Shen Hechuan appeared calm, but his eyes held a hint of cunning, and he winked at Gu Jingchun without making a sound.

Let's go back one hour.

Upon hearing the ministers' words, Shen Hechuan couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"So, my dear ministers, you mean to say that you think this matter might have been orchestrated by Gu Jingchun so that she could rightfully become Empress?"

Jiang Chongfan and Situ Qinghe immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty dares not, Your Majesty is merely guessing."

Shen Hechuan continued speaking.

"Do you know that Gu Jingchun didn't want to marry me before? It was I who kept begging her to become my empress?"

"Do you think it's necessary for her to put on this show given the current situation?"

Situ Qinghe raised his head.

"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but most women in this world are hypocritical and cunning."

This is the position of Empress; what woman would refuse it? She's probably just feigning weakness to advance; Your Majesty shouldn't believe her."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hechuan burst out laughing.

"Yeah?"

"This is the first time I've heard such a statement. It's truly an eye-opener!"

"I just don't know why Minister Situ has been targeting Gu Jingchun and making things difficult for her?"

Situ Qinghe was greatly surprised upon hearing this.

"Your Majesty, please understand. I absolutely did not intend to target Miss Gu. I was merely stating the facts to prevent Your Majesty from being misled by treacherous people!"

"Your Majesty, honest advice is hard to swallow. You must think twice before you act!"

"Do you really intend to attribute all your achievements and your brilliance to a woman?"

At this point, Shen Hechuan could no longer hold back and shouted angrily.

"absurd!"

"So what if she's a woman?"

"Since I am the emperor, the ruler of these millions of people, then everything I do must be for the sake of the millions of people of Dacheng."

"Since Gu Jingchun is now considered a goddess by the people, I will immediately make her empress, so that the people can see hope and the future of our Great Cheng."

"What's wrong with that?"

"How could one make baseless accusations against a woman based on mere reputation and achievements!"

"Besides, what if she's a woman?"

"As long as it's good for our Great Qi, I'm willing to give the throne to her directly."

Instead of acting out of self-interest and making unfounded assumptions and attacks against others without distinguishing right from wrong.

Shen Hechuan sneered as he spoke.

"Lord Situ, I think you're going downhill as the Censor-in-Chief. If you can't do it well, there will naturally be someone else who can. You should go back and think about it carefully."

You must have a clear understanding of what you should and shouldn't do!

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Jiang Chongfan's matter again.

"Uncle, you have just returned to Tiandu and may not be aware of some things. You should be more cautious in the future and not be swayed by those with ulterior motives, so as not to make the wrong decisions."

After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, both of their faces turned completely pale.

Jiang Chongfan immediately knelt down and admitted his mistake.

Shen Hechuan then turned his gaze to Old Master Wang.

"Grand Tutor, I have decided to hold the grand wedding and the coronation ceremony for the Empress next month!"

"Ministry of Rites, make preparations as soon as possible."

"Fortunately, the Ministry of Rites started preparations several months in advance, so there is still time. However, we will still need you to maneuver among the officials."

When Grand Tutor Wang heard what Shen Hechuan had just said, he was full of praise. Now, his face was full of pride, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

"Of course, Your Majesty is wise and understanding, which is a blessing for the people of Dacheng. In the future, our Daqi will surely prosper and flourish."

After Grand Tutor Wang finished speaking, Shen Hechuan's gaze finally fell on the Minister of Rites.

"Is it the Ministry of Rites?"

The Minister of Rites, who had rushed over, shuddered upon hearing the somewhat threatening voice and seeing Shen Hechuan's gloomy face. He immediately agreed.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will make preparations as soon as possible."

******

In Shen Hechuan's bedroom.

Gu Jingchun was waiting here.

She also took out the imperial edict she had just received.

She opened the imperial edict and read it over and over again before she finally believed that its contents were true.

Today's events are too strange; it's obvious that someone deliberately orchestrated them, and the most important reason is likely to sow discord between the two.

After all, no emperor can tolerate those around him coveting his throne.

Therefore, Gu Jingchun did feel a moment of panic.

Although she trusted Shen Hechuan, she dared not gamble on an emperor's control over power.

However, she did not expect that Shen Hechuan would take advantage of this opportunity to bring forward the wedding so gracefully.

As Gu Jingchun was thinking, the door was pushed open and Shen Hechuan walked in.

Gu Jingchun also stood up, and as soon as he stood still, he was embraced by Shen Hechuan.

"You must have been terrified!"

Shen Hechuan, holding Gu Jingchun, spoke.

Gu Jingchun looked up and stared straight at Shen Hechuan's face.

"How could you issue an imperial edict so directly? Don't you suspect that I did this?"

"No doubt."

Shen Hechuan spoke firmly, his gaze fixed on her face, each word carrying a promise.

"No matter what, I will never doubt you."

Gu Jingchun nodded.

"So what's your opinion on this matter?"

Shen Hechuan pulled Gu Jingchun onto his lap before speaking.

"Jingchun, have you ever wondered why some people among the common people are so certain that this is a phoenix, when neither of us has ever seen this bird before?"

Gu Jingchun: "You mean..."

Shen Hechuan nodded.

"I think someone deliberately created this illusion."

Gu Jingchun nodded in agreement.

"This seems to be praising me, giving me the myth of being chosen by God."

I want the people to be proud of me, and for the officials to have no reason to refuse me anymore.

But they've praised me too highly.

As Gu Jingchun spoke, he looked up at Shen Hechuan.

“Hechuan, in the past, the descent of such a divine bird was a prophecy of future peace, and it was an honor that only emperors could receive.”

After Gu Jingchun finished speaking, he kept watching Shen Hechuan's reaction.

Regardless of her relationship with Shen Hechuan, Shen Hechuan is an emperor!

No emperor can tolerate any threat in his bedchamber.

Shen Hechuan chuckled softly.

"So what?"

He stepped forward and took Gu Jingchun's hand, his eyes full of tenderness and determination, gently soothing Gu Jingchun's unease.

"I don't care who the other person is?"

"However, his current move is exactly what I wanted."

"Now that there is talk of a goddess descending to earth, I can take this opportunity to propose an early marriage, so that the court will naturally have no reason to object."

"But……"