"Guards, bring up that young lady from the Situ family."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, Shen Hechuan frowned slightly and stood up to leave before anyone else could come over.
"Grandmother, please spare your son. You know I can't touch women; if I'm not careful, I'll break out in a rash!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's face immediately turned cold.
"Sit down!"
"Don't try to fool me with these excuses. Do you think I'm an old woman with failing eyesight? How could I come up with such an absurd reason?"
The Empress Dowager clearly didn't believe him, and Shen Hechuan didn't argue. He obediently sat down and listened as the Empress Dowager continued:
"I've seen this girl before. She's the eldest daughter of the Situ family. She's been carefully nurtured since childhood and is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Her looks are also top-notch."
"The Situ family is currently at the height of its power. If you marry her, it will greatly benefit you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a slender figure slowly walked in.
She wore a lake-blue long dress with dark embroidered trim, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes were like autumn water, and her temperament was as gentle as an orchid.
After she entered, she bowed directly to the Empress Dowager without giving Shen Hechuan a second glance, and her every move exuded the demeanor of a great lady.
The Empress Dowager was increasingly pleased with what she saw and quickly told Situ Mingji to get up.
But Shen Muchuan suddenly stood up.
He rolled up his long sleeves, walked up to Situ Mingji, and presented his bare arms to her.
"Miss Situ, may I place my hand on my arm?"
Situ Mingji looked up in surprise and immediately met a pair of deep eyes.
Hearing Shen Muchuan's words, she felt her face flush and shyly took a half step back.
But Shen Hechuan's gaze remained unchanged, and he continued to stare at her without moving.
She paused for a moment, her gaze instinctively turning towards the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager had no idea what Shen Hechuan was up to, but seeing that he was finally willing to get close to a woman, she was naturally happy and nodded quickly, giving Situ Mingji a reassuring look.
Situ Mingji blushed and slowly raised her hand, placing her delicate and slender fingers on Shen Hechuan's skin.
His skin was slightly cool, but Situ Mingji felt a slight warmth under his hand.
Beneath his smooth skin, one could feel the texture of his strong muscles, exuding a unique masculine power.
Situ Mingji's face turned even redder. It was a light touch, but it felt like an eternity to her.
At that moment, Shen Hechuan immediately took a step back, his expression changed drastically, and he began to breathe heavily with difficulty.
Situ Mingji looked up in surprise and then noticed that Shen Hechuan's arm was covered with rashes and was swollen.
The rash spread rapidly, and soon a patch of redness and swelling appeared on my neck as well.
Hearing Shen Hechuan's noticeably heavy breathing, Situ Mingji cried out in surprise.
"Your Highness, what's wrong? Your Highness!"
The Empress Dowager was also terrified. She immediately stood up and shouted in a trembling voice, "Quickly! Summon the imperial physician!"
An hour later, the imperial physician knelt before the Empress Dowager, his brows covered in sweat.
"Your Majesty, His Highness's condition has stabilized, and the rash has subsided."
The Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"Why would the Crown Prince suddenly develop a rash, and why is it so dangerous?"
"Your Highness's symptoms are sudden and dangerous; it must have been caused by contact with something."
What did you come into contact with?
The Empress Dowager suddenly remembered what Shen Hechuan had said about developing a rash upon encountering a woman, and her heart was filled with turmoil, but her face remained calm, revealing nothing. She then gave the order:
"The Crown Prince has developed a rash after eating unclean food today. Immediately investigate all the food the Crown Prince came into contact with today."
On the other side, Situ Mingji sat alone in the main hall, feeling increasingly uneasy.
Shen Hechuan's reaction just now was so frightening that she is still feeling lingering fear.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager returned.
Situ Mingji immediately stood up, his face showing concern.
The Empress Dowager looked at Situ Mingji, whose face was pale, and comforted him:
"Miss Situ, I'm sorry to have frightened you this time."
"The Crown Prince ate some unclean food today and developed a rash. I have already sent people to investigate. This matter has nothing to do with you, so you don't need to worry."
Situ Mingji secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease.
But the Empress Dowager suddenly stepped forward and took Situ Mingji's hand.
"You are a good girl. I was wrong to not think things through this time."
Does this mean her marriage to the Crown Prince is off?
Situ Mingji's face turned pale, and his heart felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
She wanted to ask, but the Crown Prince's condition was unclear, and she knew it wasn't the right time to say too much.
Therefore, he nodded in agreement and instructed the Empress Dowager not to worry too much.
The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction, then instructed the maidservant beside her:
"Go and fetch the set of violet jade jewelry that I have treasured, and give it to Miss Situ."
After saying a few more words of advice, he let her leave.
After she left, the Empress Dowager remained lost in thought. Her attendant, Granny Li, tentatively spoke up to offer some advice:
"His Highness the Crown Prince is blessed with good fortune. Your Majesty, please do not worry too much. Your health is the most important thing."
The Empress Dowager sighed softly.
"Due to the influence of bloodline, the Dacheng royal family has few offspring. His Majesty has countless concubines, but has only given birth to two princes, the Crown Prince and Prince Rui."
"He is the crown prince of a country, and should have been having children long ago, but now he has contracted such an illness."
"His Majesty has always coveted him and wished that Hechuan would make way for the Prince Rui whom he favors. If His Majesty finds out about this, Hechuan's position will truly be in jeopardy."
Having spent half her life on the battlefield and fought in the harem for many years, the Empress Dowager felt bewildered for the first time for her beloved grandson.
But in an instant, she regained her cold and stern demeanor.
"Keep this a complete secret from me. If any word gets out, I will hold you responsible."
"Yes." Granny Li's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly agreed.
The Empress Dowager stared blankly ahead, but suddenly remembered many years ago when Shen Hechuan returned victorious from a battle, and he seemed like a completely different person.
She had to make many inquiries before she learned that Shen Hechuan had been injured and rescued by a woman.
But when he returned victorious, he found that the woman had been murdered, and not even her body was left behind.
Could his illness be related to that woman?
******
In a private room on the second floor of Wanxiang Pavilion, the most prosperous restaurant in Tiandu City.
Gu Jingchun led Lan Xin through the door and entered.
As soon as he entered, a refined-looking man dressed in a blue robe with a white silk sash around his waist stood up at the table by the window and bowed in Gu Jingchun's direction.
Gu Jingchun removed the veil from his head, bowed slightly to Luo Ziqian, and then said with a smile, "Young Master Luo, I've kept you waiting."
Luo Ziqian chuckled softly.
"To win a smile from a beautiful woman, even a long wait is worthwhile."
Gu Jingchun laughed even harder.
She does have a sweet tongue, though.
Before returning to the Yong'an Marquis's residence, she had already investigated the situation of various young masters from prominent families in the capital. After a selection process, she finally chose Luo Ziqian.
Therefore, before returning to her residence, she used the excuse of feeling unwell to meet with Luo Ziqian in advance.
At that time, Luo Ziqian was severely beaten by Minister Luo because his close relationship with a man was exposed.
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