Chapter 3 — On the Snowy Night of Bereavement, I Used the Golden Token of Immunity to Overturn the Whole Family

My voice doesn't tremble at all. The emperor was silent. In the royal study room, only the faint sound of burning ambergris remained. After a while, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Tell me, what do you want to ask for?”

I raised my head and looked directly into the eyes of the ninth and fifth supreme being. In those eyes, there was no anger, no pity, only a deep, bottomless calm. In my heart, there is only a piece of cold calm left. I say word by word, clearly:

"Godfather Hua Tri Y, do not seek glory, do not seek pardon."

“My father only requests that His Majesty grant him a decree.”

“Depose my husband, Academician Co Canh Minh of the Academy, strip him of all his officials and titles, and reclaim all of his real estate and land in his name.”

“Release him… to become a commoner.”

In the emperor's eyes, a ripple finally arose. He seemed surprised that I would make such a request. Don't ask for money, don't ask for power, don't even ask for peace. Just ask for your own husband, from high in the clouds, fiercely pulled down into the mud. This, compared to killing him, caused him more pain.

"Co Canh Minh is your husband, your heaven."

The Emperor looked at me and spoke slowly.

"If you do that, is it any different from destroying yourself?"

I burst out laughing. That laughter echoed in the quiet royal library, sounding even more mournful.

“Your Majesty, my father's sky... has fallen.”

“Last night, I was pushed down by his own hand.”

My tears, finally unable to hold back, flowed out once again. I don't cry and tell stories, nor do I justify anything. I only used the calmest and most restrained tone of what happened yesterday, recounting each incident one by one, leaving out nothing. From Lieu Nhu Yen's assassination, to Co Canh Minh's favoritism. From Hang Nhi's pleas kneeling in the cold snow, to his final decision when he took that woman with him to leave the hot springs cottage. Finally, it was time for me to hug Hang Nhi's cold, stiff body. I speak very slowly, very clearly. Each word is like a blade, first reciting it once to yourself, then stabbing into the listener's ear. When I finished speaking, the entire royal library fell into dead silence. Ly Cong Cong had long heard tears streaming down his face, constantly wiping them away with his sleeve. "That's it... I'm sniffling right now." The Emperor leaned on the dragon chair, his face pale. The hand placed on his dragon's throne had already clenched into a fist, his blue veins bulging violently.

“As cruel as a tiger… you won't even eat your child!”

He gritted his teeth and forced out each word.

"Co Canh Minh! What an exemplary academician of Han Lam! What a talented young man who was taught by me!"

He punched the dragon court with a powerful punch, causing such an impact that the medallions above also popped up.

“Ly Duc Toan!”

“The slave is present!” Cong Cong Ly quickly knelt down.

“Edict!”

The emperor's voice was filled with anger.

“Academic Academy Lecturer Co Canh Minh, his virtue is flawed, his character is corrupt, he is not worthy of being a father, nor is he worthy of being a subject!”

“From now on, all officials will be immediately dismissed, all positions will be stripped, and they will never be used again!”

“All real estate and land in his name are collected return, add to the national treasury!”

"The Gu family, there is no way to teach you, from today we will close our doors to self-reflect for one year. Without my edict, you are not allowed to go out!"

"Also, Lieu Thi Nhu Yen, evil heart, separate from the concubine, give... three meters of white mausoleum, execute immediately!"

Each holy edict was given from the mouth of the ninth and fifth Supreme Being. Each path is like a talisman for life. Cong Cong Ly waved his pen and wrote as fast as the wind. He quickly drafted the decree and sealed it. The emperor's anger still seems to have not dissipated. He looked towards me, and in his eyes finally appeared a trace of complex compassion.

"Miss Hua, I will have people from Dai Ly Tu and Noi Dinh Ve proclaim this edict with you."

"I want that Co Canh Minh, in front of everyone in the capital, to listen to this edict."

"I want to let him know that under the Emperor's feet is not a place where he can do whatever he wants!"

I bowed my head heavily.

“Father, thank you for your grace.”

When I lifted that bright yellow holy scroll and stepped out of the royal palace, the sky was completely clear. The sunlight shines on the white snow, so dazzling that people don't dare to look straight. Dai Ly Tu Khanh and Noi Dinh Ve, commander of the envoy, led people to wait in front of the palace gate. As soon as they saw me coming out, the two of them immediately went up to pay their respects.

“Madam Hua.”

Their attitude was respectful but also had some sympathy. The emperor must have ordered someone to tell them the whole story, the whole story. I nodded slightly to the two of you.

“Sorry for bothering you two gentlemen.”

A group of people, with great momentum, headed straight towards the Co family palace. Along the way, people stopped to watch and whisper. They didn't know what happened, they only knew that Dai Ly Tu and Noi Dinh Ve moved at the same time, and also escorted a dying lady. This capital city... I'm afraid something big is about to happen. In front of the Co family's palace gate. The two family members guarding the door, seeing this situation, were already so scared that their legs were weak. We entered without any hindrance. Co Canh Minh must have just returned. He was sitting on the main chair in the hall, leisurely drinking tea. Lieu Nhu Yen sat next to him, peeling tangerines herself for him to eat. The two of them talked and laughed, extremely affectionate. It seemed like the child they had forgotten in the snow last night, just an illusion not worth mentioning. Seeing us walk in, the smile on Co Canh Minh's face immediately stiffened. He saw Dai Ly Tu Khanh leading the way, quickly stood up, intending to bow.

“Officer Co Canh Minh, I don't know Lord Tran…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the Inner Court Guard commander standing behind me took a step forward.