Chapter 16 — Empress Dowager Marries the Regent Prince

I don't look at him anymore. I raised my sword and stabbed hard at Tham Lien. Fresh blood splashed all over my face. Tham Lien fell to the ground, his eyes wide open, dead without closing his eyes. I put down the sword and turned around to look at Bui Triet. He sat down on the long chair, as if he had aged ten years in just a moment. Co Huyen Diep and Tham Duc completely controlled the entire main hall. The general situation has been decided. Co Huyen Diep walked to my side, using his sleeve to gently wipe away the blood on my face.

"It's over."

I looked at him and asked softly.

"Is the baby... really okay?"

Co Huyen Diep was silent for a moment. Then, he nodded slightly.

"That night, she was drugged by medicine given by Tham Lien and had a high fever that wouldn't go away."

"If you don't solve it, she will die."

In the end, I don't become Queen anymore. Bui Triet was deposed from the throne and imprisoned in the palace. For the rest of his life, he did not take another step outside the palace gate. Co Huyen Diep ascended the throne and changed the country's name to "Diep". He wants to make me Queen. I refuse. I told him I wanted to go home. Back to Giang Nam. He won't keep me here. On the day of the coronation ceremony, he ordered someone to return to me the phoenix robe that I used to wear. There are still traces of my blood from my previous life on the phoenix robe. Cannot be washed anymore. I took Xuan Dao out of the capital. Don't notify anyone. I originally thought that the relationship between me and Co Huyen Diep would end here. In his life, I was just a passerby. It was a chess piece that he conveniently saved out of gratitude and also for power. As for that baby... In the end, I didn't keep him. Co Huyen Diep is right, I was indeed drugged. The doctor said, that medicine has damaged my vital organs, even if I give birth to a child, I will not necessarily be healthy. I don't want you to come to this world having to carry such a heavy past on your shoulders. I stayed alone in a small town in Giang Nam. Use the money my mother left me to buy a small cottage. The yard is also filled with Mac Lan flowers. My father and elder brother were both cleared of all crimes by Co Huyen Diep. His father returned home and returned to his ancestral home in Jiangnan. His brother continued to guard the border for him, becoming his powerful right-hand man and the person he trusted the most. The Tham family is safe and sound. That is the best outcome. The days passed quietly. The story in the capital gradually became a distant legend. It is said that the new emperor takes care of politics, loves people, is focused on governing the country, and is a rare wise monarch. It's just that after three years of ascending the throne, his harem is still empty. There is no Queen. There are also no concubines. That story caused the courtiers to argue until heaven and earth broke out. But from beginning to end, he remained unmoved. That day, I was sitting in the yard reading a book. Xuan Dao hurriedly ran in.

"Miss! Mistress!"

"Outside... there's a very luxurious carriage outside!"

I put the book down, filled with doubt. In this small town, I have no acquaintances. We walked out the front gate. Seeing a black horse carriage quietly stopping in front of my house. The car curtains are raised. A man wearing moon-white civilian clothes stepped down. The road is dusty, but the style is still unparalleled. It's Co Huyen Diep. He looked at me and smiled. Just like our first time When we meet, it's like melting snow and ice.

"I'm here to take you home."

I stood there stunned, not knowing what to do. He walked up to me and took something out of his chest. It was a small seal carved from white jade. It is the phoenix seal.

"Giang Son, I have taken it back for you."

He placed the phoenix seal in my palm.

"Now, can you tell me what you really want?"

I look at him. Look at the starlight in his eyes. Suddenly... I understand. What he wants has never been a country before. Never had power. What he wants... It's always just me. Since the moment in my previous life, when he led his army to storm the palace to demand justice for me. Since the moment in this life, when he defied everything and carried me out of heaven. What he wants... My tears fall silently. This time, it's not out of hatred. It's not because of pain either. It's for happiness. I gently stood on tiptoe and gently kissed his lips.

"Co Huyen Diep."

I looked at him, smiled and said.

"What I want..."

"It's you."

He hugged me tightly. The Jiangnan sunshine is so warm. Shine on us. Also illuminates the... phoenix robe... which I keep at the bottom of the chest like a treasure. (END OF FULL TEXT)