Chapter 4 — On the Snowy Night of Bereavement, I Used the Golden Token of Immunity to Overturn the Whole Family

His sharp eyes like a eagle swept over Co Canh Minh and Lieu Nhu Yen.

"Co Canh Minh, Lieu Nhu Yen, kneel down to receive orders!"

The sound echoed like a bell, spreading throughout the entire Co family palace. Co Canh Minh and Lieu Nhu Yen were both stunned. They looked at me in disbelief, then looked at the officers and soldiers behind me, everyone's faces were unkind. Especially Co Canh Minh. His eyes stopped on me, filled with suspicion and anger.

"Hua Tri Y! Are you crazy! What did you do?!"

I don't pay attention to him. I just looked at him quietly, my eyes cold. Dai Ly Tu Khanh took the sacred scroll from my hand. He slowly opened it, using a clear yet dignified tone, he began to read.

“Feng Tian inherited the fortune, the emperor wrote…”

Each word was like a heavy hammer blow, fiercely hitting Co Canh Minh's heart. When he heard "all public officials dismissed, they will never be used again", his body staggered. When he heard "the estate was sealed, all the land was withdrawn", his face turned pale. But when he heard that Lieu Nhu Yen was "banned three feet of white mausoleum", Lieu Nhu Yen next to him screamed and fell limply to the ground. Co Canh Minh was completely stunned. He stood there frozen, like a puppet whose soul had been stripped from him. After reading the holy edict, Dai Ly Tu Khanh closed the golden silk scroll. The entire hall of the Co family's palace was as quiet as death. All the servants and maids knelt on the ground, trembling, no one dared to raise their heads. Lieu Nhu Yen was already as soft as mud, unconscious sobs were emitting from her mouth. And Co Canh Minh, who used to be my husband, just stood there, like a wooden statue that had lost its soul. On his face, the blood drained away, leaving only a scarlet white patch. He looked at me, his lips trembling for a long time, before finding his voice again. That voice was hoarse, dry, filled with unbelievable terror.

“Why… Hua Tri Y, why…”

He staggered towards me, reaching out his hand, as if he wanted to hold me, wanted to question me.

"What evil magic did you use? Your Majesty... why do you believe my one-sided words?!"

I quietly looked at him. Looking at the man I loved for seven years, I hated him in one night. Until now, what he is thinking about is not the crime he committed, nor the dead son of me and him. What he thinks about is only his officials, his reputation, his rich future. How ridiculous it is.

“Evil magic?”

I laughed softly, the laughter carried endless sadness and sarcasm.

"Co Canh Minh, you read enough books of saints and sages, but you forgot the most basic sentence."

"If the prince breaks the law, he must also be punished like a commoner."

“You personally killed your own son, that is the price you must pay.”

My calmness seemed to agitate him more than any crazy scolding. He suddenly shook his head, his eyes bloodshot.

"No! It's not me! I only punished him to kneel and reflect! It was the heavy snow! It was this weather that killed him!"

"I don't want him to die! I don't!"

He is still making excuses, still denying. I looked at him, my eyes colder little by little. I slowly took out the mysterious iron token from my sleeve and held it high up, so everyone can see clearly.

“So tell me, this thing… do you recognize it?”

When Co Canh Minh saw the iron book and iron plate, his pupils shrank into a point as small as a pinhead. It was as if he had been hit by a thunderbolt, his whole body stiffened on the spot.

“Dan… dan book thietu…”

His voice trembled so much that he couldn't make a sound.

“Quoc Cong Palace… why… why is it in your hands…”

He finally remembered. Remember who my father is. Remembering how much blood our Hua family shed for this dynasty and how many loyal souls they sacrificed. I finally understand why I can make the Heavenly Son angry because of me. I walked towards him step by step, each step seemed to step on his heart.

“Because this is the only relic my father left me, the last card of my Hua family.”

“I originally intended to take it down to the coffin, so that it would never see the light of day.”

"But Co Canh Minh, you should never, ever... touch my son."

“You used his life to force me to take out this iron plate.”

“Now, are you satisfied?”

He looked at me in despair, at the iron plate in my hand, his body staggered, and finally he couldn't hold it anymore, he fell to the ground with a "thump" sound. He is not kneeling to the holy decree, nor is he kneeling to me. He was completely defeated by this sudden disaster. All his pride, all his conceit, all his future, in this moment, melted into foam.

“No… don't…”

Lieu Nhu Yen also seemed to have regained consciousness. She crawled to Co Canh Minh's feet and desperately grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"Canh Minh! Save me! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

Noi Dinh Ve commanded the envoy, his face expressionless, lightly waving his hand. Two fierce bodyguards, like wolves and tigers, immediately stepped forward and held Lieu Nhu Yen tightly. A strip of white herb was brought before her.

“Liu Thi, let's go.”

“No! A——!”

Lieu Nhu Yen let out a miserable scream and struggled desperately.

"Canh Minh! You saved me! You said you would protect me for life! Canh Minh!"

Co Canh Minh lost his soul and knelt there, completely inaudible to her cry for help. He just stared at me, his eyes filled with tears.

“Tri Y… I was wrong… I was suddenly confused… tell them to stop, okay?”

“I beg you, consider it for Hang Nhi… consider it for our love as husband and wife…”

Spousal love? Is he... also worthy of mentioning Hang Nhi? My heart felt like it was immersed in ice water, then thrown into a sea of fire. I looked at him and said word by word:

“Co Canh Minh, from the moment Hang Nhi closed her eyes.”

"Between you and I, love between husband and wife has been broken, leaving only... hatred as deep as a sea of blood."

My words became the last straw that crushed him.