62 Imperial Secrets - Part 1

When Ning Fu met his subordinate, without wasting any time he directly ordered him to get him all the information he could get his hands upon regarding The Son of Heaven's daily schedule.

The general was somewhat stunned by this request but then internalized that which man didn't want to leave a long-lasting mark on this earth? Which man doesn't wish to rule over all under heavens?

With just those few words from The Unit Commander, the general understood everything. Though the general felt happy about his future prospects, he still felt a pang of guilt for doing this to His Majesty.

His Majesty had rewarded all the military personnel very generously when they had returned from the border and the military officials were given their due respect.

They were even given an equal opportunity like the civil officials of court to present their concerns to the monarch.

His Majesty never sidelined them and listened to the problems plaguing their garrisons and their troopers etc and always helped them to ally their fears.

However, how could he and the rest of The Devil Snare Army go against their Unit Commander?

Moreover, their Unit Commander was a reasonable man and if he hadn't been backed into a corner, he wouldn't have taken such a drastic step. Sighing to himself, the general morosely nodded his head.

Looking at his subordinate's face, Nung Fu realised that he had been misunderstood and that both of their thoughts were running in opposite directions. He felt so enraged that he was ready to burst his veins.

This incident also reminded him of when the tables had been turned on him and he was the one casting doubts at another's intentions.

Ning Fu questioned himself that if he was angered to the point of killing his subordinate, how bad must it have been for the monarch.

Immediately and without thinking, The Unit Commander lifted his leg and kicked the general to the floor.

He growled, "Stop your irrelevant thoughts right this instance. Desist all those nonsensical ideas."

The general felt extremely wronged.

He felt indignant in his heart.

He thought The Unit Commander was the one ordering me to look into His Majesty's matters. He himself is the one throwing a pebble into still waters and once it forms ripples, he was blaming the pebble for the disturbance.

Humph! Who are you enacting this loyal act for?

At the very least, we are brothers-in-arms and how would I not know how black-bellied you are?

Do you wish to put on a play in front of me?

Then continue doing that...

Later on, after you have the country in your grasp, see if I don't remind you of this faithful puppy dog act of yours. I'll see how you get out of it and deny it at that time.

Ning Fu didn't want to explain himself to the general as of now so he let him be delusional. Anyways, it wouldn't harm him in the least as long as his subordinate kept his thoughts to himself and it had the added benefit that the other person would be even more diligent regarding his task.

Still, Ning Fu cautioned, "Alright, don't overthink things. Just get me the information I want and remember to safeguard your own neck. Send only those people to gather information who won't divulge information and implicate others if they get caught."

The Unit Commander still wanted to remind his subordinate to be extremely cautious. However, since Ning Fu wasn't good with words, he didn't speak any further.

He was worried that the general might start to think that he didn't believe in his capabilities.

On the other hand, what was the general thinking?

The general was even more convinced in his heart that The Unit Commander was planning on snatching the supreme seat of power for himself.

He felt even more disgruntled in his heart.

The hypocritical, black-hearted Unit Commander was simply too much.

The general vowed to himself that he will find all the details regarding His Majesty's present schedule.

He'll prove to The Unit Commander that he was capable enough and worthy enough to execute all his future plans in utmost secrecy.

This was his chance to bask in the glory and he wouldn't fail it.

On Monday, just as Ning Fu was about to enter The Imperial Study Complex, he spied The Empress Dowager coming to meet His Majesty. It was absolutely inadvisable for outside males to meet the women inside The Imperial Palace.

Hence, Ning Fu slowed his steps and for the first time since he had entered The Imperial Capital, activated his internal force and suppressed his movements and even slowed his breathing.

When he was using internal force, only a handful of people in the whole dynasty could spot him and none of them was inside The Imperial Capital thus, he didn't feel worried when he used his martial arts in The Imperial Complex to hide.

This also had the additional effect of sharpening his eyesight and hearing which helped him hear about what was being said.

He heard The Empress Dowager call and order The Shadow Guards to stay ten paces away from The Imperial Study until she had finished her talk with His Majesty and entered the study along with someone who looked like a physician.

Ning Fu wondered if His Majesty was hurt somewhere or was sick? He pricked his ears to listen to the conversation going on within. He knew he shouldn't be doing this and it was against the set regulations but he couldn't help himself.

His Majesty ignored him to such an extent that it had lit Ning Fu's competitive nature and he wanted to know everything about the monarch.

It was human nature. The more a person felt neglected by someone, the more they want to grasp that person in the palm of their hands.

What he heard next left was so out of the left field that for hours later Ning Fu didn't even know how to react to it.

A person might question: what earth-shaking secrets had been disclosed for The Unit Commander to behave so dramatically?

The answer is:

"Your Majesty, I have brought this Imperial Physician with me. He is very discreet and is trustworthy. Additionally, his medical knowledge is profound. How about...how about we let him take a look at Your Majesty?" The Empress Dowager spoke haltingly. She didn't want to reopen her child's wound and was also worried that he might take offence at her.

Su Li thought that the lady had brought an Imperial Physician to take a look at her out the lady's worry for her child but was just too shy to voice her concern.

His Majesty looked at The Empress Dowager with an unblinking gaze for a few seconds and just as the physician was about to drop on his knees due to fear, the monarch acquiesced to the request.

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.