Tiandu.
Inside the palace.
Upon learning that Gu Jingchun was missing, Shen Hechuan immediately became anxious.
For several days now, despite sealing off the city gates and checking every vehicle coming and going, there has been no news of her.
At the same time, he also dispatched several groups of people to chase after Mo Junxing.
Despite this, no news came through.
This solidified Shen Hechuan's resolve.
But at this very moment, the ministers still relentlessly brought up Gu Jinxi and Gu Jingchun's identities.
This caused Shen Hechuan's anger to escalate, and his patience had reached its limit.
Therefore, during the morning court session today, there were times when court officials submitted memorials.
Shen Hechuan gave a wink to the eunuch beside him.
The young eunuch immediately nodded and read out the imperial edict.
The imperial edict was very simple. It explained that Shen Hechuan had met a woman while fighting in the war, and they had fallen in love. They were engaged in marriage in the presence of the local villagers and had a child together.
At the time, Shen Hechuan was unaware of the child's existence and was solely focused on the battle.
Later, he even lost contact with that woman.
Years later, he finally found the woman and discovered the existence of his son.
The woman's name was Gu Jingchun, and her son's name was Gu Jinxi.
Upon hearing the imperial edict, the ministers were so astonished that they remained silent for a long time.
None of them expected that Gu Jinxi was actually His Majesty's biological son.
It's no wonder that Emperor Rongcheng favored Gu Jinxi so much when he was still alive.
The current Empress Dowager dotes on him.
The ministers had previously thought they were being misled by Gu Jingchun, but they never expected it to be Shen Hechuan's child.
That's understandable.
The ministers suddenly realized what was going on.
But Grand Tutor Wang looked smug.
He had an expression that said, "I already knew what was going on. I advised you not to interfere, but you kept going and insisted on making trouble for me."
However, there were always a few court officials who couldn't understand what was being said.
One of the ministers immediately stood up to object.
"Your Majesty, I believe there are still some doubts about this matter."
"Putting aside the fact that you have been separated from that woman for many years and you did not know her whereabouts during that time, you may be deceived by her, so as to avoid confusion of the royal bloodline."
After these words were spoken, all the ministers present closed their eyes, inwardly sweating for the minister.
Isn't this guy basically saying that Shen Hechuan might have been cheated on, or that he might be raising someone else's child?
Shen Hechuan couldn't help but sneer.
"Does my subject mean that I might have mistaken my own child?"
"So, do you think the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor would mistake their own grandson and great-grandson?"
After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, Grand Tutor Wang also stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, this old minister can testify that the young prince looks exactly like you when you were a child, especially his nose and mouth, which are just like yours."
And that cleverness is exactly the same as when you were a child.
"I wouldn't dare say the same about others, but you are someone I personally watched grow up, and that's for sure."
After Grand Tutor Wang finished speaking, the ministers all nodded in agreement.
But when the minister tried to speak again, Shen Hechuan shouted sharply.
“My dear minister, you have been inciting other ministers to come and submit a memorial on this matter several times in the past few days.”
The matter has been explained clearly, yet you remain relentless. What are your true intentions?
He paused for a moment, then continued speaking.
"My investigation has revealed that there are spies from the Great Qi in our court, used specifically to confuse the public. I wonder if it could be you, my dear minister?"
After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, the minister immediately knelt down and shouted that he was wronged.
But Shen Hechuan ignored his explanations and immediately sent people to investigate.
Now all the ministers were quiet and began to praise Gu Jinxi for being clever and quick-witted, a model of a future benevolent ruler.
Upon hearing this, Shen Hechuan nodded and took the opportunity to issue another imperial edict.
The ministers were even more surprised after the imperial edict was announced.
Even the old tutor Wang looked up in surprise.
This imperial edict directly appointed Gu Jinxi as the crown prince.
He wanted to speak again, but seeing Shen Hechuan's expression, he quickly lowered his head and exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise."
After that, the officials had no further reason to criticize Gu Jingchun and Gu Jinxi.
This news spread rapidly throughout the capital city after the morning court session.
Everyone was taken aback.
Everyone sighed at Gu Jingchun's good fortune, as she had given birth to His Majesty's child long before. No wonder Shen Hechuan treated her differently and brought her into the palace.
Not long after the two imperial edicts were issued, Shen Hechuan knelt down at the entrance of Shou'an Hall.
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply at this.
Granny Li felt very sorry for her.
He looked back and forth anxiously.
"Your Majesty, look at the blazing sun outside. If His Majesty continues to kneel, it may be bad for his health!"
"Can you bear to see His Majesty suffer?"
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly and turned her head away, forcing herself to remain silent.
"Let him kneel if he wants to. Does he think I don't know what I'm thinking?"
"Now that girl Gu Jingchun has disappeared without a trace, although he hasn't said anything, I suspect he must want to go find her himself."
"He has only recently ascended the throne. If he were to run away at this time, it would surely cause dissatisfaction among the court officials and turmoil in the court."
Moreover, what if someone with malicious intent finds out and uses it against him, or something unexpected happens?
"What will become of our great empire?"
"I have already lost my son, and now I absolutely cannot allow anything to happen to my grandson."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Granny Li understood the seriousness of the matter and dared not offer any further advice.
But looking at Shen Hechuan kneeling outside, he couldn't bear it in the end and just kept sighing.
Unfortunately, the timing was not right.
A sudden clap of thunder was heard, and then a torrential downpour began.
Shen Hechuan remained kneeling in the heavy rain, his back straight, showing no sign of leaving.
The heavy rain lashed his face, blinding him and disheveling his hair, leaving him looking utterly wretched.
Upon seeing this, Granny Li panicked once again.
"Your Majesty, look at His Majesty! If he continues to be soaked like this, how can his body withstand it!"
The Empress Dowager, already hesitant as she looked at the heavy rain outside, sighed upon hearing this, stood up, and immediately looked outside with concern.
Seeing Shen Hechuan's figure swaying precariously in the wind and rain, she couldn't help but sigh.
"Never mind."
"Let him in."
"It's all fate in the end!"
The next day.
While the officials were waiting to attend court, they did not see Shen Hechuan, but instead received the Empress Dowager and an imperial edict.
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