Chapter 4 — I am the Fourth Thien Co

The sound of footsteps outside the secret room grew closer and closer. I immediately hid the diary in my sleeve and reached out to push the painting of Co Thanh Hoa back to its original position. The organ closes very gently, leaving almost no trace. Just as he finished, there was a slight noise from the stone door outside. I hold my breath. The door doesn't open. People outside seemed to just pass by, stop for a moment and then leave. Only when the sound of footsteps disappeared completely did I realize that my palms were wet and cold. This Ninh Vuong palace is certainly no safe place. I didn't dare to stay any longer, picked up the diary and returned to the heavenly garden before dawn. That night, I didn't sleep anymore. The small lamp in the room was blocked by my tea cup. I sat by the bed, continuing to read the second part of Co Thanh Hoa's diary. From the day she discovered that a strange convoy of vehicles was passing by at night, she began to secretly investigate. She did not write that she was afraid. But the notes are increasingly careful. May thirteenth.

“The convoy is going north.”

“Do not fly the good fortune flag.”

"The abscessed person wears civilian clothes and walks like a military barracks."

May seventeenth.

"The road repairman said that last night there were thirty more vehicles passing through the eastern road."

“The wheel sinks deep.”

“It's not like carrying medicine.”

May twenty.

"I asked the officer in charge of the grain warehouse, he said I shouldn't ask about things outside of duty."

"Mandarin's leadership is originally for good fortune."

“But if the transport is not food.”

“If you go there, you're not a commoner.”

"So the path we open, in the end, is it bringing anything to where?"

I stared at that line for a long time. Below, Co Thanh Hoa began mentioning the new dyke map. After the big flood, she discovered that old dikes in six continents had problems. If you just repair the broken area, the disaster will repeat itself a few years later. So she drew a complete map, marking water lines, low-lying areas, food warehouses, transportation routes, and places where tents could be set up in case of natural disasters. That map was originally used to save people. But because it is so detailed, it becomes extremely dangerous. Who knows that map? That person not only knows where to save first. But also know where it can be controlled first.

“I'm starting to understand.”

“Knowledge does not harm anyone by itself.”

“But knowledge falling into the hands of a selfish person will become something more terrifying than a sword.”

I unconsciously tightened the edge of the paper. At that moment, a name appeared in the diary. To Lien Nguyet. This is the first time Co Thanh Hoa mentioned her. According to records, that day To Lien Nguyet wore a white dress and brought a box of breakfast to the old tent to visit her. She spoke very softly, her eyes were red, and she looked like she was genuinely worried. She said:

"Miss Gu, I know you love the people, and I also know you can't bear to see the common people suffer. But the dyke map is a big deal, keeping it in your hands will make the court feel uneasy."

Co Thanh Hoa asked:

“What if I hand it over and it gets misused?”

To Lien Nguyet was silent for a moment. Then she sighed softly.

"This world belongs to Your Majesty. King Ninh is also for Dai Chu. Since you are Thien Co Nu, bringing the destiny of heaven, shouldn't you think about the overall situation?"

“I cannot deliver.”

It's not that I don't want to. Which is impossible. Because she knew that if that map fell into the wrong hands, it could save the people and also control them. Can luck salary, can also deploy troops. Can protect six continents, can also turn six continents into a chessboard in the hands of others. That night, she decided to look for Tieu Lam Uyen. When I read this paragraph, my finger stopped slightly. Co Thanh Hoa still believes in him. Or rather, she had no choice but to trust him for once.

“Ninh Vuong once came to the medical tent.”

“He has seen people being saved.”

“He once bowed his head to thank me.”

“If there is one person in the court who understands where this road should lead, I hope it is him.”

I suddenly felt a choke in my heart. A person who has seen the light, in the end, still wants to believe that the light has not completely gone out. But here comes the diary. The handwriting began to tremble.

“I brought the map out of the tent.”

“It's very cold at night.”

“There is only one street away from Ninh Vuong Palace.”

“I heard the bell of Thien Co Giam.”

We look down to the next line. The ink there penetrates much deeper. It's like the writer used all his strength to press down on the pen.

“They stopped me.”