Gu Jingchun nodded.

Then he continued, "Do you know who that person is?"

Shen Hechuan looked at Gu Jingchun's expression before tentatively speaking.

"Is he your master?"

Gu Jingchun nodded, then added, "Do you know that he is also the leader of the Guiyuan Sect?"

“The Guiyuan Sect’s members are spread throughout Dacheng, and their numbers now far exceed our imagination. They could incite the people at any time, causing riots and rebellions.”

Shen Hechuan nodded.

"Then do you know what their purpose is, and what they want from me?"

Shen Hechuan sighed, his gaze fixed on Gu Jingchun, gently stroking her hair, his eyes full of doting affection.

"I know all of this, but none of it matters."

Right now, your most important thing is to get some rest. We can talk about everything else later, okay?

Gu Jingchun couldn't sleep at all; she wanted to tell Shen Hechuan everything.

However, Shen Hechuan pulled Gu Jingchun back into the room.

I've pretty much guessed what you're trying to say.

"You should take a nap and rest. We'll talk again when you're awake."

Gu Jingchun wanted to say more, but seeing Shen Hechuan's determined eyes and realizing how exhausted she was, she nodded and slowly closed her eyes.

After Gu Jingchun fell asleep, Shen Hechuan went out.

"Give the order: if anyone reveals even a single word about what happened today, I will hold them accountable."

"Especially the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince, absolutely no information should be leaked."

At this moment, the Empress Dowager had just come out of Gu Jinxi's room when she learned that Shen Hechuan had hurriedly brought Gu Jingchun back to the palace.

She immediately frowned.

"Have you investigated what exactly happened?"

Granny Li nodded repeatedly.

"This old servant heard that Miss Gu encountered an accident while praying for blessings on the mountain outside the city, which is why His Majesty rushed out in a hurry."

The Empress Dowager, however, did not believe it.

She rushed over upon hearing the news during the morning court session this morning.

However, seeing Shen Hechuan's expression at that time, I knew that I couldn't persuade him anyway.

Just then, Tianji arrived in a hurry, which allowed them to stop him and use this as an excuse to stop Shen Hechuan.

At that time, Tianji only said that Gu Jingchun had suddenly left the city.

Shen Hechuan then rushed out in a hurry.

Now, the two of them have actually been brought back to the palace together.

Something must have happened during that time.

"If that's all there is to it, why make such a big fuss?"

Granny Li: "Actually, judging from how nervous His Majesty is about Miss Gu right now, this kind of spectacle is quite possible!"

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly.

"That's just something you're fooling yourself with!"

"That's enough!"

She sighed.

"Since Your Majesty does not want me to know, then I will simply pretend I do not know!"

"He will tell you when the time is right."

"But... are those ministers behaving themselves?"

Granny Li shook her head.

"Although during the morning court session today, they were all frightened away by His Majesty."

But they haven't given up yet and are still thinking of a solution!

"I'm sure tomorrow's morning court session won't be peaceful either."

Eleven days before Gu Jingchun and Shen Hechuan's wedding.

Gu Jingchun slowly opened his eyes, only then realizing that he had slept for so long.

She put on her clothes, pushed open the door, and went out.

When the palace maids guarding the door saw Gu Jingchun come out, they quickly bowed and offered to help Gu Jingchun wash up and do her makeup.

Gu Jingchun shook his head and went straight to Lan Xin's room.

As soon as I arrived, I saw Tianji standing hesitantly at the door.

He looked like he wanted to knock on the door, but was too afraid to.

"Is she awake?"

Gu Jingchun's words of warning startled Tianji.

He then turned around, scratching his head as he spoke.

"I...I don't know either. I was a little worried and wanted to check on her, but I was afraid she might not be awake yet, so I didn't dare knock."

Gu Jingchun nodded, then knocked on the door and went inside.

Lan Xin had just woken up and was still a little dizzy. She immediately looked over when she heard the noise.

Upon seeing Gu Jingchun approaching, they immediately became more anxious.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Gu Jingchun shook his head.

Do I look like something's wrong to you?

"But you scared me to death yesterday. Luckily, you're awake now, so everything's alright."

Lan Xin felt very guilty and immediately lowered her head upon hearing this.

"It's all my fault for being too impulsive yesterday."

Xiaoman had always said that I was careless and not careful enough, and I didn't believe her before.

I never imagined that I would almost implicate you yesterday, and even waste your last heart-protecting pill. I am truly ashamed.

Gu Jingchun pulled the guilty-looking Lanxin into his arms and gently comforted her:

"It's alright, you're doing this all for my own good. As for that pill, since it's medicine, it's meant to be taken. If it can save you, then it wasn't a waste."

As she spoke, she offered a few more words of comfort before remembering the secrets of heaven outside the door.

"By the way, there's someone else I need to thank for making sure you're alright this time."

Who is it?

Gu Jingchun glanced in the direction of the door as he spoke.

Lanxin looked over and saw Tianji slowly walking over.

He noticed Lanxin's gaze, and his expression remained somewhat unnatural.

"I...I just came to see if you were awake."

"Now that you're alright, I'm relieved. You should get some rest. I'll be going now."

After saying that, he turned and ran away without waiting for Lanxin's reply.

Lanxin, however, looked at his retreating figure with a puzzled expression.

Gu Jingchun then recounted how Tianji had risked his own health to save her the previous day.

Lan Xin never expected that Tianji, who usually seemed so frivolous, would be so... at such a crucial moment.

Lanxin felt a pang of regret for not thanking him properly.

Seeing that Lanxin's face was still a little pale, Gu Jingchun told Lanxin to rest well and then prepared to go find Shen Hechuan.

However, Shen Hechuan was in a completely different situation at this time.

Shen Hechuan thought that after yesterday's events, these ministers would have restrained themselves today. Unexpectedly, they not only did not restrain themselves, but they also became even more outrageous.

They all knelt on the ground, pressing closer and closer to Shen Hechuan.

Otherwise, they demanded that Shen Hechuan cancel the wedding and also that he execute Gu Jingchun.

Shen Hechuan sneered.

The longsword from yesterday was taken out again.

They stared intently at the ministers.

"You actually want me to kill her!"

"You really have a lot of nerve. As subjects, you should be thinking about the future of Dacheng and the stability of the court."

"Instead of focusing on a woman and prematurely sentencing her to death for some fabricated charges, putting her to death."

Jiang Chongfan spoke first.

"Your Majesty, since Gu Jingchun is a descendant of the late Crown Prince, he must die, otherwise it will surely affect the stability of our Great Cheng Dynasty."