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Wang Jinhe felt warmth in her heart and nodded with a smile. “If I have any issues, I will definitely inform Brother Xuan Feiran. After all, having Brother Xuan Feiran as my support is essential.”
Xuan Feiran shook his head with a smile. “You…”
“Is your hand really okay?” Xuan Feiran was still concerned.
“Brother, rest assured, my hand is truly fine. It just looks more serious than it is,” Wang Jinhe replied, shaking her head.
The Empress Dowager, upon hearing Wang Jinhe’s words and seeing her move her hand, nodded in relief.
“Now that Xiao He has severed ties with Gu Sheng, please issue another edict to formalize the severance of ties,” to prevent any future trouble from Gu Sheng seeking Wang Jinhe out.
“Alright.” Xuan Feiran wrote the edict, stamped it with the imperial seal, and handed it to Lai Fu to deliver the message.
Wang Jinhe’s lips curved slightly. She knew that Gu Sheng would definitely not admit it. After all, he had just gained a little advantage. How could he give up so easily?
If things come to light later, Gu Sheng will surely claim that he was speaking out of anger. Now, with the Emperor’s edict, even if he is dissatisfied, he dare not defy the imperial decree. Employing a dual approach is naturally the most effective.
“Xiao He, what mischievous ideas are you brewing now?”
“It’s not mischief, just thinking that Gu Sheng is not a good husband or father, but he is a very good foster father,” Wang Jinhe’s mood was somewhat complex as she mentioned this.
“Why would he engage with bandits knowing the consequences?” Xuan Feiran asked, furrowing his brow.
Wang Jinhe sighed lightly and somewhat self-deprecatingly said, “His purpose in doing so is naturally for Gu Xiruo.”
“Thinking that by providing power to Gu Xiruo, he is a good foster father? He is willing to sacrifice his own life for Gu Xiruo’s sake,” Wang Jinhe whispered.
“He completely disregards the trouble it will bring to me and Gu Yanqi once this matter comes to light. He only thinks about Gu Xiruo’s future,” with such a father, she and Gu Yanqi really couldn’t afford to compete.
Seeing Wang Jinhe like this, Xuan Feiran couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry. “You still have your own father. Such a person is not worth it.”
Wang Jinhe nodded with a smile. “Brother Xuan Feiran is right. Such a person is not worth it.”
In fact, she also thought the same. Someone like Gu Sheng is not deserving.
“Now that you have figured it out, don’t dwell on it. Whatever trouble Gu Sheng brings upon himself in the future is his own business and has nothing to do with you all.”
“Of course, now that everyone knows I have severed ties with him, he won’t have a chance to do anything,” Wang Jinhe said to Xuan Feiran as they discussed the matter.
While Wang Jinhe and Xuan Feiran were discussing this, Gu Sheng, enduring the pain, got off the bed to receive the edict.
When he heard that the Emperor had decreed the severance of ties between Wang Jinhe and him, Gu Sheng was completely dumbfounded.
He had been thinking that no matter how unwilling Wang Jinhe was, she would eventually have to acknowledge him as her father. But now, the Emperor unexpectedly intervened.
This made Gu Sheng very angry.
Lai Fu coldly watched Gu Sheng’s angry expression, thinking to himself, why get angry now when it’s too late?
It would have been better to treat the princess well earlier.
Who is he trying to impress with this attitude?
“Head of the Gu Family, accept the edict,” Lai Fu, watching Gu Sheng’s displeased expression, said after a while.
Gu Sheng had no intention of accepting the edict. Frowning, he said, “Lai Fu, what does the Emperor mean by this? Regardless, the Princess is my daughter, and she…”
“Are you questioning the Emperor’s decision?” Lai Fu couldn’t believe it. Was he trying to defy the imperial decree?
“Do you know the consequences of defying the imperial decree?” Lai Fu asked coldly.
Gu Sheng, pale-faced, looked at Lai Fu. “I am not defying the imperial decree. I am just speaking the truth. She is my daughter.”
“Daughter? Isn’t your daughter Gu Xiruo, the foster daughter? For the sake of that foster daughter, you repeatedly mistreat the Princess. Without the Prince in the capital, who will protect the princess?”
“The Princess has the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager protecting her. How many heads do you think you have to defy the decree?” Lai Fu coldly snorted at Gu Sheng.
“But… they are both my daughters, I…” Gu Sheng tried to explain.
Gu Sheng could never sever ties with Wang Jinhe. If this relationship were to end, he would face serious consequences.
He was just getting started, and it would be troublesome if things fell apart now.
“Head of the Gu Family, accept the edict.”
“Even the Emperor cannot make her sever ties with me.”
Lai Fu was witnessing someone wanting to defy an imperial decree for the first time.
Turning to the people beside him, he said, “Go inform the Emperor that Gu Sheng is defying the imperial decree. Let’s see how the Emperor will handle this.”
Xuan Feiran’s expression darkened when he learned that Gu Sheng dared to defy the imperial decree. “Gu Sheng really has a lot of nerve.”
“This also indicates that he harbors some unspeakable secrets,” the Prime Minister chimed in.
A person who had always claimed to only have Gu Xiruo as his daughter suddenly refusing to sever ties with Wang Jinhe – who would believe there are no underlying issues?
“If he doesn’t care about Gu Xiruo that much, then capture her. Defying the imperial decree is a serious offense.”
“Understood.”
Gu Sheng soon learned that Gu Xiruo had been apprehended and was brought before him.
Gu Xiruo was originally recuperating at home, but she was brought here. Looking at Gu Sheng and Lai Fu beside him, she felt scared and asked, “Father, what’s happening?”
“The Emperor’s decree: Gu Sheng defied the imperial decree and must be punished.”
Gu Sheng thought he would be the one punished, but to his surprise, they started hitting Gu Xiruo instead.
“What do you mean, Lai Fu?” Gu Sheng angrily questioned as he watched Gu Xiruo being beaten.
“The incident was caused by her, so it’s only natural that she receives the punishment. Gu Family Master, you can choose not to accept the edict. As for this foster daughter, her fate will depend on your actions,” Lai Fu calmly stated.
After following Xuan Feiran for so many years, Lai Fu understood how to grasp people’s hearts.
“Father, please save me, it hurts so much.” After being beaten for two consecutive days, Gu Xiruo was left in a daze.
She could only turn to Gu Sheng for help.
Gu Sheng watched his daughter being beaten, feeling heartbroken, and harboring deep resentment towards Lai Fu.
What should he do now?
Accepting the edict would bring trouble in the future, but not accepting it meant there was a real possibility that Xiruo could be beaten to death by them.
Glaring at Lai Fu, Gu Sheng gritted his teeth and said, “Lai Fu, you are ruthless.”
Instead of getting angry, Lai Fu smiled and replied, “Head of the Gu Family, joking aside, will you accept the edict or not?”
“I, a humble subject, accept the edict,” Gu Sheng said through clenched teeth.
Lai Fu’s smile grew even broader as he looked at Gu Sheng’s disappointment and remarked, ” Head of the Gu Family, wouldn’t it have been better if you had acted this way earlier?”
“I had to resort to such measures. It’s not good to harm your beloved foster daughter whom you hold dear. Don’t do this again next time,” Lai Fu said, and without waiting for Gu Sheng’s reaction, he turned and left.
Gu Xiruo weakly collapsed on the ground, looking at Gu Sheng beside her, she hoarsely asked, “Father, what does Wang Jinhe really want?”