Chapter 17 — On the big wedding day, my husband ignored me and personally carried my pregnant sister to the palanquin.

He is thinking. Showing dad. Prepare for the meeting that is about to take place tonight. I didn't say anything, just quietly watched the street scene outside the window quickly recede. When the carriage was about to reach the palace gate, he suddenly opened his eyes. He took out a small purple wooden box from his chest and gave it to me.

"Open it and see."

I accepted it somewhat suspiciously and opened the lid of the box. Inside quietly placed a hairpin. The design of the brooch is extremely special, the head of the brooch is a lifelike phoenix, the phoenix eyes are encrusted with two tiny rubies. However, the phoenix's tail is crafted into the shape of a sharp blade, reflecting cold light that makes people shiver.

"This is 'Phuong Minh'."

His low voice rang in my ears.

"The brooch body is forged from iron in the open air, so sharp that cutting through iron is like cutting through mud."

"Inside the head of the brooch are hidden three silver needles that have been poisoned."

"In times of danger, I can save her life."

My heart suddenly trembled violently. I raised my head to look at him. But he didn't look at me, he just spoke faintly.

"This king has already said it."

"I won't let her fight alone."

Having finished speaking, he personally took the hairpin, his movements were gentle and did not allow refusal, and placed it in my hair. The cold hairpin was pressed against the scalp. But my heart, right at that moment, became hot. This man. He never said sweet words full of love. His concern. His protection. Just like him. Frankly. Carrying the most intense primordial power. The carriage stopped in front of the Royal Study Room. We step in one after the other. In the royal study room, the lights were bright. The Emperor sat on a long chair. Below him, the Queen and Second Prince Tieu Huyen Due were already present. Seeing us enter, a trace of resentment flashed in the Queen's eyes. As for the Second Prince, he looked at us with hatred and could not swallow us alive, staring without blinking. He looked much more haggard, with dark circles clearly visible under his eyes. Obviously, the series of consecutive attacks over the past few days had caused him enough suffering.

"Nhi Than (divine breath), visit the royal father (mother)."

We step forward and respectfully bow.

"Stand up."

His Majesty's voice did not reveal any happy or sad emotions.

"Huyen Than, you just returned from the big camp on the outskirts of the capital. It's been hard."

"It is my duty to share my condolences with my father."

Tieu Huyen Than's answer was impeccably discreet. The Emperor nodded slightly, then turned his eyes to me.

"Tinh Vuong Phi."

His tone suddenly carried some profound meaning.

"These past few days, the capital city has been extremely bustling."

I bowed my head in response.

"Let father worry."

A cold snort rang out from the Second Prince's nose. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore, walked out, pointed straight at me, and choked up and denounced to the Emperor.

"Father! Please take charge of me!"

"This poisonous woman! She... When the Emperor's brother was not present in the capital, she let herself act recklessly, using despicable means to destroy several areas of my son's property!"

"Currently in the capital, everyone lives in insecurity, rumors are floating everywhere, everything is caused by her hand!"

"I beg you father The emperor strictly punishes this demon woman to rectify the country's laws and also to stabilize the people's hearts!

He cried as he spoke, as if he were the most innocent victim under the sky. The Queen also spoke up at the right time.

"Your Majesty, everything Thuy Nhi said is true."

"This Princess Tinh is really too cruel, completely lacking in the dignified and gentle appearance that a royal daughter-in-law should have."

"If we don't strictly control the prison, we don't know what disasters will cause in the future."

Their mother and son were the ones to blame, placing all the blame on me. The atmosphere in the Royal Study immediately dropped to freezing. The Emperor's face was silent, not saying a word. It seems he is waiting for me to explain. Or perhaps, waiting for Tieu Huyen Than's reaction. But we haven't waited for us to speak up yet. Tieu Huyen Than took a step forward, blocking the person behind him. He didn't even bother to look at the Second Prince. His eyes were coldly directed towards the Emperor. His voice was even colder than this late autumn night.

"Father."

"What my royal concubine has done, I know in my heart better than anyone else."

"My son, it's not yet someone else's turn to teach me."

"Why the second royal brother's fortune was destroyed, he must be the one who knows best in his heart."

"It was he who ordered someone to set fire to my silk shop first."

"My son is just a tooth for a tooth and blood for blood."

"Is it possible that you only allow him to light the fire, but not allow me to light the lamp?"