Chapter 10 — Champion Flower Queen

24 This time Liu Tiep came to the door, rarely without wearing a flashy gold-embroidered brocade. He was only wearing a green bamboo shirt, which looked a bit more pleasing to the eye than usual. At his feet were six red-painted chests, neatly arranged in a row. Seeing me walk out, he rarely showed embarrassment.
“Fourth Miss, today I came to make amends with you.”
“What crime?”
Luu Tiep clasped his hands, a rare seriousness.
"I didn't know about Hoang Thi drugging her at her mother's house before."
“We just investigated clearly yesterday.”
"She colluded with Ha Thi, Thai Boc's wife, also known as Khanh Tien Trinh, to destroy her reputation and force her to become Tien Trinh's concubine."
As he said those words, he clenched his fist. The usual laziness of a playboy's face was replaced by anger.
"Even though I Liu Tiep has no education, I have no profession."
He looked at me, his eyes serious.
“But we can't do this kind of thing.”
"I've never ordered her to do anything."
I raised my eyebrows. He turned away, his voice getting lower and lower.
“She can rest assured.”
“I… I still know my destiny.”
“Since that cockfight, I no longer have any thoughts of not having anything with you.”
I calmly said:
“Master Liu, I accept this.”
“What about my ladyship?”
“Interrogated.”
Luu Tiep's voice turned cold.
"Ha Thi took the initiative to find her, promising that after success, he would let Tien Trinh arrange a lucrative position in Thai Boc Temple for his mother's brothers."
“She was suddenly confused so she agreed.”
“Ha Thi.”
I repeat that name.
“Is it Mrs. Tien Trinh?”
"Correct."
Liu Tiep took a step forward.
“My wife has participated in this matter, I will not stand by and watch.”
"The Ha lady wanted to plot against her, and even dragged my wife into the water."
“Fourth Miss, rest assured.”
“I will definitely give you an explanation.”
After Luu Tiep left, Xuan Hanh's eyes stared at the six chests, almost glowing.
“Miss, these compensation offerings…”
“Carry it inside.”
"The goods are delivered to your door. If you don't take them, it's a waste."
I don't know when the tabby cat appeared. It mumbled:
“That person just now was so strange.”
“My heart beats as fast as a horse's hooves…”
“Shut up.”

The tabby cat twitched his ears and silently walked away. I continue to feed the Flower Queen and her cubs. I quickly thought about it in my head. Liu Tiep is just a playboy. If you want to deal with a third-rank court official like Tien Trinh, you don't know how much he has of winning. 25 I still underestimate Liu Tiep. I don't know what method this guy used to get the testimony of Hoang Thi, Hoang Tam and close maids. Normally he doesn't look like anything. But when it comes to actually working, it's extremely decisive. Not only did he get a statement, he also spread the story of Tien Trinh's wife taking advantage of his wife to plot with an unmarried girl throughout the capital. Even the storyteller in the tea house began to compose stories. This is "Thai Boc Tu Khanh's plan to recruit concubines", it has a beginning and an end. Right after that, the royal court heard the smell and immediately started singing. The performances of the Tien Trinh harp organ follow one another. The next book's words are even more cruel than the previous book. The general idea is: You can't raise horses, but you're extremely skilled at playing tricks. Can't keep talented people, but she's better at planning than anyone. The Infantry's men took the opportunity to add another foot. They recounted the story of Thai Boc's war horse slowing down the army's machine and coordinating with the royal historian to trample Tien Trinh down. I don't sit still either. I ordered some ladies who like to gossip in the tea house to "accidentally" mention a rumor. Tien Trinh was born with an eight-character horse. As long as he stays at Thai Bo temple for one day, the horse will not be able to raise well. Look at the war horses. As soon as it was handed over to him, he went completely crazy. This statement has no basis. But people like to hear these kinds of stories the most. In less than three days, the whole capital knew "Tien Trinh carved horses". What really made things go viral were the birds. That day, Tien Trinh had just walked out of Thai Boc pagoda. A flock of sparrows under the eaves immediately flew over, dropping droppings from above their heads. His official robes were immediately filled with white streaks. Before the entourage had time to chase them away, they were also hit twice in the head. Then there are the pigeons. Next is the guest bird. Finally, there was a flock of crows flying from nowhere. In the next few days, as long as Tien Trinh and Ha Thi stepped out of the door, a flock of birds would immediately appear in the sky, aiming straight at them and bombarding them. Ancient people were superstitious. They believe that being hit on the head by bird droppings is a sign of impending disaster. Soon, feral cats also joined in. Tien Trinh walks on the street, often a large tabby cat runs past his feet. Then seven or eight stray cats immediately appeared from the alley, scratching and biting him. While avoiding, he was tripped by the cat and his face was bruised. The more the news spreads, the more evil it becomes. In the end, it turned into: Tien Trinh often abused cats, now he met with retribution, being chased by stray cats to take revenge. Mistreating cats on a daily basis is not a serious sin. But at the same time, he was banned by the royal court, scolded by the Ministry of Military Affairs as useless, and was rumored to be a horse by the people. Now add the story of cat abuse and retribution. Public opinion completely engulfed him. Tien Trinh continued to defend himself. But the horses in his hands really did not listen. Hoang Thi's testimony also clearly stated that Ha Thi instigated. And the birds and wild cats are even more inexplicable. There was no one in the officialdom to help him. Even his old colleagues wished to stay eight feet away from him, for fear of being caught in bad luck. Ha Thi was scared and went everywhere to pray to God and worship Buddha. But as soon as he walked out the door, he was bombarded by a flock of birds. He slipped and fell down a cliff, breaking his leg. The Tien family also encountered disaster. There is bird droppings all over the yard, no matter how much you sweep it, it can't be removed. Most of the servants who signed the life contract ran away. The remaining star signers also hid in the room,

don't dare go out the door. The whole palace was occupied by bird droppings. The foul smell filled the sky, people panicked. Finally, Tien Trinh couldn't stand it anymore. He offered himself to ask the old man to return home, sold his house cheaply, rented a carriage, and struggled to return to his hometown. It is said that the day he left, there was still a flock of sparrows flying behind him to drop dung. Such strange stories in the human world, the storytellers in the tea house all told about the saliva flying around. After Xuan Hanh finished speaking, her face was cheerful.
“Miss, is this a coincidence?”
“Those birds…”
“What a coincidence.”
I continue to brush the chicken's feathers.
“Who can say exactly what happens to nature?”
Not long after, the new Crown Prince Vuong Hoa personally came to the door. He is the former goat-bearded mandarin, formerly the Left Young Khanh Thai Boc Tu. The first thing after taking office was to come find me with a roll of documents. This time he was not cold-faced. As soon as he entered, he clasped his hands with me, his face solemn.
“Miss Lam, today the official came to invite you back to Thai Boc temple.”
I don't say. He continued:
"I have submitted a request to the court to appoint Miss Lam as the fifth-grade official Ma Chinh envoy of Thai Boc pagoda, specializing in selecting, nurturing and training soldiers and horses."
“His Majesty has approved.”
He gave me the letter. I received it, opened it and looked. The red mandarin seal is neatly stamped below.