Chapter 6 — Empress Dowager Marries the Regent Prince

They dragged me like a dead dog, step by step, out. When I passed by Bui Triet, I stopped for a moment. I looked at him and spoke softly.

"Bui Triet, one day you will regret it."

Bui Triet didn't look at me. His eyes stopped on the tile floor where I had just knelt. There is a small puddle of water there. Are these my tears? I already don't know how to cry anymore. I was pulled out of Kun Ninh Palace. Outside the palace gate, the sunlight was so bright that it hurt my eyes. I saw Tham Lien standing next to Bui Triet, giving me the smile of a winner. Her lips moved slightly, without making a sound, but we could still read those two words.

"Sister, goodbye."

Heaven is even colder and darker than we ever imagined. The air was filled with the fishy smell of blood mixed with the smell of rotting mold, making people nauseous. I am locked in the deepest prison. The prison door is locked tightly. The last ray of light was also separated outside. I crouched in the straw in the corner of the room, listening to the squeaking sound of rats coming from afar, along with the pitiful groans of unnamed prisoners. I thought I would be afraid. But no. My heart is as calm as a dead puddle. Maybe because I've already died once. Maybe because we know this is not the end yet. I can't die here. If I die, my father, brother, and the entire Tham family will truly have no way to live. We have to live to get out. I don't know how long I was detained. One day, two days, or even longer. No one came to interrogate me, and no one came to visit me. Every day, only one good prisoner stuffed through the small window on the prison door a hard and cold black curtain and a bowl of murky water. I force myself to eat it all. We must keep our strength. I don't know how much time passed, but footsteps were finally heard outside the prison door. Not a good prison. The sound of those footsteps was very quiet, very steady. The other person stopped in front of my prison door. Through the flickering candlelight, we see a pair of black shoes embroidered with gold thread. It's General Manager Ly.

"Tham... miss."

He changed his address.

"Your Majesty sent this old servant to ask the lady a few questions."

I raised my head to look at him.

"What does he want to ask?"

General Manager Ly sighed softly.

"Your Majesty wants to know who gave that map to you."

"If you just say it, Your Majesty... will probably respect your old love and spare your life."

"If I told you, would you believe it?"

"If I say it, will he believe it?"

General Manager Ly was silent. I put my hands on the wall and slowly stood up.

"You go talk to him."

"I have nothing to say."

"Whether you want to kill or cut, it's up to him."

Manager Ly looked at me, his eyes extremely complicated.

"Miss, there's no need to be so miserable."

"You just need to... just say that General Tham gave it to you and push everything to the Tham family."

"You can still... save your life."

I looked at him and suddenly understood. This is not Bui Triet's intention. It was the idea of General Manager Ly himself. He followed my father for many years and received favors from the Tham family. He couldn't bear to see me die. He wanted me to use the Tham family in exchange for my own life.

"General Manager Ly."

I looked at him and slowly said each word.

"Thank you for your good intentions."

"But I, Tham Vi, am a member of the Tham family in life, and so am I in death ghost of the Tham family."

"I absolutely will not sell my loved ones out of greed for survival."

General Manager Ly's eyes turned red. He bowed deeply before me.

"I understand, old slave."

He turned around to leave. I called him back. He turned his head.

"Can I... ask you to help me with something?"

"You just say it, lady."

"Please... help me pass a sentence to my brother."

My voice is very soft, almost to the point of being inaudible.

"Just tell him, it's time to change the soil for the 'Mac Lan' pot at home."

Manager Ly paused for a moment, clearly not understanding.

"Mac Lan? Change the soil?

I nodded.

"After listening, he will automatically understand."

Even though he didn't understand, General Manager Ly still nodded and accepted.

"Old slave remembers."

He's gone. Thien Lao returned to the silence of death. I leaned my back against the wall and slowly slid down to sit. Mac Lan is the signal between me and my brother. It refers to the eyes and ears that the Tham family installed in the royal palace. Changing the soil means it's time to give him a warm-up.