12
Your Wife Doesn’t Like You for a Reason
Physician Xue was puzzled, unable to comprehend why Xiao Heng had suddenly stopped him. Chest pain was undoubtedly related to the wound.
After the Crown Prince returned to the palace, several physicians from the Imperial Hospital had been summoned. Everyone understood that the Crown Prince’s injuries were extremely severe, and the slightest mishap could be life-threatening.
In other words, had it not been for the Crown Prince’s inherently strong constitution, what returned might have been a corpse rather than someone feigning death.
“What is the matter, Your Highness the Crown Prince?” Physician Xue asked directly.
Xiao Heng’s gaze fell upon Lin Qingran. Though he didn’t speak, everyone present understood his meaning.
Lin Qingran belatedly noticed that several pairs of eyes were fixed on her. Connecting this with the need to examine Xiao Heng’s wound, she immediately grasped what he meant, barely suppressing the urge to roll her eyes.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, and Crown Prince gege, Ranran will wait outside.”
【It’s just a chest injury, what’s the big deal? This dog man is so stingy, afraid I’ll see it.】
【Hmph, I don’t even care. There’s nothing worth looking at anyway. He must be insecure about his body.】
Xiao Heng felt somewhat speechless. He truly wasn’t accustomed to being watched like this, especially by Lin Qingran.
Previously, Lin Qingran had tried every means to get close to him, even attempting to sneak in to watch him change clothes. He had genuinely developed some apprehension about it.
Empress Qi glanced at Xiao Heng, likely thinking he needn’t be so concerned about propriety between men and women, especially since the two would be married soon.
Besides, there was no harm in looking at his chest.
However, since Xiao Heng seemed to mind, Empress Qi refrained from commenting.
Only after Lin Qingran had stepped out did Xiao Heng release Physician Xue’s hand, allowing him to examine the wound.
Physician Xue inspected it meticulously, fearful that Xiao Heng’s injury might have worsened. After a thorough examination, he finally relaxed.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince’s injury is severe, and the lack of proper rest during the journey back to the capital has caused it to deteriorate further. However, there is no need to worry. This subject has carefully examined it, and the injury is now under control. Occasional pain is normal,” Physician Xue explained.
Hearing this, Empress Qi breathed a sigh of relief. The tension in her body eased, but suddenly her vision darkened, though she did not faint.
“Be careful, Mother,” Xiao Heng called out.
At the same time, Emperor Kangyuan’s hand moved to Empress Qi’s side, as if intending to support her.
However, Empress Qi did not notice Emperor Kangyuan’s gesture. Instead, she walked over to Xiao Heng and sat on the stool beside the bed.
“You foolish child, you must never act so recklessly again. You are my only child. If anything were to happen to you, what would I do?” Empress Qi spoke, her face pale.
Hearing the commotion, Lin Qingran stepped back inside. She observed Empress Qi’s complexion, feeling concerned.
【Her Highness looks very pale. Should I find an excuse to ask Physician Xue to check her pulse?】
【But my position doesn’t seem suitable for saying such things. I feel like if I say anything, that dog man might notice something unusual. This great villain is incredibly sharp.】
【But I can’t just ignore Her Highness. She is truly such a gentle person.】
Xiao Heng’s eyes flickered slightly. The reason he had claimed to have chest pain was actually to summon an imperial physician for examination, and then conveniently have the physician check his mother’s condition to confirm whether she was truly pregnant as Lin Qingran had suggested.
However, with Emperor Kangyuan now present, Xiao Heng felt somewhat hesitant.
Rome wasn’t built in a day – the issues between Emperor Kangyuan and Empress Qi were clearly not something that could be resolved with just a few words.
What they needed most was time to unravel their misunderstandings.
At this moment, Xiao Heng was thinking of using this opportunity to verify the truth in Lin Qingran’s words. If there were no issues, perhaps he could try some special methods to resolve the problems between his parents.
“Mother, your complexion doesn’t look well either. Why not let Physician Xue take your pulse as well?” Xiao Heng spoke softly.
Empress Qi was momentarily stunned. She usually didn’t pay much attention to her health. Since giving birth to Xiao Heng, her constitution hadn’t been particularly strong, so she had become somewhat careless about it.
Hearing Xiao Heng’s words, she instinctively didn’t want the imperial physician to examine her, mainly because Emperor Kangyuan was present.
“There’s no need for that. I was just a bit frightened, it’s nothing serious,” Empress Qi refused.
[Oh? This dog man is quite clever. I don’t need to find excuses to have Her Majesty examined now. I just wonder if he can persuade her to agree. Her Majesty doesn’t seem to care much about her health.]
[The pregnancy should be detectable by now. If Physician Xue can’t even determine that, he might as well resign and return to his hometown. If the pregnancy is confirmed, Her Majesty will surely be more careful, and then the child will be safe.]
The more Lin Qingran thought about it, the more excited she became. If she weren’t afraid of being noticed and kept her head lowered, she would have cheered with joy by now.
A faint smile tugged at Xiao Heng’s lips. “Mother worries about your son, and your son naturally worries about mother as well. I beg you to let Physician Xue examine you.”
Though Xiao Heng spoke softly, Empress Qi, being his mother, understood her son well. His expression told her he was quite determined about this.
Just then, Emperor Kangyuan also spoke.
“Since the Crown Prince is so concerned, the Empress should comply with his wishes and get properly examined. We cannot have people thinking that the Emperor of a nation would prevent his Empress from receiving medical care.” Emperor Kangyuan turned his face away, muttering under his breath, “Your complexion is already poor, yet you avoid treatment. You won’t even allow routine pulse checks on ordinary days. I truly don’t know what you’re thinking.”
Seeing Empress Qi’s slight frown, Lin Qingran knew Emperor Kangyuan’s words had displeased her.
“Your Majesty, see how worried Crown Prince gege is about you. Ranran is worried too. Please let the physician examine you. You can’t see it yourself, but your complexion really doesn’t look well. Ranran is truly concerned.” Lin Qingran stepped forward and spoke, her expression full of sincerity.
[Why does this big pig’s trotter have to have such a mouth? His words are so unpleasant, no wonder his wife doesn’t want to talk to him. Treating his wife with the same attitude he uses in court – serves him right that his wife keeps her distance from him.]
Xiao Heng pressed his lips together, suppressing the smile that threatened to curve his lips upward.
Empress Qi’s previously troubled expression gradually softened. She hadn’t felt particularly strongly before, but ever since learning of Lin Qingran’s conduct in Xiao Heng’s ancestral hall, her affection for the girl had grown increasingly profound.
“Very well, we shall do as Ranran suggests.”
Imperial Physician Xue promptly stepped forward, placing a silk handkerchief over Empress Qi’s wrist before resting his hand upon it to take her pulse.
After a considerable while, Physician Xue’s countenance grew increasingly grave.
Emperor Kangyuan’s hands, clasped behind his back, tightened imperceptibly, though his face revealed nothing, maintaining an appearance of complete composure.
“How is she?”