Chapter 2 — General Triumph Blocks My Prayer, My Palace Has No Free Time

"Your Majesty, I and Duong Nguyet... and Hue Quy Phi, who were childhood sweethearts, had a marriage contract long ago."

"Four years ago, it was the god of foxes who betrayed her."

"Now that I have successfully achieved fame, I wish to make it up to you. Please, Your Majesty, please grant me your permission to be my wife!"

At court, the expressions of civil and military officials were extremely unique. Some people were surprised. Some people despise it. Some people look like they're having fun watching the show. Duong Nguyet's father, currently Vice-Chairman Duong Van Vien, was at the top of the civil mandarin line, so angry that his beard trembled. He took a step forward, the plate in his hand almost pointing straight at Tieu Quyet's face.

“General Xiao, after fighting for so many years, you don't even know how to speak human language anymore?”

Tieu Quyet raised his neck to respond.

“Deputy, this is a private matter between me and Nguyet Nhi.”

“Shut up!”

Duong Van Vien shouted loudly.

“The noble lady's name is also something you can call her?”

He turned around and bowed deeply to the emperor on the dragon's throne, his voice filled with sorrow and indignation.

"My young lady, from the time I entered the palace until now, I have been with you wholeheartedly, heaven and earth can witness, sun and moon can shine!"

"The lady has just given birth to your prince, her body has not yet fully recovered, it is time to rest."

“No time!”

“No mind!”

"Here, I'm accompanying this guy who won the battle and doesn't even know his last name, but he's acting like a mess!"

Duong Thai Duong's words resounded like a hammer hitting the ground. The whole hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. All eyes turned to the young emperor on the dragon's throne. The emperor's finger gently tapped the armrest of the long chair, emitting a dull sound. Then again. It's like knocking on everyone's heart. He did not look at Tieu Quyet kneeling on the ground, nor did he look at his father-in-law. His eyes seemed to penetrate through each layer of electricity of Kim Loan Palace, falling to the far away harem. A long time later. He slowly opened his mouth, but there was no heat in his voice.

“Tieu Quyet.”

“Do you know the crime?”

Tieu Quyet suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“What is my crime?”

"I just want to propose to the person I love, to make up for my past mistakes!"

He seemed to be grasping at the last straw to save his life, his words were extremely urgent.

"Your Majesty, I know that Concubine Hue is your favorite concubine, but your harem has three thousand nobles, there is no shortage of her."

“I vow to use all my military efforts to pacify the Northern region in exchange for you!”

These words are like adding fuel to the fire. Duong Thai Phu was so angry that his eyes darkened and he almost fainted. The surrounding officials did not dare to breathe loudly, bowing their heads in unison, afraid of being implicated in the anger of the man on the throne. The Emperor laughed. The laughter was very soft, but like an iceberg in the middle of a winter day in December, both cold and crisp.

“Your military merit?”

He repeated it once, with a slight curl at the end, carrying a hint of mockery full of interest.

"General Tran Quoc's military achievements are truly great."

The Emperor stood up and slowly walked down the throne. Every step he took, Tieu Quyet's heart sank a little more. A pair of bright yellow dragons stopped in front of Tieu Quyet. The feeling of oppression from above made Tieu Quyet almost unable to breathe.

“Tieu Quyet, I tell you, you committed three crimes."

The emperor's voice was still calm, but carried an irrefutable majesty.

"First, to be surprised and far away from the Noble Concubine, to disregard the palace rules, that is disrespectful."

"Second, screaming in front of the palace, speaking arrogantly, and spying on the king's concubine, that is unexpected."

The Emperor stopped for a moment, bent down, leaned close to Tieu Quyet's ear, and used a voice that only the two of them could hear, speaking word by word.

"You made my woman, my noble concubine, my prince's mother... suffer injustice."

“That is… death penalty.”

The last two words were as light as feathers, but as heavy as ten thousand thunderbolts, fiercely pounding Tieu Quyet's heart. His whole body trembled, cold sweat instantly soaked the back of his shirt. It wasn't until this moment that he truly realized that the person sitting in front of him was no longer a military commander who needed to rely on his military merits. But the emperor is in charge of the world, his words become law!

“Your Majesty… I… I…”

Tieu Quyet's lips trembled, he couldn't say a word. The Emperor stood up straight, restoring his previous indifferent expression.

"But I remember that you just pacified the Northern region and have contributed to the society."

“The crime of death can be waived.”

Tieu Quyet suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that things still had a way to turn around.

“But the sin of living is hard to forgive.”

The emperor's eyes swept across the main hall, his voice clearly transmitted into everyone's ears.

“Pass on my will.”

"Tran Quoc general Tieu Quyet, unconcerned in front of the imperial court, undisciplined, punished for one year, closed for more than three months."

The emperor's eyes once again fell on Tieu Quyet, the corner of his lips curved up into a cold curve.

"I heard that the prime minister's family name is Liu, gentle and kind, and has a deep love for the general's husband and wife."

“I am very happy.”

“A hundred taels of gold, ten rolls of brocade, and a pair of wish-fulfilling jade.”

"I hope that General Tran Quoc and his wife will be peaceful in the future, and not... give birth to ideas that should not be had."

As soon as the decree was given, the whole court was in an uproar. Is this not a reward? Obviously a threat! It's a warning! Right in front of the civil and martial arts tyrant, he fiercely slapped Tieu Quyet in the face! The Emperor was telling him, and telling everyone: Concubine Hue Quy was his person. And the general's wife is your wife.