After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, Gu Yunjin took a step back in disbelief.
"You...you all..."
She looked at Shen Hechuan.
"Crown Prince, have you gone mad?"
"She's a widow with a child to support, and you, the Crown Prince, actually..."
"So what?"
Shen Hechuan interrupted Gu Yunjin directly.
"I love her, no matter what she looks like. Even though she is now in her twilight years, I will still marry her as my Crown Princess. It doesn't matter her age or her status, it's just because she is her."
After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, Gu Jingchun couldn't help but look up at him again.
She had to admit that Shen Hechuan's tongue was getting better and better.
Almost every word he said resonated with her, softening her heart more and more until she was about to surrender and become completely immersed in his charm.
Shen Hechuan spoke these words without trying to hide them from anyone, and his voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear them clearly.
Immediately, everyone around Gu Jingchun looked at him with envy and resentment.
But Gu Yunjin was filled with anger.
She looked at Gu Jingchun, her hands clenched into fists.
Why? Why?!
Gu Jingchun was just a country girl who grew up in the countryside and was a widow with a child. Why should she be able to win Shen Hechuan's exclusive favor?
That's His Highness the Crown Prince!
If Gu Jingchun really marries Shen Hechuan, wouldn't that be stepping on her head again?
How can you do that!
Therefore, Gu Yunjin almost immediately spoke up to stop her, saying, "No!"
"Crown Prince, you can't marry her!"
Shen Hechuan rolled his eyes at her, not intending to pay her any attention.
Gu Yunjin stepped forward, trying to grab Shen Hechuan, but Shen Hechuan stepped back, avoiding her touch, and frowned in disgust.
"Brother Crown Prince, you can't marry her! She's a jinx!"
Meanwhile, Gu Jingchun and Shen Hechuan both looked at Gu Yunjin with puzzlement.
Gu Yunjin snorted coldly, as if she had grasped Gu Jingchun's Achilles' heel, and said loudly, "Back then, when she was just born, a Taoist priest said that she was an ominous star that could bring misfortune to the family and cause the family to be destroyed and people to die."
So, even when her mother discovered that she had been switched at birth, she didn't stop it and let them take her away.
This statement contains a great deal of information.
Even Gu Jingchun was unaware of the inside story behind her being switched at birth.
This made her silent for a moment before letting out a cold laugh.
"So what?"
"So what?"
Gu Jingchun and Shen Hechuan spoke at the same time.
The two exchanged a glance.
Shen Hechuan spoke first.
"So what if it's an ominous star?"
"It's ridiculous that a mere casual remark from a lousy Taoist priest could determine a person's future."
"If she truly is a harbinger of doom, I'll still see what she can really do to me."
After saying that, Gu Yunjin repeated it in disbelief.
What do you mean by that?
"You don't care at all?"
"Crown Prince, have you gone mad?"
"You are the Crown Prince! The slightest misstep could endanger your life, your court, and ultimately, the entire Great Cheng Dynasty!"
"Oh……"
"What a joke! Absurd!"
"When has my fate, and the fate of our Great Cheng Empire, ever been decided by a woman?"
After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, Gu Jingchun continued:
"Gu Yunjin, you are truly laughable, actually using such an absurd reason as leverage?"
"So what if it's an ominous star?"
"So what if it's a lucky star?"
"When has my fate, Gu Jingchun's fate, ever been decided by someone else?"
"How ridiculous."
As she spoke, she took a step forward before saying, "It seems that you've been beaten by the Third Prince for so long that you've lost even the most basic ability to judge."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yunjin took a step back.
Gu Jingchun continued, "You don't think nobody knows, do you?"
"I'm sure everyone in the palace knows by now that the Third Prince is irritable and violent, and he gets pleasure from whipping his princess almost every night."
"After all, you two make quite a racket every night!"
After speaking, Gu Yunjin turned pale and looked around in disbelief, as if she saw all kinds of contemptuous and mocking looks in the eyes of others.
"What...what nonsense are you talking about? I have no idea what you're saying!"
Gu Jingchun continued to chuckle, lowering his voice to make sure only Gu Yunjin could hear him before speaking:
"It seems that the beatings you've suffered recently haven't taught you a lesson enough. I need to sow discord between the Third Prince and you'll be beaten even harder."
As she spoke, she grinned slightly, which made Gu Yunjin step back in disbelief.
"What...what do you mean by that?"
"Could it be..."
"You did all of this?"
Gu Jingchun nodded.
"Hmm, how is it? Do you like it?"
As she spoke, a captivating smile played on her lips, like a deadly demon that sent chills down Gu Yunjin's spine.
"Actually, I didn't do anything. I just talked to the Third Prince occasionally, that's all."
Gu Yunjin took a step back and fell to the ground.
Shen Hechuan didn't even glance at her, and said directly, "Guards, the Third Prince's Consort has defied me. Give her thirty slaps as a warning to others."
After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, he grabbed Gu Jingchun and strode away.
Behind him, there was the crisp and loud sound of a slap.
Upon arriving at the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, Shen Hechuan pulled Gu Jingchun inside to sit down.
Because of the cold weather.
The pavilion was surrounded by thick curtains, and a stove was burning inside. Even the stone benches were covered with thick cushions, making it warm and comfortable to sit in.
Shen Hechuan asked Gu Jingchun to sit down before looking into her eyes.
“Jingchun, do you know that in this world, swindlers are rampant, and many people deliberately pretend to be Taoist priests in order to cheat people out of money.”
"So, you don't need to take those words to heart at all."
Don't worry, I won't believe these words, and I won't take them to heart.
Even the servants around me will be restrained; I will absolutely not allow them to spread rumors.
Only after hearing this did Gu Jingchun understand what Shen Hechuan meant.
It turns out that this guy was worried that these words would affect him, so he pulled her over to reassure himself.
I was afraid she would overthink things.
Looking at Shen Hechuan's thoughtfulness, Gu Jingchun's heart softened a little.
“When have I ever cared about these words? My life has always been my own to decide. If I could be affected by someone else’s words, I would have died when I was a child.”
After Gu Jingchun finished speaking, he looked up at Shen Hechuan.
"But Your Highness, if I were truly an ominous star, it would likely affect you. Aren't you worried or afraid?"
Shen Hechuan shook his head.
He held Gu Jingchun in his arms.
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