Chapter 18 — Changed the entire Inheritance Lineage to Choose the Wolf King

Three days after the shocking audience, the situation at Nguyet Anh Thanh became more tense than ever. Notices were posted all over the streets, announcing the upcoming trial, causing people to chatter, divided into two distinct camps - one side believed in the innocence of the royal concubine based on what they had witnessed with their own eyes on the coast, the other side was deeply skeptical of the "official" evidence from the Storm Wolf Clan.

In the palace, Yen Chi's movements were restricted, only allowed to stay in her private area under the supervision of a few soldiers personally selected by Dinh Vu — not to guard her like a prisoner, but to protect her from extremists who might seek to cause harm while public opinion was boiling.

Those soldiers, despite their status as supervisors, treated her with a discreet respect - they still clearly remembered the image of the princess wading through the mud with the coastal people, and in their hearts, the suspicion from the court was not enough to erase that impression. A young soldier, every time he brought her a meal, bowed his head a little more than usual, as a way of expressing silent support that he did not dare to say out loud.

Yen Chi recognized those small gestures, and although they were nothing compared to the weight of the accusations hanging over her head, they still brought a little warmth amid the coldest days since she arrived in Bach Lang.

"I'm not used to being locked in four walls like this," Yen Chi said to Lang Phong on a rare evening when he could visit her, his voice full of fatigue but still trying to remain resilient.

"I know," he replied, taking her hand. "But this is a necessary measure now. I cannot let anything happen to you before the trial takes place."

"Do you think we have a chance to win?" she asked, her eyes filled with undisguised concern.

Lang Phong was silent for a moment before answering, not wanting to make empty promises. "I don't know for sure. Those fake letters were very sophisticated, and Cung Bach Uy and some other elders were somewhat convinced by the official appearance of the delegation from the Storm Wolf Clan. But I believe, if we properly present the evidence we have, along with Thiet Phong's testimony if we can get him here in time, we have a chance to turn the situation around."

"Thiet Phong," Yen Chi repeated, his voice filled with worry. "I don't know where he is or if he's safe. Mrs. Le said he was suspected right after sending me evidence."

"I sent someone to secretly contact Dinh Thi Le to learn more about the situation," Lang Phong said. "But this takes time, and we don't have much time to wait."

He looked at her for a long time, then gently hugged her, a rare gesture in these stressful days. "Yen Chi, no matter what happens at the trial, I want you to know one thing — I have never, not even for a moment, doubted your innocence. Even if the whole world turns its back, I will still stand by your side."

"Thank you," she whispered, resting her head on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat as a solid support amid the storm that surrounded her.

Meanwhile, in the study room, Dich Bach Duong was working tirelessly to prepare for the trial, comparing every detail in the forged letters with samples of Yen Chi's real handwriting that he had collected from official documents she had signed during court affairs.

"There are small, but noticeable differences," he reported to Chu Dinh Vu during a late-night work session. "The way the word 'Yen' is written in the royal concubine's name has a unique hook that is completely absent in these fake letters. The forger did a very good job overall, but could not perfectly copy the smallest details."

"Will this be enough to convince the Elder Council?" Dinh Vu asked, looking skeptical.

"It alone is not enough," Dich Bach Duong admitted. "But combined with the evidence of Huyen Huong and Wang Bachyi's testimony, if we can force him to tell the truth, we can build a strong enough argument."

"Uong Bach Nghi has now been released as an official messenger," Dinh Vu said, his voice filled with exasperation. "He has somehow cleverly escaped our custody, and is now in a position of diplomatic protection. We cannot interrogate him as before without causing a more serious diplomatic crisis."

"I have asked people to investigate who in the court signed the order to release him," he added, his voice growing increasingly harsh, "but the trail led to a low-ranking prison officer, who suddenly asked for leave to return to his hometown shortly after and disappeared without a trace. Clearly, this was another link in a network that had been prepared in advance, not a random mistake."

This was the most sophisticated move in Tieu Yen's plan — by having Uong Bach Nghi "released" and assuming the status of an official messenger, she turned a suspect into a figure protected by diplomatic rules, making the investigation that much more complicated.

"We need to find another way to force him to reveal himself," Yen Chi said when informed of the situation, her eyes flashing with determination. "If we can't interrogate him directly, we need to find evidence strong enough to make him unable to deny it right at trial, in front of everyone."

"The princess is right," Dich Bach Duong agreed. "We need to put all our efforts into preparing for the trial itself — where every piece of evidence, every testimony, will be publicly presented to the Council of Elders and the entire court. That will be our only chance, and our last chance, to turn the tide."

He pondered for a moment, then added, his voice somewhat reserved. "I must also speak frankly, Your Highness and Your Highness — even though we have evidence of Huan Huong, even though we have strong suspicions about Wang Bach Yi's role, without the direct testimony of a witness from the Storm Wolf Clan themselves, confirming this entire conspiracy, we are still standing on quite fragile ground before a Council that is inclined towards extreme caution."

"Thie Phong is the only witness who can do that," Yen Chi said, his voice heavy. "And now he's missing."

The remaining days before the trial passed in a non-stop cycle of stressful preparations. Yen Chi, even though her movement was restricted, still spent all her time reviewing every detail of the evidence with Dich Bach Duong, trying to predict every argument that the other side could make to prepare a rebuttal plan.

The night before the trial, she received unexpected news from Dinh Thi Le through the last secret communication line still working - news that both brought hope and made her more worried than ever.

*"Dear, I don't know where Thiet Phong is being held. After you received the evidence, he disappeared from the detention room that night, no one in the government knew any more news. I'm afraid Tieu Yen took him to some secret place. Please be careful, and don't let your hope depend on finding him in time."*

Yen Chi read the letter under the flickering candlelight, her heart heavy with worry. Tomorrow is the trial that will decide her fate, and the person who could bring the most important evidence — Thiet Phong's direct testimony — is now missing, possibly in danger somewhere she can't reach.

She looked out the window, towards the moonless night sky, silently praying for the safety of her eldest brother who risked his life for her, and preparing herself for tomorrow - the day that could determine not only her own fate, but also the future of the alliance between the two lands.

She placed her hand on the faint streak of light that had appeared on her skin during the rainy night in the Black Forest - now long gone, but its warm feeling seemed to still linger somewhere in her body's memory. If that Wolf Seal is real, if the connection between her and Lang Phong is so genuine that even nature has to recognize it, then she believes that somehow, the truth will eventually find a way to reveal itself - no matter how bumpy and painful that road is.