Chapter 17 — As soon as I got married as a stepchild, the child hugged my leg and called me his wife

In the mud of the Marquis Palace, I learned to be patient. In the secret backroom of the Royal Palace, I learned how to risk my life. From being a concubine, to now holding the inner court of the Pho family, she carefully deals with "Thien Diep". I used the fastest speed to become Pho Dinh Uyen's "good housewife". He once asked me why I married him. I say, it's to live, to control your own destiny. Now it seems we have done it. The sky gradually brightened. Pho Dinh Uyen finally returned to my hospital. His body carried the faint smell of blood and a tired look. But I can feel that the aura on his body is completely different from last night. It is the relief after the dust settles, along with the majesty that only those on top have. He walked over to the bed, bowed his head and looked at me.

“It's good that she's okay.” he said, his voice a bit hoarse.

I nodded.

“Are all the outside matters handled?” I asked.

He sighed softly: "It's almost over, old lady Pho has been detained, her grandmother has also been restrained, the soldiers and horses of the capital barracks have taken over all the affairs in the palace."

“My coin…” I suddenly remembered that coin, “what exactly is it?”

Pho Dinh Uyen took out a small brocade bag from his chest and gave it to me.

“Open it and see.”

I received the brocade bag and opened it. Inside lies an identical coin. It's just that this coin is wrapped not in red thread, but in silver thread. On the back of the coin, there is also a date engraved. That day was the birthday of Pho Dinh Uyen's deceased wife, To Tinh Lien. I suddenly raised my head to look at him.

“This was given to me by Thanh Hoa's mother.” Pho Dinh Uyen's voice was low, "she said, this is their family heirloom, it can preserve their lives in times of danger."

Thanh Hoa's mother? I suddenly remembered Thanh Hoa, the maid I took to the prison room, and is still being detained.

“Thanh Hoa…”

“Mother Thanh Hoa, once my nanny, she was also the one harmed by 'Thien Diep'.” Pho Dinh Uyen's eyes fell on the coin in the brocade bag.

So that's it! Now I understand why, after being discovered, Thanh Hoa still left that coin for me. She never betrayed me, she used her own way to protect me.

“Is she alive?” I asked.

"When she was being chased by 'Thien Diep', I sent someone to save her, but I could only bring back this." Pho Dinh Uyen's eyes became gloomy, "she is dead."

My heart suddenly sank. It was we who punished Thanh Hoa. Her mother died to protect us. Our hearts are filled with guilt.

“What is the use of that money…” I asked, “in the end?”

Pho Dinh Uyen walked to the bed and sat down. He held my hand and placed the coin in my palm.

“This coin is not an ordinary thing.”

“It's a key.”

“The key can open… a place.”

I raised my head to look at Pho Dinh Uyen. His eyes were deep and distant.

“Before, I thought my wife was dead.” he said in a low voice.

“It took me a long, long time to be able to escape the pain and begin to investigate the truth of all this.”

“I discovered that token, discovered her paintings.”

“Also discovered a place she used to go to.”

“There, I found this coin, and also… a sealed secret press.”

“Now, it's time to open it.”

Pho Dinh Uyen's face carried pent-up pain. He looked at me, his eyes containing some kind of expectation.

“Tham Tri Van, are you willing to come with me to find this secret?”

I didn't hesitate to squeeze the coin in my hand.

“I wish.”

The secret place that Pho Dinh Uyen talked about was not the study of his deceased wife. Nor is it any corner of the Royal Palace. But outside the capital, an extremely mysterious mountain valley. That mountain valley rarely has human footprints, it is covered in fog all year round, very few people know about it. According to Pho Dinh Uyen, after discovering the secret of "Thien Diep", To Tinh Lien quietly built that place. There is her study room, her research notes, and all the things she prepared to fight "Thien Diep". More importantly, that place also stores the authentic method of solving the neck that her mother left behind. Because I injured my leg, I acted inconveniently. Pho Dinh Uyen personally carried me onto the carriage. The carriage drove all day and night until finally reaching that mountain valley. On the way, soldiers and horses from Pho Dinh Uyen's capital camp escorted the entire journey. I have never seen him so careful. He seemed to have placed all his hope in this place. Deep in the valley, there is indeed a hidden mansion. Trach Vien is covered by a thin layer of mist, looking extremely mysterious. The gate of the monastery is cast from crystal iron. There aren't any locks on it, just a lifelike sculpted lotus flower.