Chapter 16 — Kieu Hoa went to the wrong door, I don't want to go back

Both his father and stepmother were kept in the palace awaiting questioning. The Tham Palace no longer had a leader, and the butlers were all bloodless. Luc Thua Uyen led people to block both the front and back gates. He watched me step down from the carriage, his expression much more complicated than during the day.

“Miss Shen, I will go with you.”

“Young general should investigate the clues from the Luc family's administrator.”

“At the Tham palace, there is Lord Co.”

Luc Thua Uyen paused slightly.

“You believe him?”

I took a look at Co Hoai Nghien.

“At least tonight, he won't let me drink that bowl of soup.”

Luc Thua Uyen's face was somewhat unsightly.

“About the Lu family, I will give you an explanation.”

I nodded.

“Hopefully the Major General can first give an explanation to the dead men of Tran Bac Army.”

He suddenly raised his head. I won't say any more. Co Hoai Nghien has entered the Tham palace. I followed him through the front yard. Tham Palace at night becomes even more empty than during the day. The red lanterns under the eaves were still lit. As soon as the wind blew, the light bulbs fluttered, as if each face was forcing a smile. Thanh Chi followed closely behind us.

“Miss, are we going to your old mansion?”

Mother's old house is located in the northwest corner of Tham residence. Since her death, although that place was said to be for relaxation, it was actually almost abandoned. The lock on the gate is also old. Thanh Chi stepped up and pushed the door, the hinge immediately emitted a long, shrill screeching sound. The begonia tree in the yard is still there. The branches and leaves were rustled by the night wind. When I was a child, I often played under the tree. Mother sat by the window embroidering handkerchiefs, occasionally raising her head to look at me, her eyebrows and eyes were so gentle. Later, she became seriously ill and that window never opened again. I stood in the middle of the yard, not moving for a long time. Co Hoai Nghien did not urge him at all. Thanh Chi softly called:

“Miss?”

I am complete.

“Come inside.”

The room was covered in very thick dust. The tables and chairs were all covered with old cloths, and the corners of the walls still had traces of being ransacked. Co Hoai Nghien raised his lamp to illuminate the ground.

“There wasn't just one time someone came here.”

I walked to my mother's former dressing table. The bronze mirror was tarnished, the drawer had signs of being broken open, and the inside was empty. Sure enough, the stepmother had searched this place many times. But if mother really wanted to hide things, she definitely wouldn't hide them in such an obvious place. I closed my eyes, trying to remember the words she said before she died. At that time, the room smelled strongly of drugs. She stuffed the key into my palm and said intermittently: Duong Ninh, remember, when the begonia blooms, don't look at the flower, look at the root. I suddenly opened my eyes. Co Hoai Nghien looked at me. I turned around and rushed out of the room, going straight under the begonia tree in the middle of the yard. Around the base of the tree there are still traces of soil that was once dug up. Thanh Chi frantically said:

“Miss, Lady Ke has been digging this place for a long time.”

“She dug under the tree.”

I squatted down, my fingertips gently caressing the tree trunk. The rough bark of the tree rubs against the fingertips causing pain.

"My mother said, don't look at the flower, look at the root."

Co Hoai Nghien took the lamp and approached.

“Is there a problem with the tree roots?”

I shook my head.

“Not tree roots.”

I raised my hand and pointed to an old scar located right at the junction tree trunk and base.

“It's this place.”

That scar looks like a natural crack. If you don't look closely, you'll just think it's a mark caused by a tree trunk growing crookedly. Co Hoai Nghien pulled out the thin blade and gently pried along the scar. A piece of tree bark actually loosened. Inside revealed a piece of copper. On that piece of copper, half a begonia flower was also engraved. We take out the key. The begonia flower on the key handle is combined with half of the begonia flower on the copper piece, fitting into a complete begonia flower. Just heard a "click" sound. A green stone next to the tree gently popped up. Thanh Chi was surprised and covered her mouth with her hand. Co Hoai Nghien turned over the blue stone slab, underneath was not a wooden box, but an extremely narrow underground trench. In the underground trench place a roll of oilcloth. The outside layer of oilcloth is also covered with wax, preserving it extremely intact. I raised my hand to take it. Co Hoai Nghien held my wrist. He used a silver needle to stab the wax layer. The needle tip does not change color. Only then did he let go. I opened the oilcloth, inside was a thin notebook and an unsealed letter. The letter has turned yellow, but the first line is written to me. Duong Ninh, my child. Just seeing those four words made my eyes heat up. Co Hoai Nghien moved his eyes away, not looking at the letter. I gave him the letter again. He paused slightly.

“This is the letter your mother left you.”

“I'm afraid I can't read.”

Co Hoai Nghien was silent for a moment then received the letter. His voice was low, slowly echoing in the night.

“Duong Ninh, if you see this letter, it proves that the Tham family is no longer trustworthy.”

"That year the border guard food book was changed. I accidentally got a copy. I knew this matter had too many implications so I didn't dare to give it to the Tham family."

"Master Gu agreed to present it to the emperor on my behalf, but met with trouble along the way."