Chapter 11 — On the day of the big wedding, the main concubine was changed, I still refused to kneel down

Everyone followed his gaze. Crown Prince So Lam Uyen stood there, his face as white as paper.

“His Royal Highness.”

Ta Truong An's voice was not loud, but everyone heard every word clearly.

"I have a few questions. I would like to ask your Highness to answer them in front of the entire civil and martial arts court and the ancestors."

“First, these 'assassins' are holding Northern Police's swords in their hands. Where did those swords come from? Northern Police's knives are manufactured and distributed with the approval of the Ministry of Military Affairs. Minister of Military Affairs Lieu Vong Son, can you explain?"

In the crowd, Lieu Vong Son's face was also pale.

"Second, the leader of these 'assassins' is Han Viet, the leader of the royal guard who followed His Highness three months before the winter patrol, the winter patrol met the assassins, the spring festival met the assassins again, both times were related to him. Is this a coincidence, or -—"

“Someone is planning a huge chess game?”

“Third ——”

Ta Truong An took out the letter from his chest. The letter was written by Truong Binh Van.

“On the night of spring worship, kill Co Kinh Thuong.”

He opened the letter, facing everyone.

"This letter was personally written by the Crown Prince's chief strategist, Truong Binh Van. The letter clearly stated that on the day of the spring festival, he used the name of an assassin to assassinate the late General."

“Your Highness ——”

Ta Truong An's voice did not waver.

“Are you still going to say this is a coincidence?”

The altar was as quiet as death. Everyone looked towards the Crown Prince. So Lam Uyen's lips trembled.

"Ta Truong An! You are spitting blood! That letter is fake! This palace has never issued such an order!"

“Truong Binh Van!”

He roared.

“Come out here and explain clearly!”

In the crowd, Truong Binh Van was pushed out. The Crown Prince's chief advisor now had a face as gray as ash.

“Your Highness…… I……”

"You tell everyone! That letter was not written by you!"

Truong Binh Van opened his mouth. But he couldn't say that. Because that letter was indeed written by him. The handwriting, word usage, seals, all match. Truong Binh Van knelt down with a "thump" sound.

“I… I am guilty.”

“But god is phoenix ——”

“Shut up!”

So Lam Uyen kicked him down with one kick. Everyone sees it. The Crown Prince, right on the altar, right in front of the ancestral tablet, kicked his own strategist. Because the next sentence Truong Binh Van intended to say was "God serves the Crown Prince". The entire main hall —— no, the entire mountain was silent. Even the wind seemed to stop blowing. The emperor's voice came from inside the royal palace. The old emperor was helped to stand up, with no anger on his face. There is only a kind of fatigue and sadness that cannot be put into words.

“Yen Nhi.”

“You disappoint me so much.”

So Lam Uyen's whole body was shocked.

“Father emperor —— children are gone —— everything is Ta Truong An's plot —— he colluded with the Co family ——”

“I have said enough.”...

The Emperor raised his hand. The palace was dead silent, no one dared to breathe loudly. He was silent for a long time, his eyes swept over the courtiers, finally stopping on the figure kneeling on the steps, then word by word he spoke. The eunuch stepped up, respectfully spread a bright yellow holy decree in front of the dragon case, pens and waited for the decree. The emperor's voice was low but majestic and resonant.

“Crown Prince So Lam Uyen, at the spring festival, he was suspicious and scheming attempted to harm an important court official, from now on he was deposed from the position of military commander, demoted to a commoner's position, imprisoned in Tong Nhan palace, never allowed to leave."

"Liu Vong Son, Minister of Military Affairs, irresponsible, lost his position, tolerated causing trouble, immediately removed from office, interrogated by friendly officials, strictly punished without mercy."

"Han Viet, deputy commander of the ban, colluded with assassins, plotted to execute, arrested on the spot, and handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department."

"Truong Binh Van, Eastern palace strategist, participated in the plot, immediately went to prison, waiting for the day of investigation."

Each holy edict was issued, like a cold blade, falling layer upon layer. Every word was like a nail, each slash cut straight into So Lam Uyen's destiny, leaving him with no way back. He collapsed on the altar, his bright yellow robe fluttering in the spring breeze.

“Father! I'm not satisfied!”

No one paid attention to him. The Imperial Army stepped forward, removed the Crown Prince's seal from his waist, and stripped off the python robe on his body. Lieu Nhu Yen screamed and rushed forward to hug him.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

Two ghosts stepped up and pulled her away. When she was pulled down from the altar, the phoenix fell onto the jade steps, rolled a few times, and broke. I stood next to the Queen Mother, watching all this. I can't say clearly what I'm feeling in my heart. Not pleasure. Nor is it liberation. It's a kind of emptiness that cannot be named. The five-nine-year-old boy behind the fake mountain saved me. The young man with a cold face taught me, "If you don't know the way, don't run around." Today, pushed into a dead end by his own malice and cruelty. Parents come. His body was still stained with the black-clothed man's blood, but there was only gentleness in his eyes.

“Father,” my voice was a bit hoarse, “is it over?”

“This game is over.”

Father patted my shoulder.

“But the game of chess at the royal court will never end.”