Chapter 1 — Dark Guard Without Dreams

After replacing Tieu Nghien Tu's Tra Concubine and suffering ninety-nine lashes at Dai Ly Tu, I once again limped back to Tieu Palace. Everyone says I'm a lowly person. From fifteen to twenty-five, ten full years, I willingly stayed by his side, enduring all the torments, without a single complaint. Later, in order to block the sword for Tieu Nghien Tu, the token I kept for ten years fell to the ground with a crash. The prince, who had always been arrogant and arrogant, bowed for the first time. His eyes were red, he almost collapsed, asking again and again:

“Jiang Van Duong, you have been with me for so many years, just because you were left behind by your father's secret guard?”

1

When I returned to the palace, I changed into a clean set of clothes. The wound on the body was only lightly treated, rubbing with rough cloth caused intermittent pain. I knelt in front of Tieu Nghien Tu and was about to speak, but the cup of tea in his hand was thrown straight onto my forehead. Immediately, her hair was soaked and blood flowed from her forehead.

“Jiang Van Duong, do you still have this king as your master in your eyes?”

"Being missing for half a day, neglecting your position, do you know your crime?"

Seeing that cold face, I moved my lips, intending to argue, but he coldly interrupted me.

"That's enough! Can you stop being annoying? Quickly go draw water and serve Cam Sat to soak his feet!"

The idea of explanation immediately disappeared, I bowed my head silently, obediently retreated outside to fetch water. When I turned around, a crack in the door, I heard his voice gently comforting Duong Cam Sat, his tone was gentle like never before.

"Don't worry, just leave it to me to offend Khanh Khanh Dai Ly Tu's wife. It's just that a maid next to me was beaten to death, it must have been because she was rude first, I will handle it properly."

"Don't worry, even if they are people of Dai Ly Tu, they will not dare to touch you, out of respect for me."

I lightly glanced at the fierce whip mark on the back of my hand, then quickly retracted my hand and hid it in my sleeve. It turned out that Tieu Nghien Tu's power was so great that it could silence Dai Ly Tu. The punishment of whipping on Duong Cam Sat's behalf turned out to be avoidable. I quietly brought a basin of water to her, like hundreds of afternoons before, took off my shoes and socks, and prepared to serve her foot bath. However, as soon as she touched the water, she screamed:

“Ah! So hot!”

Tieu Nghien Tu immediately kicked the water basin over. Hot water splashed all over my body, the wound was hit, burning like fire, I gritted my teeth in pain and rolled my eyes.

“Giang Van Duong, this king knows you are jealous because Cam Sat can be honest and upright by my side.”

"This king can't look at the way you look at me, a secret guard with delusional thoughts."

"But Cam Sat is pregnant with this king's flesh and blood, how could you target her like that?"

“You, a secret guard who cannot see the light of the sun, dare to dream of becoming this royal concubine, replacing Cam Sat?”

Duong Cam Sat shivered and nestled into Tieu Nghien Tu's arms. I know, saying anything is redundant, so I have to bow my head and admit my mistake:

“I'm sorry, but I never had that thought.”

Tieu Nghien Tu's face became even more gloomy. Duong Cam Sat pulled his sleeve and cooed:

"I'm probably a bit sensitive because I'm pregnant. Don't blame Guard Jiang anymore, it's not easy for her to work hard all day."

“The bones in my stomach are stirring again, the weather is hot, I want to come I can rest at the mountain site for a few days, is that okay?"

Seeing me still standing there stunned, Tieu Nghien Tu immediately kicked me:

“Why are you still standing there? Didn't you hear Cam Sat's words? Immediately pack your things, this king wants to see the convoy depart in a moment!”

2

The horse carriage rolled slowly along the winding mountain road. Duong Cam Sat felt frustrated, lifted the car curtain and peered out, looking east and west. Along the way, there was constant complaining and noise that gave me a headache. When passing by a cliff, she pointed to the high ledge hanging there:

“Those flowers look so different, Guard Jiang, your light skills are not bad, help me pick a branch, okay?”

I quietly took advantage of the energy in my body, examined my injury, then turned around and dismounted. I'm just seriously injured, how can I be as strong as before? My body was cut by the rough gravel on the mountain road, every step was painful. My body is no longer as agile as before. Duong Cam Sat waited for a while and then became dissatisfied.

"Your Majesty, I seem to be a bit tired... shouldn't I have sent Guard Giang to pick flowers, delaying the journey like that..."

From behind came a scorching hot gaze - Tieu Nghien Tu was looking at me.

"It's okay, it's not your fault."

“Maybe he's acting childish or something. If you're tired, go up the mountain first to rest. If she wants to delay, just let her stay and pick."

After speaking, he ordered the coachman to spur the horses and drive away, bluntly leaving me in the middle of the mountains and forests. The night clothes on his body were not colored, and it was unclear when sweat or blood had soaked his back. The cold mountain wind blew past, making me shiver.

3

By the time I finished picking that flower, the price had long disappeared. My horse also left with the company, so I gritted my teeth and walked up the mountain. When we reached the mountain site, it was already dawn. I took out the flower branch I was still holding in my arms, only to see that the petals were drooping and no longer had their spring color. Duong Cam Sat was already uncomfortable when he woke up, but now that he saw flowers, his face became even more unsightly and he complained of a stomach ache.