A warm sensation came from my shoulder.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, before speaking.
"It's okay, it's all in the past, it's not your fault."
Shen Hechuan stubbornly repeated it.
"sorry."
Gu Jingchun: "This is not your fault."
"sorry."
Gu Jingchun felt the heat on his shoulder and heard Shen Hechuan's hoarse, trembling voice. In the end, he couldn't hold back any longer.
When he spoke again, his voice trembled slightly.
"This is not your fault, I don't blame you."
"It's all in the past."
However, Shen Hechuan kept repeating it over and over again.
Gu Jingchun gently stroked his hair, repeatedly telling her it was alright.
However, even so, Shen Hechuan did not forgive himself.
The two embraced and drifted off to sleep.
When Gu Jingchun woke up the next day, Shen Hechuan was no longer there.
Only after asking Lanxin did they learn that Shen Hechuan had left before dawn.
Gu Jingchun nodded and quickly asked Lanxin to help him with his hair and makeup.
After yesterday, she felt that something was wrong with Shen Hechuan, and she had to go and see him to feel at ease.
Today at the morning court session, Shen Hechuan did not summon Gu Jingchun; instead, he was present himself.
During the morning court session, he directly called out Jiang Chongfan's name.
"Minister Jiang, I asked you to investigate the Empress's murder personally. You promised me that you would bring Guiyuan Sect to justice. So much time has passed now."
How's your investigation going?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chongfan immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, the Guiyuan Sect is truly full of cunning schemes. I have investigated them for a long time but have not found any trace of them. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
In Jiang Chongfan's view, Guiyuan Sect had already crossed paths with Shen Hechuan before, and Shen Hechuan hadn't managed to capture them. Therefore, it was understandable that he couldn't capture them either. At this point, all he needed to do was admit his mistake, and Shen Hechuan naturally wouldn't punish him further.
But he was wrong.
Shen Hechuan simply snorted coldly.
"It seems that Minister Jiang is getting old, he can't even catch a single person. You once swore to me that this matter was the work of Guiyuan Sect, but now that we can't catch the person, what do you suggest we do?"
"Or is it that the assassination attempt on the Empress was carried out by your Jiang family?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chongfan immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal to you and would never do anything to harm you. I hope you will understand!"
"A clear understanding?"
"What I want is results!"
"Since you can't capture the person, then I'll just punish you directly!"
"Your Majesty, I hope you will give this old minister a few more days. This old minister will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give you an explanation."
"good."
Shen Hechuan nodded in agreement.
"Then I'll give you three days. If you still can't catch the Guiyuan Sect members after three days, then I'll just arrest your son."
Jiang Chongfan nodded quickly.
"yes."
After this, the ministers discussed some other matters, and then suddenly one of them suggested that the mourning period was approaching and it was time to arrange the selection of imperial concubines.
Upon hearing this, Shen Hechuan was so angry that he laughed.
Without any hesitation, he said directly, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of my parents. In memory of the late Empress, I have decided to extend the mourning period to three years."
"As for other things, let's talk about them three years from now."
How could the ministers possibly agree to this?
He immediately knelt down and tried to persuade her.
However, Shen Hechuan insisted.
Finally, seeing that the ministers were still relentless, Shen Hechuan spoke directly: "My mind is made up on this matter, and no one needs to say anything more."
"Since we've come this far, I might as well make things clear all at once."
From now on, I will not hold a selection of concubines, and apart from the Empress, I will not take any other women into the harem as concubines.
The ministers should give up their idea of sending their daughters to the palace; I will absolutely not compromise or agree to it.
This news was like a bomb, shocking all the officials. They hurriedly tried to dissuade him, but Shen Hechuan wouldn't listen at all. He stood up, shouted "Dismiss the court!" and left with his hands behind his back.
Upon returning to Wanhe Palace, Shen Hechuan suddenly felt unwell and summoned the imperial physician.
Before Wang, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, could even bow to Shen Hechuan, a sword was pressed against his neck.
"My health is not good. I just had a confrontation with my ministers, which made me angry and damaged my health. I'm afraid I won't be able to have children in the future."
"did you know?"
Upon hearing this, Chief Wang was so surprised that he immediately looked up. But seeing Shen Hechuan's dark face and the long sword at his neck, he swallowed hard several times before nodding.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty understands.”
Afterwards, Chief Wang left Wanhe Hall, his face covered in cold sweat.
Shen Hechuan, driven to desperation by the ministers, suffered a devastating injury that rendered him incapable of sexual intercourse, a fact that became known throughout the palace.
Just then, Gu Jingchun walked over.
Seeing the imperial physician leave, she became even more worried and rushed over immediately.
"What’s wrong with you?"
"Why summon the imperial physician?"
Shen Hechuan held Gu Jingchun's hand. "I'm fine."
He looked into Gu Jingchun's eyes to calm him down before continuing, "I just had Chief Physician Wang write it in my medical record that I will no longer be able to have sex due to my physical weakness."
"In this way, no minister will think of sending their daughters into the palace in the future, and no one will cause you trouble because of your pregnancy."
"Even the Empress Dowager will no longer mention the little princess, and may even treat you better because of it."
Shen Hechuan even laughed out loud as he spoke.
However, Gu Jingchun couldn't smile; he looked at him with worry.
"You...you're absolutely ridiculous!"
Do you know what the consequences will be if this news gets out?
"Don't you want your posthumous reputation?"
"Lanxin, quickly go and call Chief Wang back."
Shen Hechuan stopped her and shook his head.
"It's too late."
"The message has already been sent out."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jingchun sat down.
Moments later, the Empress Dowager arrived immediately upon hearing the news.
Upon seeing that Gu Jingchun was also present, her expression faltered for a moment before she looked at Shen Hechuan.
"What exactly is going on?"
"Is what's being said in the palace true or false?"
Shen Hechuan's face was ashen, and he did not speak.
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but turn her gaze to Gu Jingchun.
Gu Jingchun, her dark eyes meeting the Empress Dowager's gaze, quickly wiped away her tears with her handkerchief and began to sob.
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