By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Since ascending the throne, I have worked tirelessly day and night to ensure the well-being of the people and the prosperity of the nation.
However, fate is unpredictable. I suddenly fell seriously ill and was unable to attend court.
At this critical juncture when the nation bears heavy responsibilities, in order to avoid administrative stagnation and delays in national affairs, the following imperial edict is hereby issued:
The Empress Dowager is of high moral character and great prestige, well-versed in etiquette and law, and kind and wise. She is hereby ordered to take charge of the government, with Grand Tutor Wang Yongnian, Censor-in-Chief Situ Qinghe, and Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Luo Kejin assisting her. All officials should perform their duties diligently and assist her wholeheartedly.
All matters of vital importance to the military and the nation, as well as major plans concerning the people's livelihood, were reported to the Empress Dowager, who, together with the three ministers, discussed them in detail, drafted regulations, and awaited imperial decree for implementation. All memorials and documents were submitted by the Directorate of Ceremonial to the Empress Dowager for review and approval with her vermilion annotations.
You ministers must work together with one heart and one mind, faithfully uphold your duties, and not neglect your responsibilities or act arbitrarily. You must ensure that the court is orderly and all affairs are peaceful. I will resume my duties personally once I have recovered from my illness.”
After Xiao Yingzi finished reading the imperial edict, the kneeling ministers all looked up and began to discuss it amongst themselves.
"Your Majesty, you were perfectly fine yesterday, how come you suddenly became so ill today?"
Old Master Wang spoke in a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty, this old minister is truly concerned about His Majesty's health. Why has he suddenly become so ill that he has neglected state affairs?"
The Empress Dowager sighed upon hearing this.
"Alas, this matter is still my fault."
"Yesterday, I learned that Gu Jinxi is my great-grandson, and I was quite angry, so I said a few words to Your Majesty."
Unexpectedly, His Majesty knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness. Just then, it started raining, and this act of kneeling caused His Majesty to fall ill with a high fever, from which he never recovered.
"The imperial physician said that His Majesty fell ill because he lost both his parents in succession and was exhausted from working hard for days. If he wants to recover, he must rest and recuperate."
"Therefore, Your Majesty has discussed this with me, and we have decided that I will handle state affairs with the Crown Prince and the three ministers first, so that Your Majesty can recover. Once Your Majesty has recovered, you will surely return to the court."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, the ministers immediately knelt down and stopped questioning her.
However, after the court session, the ministers either gathered together or returned to their residences to ponder the matter.
After all, this matter is of utmost importance.
However, everyone believed that the Empress Dowager and Shen Hechuan had different political views and that the Empress Dowager wanted to control the government.
Even more unscrupulous individuals are beginning to stir.
Meanwhile, Shen Hechuan had already left Tiandu and headed towards Daqi.
At this moment, Shen Hechuan was lying in the carriage, coughing violently.
The secrets of the heavens outside are filled with worry.
"Your Majesty, you still have a fever. Would you like to rest for a while?"
Shen Hechuan shook his head.
"No need, getting on the road is the priority."
Tianji: "But we have no idea where Miss Gu is, or which way we should go?"
Shen Hechuan: "Don't worry about the news for now. Just head towards Daqi. Don't worry about the news."
Shen Hechuan coughed again as he spoke.
He was certain that it was Mo Junxing who took Gu Jingchun away.
And all the news has certainly been blocked by him.
Since there was no news, he headed directly towards Daqi, hoping to find some clues along the way.
After he finished coughing, he looked at the celestial secrets again.
"Did you deliver the message I asked you to a few days ago?"
Heavenly secrets nodded.
"The message has been delivered to the palace of Daqi as you instructed, and Empress Dowager Xiao should have received it by now."
At this point, Tianji couldn't help but feel smug.
"Your Majesty, this move of yours can be considered as cutting off the retreat route of the Great Qi monarch."
Empress Dowager Xiao of the Great Qi Dynasty has always disliked Mo Junxing, and there has been open and covert struggle within the court. Now that she has learned of this, she will certainly not let this opportunity pass by to deal with Mo Junxing.
However, Shen Hechuan did not show any signs of relief.
"Secretly send people to keep an eye on Empress Dowager Xiao's movements. Report back immediately if there is any news. We must ensure Jingchun's safety."
Heavenly secrets nodded.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Although we cannot find any trace of Mo Junxing and Miss Gu, we are fully aware of the whereabouts of Empress Dowager Xiao."
"If they make any move, we will definitely step in to rescue Miss Gu."
"This is what they call 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.'"
As Tianji spoke, he smiled smugly.
But then he was suddenly punched in the face by the Earthly Branch behind him.
"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and get going."
"Ouch—"
Tianji clutched his head in pain and glared fiercely at Dizhi before spurring his horse's flanks and increasing its speed.
Shen Hechuan coughed twice more in the carriage before collapsing onto the soft couch and falling into a deep sleep.
******
When Gu Jingchun woke up again, his body had returned to the state where he was completely unable to move.
She stared wide-eyed at Mo Junxing, gritting her teeth in anger. Her grimacing expression suggested she wanted to tear Mo Junxing to pieces.
However, now she can't move anything except her facial features and neck.
Just as Gu Jingchun was cursing Mo Junxing in his heart, the carriage stopped.
"Young master, we have arrived at the post station."
Han Sheng's voice came from outside.
Gu Jingchun was overjoyed and suddenly opened his eyes, only to be met with Mo Junxing's indifferent face.
"Don't waste your energy, you can't escape looking like this."
Gu Jingchun: ...
Damn it!
Soon, Gu Jingchun, wearing a veil, was carried down by Mo Junxing.
As the group entered the post station, they quickly attracted the attention of everyone present.
The coachman walked at the very front.
He walked up to the shopkeeper, his body hunched over, and said...
"Shopkeeper, do you have any suitable rooms? Hurry up and prepare a superior room for my young master and his wife."
Seeing this, the shopkeeper glanced at Mo Junxing and the woman in her arms before nodding, "Yes, yes."
As he spoke, he took the keys and prepared to go upstairs, but he kept glancing at the group of people as he spoke.
It was asked casually.
"May I ask, madam, what's wrong?"
Upon hearing this, Han Sheng immediately drew his sword and placed it directly against the shopkeeper's neck.
The shopkeeper was so frightened that he took a step back, not daring to breathe, and was covered in cold sweat.
The coachman behind them immediately stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding."
As he spoke, he pushed Han Sheng aside and explained to the shopkeeper.
"Shopkeeper, please don't mind, it's just a special situation in my family."
He lowered his voice as he spoke.
“My lady has been ill in recent years, and it has become increasingly serious in the last two years. So, young master, you have been taking her to seek medical treatment all over the country. Now you have heard that there is a miracle doctor in Daqi, so you have made a special trip to visit him.”
"I've been traveling a long way, and my wife's health has deteriorated significantly, which is why I've been a bit irritable. I hope you can forgive me, shopkeeper."
As he spoke, he slipped a silver ingot into the shopkeeper's hand and then said, "Please trouble you to quickly prepare some hot water and hot dishes."
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