdens with but...”

He halted his words here, fearful of continuing any further.

Su Li was still puzzled as to what was going on? She wondered if her comprehending abilities had decreased or these people were talking nonsense.

The Empress Dowager was irked by this physician. She had thought that since he didn't have much backbone, he wouldn't dare to disclose what was discussed inside to anybody else. It was only now that she realised that it also had an inadvertent effect that the person wouldn't even complete his sentences in one go.

The Unit Commander was so incensed that he just wanted to choke that physician. What was so worrisome that he couldn't just spit it out? What was all this dithering about?

Even Su Li was losing her patience so she turned her glare towards the physician to make him hurry and end whatever this act was being played. She didn't want any part in it when she didn't even know what the subject of the play was.

The physician saw His Majesty's angry and twisted expression and opened his mouth with great difficulty and asked, ”This lowly one begs for forgiveness if the question offends Your Excellency but is it that you have lost or been separated from someone who was very close to you? It seems Your Majesty has someone in your heart and you have been separated from them in a very violent manner. From your pulse, this small one can detect that Your Majesty's heart is broken and still bleeding.”

Her child...her sweet son...had already loved and lost?

The Empress Dowager had never considered that the reason her child refused to take in someone into his household was that he still wasn't over the person he had cherished and lost.

A strange sort of silence seemed to have settled in the study but The Empress Dowager could clearly see that His Majesty had lost all colour in his face and his hands were trembling slightly.

This proved that the physician's diagnosis was right.

Before she could say something, His Majesty gathered his clothes around him as if to ward off an imaginary chill and with a sombre look turned towards the physician and ordered, ”Leave.”

This one word said in such a severe tone with a slight tremble underneath it was confirmation enough for everyone present.

Ning Fu felt his heart skip a beat with this absolute confirmation.

His Majesty had given his heart to someone?

The Empress Dowager didn't know how to comfort her child.Before she could do more than open her mouth, His Majesty stood up from his chair and turned his back towards her.

With a rare seriousness, he said, ”Queen mother, Zhen is greatly indebted to you for worrying so much about Zhen's affairs. However, Zhen doesn't want to talk about this.”

Su Li really wanted to be left alone with her sorrows. Nevertheless, she couldn't harden her heart to ask an aged lady who cared for her to leave the room.

”My child give it some time. Time heals all wounds. I won't say anything much except that maybe in a few years you will be able to open your heart to someone else, ” Empress Dowager spoke in a soft, soothing voice.

The Empress Dowager was afraid this matter would become a block in her child's heart.