Chapter 9 — Kieu Hoa went to the wrong door, I don't want to go back

Thanh Chi also thought about that and immediately covered his mouth. I walked to the front door, away from the door and asked:

“Who sent you?”

"The kitchen manager said Lady Tham was scared and I'm afraid it will be difficult to sleep tonight."

“What is the name of the kitchen manager of the Thai Pho palace?”

There was silence outside for a moment.

"The slave has just entered the palace and doesn't know how to manage them."

I smiled slightly.

"You're new to the palace, but you just cleverly came to bring me soup."

The female voice outside quickly said:

"The soup is about to get cold, please use it first."

I turned my head to look at Thanh Chi. She shook her head impatiently. I slowly pulled out the door latch. Thanh Chi almost rushed forward to stop me. I used my eyes to signal her to stop, then only opened the door about half an inch wide. Outside stood a maid obediently bowing her head. She was wearing the blue-gray dress of a servant of the Thai Pho palace, and in her hand was carrying a black-painted tray. On the tray is placed a white ceramic soup bowl. The heat rises and hovers, bringing with it a light sweet scent. I looked down at her hand. Right between the thumb and index finger there is a thin layer of callus. That's not the kind of chai that comes from being a maid or serving tea. It's like calluses from many years of wielding short swords. The maid bowed her head and said:

“Please, Lady Tham, have some soup.”

I don't accept it.

“Raise your head.”

She hesitated for a moment then slowly raised her face. Her appearance was very normal, but her eyes looked down too quickly. I asked softly:

“How long have you been in the Thai Phu palace?”

“Have you ever met Sir Gu?”

"There are many servants in the palace. How can you remember the servants?"

I nodded.

“That's right.”

It seemed like she breathed a sigh of relief. In the next moment, I suddenly waved my hand and knocked the bowl of soup through the crack in the door. The white porcelain bowl shattered, the soup splashed onto the blue tile floor, yet it bubbled out in tiny white bubbles. The maid's face immediately changed, she turned around and ran away. I shouted loudly: The guards in the yard rushed forward almost at the same time. The maid's movements were extremely fast. She pulled out a thin short sword from her sleeve and stabbed it straight into the throat of the nearest guard. Thanh Chi screamed in fear. I tightened my grip on the golden brooch and took a half step back. The guard leaned forward to avoid the stab, the remaining one immediately swung his knife and squeezed her wrist. But it seemed like she had long made up her mind to die, gritting her teeth and trying to keep her mouth shut. My heart suddenly jumped.

“Don't let her bite you!”

As soon as she finished speaking, a stone cut through the wind and hit her right on the chin. The maid let out a groan and was pinned to the ground by the guards. Co Hoai Nghien walked out from the darkness down the hallway, his clothes still neat, as if he had never left this place. He glanced at the puddle of soup on the ground.

“It looks like she's still very conscious.”

I leaned on the door frame and let out a small breath.

“Didn't Master Gu tell me not to sleep too much?”

He looked towards the maid.

“Who sent you?”

The maid's mouth was full of blood, but she still gritted her teeth and refused to say a word. Co Hoai Nghien said coldly:

“Send her to the hospital, don't let her die.”

Just as the guards were about to drag him away, the maid suddenly raised her head and looked at me, the corners of her lips pulled up into a strange smile.

“Tham Duong Ninh, do you really think you can live by entering the Thai Pho palace?”

My spine suddenly felt cold cold. She stared at me, saying word by word:

"The thing your mother hid in the past will sooner or later take your life."

As soon as the maid's words ended, the wind in the hallway seemed to get a little colder. Thanh Chi's face was so pale that she had to hold on to the door frame to keep from falling. I stared at the bloodstained face on the ground, the golden hairpin in my hand was getting tighter and tighter.

“What did my mother hide?”

The maid burst out laughing, blood flowing from the corner of her lips.

“You asked me?”

“I'm only responsible for sending you on your way, not answering your questions.”

Co Hoai Nghien walked in front of her and looked down.

“Who sent you?”

The maid pursed her lips tightly. Co Hoai Nghien said:

“If you don't say anything, tomorrow your body will be hung in front of the gate of Kinh Trieu palace.”

Her eyelashes moved slightly.

“What does it mean when Sir Gu threatens a martyr?”

“You are not a martyr.”

Co Hoai Nghien's voice was very calm.

"The martyr will not talk nonsense to others before taking action, let alone mention Miss Tham's mother."

A flash of panic flashed across the maid's eyes. I immediately responded.

“Someone told you to say that.”

She suddenly looked towards me. I smiled softly.

“You want to scare me and make me mentally disturbed tonight.”

“But you revealed an opening.”

“If what my mother has hidden is really in your hands, why do you need to look for me?”

The maid gritted her teeth, her face no longer had any trace of sarcasm like before. Co Hoai Nghien ordered the guard:

“Examine people.”

The guards searched through her sleeves, found a thin short sword, and took out a small piece of paper wrapped in oil paper from the lining of the shoe sole.