Chapter 13 — On the day of the big wedding, the main concubine was changed, I still refused to kneel down

The court was in an uproar.

"Cut back three parts? That's 100,000 sets of oriental medicine, 50,000 food stones!"

“Liu Vong Son deserves to be hit with thousands of knives!”

The emperor banged the table.

"Immediately inspect the Army records! All military supplies have been cut off, must be replenished within ten days!"

“More ——”

The Emperor looked towards my father.

"Co Ai Khanh, Bac Canh needs you to return to town."

“Divine command.”

His father knelt down to receive orders. He turned his head to look at me. There were so many things in those eyes. Some can't bear it, some are worried, some have instructions. He seemed to be saying: Dao Nhi, I have to go, you're alone in the capital, you have to be careful. I nodded. Father turned around and strode away. His back is a little shorter and a little thinner than in my memory. But still straight as before. The night his father left the capital, the Fourth Prince arrived again. This time it's not at the general's palace. It's in the garden outside Tho An palace.

“Miss Gu, I came to say goodbye.”

"Farewell? Where are you going?"

"Your father ordered me to go to Giang Nam to order military supplies and food. The Northern region is about to start a war and food and grass must be sent from the South. This task was originally the Crown Prince's, now it's my turn."

So Lam Phong's tone carried a hint of undisguised pride. As soon as the Crown Prince fell, the one who benefited the most was him.

“Miss Gu, before leaving the capital, I have something to tell you.”

"Lieu Nhu Yen in the cold palace raises a snake."

"My people found it, a small red snake, usually hidden under her pillow."

So Lam Phong's expression became serious.

"That snake was brought into the palace by Xich Xa. It is said that the snake's body has a secret medicine Nam Cuong applied on it. If it is bitten, it will go crazy."

“What does she keep snakes for?”

“I don't know, but there is a possibility——”

So Lam Phong lowered his voice.

“She wanted to use that snake to bite someone.”

“The Queen Mother.”

My blood instantly turned cold.

"The Queen Mother is supporting you. Liu Nhu Yen hates the Queen Mother to the bone. If the Queen Mother 'goes crazy' or 'falls ill', you will have no support in the palace."

“Until then ——”

So Lam Phong did not continue. But the meaning is very clear. At that time, we are just fish on the cutting board.

“Is this news from your Highness free?”

“Of course not.”

So Lam Phong smiled faintly.

“Waiting for me to return from Jiangnan, I hope Miss Co can give me an answer.”

“Answer what?”

“My last suggestion.”

He took out a brocade box from his sleeve and placed it on the stone table.

"This is the jade bracelet that my concubine mother left behind. It was an item from the old Concubine Dong Palace."

“Miss Gu thought carefully and then wore it.”

He came like the wind. Going is like the wind. The brocade box was left on the table in the garden, the moonlight shining on the cold jade layer. I opened the box and took a look. The bracelet is indeed a good thing, the whole body is blue, without a trace of impurities. But I don't wear it. Bich Nhi came closer.

“Miss, Your Highness the Fourth is very kind to you, this bracelet is at least worth a thousand taels of gold ——”

"Whether it's good or not depends on the bracelet."

We close the box.

“Bich Nhi, go call the National Teacher.”

"Calling National Teacher again? Miss, there are too many people calling National Teacher these days, aren't you?"

Bich Nhi did not go voluntarily. Ta Truong An quickly arrived. He saw the brocade box on the table, his eyebrows moved slightly.

“Fourth prince already arrive."

“You saw it all?”

“Within a hundred paces around Tho An palace, there are all my people, even if a fly flies in, I will know.”

He picked up the brocade box, looked at it for a moment, then put it down.

“Haven't worn it yet.”

This is not a question.

“Because I haven't finished thinking yet.”

I look at him.

"The fourth prince said that Lieu Nhu Yen kept a red snake in the cold palace and wanted to attack the Queen Mother."

Ta Truong An's expression changed.

“You know this?”

"Nam Cuong ancient snake, not an ordinary poisonous snake."

Ta Truong An sat down and spoke quickly.

“After being bitten, you won't die immediately, but you will experience hallucinations, hysteria, confusion, and from the outside you'll look like you're going crazy, and moreover ——”

“Furthermore, this type of ancient poison is extremely difficult to cure, because it is not a poison, but a stock. The poison can be cured, but the stock must be personally collected by the person raising the stock.”

"That means, as long as Lieu Nhu Yen doesn't release her neck, if the Queen Mother is bitten she will continue to be crazy like that."

“Not wrong.”

I stood up.

“So we can't wait for her to make a move.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Go to the cold palace.”

"Tomorrow." I look at Ta Truong An.

“I want to personally go see Lieu Nhu Yen.”

“Are you going to surrender your life?”

“Let's go negotiate.”

Ta Truong An stared at me.

“Negotiating with a poisonous snake?”

“Poisonous snakes also have weaknesses.”

"Her weakness is - her father is still in the penal prison. Life or death is just a question."

The cold palace is located in the northernmost corner of the royal palace, with three layers of courtyards and no sunlight all year round.