Great Wei Imperial Palace, Emperor’s Sleeping Quarters
The Emperor’s sleeping quarters were usually solemn and quiet, but today, the area outside the quarters was unusually lively.
Imperial consorts, princes, princesses, and ministers had all gathered outside, discussing one thing—
—whether His Majesty, the Emperor, who had been struck by lightning, was safe and sound!
Yes, just the day before, during a gloomy, rainy day, a sudden bolt of lightning from nowhere had struck Emperor Wei as he was walking back to his quarters after court.
Being struck by lightning was an ominous event, especially for the imperial family.
Lightning was seen as a form of divine punishment. In the eyes of many, only those who had committed grievous, heinous acts would invoke such heavenly wrath.
For an emperor to be struck by lightning was symbolically seen as the heavens expressing dissatisfaction.
Such an incident would be tightly concealed by the imperial family, but unfortunately, the timing of the lightning strike could not have been worse.
Yet, regardless of how shocking the incident, the expressions of those waiting outside the sleeping quarters wore the same expressions.
Worry, anxiety, fear… all displaying their deep concern for the Emperor’s health.
While many waited outside, the situation inside the quarters was no different.
On the golden dragon bed lay Emperor Wei, unconscious and unmoving.
A noblewoman in elaborate palace attire sat on a nearby stool. Her brows were furrowed in deep concern. Her gaze alternated between Emperor and the elderly Imperial Physician taking his pulse.
Behind her, several imperial physicians and palace attendants knelt quietly.
After waiting nearly the time it took to burn one stick of incense, and still receiving no response, the noblewoman couldn’t help but urge the physician..
“Imperial Physician Wang, how is His Majesty? You are the most skilled physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau. You must have some conclusion by now!”
At her words, Imperial Physician Wang raised his head. Though his expression was not fearful, it was filled with confusion.
He knelt respectfully and said, “Please calm your anger, Your Majesty the Empress. His Majesty’s pulse is steady and there is nothing wrong with his body.”
“Nothing wrong?”
The Empress frowned, glancing at the unconscious Emperor with confusion. “If there are no serious injuries, why hasn’t the Emperor woke up? This is the third day already. Could it be…”
Was his brain damaged by the lightning?
The Empress didn’t want to think this way, but in all of history, as far as she knew, her husband was the first Emperor in history to be struck by lightning!
And being the first case, uncertainty was inevitable. No matter how skilled Imperial Physician Wang was, he probably had no experience with such a situation.
Imperial Physician Wang also frowned deeply, staring at the floor in confusion.
From the pulse, the Emperor’s condition was normal—calm and steady, neither floating nor sinking, neither rapid nor slow, a perfectly healthy pulse. It is clearly the normal pulse of a healthy person. There is nothing wrong with it at all.
But then, why wouldn’t the Emperor wake up?
Was it just that he was too tired?
[…But surely not tired enough to sleep for this long…]
[Could his mind really have been damaged by the lightning? Tch! What should I do? If the Emperor passes away, I don’t know if I can still be the empress dowager safely……]
[Ah, these old bones of mine…]
[My knees hurt so badly, I can even hear my bones cracking… When will the Empress let us leave…]
Emperor Wei felt as though he had been in a deep sleep, so deep that his body felt sore.
He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were unbearably heavy.
In his semi-conscious state, he heard many voices.
Some were familiar, some were not, but they all sounded brazen and disrespectful to him!
People were actually arguing loudly in his sleeping quarters?
Especially the Empress, who was even talking about his death!
He could recognize her voice even with his eyes closed!
Insolent! Utterly insolent! How dare she speak such words about him!
Furious, Emperor Wei was jolted awake by his anger.
He suddenly opened his eyes and slammed his palm down onto the bed.
“Impudence!”
The voice that should have been full of authority was weak from lying in bed too long.
But that wasn’t the most important part.
The important thing was—His Majesty had woken up!
The Emperor who had been unconscious for three days had finally awakened!
No one paid attention to his words.
The Empress was the first to react. She stood and rushed to the bedside, crying tears of joy.
“Your Majesty, you’ve finally woken up! Thank heavens, thank heavens! Imperial Physician Wang, quickly check His Majesty’s condition!”
[Phew—what a relief, I was so scared! Thank goodness I won’t be widowed… though I really should have a child of my own. But giving birth is too painful. I’ll have to see which prince is most promising…]
Emperor Wei stared intently at the Empress—specifically at her mouth, his heart filled with confusion. He didn’t even dwell on her earlier disrespectful words.
Was it really the Empress speaking just now?
But why hadn’t he seen her mouth move?
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress!”
Imperial Physician Wang breathed a huge sigh of relief and knelt again to take the Emperor’s pulse.
[Calm, steady, smooth, neither too strong nor too weak, neither floating nor deep… yes, the pulse is healthy, energetic, and stable, with vigorous internal functions…]
Suddenly, Emperor Wei heard Imperial Physician Wang’s voice again.
His gaze flickered slightly, and he looked calmly at physician Wang, who was focused on taking his pulse and silent.
The voice he heard was rambling and anxious—completely unlike the composed and calm image Wang usually presented.
[Hmm? Why is His Majesty looking at me like that? Is he dissatisfied? Surely not… His Majesty’s body is fine, and I haven’t done anything lately…]
Staring at the silent physician, Emperor Wei’s pupils widened and then shrank. The shock in his heart slowly deepened.
He seemed to understand his current situation.
In ancient times, there was a concept called “Art of Mind-Reading.” Having read extensively in his youth, he knew that some people were skilled at understanding and manipulating others, adept at persuading, guiding, controlling, and influencing people—almost as if they could see through others’ hearts.
The art of imperial strategy was one such method.
But his current situation was particularly extraordinary.
After all, he could truly see through people’s hearts.
Emperor Wei gave Imperial Physician Wang a deep look, then turned his head to listen to the thoughts of others.
The Empress stood nearby, her face filled with concern. On the surface, her gaze was fixed on him, but in her heart, she was already calculating which prince would be most suitable.
[The First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Princes all have mothers—too complicated. The Third Prince is already twenty-three this year, too old to be easily influenced. The Sixth Prince is dull-witted, not an option. The Eighth Prince? Passable, I suppose. The Ninth Prince… forget it, His Majesty probably barely remembers that son.]
Emperor Wei: …
Were his sons really this cheap? Reduced to being picked over like this by the Empress?!
Emperor Wei gave the Empress a meaningful glance.
So, this Empress, always known for her virtue and composure, had always thought of him and his sons this way in her heart…
Heh!