Chapter 20 — I heard that I had a loving husband and wife, and had many children and grandchildren. He crushed the white jade bowl in his hand.

The sunlight outside the window shined on the tile floor, slowly moving an inch. She opened her mouth.

“Send the Queen here.”

Half an hour later, Co Van Thu arrived. When entering Tu Ninh palace, her gait was still as leisurely as before, the smile on her face was still dignified. However, when she saw me kneeling on the ground, her steps stopped for a moment.

“Please rest in peace with the Queen Mother.”

After finishing the ceremony, she turned to look at me.

“Is Mrs. Han also here?”

The Queen Mother did not let her sit down.

“Van Thu, these things… do you recognize them?”

The Queen Mother pointed to the pile of evidence on the table. Co Van Thu took two steps forward, her eyes fell on that wooden box. Her face changed. Just for a moment. Then he quickly regained his dignified appearance.

“Your Majesty, I have never seen these things before.”

"I don't know who created it to frame it."

“Never seen it?” The Queen Mother picked up the wooden box.

“The hidden sign above… is a sign passed down from the Co family.”

"Back then, when Ai was still close friends with your mother, he saw this sign."

“You say you've never seen it before?”

Co Van Thu's breathing became more rapid.

“Empress Dowager Minh Giam, my concubine…”

“You don't need to rush to make excuses first.”

The Queen Mother raised her hand.

“Where are you?”

“Go to the basement in the atrium on the east side of Tieu Phong hall, move all the items on the third shelf here.”

Co Van Thu's face immediately turned pale. It's truly white. Not pretending.

“The Queen Mother!”

“What are you scared of?”

The Queen Mother slowly raised the teacup.

“If you're clean, then what's wrong with moving in and checking it out?”

The items were delivered very quickly. Whole two large chests. Inside were all white porcelain medicine bottles with matching lids, as well as stacks of notes on buying medicinal herbs. These white porcelain vases were brought by Co Van Thu's close maid to the Imperial Thien Room to get soup. Underneath these lidded white porcelain vases was already a thin layer of the medicine, or another name is "Kho Tan Tu". Each of the above entries matches the correct date. Starting from the first month Thanh Uyen entered the palace. One part per month. No excess, no shortage. The Queen Mother finished reading all the notes and slowly put her hand down. The main hall is so quiet that only the sound of birds singing outside the window can be heard. Co Van Thu's lips trembled twice.

“The Queen Mother… can I explain…”

“No need anymore.”

The Queen Mother's voice was not loud, but it was so oppressive that it made others unable to breathe.

"Van Thu, the things you did... everyone can see each and every thing clearly."

“Do you really think that there is no one in the harem to control you, so you can do whatever you want?”

Co Van Thu's body shook slightly.

“Command the Emperor here.”

When the Queen Mother said those words, her tone was extremely calm. But everyone in the main hall felt a strong jolt in their temples. This matter... is about to come to Tieu Duc's face. I still knelt on the ground, from beginning to end, not moving at all. Co Van Thu stood next to the pile of evidence, her face gray and white. She suddenly turned her head to look at me. In those eyes that were always elegant and leisurely... finally revealed naked hatred.

“Tong Thanh Hoa.”

“You won.”

I don't answer. The moment you lose… is not now. But when you punished me to kneel outside Tieu Phong Palace, my damned ex-husband didn't even turn around and walked past me. You happily married and let me kneel outside the palace at noon. From that moment… you were destined to lose. When Tieu Duc arrived at Tu Ninh palace, the sky was already dark. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Co Van Thu kneeling on the ground with a pile of evidence neatly displayed on the table. Then… he saw me. His steps stopped for a moment. The Queen Mother used a few short sentences to recount the entire incident. Tieu Duc did not immediately speak up. He walked to the table, looking through the prescription step by step and taking notes on buying medicinal herbs. In the main hall, there was only the sound of papers being flipped over. After reading the last page, he put the stack of papers down.

“I asked you.”

He did not look at Co Van Thu. Don't look at me either. He spoke into the void, but everyone knew who he was asking.

“This bowl of medicine… in your previous life, have you ever used it before?”