Chapter 2 — Champion Flower Queen

04 Cockfighting arena is located in Binh Khang ward, east of the city. There are railings on three sides, and in the middle is a blue stone arena over one meter high. Observation tents were set up on all four sides, red silk fluttered, the sound of gongs and drums echoed in the sky. We hadn't even arrived yet and heard the noise of people, as bustling as a market. When I entered the arena, the whole arena suddenly became silent for a moment. Today I'm wearing a light blue dress, underneath is an ivory white skirt, with a silver string tied around my waist. On her bun, there was only a white jade orchid brooch, and two small pearls on her ears. The whole body is as elegant as the first snow of the season that has just stopped. I put on embroidered shoes and walked inside step by step. The hem of the skirt glided across the blue tile floor without making a sound. The group of young men in the observation tent were still drinking and laughing loudly, but at this moment they all fell silent. Someone raised their hand halfway and forgot to lower it. Someone opened their mouth and forgot to raise the cup of wine in their hand to drink. Before long, regret appeared on everyone's faces. I ignored those eyes and went straight to the south stand. Liu Tiep had already arrived. He wore a dark red brocade, a piece of premium jade on his waist, and sat arrogantly in the main chair. At his feet is a chicken cage made of rosewood. In the cage is a fighting cock covered in red feathers, with a blood-red comb, a strong neck, and curved claws like iron hooks. Small bright eyes, slowly observing all around, like a king sitting on a dragon chair, examining his country. General Hong. Liu Tiep's invincible fighting cock. A villain that he spent a lot of money to buy from Tho Phon. I noticed that around the railing there were four Cam Y guards wearing fisherman uniforms, carrying Tu Xuan swords on their waists, with expressionless faces standing in the four corners. It seems that this bet has alarmed the government. They were worried that someone was secretly playing tricks. The moment he saw me, Luu Tiep immediately sat up straight. The two iron balls that were spinning in his hands also stopped. His throat moved up and down, then he grinned, stood up and took two steps towards me.
"Today, Miss Lam Tu is truly... brilliant and touching."
When he spoke, the arrogant expression on his body was reduced by more than half, and his tone even carried a bit of intentional gentleness. I smiled silently in my heart. Indeed, the appearance of white moonlight can fascinate any man.
“Please sit, please sit.”
He pointed to the position next to him.
"It's still a long time until competition time. Let's drink a cup of tea first to soothe your throat."
I didn't sit in the seat he indicated, but went straight to the opposite stand. Bich Ha and another maid had already taken the place and had already laid out a soft mattress. The smile on Luu Tiep's face stiffened for a moment. But he quickly recovered, returned to his seat, and looked at me from the ring with a certain look. Phuong Thao spread brocade cushions behind. I sat down respectfully, my back straight, my hands resting on my knees. Another maid placed a chicken cage covered in black cloth next to my feet.
“Let's get started.”
I said. Liu Tiep clapped his hands and ordered someone to bring General Hong to the arena. The ferocious creature flapped its wings and jumped up, firmly landing on the two meter high green stone surface. The fur around its neck stood up, it turned towards me and let out a low growl. A sound like war drums rang out. Cheers immediately rang out in the observation tent. Some people whistled, some banged on the table.
“Great General Hong!”
“Great General Hong!”

I signaled the maid to pull down the black cloth at my feet. In the chicken cage was an old hen cowering, under her wing protecting three soft yellow-feathered chicks, all four mother and children were trembling. The hen sensed the change in light, immediately raised her head, spread her wings and hugged her chicks tighter. It looked at the bright light filling the room and let out a series of frightened cries:
“Cluck cluck cluck!”
The whole arena was silent for a breath. Immediately afterwards, laughter rang out like thunder. 05
“Sure enough, it's an old hen, even bringing her baby?”
“Miss Lam Tu, did you come to the cockfight or did you bring food?”
“If a chicken is this old, it will still be chewy when stewed in soup!”
The leader stood next to the observation tent, covering his eyes with his hands. I lifted the tea cup, gently used the lid to push away the tea leaves floating on the surface, bowed my head and took a sip. Even though we are extremely stressed inside, on the outside we are still as steady as a mountain. If you follow the path of a dignified lady, your image cannot collapse. Luu Tiep was stunned for a long time, then raised his head and laughed loudly, until he fell over. The playboy look he had just regained immediately returned.
"Miss Lam Tu! She... she... Ha ha ha!"
“Are you really planning on using an old hen to fight me?”
“Do you know how many battles General Hong has won and how many fighting cocks he has torn apart?”
“This hen of yours isn't even enough to fit between her teeth!”
He laughed until his whole body trembled, sat down on the chair and waved his hand.
"Okay, okay. Little master won't bully her."
"As long as you admit defeat, I will still take you to the palace. The previous promises remain unchanged."
I slowly put down the tea cup and looked up at him.
"We haven't fought yet, how does Master Liu know that I will definitely lose?"
Luu Tiep retracted his smile and looked at me for a moment, his expression almost smiling.
"It seems that Miss Lam Tu hasn't shed tears until she sees the coffin."
He turned his head and pointed his chin toward the arena.
“Let's get started.”
The person hosting the yard was an old man wearing a green cloth. He held a bronze gong, walked to the front of the arena, cleared his throat and said:
“Guys!”
“Today's cockfight is between Liu Ngu of Dinh Bac Hau palace and Miss Lam Tu of Vinh Xuong Ba palace!”
"The contract is as follows: If Miss Lam Tu loses, she will enter the Liu family's palace as a concubine. If Master Liu Ngu loses, she must return the contract and go around the cockfighting arena to learn how to bark three times!"
"There are the great men of the Cam Y Ve as witnesses. The agreement has been made, it's black and white, don't go back on your word!"
The bronze gong made a "ding" sound.
“In addition, everyone below the stage can bet!”
“Miss Lam Tu wins, one to one hundred!”
He stopped and looked at the notebook in his hand.
“Currently the total bet amount is four hundred and thirty-six tael seven coins.”
There was another loud laugh in the tent. Someone shouted:
“What fool would throw more than four hundred taels into the water?”
The host did not change his face.
“If Young Master Luu wins, one for one point one.”
“Currently the total bet amount is twenty-six thousand eight hundred taels.”
Luu Tiep leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and looked at me with raised eyebrows. That look seemed to say: Have you seen it? No one in the entire capital believes you will win. I pretended not to see, just turned my head and nodded slightly at Phuong Thao. Phuong Thao opened the chicken cage, took out three chicks, and placed them in the small bamboo cage prepared next to the ring. The old hen lost her chicks and immediately anxiously walked around in the cage, stretching her neck and calling towards the small bamboo cage. After that, it was gently pushed by Phuong Thao, and it staggered out of the cage door and onto the blue stone arena. It retracted its neck, its fur tangled. Compared to General Hong who was holding his head high on the other side, he was like a beggar standing in front of a general. Luu Tiep laughed loudly, slapped his thigh, and pointed towards the arena.
“Bite it to death!”

General Hong received the order and flapped his wings vigorously. Claws like iron hooks scratched the green stone surface. It roared and rushed forward. The atmosphere was as fiery as a ball of fire, the sharp beak flashed coldly, stabbing straight towards the old hen's eyes. The hen jumped back, flapping her wings to avoid it. Laughter immediately rang out in the observation tent. But in my ears, two chickens were scolding each other very loudly. General Hong:
"You useless thing! What are you hiding from? Let me cut your head open!"
Old hen:
"You idiot! This old lady doesn't bother to confront you directly. If you have the ability, come and bite me!"