Chapter 12 — He Wants To Use Me To Hide A Secret

I trembled and reached out my hand to receive the package. It's very light. But it weighs like a thousand pounds. I slowly unfold each layer of oilcloth. Inside was not a stack of letters as we imagined. It's a... A book of 《Sutra of Poetry》 that looks extremely ordinary. The pages of the book have turned yellow, the four corners are worn out, and when you look at it, you can tell that it has been turned over countless times.

"This is..."

I looked at Lieu That suspiciously.

"Whoever opens it will know."

Lieu That's voice still couldn't hide her excitement. I took a deep breath and turned the first page of the book. On the page of the book is the delicate handwriting of a young woman, next to each verse are covered with notes written in small letters.

"'You threw me a peach, I responded with a jade. It's not to repay me, I just wish to have a good relationship forever.' —— Today, Corridor gave me a jade pendant, my heart is extremely happy."

"'A day without seeing each other is as long as three autumns.' —— We've only been apart for two days, but I miss you like crazy."

"'Live and die together, with the person we promised. Hold your hand, grow old together.' —— I wish to be with you forever and ever, never to be apart."

We turn each page, one page at a time. The whole book 《Sutra of Poetry》, more than three hundred poems. Next to each poem are filled with such endless and passionate comments, filled with such sentiments. Between each line of words is the hottest, most intense love of a young woman for the person she loves. The person she called "Corridor". No need to say it. This is no longer a book of 《Sutra of Poetry》. It's clearly Khuong Chieu's old love diary! Compared to any love letter, it is more personal. More daring. More deadly! My hand holding the book kept shaking.

"This...where was this found?"

"In an abandoned warehouse at the Khuong family's mansion." Lieu That replied.

"That year when Khuong Chieu entered the palace, all the things in her chamber were burned by her mother. But this book of 《Kinh Thi》 was secretly hidden by an old servant in charge of cleaning. That old servant felt that burning this book would be too unfortunate, so he always kept it, but later it was accidentally discovered by our people."

This is truly God's will! Khuong Chieu thought he had destroyed all traces, but he did not expect that there was still a mistake in hundreds of secrets, leaving behind this most fatal evidence. I closed the book, my heart beating wildly. Having this thing is like holding Khuong Chieu's throat. But still not enough. This alone can at most prove that before they got married, she and Ta Hanh had feelings. Although that incident damaged the royal family's reputation, in order to preserve the overall situation, His Majesty would not necessarily disown the queen because of that. We need an opportunity. An opportunity can make this diary exert its greatest damage. I looked at Lieu That, my eyes shining.

"Aunt Liu, I still need you to help me do one more thing."

"Something that could cause the Queen herself to put her right under our blades."

Lieu That looked at the cold light in my eyes and suddenly shivered. She knew that the city's sky was really about to change.

"Eldest lady, please advise." Lieu That's voice was now completely calm, leaving only absolute obedience.

I walked to the front of the bench. The candlelight stretches our shadow and casts it up the wall, like a demon controlling everything.

"I want you to organize a 'gentle practice' session."

"Nha practice?" Lieu That was stunned.

"Yes. An elegant practice session with the largest scale and most attraction in the entire capital." I spoke slowly. "The chosen location is 'Lan Dinh' outside the city. Time, seven days later."

Lan Dinh is a private courtyard built by a great Confucian in the previous dynasty, with elegant scenery. It has always been a place favored by aristocrats and literati in the capital to gather and feast.

"The name of the elegant practice organization will be in my name." I continue talking. "Let's just say that I have just recovered from a serious illness. I am grateful for God's love of life. Also, to thank you for your care in the capital over the past time, I specially opened this elegant gathering, using poetry to make friends, inviting all the talented men and women in the capital to come enjoy the scenery and discuss literature."

Lieu That frowned slightly.

"Eldest lady, what do you mean... you want to appear in person?"

I nodded.

"Not only do I appear, I also want this elegant gathering to be held solemnly, so that the whole capital will know."

"You should distribute invitations widely. The eldest son and eldest daughter of the high-ranking mandarins in the court must not miss anyone. Famous actors and noble men of high moral character in the capital must also be invited."

"I want everyone to know, not only was I Tham Trieu Van not defeated after that storm, but I also lived more brilliantly than before."