Chapter 17 — I Didn't Choose the Crown Prince, The One I Chose Made Everyone Stunned

Trieu Khai must have prepared his defenders. He dared to give me such an important thing, there must have been a way for this to be exposed. At that time, we will become the ones who "knew but did not report" and joined the gang in treason. The outcome... is still death. A truly unique plan. Hit two birds with one stone. No matter what we choose, it's a dead end. As for Trieu Khai, from beginning to end, he was still able to stand aside, even dignifiedly putting on the appearance of "destroying his cause", stepping out to clean up the mess, in exchange for a good reputation. My whole body felt like it was drained of all warmth. Trieu Khai, you are truly so calculated that there are no gaps. You have miscalculated something. You think I fight alone. But you don't know, behind me there is Trieu Hanh. I carefully put away the stack of envelopes, then immediately wrote a piece of paper and handed it to Van Chau.

“Give it to Thiet Dien immediately.”

"Tell him this matter is urgent."

After finishing everything, I almost collapsed on the chair, my heart was still pounding in my chest. Just missing a little more. Just a little more... I fell straight into the trap Trieu Khai had dug. This game is extremely dangerous. We must discuss carefully with Trieu Hanh. Not only do we have to escape this fate, but we also have to give him a painful blow back. That night, at the abandoned temple. I brought the letters and all my speculations to Trieu Hanh. After listening, he didn't say a word, just picked up the envelopes and looked at them over and over again. His face showed no emotion. But there was a fire burning deep in his eyes. It took a long time for him to slowly open his mouth, his voice hoarse and horrifying.

“My good third brother…”

“After so many years, you still haven't changed.”

“Still as cruel.”

“Still as toxic.”

He raised his head to look at me.

“Are you afraid?”

I shook my head.

“Not afraid.”

“It's just… thinking about it makes me feel creepy.”

Trieu Hanh's eyes flashed with appreciation.

"If he is unjust, then don't blame us for being unjust."

“Doesn't he want to see the Crown Prince die?”

“Then we… will complete it for him.”

“It's just that…”

Trieu Hanh's voice was low, his eyes cold as steel. “This fire has to burn a little more fiercely.”

“It's best to… burn him inside too.”

I looked at him, not fully understanding what he meant.

“What does your Highness want to say?”

“We must use this envelope.”

He spoke slowly. “But not now.”

“It's not because we acted directly.”

He put the stack of envelopes on the table, his voice was even and sharp: "We have to find the most suitable person, at the most appropriate time, to bring it to the emperor." Trieu Hanh looked at me, the corner of his lips curled up into a cold smile.

“Someone… he absolutely could not have expected.”

“Tan Uyen Nhu.”

Tan Uyen Nhu. My good sister, whose heart only wants to cling to the dragon and serve the phoenix. Dragging her into the water... was the most delicate and ironic move in the entire plan. Doesn't she love Trieu Dich? Isn't it because of him that you can defy everything? So I really want to see, when Trieu Dich's life and death and her own glory and wealth are placed on two ends of the scale... Which side will she choose? The first step of the plan is to make her relax her guard towards me. Even... makes her bounce giving birth to the feeling of "similar illness". Since the incident in the palace that day, I used the excuse of physical weakness to close the door and not receive visitors. The big wedding is coming, but I'm sad every day, my face is gloomy, and I'm not even half happy. Even the silk treasures awarded by the Queen, I locked tightly in the warehouse, not bothering to take another glance. Rumors gradually spread in the palace. That I regret it. That if he offended the Queen and the Crown Prince, the future would certainly be difficult. That even though the Seventh Prince is favored by the saints, in the end he is still disabled, just a leisurely prince, unable to give me the glory I desire. Those words... I intentionally let the servants spread them to Tan Uyen Nhu's ears. She was grounded in the courtyard, and was extremely bored, but gossip in the palace was what she liked to hear the most. Sure enough, less than a few days later, she sent someone to bring me a bowl of bird's nest, under the pretense of her close sisterly love, wanting to help me feel at ease. I accept it. I also told Van Chau to return the favor with a new outfit that I just received. Having gone back and forth a few times, our relationship seems to have returned to its previous state of outward harmony. The opportunity... has also come. That day, I "accidentally" met Tan Uyen Nhu in the garden when she came to say goodbye to her mother. I dismissed all the servants and sat with her alone in the pavilion for a while.