Chapter 7 — He Gave The Wrong Concubine, I Received The Correct Queen's Throne

Father finally couldn't hold on anymore and fell to the ground. Mother cried and called my name.

"Forgive my sister."

"It's just temporary confusion."

I turned my head to look at her.

"Mother."

"Until now..."

"Do you still think you're the only one who's wrong?"

She opened her mouth. But speechless. Lam Ngoc Dao suddenly knelt down, crawled in front of me, and tried to hug my leg.

"Sister, you are wrong."

"I'll give you back Dong Chau, and give you your jewelry."

"Don't take me to the palace."

We take a step back. She missed the hug. I bowed my head to look at her.

"What I'm afraid of..."

"Not in the palace."

"But there will be no one left to bear the blame for me."

Right at that moment. Outside the door suddenly sounded the high-pitched voice of the inner lady.

"Your Majesty is here."

Everyone in the yard simultaneously knelt down. Yen Hanh walked in from outside the door. Today, he is wearing a jet-colored casual outfit with gold embroidery on the cuffs. But his expression was even colder than that night in the palace. His eyes glanced at the silk roll, the bronze lock, Lam Ngoc Dao, then Tham Le. Finally stopped on my face.

"Are you hurt?"

I shook my head.

"Do not have."

The person nodded slightly.

"That's good."

Tham Le knelt on the ground, her voice tense.

"Your Majesty, this matter has not yet been investigated clearly."

Yen Hanh looked at him.

"I know."

"So..."

"I just let you speak while you're still alive."

That day, Tham Le and Lam Ngoc Dao were both taken to the palace for questioning. My parents also followed me far into the palace. In front of the gate of the Prime Minister's Palace, more and more people stood watching. No one says I have good luck anymore. The way their eyes looked at the paint box in the guard's hand had changed. Before, they laughed at me for being rejected. They were afraid that the Prime Minister's Palace was hiding a huge disaster. I sit in the far palace, holding the Dong Chau brooch in my hand. The pearl is still as gentle as ever. But my fingertips are cold. This item... Has returned. Old mementos left by my ancestors. Each item will also return to us. But the years were stolen. Will never go back. The long palace entered the royal citadel. The Queen Mother was waiting for me in the main hall. As soon as he saw the Dong Chau brooch in my hand, his eyes slightly sank for a moment.

"Did you get it back?"

I nodded.

"I got it back."

The man asked the female official to take the paint box. Thin rolls of silk and pieces of silver were spread on the long bench. Yen Hanh stood before the judge. Next to him are two old gods. After looking at the silk scroll. Each person's face was more unsightly than the last. One of them lowered his voice.

"This is the old defense map of Bien Bac."

"Even though it's missing three key positions, it's still enough to trace the path of fortune."

Another person looked intently at the piece of silver.

"This half piece should be the table of contents of a military book."

"If the remaining half falls into someone else's hands, the two pieces combined will form a complete code."

Hearing those words, I just felt like my heart was immersed in ice water. The Queen Mother sat in the highest position, her fingertips gently tapping on the armrest.

"The Shen family has been watching for many years."

"As expected, it's not just because I want to marry a bride."

I look towards people.

"Did the Queen Mother already suspect the Tham family?"

The Queen Mother did not hide it from me.

"That year my great-grandmother guarded Bien Bac, her death was full of doubts."

"She left behind half a military book, which was right was taken to the palace, but lost on the way."

"Then she asked someone to bring the jade pendant."

"Just a message, if your niece is forced to the point where she has no way to retreat, please welcome her into the palace."

"Who has been waiting for so many years?"

"Don't wait for the baby to cry."

"But wait until they can't stand it anymore and take action themselves."

My throat is choked.

"What if I held back yesterday?"

The Queen Mother looked at me.

"So they'll take more."

"You will also die in the so-called harmonious home."

This word is very heavy. But I know. You're right. Lam Ngoc Dao can steal Dong Chau, steal copper locks, steal silk scrolls. If I give her a little more time. She will put everything her grandmother left behind into Tham Le's hands. But mother will say... My sister is still young, she doesn't understand things. Father will say... The Lam family's reputation is the most important. If we make a fuss. They will blame me for not caring about friendship. If I die. Maybe they just sighed... Unlucky fate. At that moment, Yen Hanh spoke up.

"This matter involves the Tham family, the Lam family, and can even involve the former ministries of Bien Bac."

"Right now the evidence is not enough."

"You cannot rely on just half a roll of silk to determine a felony."

I nodded. The Queen Mother looked at me.

"Do you blame anyone for not immediately making them fall to the dust?"