My Emperor Father Can Read Minds
Chapter 2

Emperor Wei, feeling deceived, was burning with rage.

Yet, such strange and inexplicable matters could not be revealed to outsiders. Moreover, this mysterious ability was incredibly useful.

Therefore, no matter how furious he was inside, Emperor Wei showed no emotion on his face.

He cast one last glance at the Empress before turning to look at the others kneeling nearby, his gaze sharp and penetrating.

Now, he would listen carefully to what these people were truly thinking!

[Ah, thank heavens! His Majesty is awake. These old bones of mine can finally go rest… I wonder if the servants bought that roast goose for me?]

This was from Imperial Physician Qi.

Good. He always claimed to live simply, eating only plain meals and avoiding meat. Emperor Wei had been so moved by his supposed frugality that he ordered the entire palace to practice austerity for a month. Turns out, it was all a lie!

[Phew—thank goodness His Majesty is fine. I thought I might have to follow him in death… I only just joined the Imperial Medical Bureau. If something had happened, I might not have survived… Being an imperial physician is truly dangerous.]

Ha! What’s wrong with being buried with the Emperor? That would be his honor! Emperor Wei had once thought this man was steady and loyal. But now? Here he was, daring to curse the Emperor in his heart. Such boldness!

[His Majesty actually woke up? Tsk, what now? I just took the deposit from Guard Ling, saying the Emperor was doomed! How am I supposed to explain this to the First Prince?]

Emperor Wei’s eyes widened in shock.

What was that?!

Which traitor said this?!

How dare someone curse him to die? And Guard Ling, the First Prince—what did this mean? Was the First Prince plotting rebellion?

The very thought nearly gave Emperor Wei a heart attack.

He furrowed his brow and glared fiercely at everyone in the hall, trying to match the voice to its owner.

But he wasn’t familiar with the voice. It seemed he had never heard it before. Plus, the sheer number of overlapping thoughts overwhelmed him. Unable to control this sudden ability well, Emperor Wei’s head quickly began to ache.

“Enough!”

He growled, his anger startling everyone in the hall.

Imperial Physician Wang, who had been taking his pulse, instinctively withdrew and bowed low.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

[What happened? Why is His Majesty suddenly furious? Did I take too long with the pulse? Or was I too rough and hurt him?]

The jumble of chaotic thoughts made Emperor Wei even more irritable.

He reached up to massage his aching forehead, but a soft, gentle hand took over.

The Empress sat by his bedside, gently massaging his head as she asked in a soft voice, “Your Majesty, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Imperial Physician Wang did take a long time, but please be patient. The concubines and ministers have been waiting outside for two or three days.”

Reminded of the waiting crowd, Emperor Wei, who had been shaken by his new ability, finally remembered his duties.

He opened his eyes and had his attendants help him sit up.

Leaning against the headboard, Emperor Wei listened to the noisy thoughts surrounding him. He glanced over the people kneeling before him and held back his irritation.

“You all…”

He paused, unable to continue.

Li Cheng, the chief eunuch, stepped forward and carefully asked, “Does Your Majesty have any orders?”

[Why is His Majesty suddenly so angry? Could that lightning strike have been a sign from Heaven? Oh no! I shouldn’t have accepted that gold from Consort Xian yesterday! I hope no one says anything…]

Emperor Wei gave Li Cheng a deep, heavy look.

This man had served him loyally for over twenty years. He had thought Li Cheng was trustworthy, but now it turned out he had accepted bribes from Consort Xian!

Emperor Wei couldn’t bear it any longer. He feared that if he kept listening, he would order executions on the spot.

That wouldn’t be good.

Punishing people without evidence wasn’t the way of a wise ruler. Most of the court would probably think, like the Empress, that he had been struck senseless by lightning.

Suppressing his fury, Emperor Wei darkened his face and waved his hand dismissively.

“All of you, leave. I am fine.”

The noise was unbearable. Even the arguing ministers at court weren’t this loud.

Emperor Wei now understood—people’s outer appearances meant nothing. Their inner thoughts were far more active than he’d imagined.

And they dared to think anything!

He knew his own body best. He wasn’t seriously harmed, just sore from lying down too long. So, despite the protests of the imperial physicians and the Empress, he ordered everyone to leave.

But what he didn’t expect was that as the kneeling attendants retreated, the voices in his head began to fade.

By the time they were near the door, only the Empress’s thoughts remained.

What was going on?

Emperor Wei was startled. He glanced at the doorway, then at the Empress, who still sat beside him, her face full of concern. His thoughts turned, and suddenly he understood.

He could only hear the thoughts of people who were near him!

As an emperor, his first thought was—during morning court, wouldn’t that mean he couldn’t hear the ministers’ thoughts unless they approached him one by one?

Emperor Wei frowned deeply, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, the Empress, sitting beside him, observed his expression and wondered what he was thinking.

[What’s wrong with His Majesty? He’s been acting strange since he woke up. Was his brain really damaged by the lightning?]

The Emperor, whose brain was supposedly damaged by lightning, had fully awakened.

He silently took a breath, turned his head to look at the Empress, and deliberately asked in a dignified tone, “How many days have I been unconscious?”

“Your Majesty has been unconscious for three days. Thanks to the blessings of the heavens, Your Majesty’s imperial body remains unharmed. Otherwise, if you had endured for even one more day, I wouldn’t have known what to do!”

The Empress’s eyes welled with tears, her expression of joy perfectly measured. Though her face was still beautiful despite being unadorned with makeup, anyone with a discerning eye could see that she had been living in deep distress these past few days.

And the reason?

Of course, it was because she was worried about His Majesty!

Anyone unaware of the truth might even think the Empress deeply loved the Emperor, that she was virtuous and considerate.

Emperor Wei watched the Empress “perform” with an unreadable expression, suddenly unwilling to recall how foolish he had been in the past!

Hadn’t he always believed that the Empress was dignified and virtuous, a model for all women in the empire?

But just listen to what he had woken up to!

“Passing away,” “widow,” slandering the Emperor, scheming against the princes.

She truly was proof that one cannot judge a person by their appearance.

Under his gaze, the Empress inexplicably began to feel guilty.

She lowered her head, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, using the motion to shield her expression.

“It is fortunate that Your Majesty is unharmed. I was truly too worried about Your Majesty.”

[What are you looking at! If it weren’t to emphasize my exhaustion, do you think I’d be willing to come here bare-faced? Don’t tell me you think I look ugly now?!]

Emperor Wei: ……