Chapter 5 — Empress Dowager Marries the Regent Prince

Bui Triet's face became even more gloomy. He swung the map violently, throwing it right in my face. The edge of the paper brushed against my cheekbone, leaving a trail of burning pain.

"Is grace as heavy as a mountain?"

He smiled coldly.

"In your eyes, I'm afraid I'm the enemy who killed your father!"

"The Tham family holds military power, now even the map of the secret passage in my palace is in hand."

"Tham Vi, what exactly do you Tham family want to do?"

"Do you want my family name to be changed to Tham?"

"Your Majesty, I won't do it."

My voice was very quiet, but extremely determined.

"The Tham family has been loyal for many generations, and has absolutely no intention of plotting."

"Ridiculous!"

Bui Triet was extremely angry and laughed coldly.

"So how do you explain this map?"

"My queen secretly kept a map of the palace's secret passageway. How did she tell the world to trust her?"

I looked at him and slowly said each word.

"My concubine was harmed by someone else."

My eyes went past him, shooting straight towards Tham Lien standing behind him. Seeing me look at him like that, Tham Lien felt guilty and hid deeper behind Bui Triet.

"Sister...don't look at me like that."

"I know you hate me, but you can't just arbitrarily slander me just because you want to get away with it."

As she spoke, tears fell from her eyes again.

"Your Majesty, Lien Nhi really doesn't know anything."

Bui Triet put his hand behind his back to protect her, his eyes looking at me filled with disgust.

"That's enough, Tham Vi."

"At this point, she still wants to deny it."

"You really make me... so disappointed."

Those two words again. In my previous life, when he gave me the cup of poisoned wine, he also said these two words correctly. My heart is numb. I don't look at him anymore, nor do I look at Tham Lien anymore. I slowly knelt down. Not guilty. It's a request. I raised my head and looked straight into his eyes.

"My concubine knows that she is guilty of a serious crime, and it is difficult for her to explain herself with a hundred words."

"I do not ask Your Majesty to believe that I am innocent."

"I just ask your Majesty, to respect old feelings, investigate this matter to the end."

"Repay this concubine a favor, and also pay the Tham family a favor."

I lower my posture to the extreme. Because I know, any toughness at this time will only make him angrier. What we need is not to argue with him. What we need is time. As long as we have enough time, we will definitely find evidence to prove our innocence. Bui Triet looked down at me from above. The anger in his eyes gradually receded, replaced by a bottomless coldness and fatigue.

"Investigation to the end?"

He seemed to have just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"How do you want me to investigate?"

"Investigate your father who is holding heavy troops, or investigate your brother who is guarding the border?"

"Tham Vi, do you really think I'm an idiot?"

"As long as I dare to investigate, will the Tham family's soldiers and horses arrive at the temple tomorrow morning?"

My heart sinks little by little. It turned out that in his heart, the Tham family had long been a thorn in his side that needed to be removed. The so-called secret map is just an excuse. An excuse for him to act righteously against the Tham family. I understand. Got it all. I closed my eyes and didn't say another word. No matter what you say, it's okay useful. Quan wants me to die, I cannot help but die. He wants to destroy the queen, can I still resist? Seeing me silent, the last ray of warmth in Bui Triet's eyes completely disappeared. He turned around and walked out into the middle of the main hall. His voice echoed throughout the Kun Ninh palace.

"Pass on my will."

"The Queen surnamed Tham, has a jealous nature, is not worthy of her position, and secretly keeps a secret map. She has treasonous intentions, an unforgivable crime."

"From today, I will abolish the position of queen and be imprisoned in heaven, awaiting trial."

"The entire Tham family has been handed over to Dai Ly Tu for investigation. No one is allowed to visit."

"Try it."

As soon as the decree was given, all the palace staff in the Kun Ninh palace simultaneously knelt down. Long live the mountain ho. I was the only one still quietly kneeling in place. In this life, in the end, we still cannot escape. Even worse than the previous life. In my previous life, at least I died in my Kun Ninh palace. In this life, I have to go to a dark and damp dungeon, a place where I will never see sunlight. Two guards stepped forward, one left, one right, holding my arms tightly. I do not protest.