Chapter 10 — Phe Phi Thanh Queen

Then he held out his hand. "Let's go, let's go home." After that banquet, the Crown Prince completely tore off his mask. He began to mobilize hidden chess pieces, secretly causing difficulties for Hoac Van Tranh in the court. First, the Ministry of Defense withheld the military provisions of the Northwest Army, citing that the books did not match and needed to be rechecked. After that, there was the high-ranking royal historian Hoc Van Tranh, who held military power and had his own intentions. Finally, the Crown Prince personally made a proposal: Ask Hoac Van Tranh to hand over military authority and return to the capital to become a leisurely general. Every step is extremely aggressive. That night, Hoac Van Tranh sat for a long time in the study room. Let's bring in the tea. He took it and took a sip before speaking: "He wants to force me to hand over military power." "Will you hand it over?" "If you hand it over, I will become a fish on the chopping block." "What if you don't hand it over?" "If you don't hand it over, he will have a reason to condemn me." I sat down opposite him. "General, how many people are in your hands?" He looked at me. This is the first time I proactively asked about his army. He did not hide. "Eighty thousand elite soldiers from the Northwest, three thousand personal guards in the capital." "What about the Crown Prince?" "Forty thousand forbidden troops, plus troops stationed in places that can be mobilized... about ten thousand." I was silent for a moment. "General, have you ever thought of another path?" He did not answer immediately. The candlelight danced between us, illuminating his thoughtful profile. A long time later, he said: "Miss Ngu, do you know why I joined the army?" "I don't know." "My father worked as a pig butcher, my mother washed clothes for someone else. When I was thirteen years old, a group of bandits appeared in the town. My father took out a pig slaughter knife to stop him. He blocked three blows from the knife and died right in front of me. While running away, my mother fell into the river, but no one saved her." He spoke very calmly. calmly, as if talking about someone else's business. "After that, I joined the army, from an ordinary soldier to become a Chaplain, then from a Chaplain to a general. I relied on no profound strategy, just not being afraid of death." He looked at me. "I used to think that after becoming a general, life would be peaceful. But you see, you still can't be at peace. No one walking on this path wants to let you be at peace." "So?" "If so?" really forced to that point..." His voice was very light. “I won't sit around waiting for death.” I nodded. “General, no matter what decision you make, I will be on your side.” He was stunned. Then he made a move. He placed his hand on my hand that was placed on the table. His palms were hot, his knuckles were rough. He just gently pressed down and then immediately withdrew his hand. "Thank you." The next two months, the waves were rolling. On the surface, Huo Van Tranh coordinated with the court, but in reality, he secretly arranged it. His confidant commanded troops and generals in the Northwest. Three thousand bodyguards in the capital were divided into several teams and quietly entered areas within the city. I'm not idle either. The women's school continued to operate, but in name it was changed to a place where women's work and housework were taught. The Crown Prince sent someone to check several times but could not find any loopholes. I also used the name of a female student to secretly contact the wives of a number of noble families who were dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's authoritarianism. My father is Minister Ngu. Although he was embarrassed by the Crown Prince's marriage decree, he had been doing business in the royal court for many years and had an extremely solid foundation. From beginning to end, he didn't say a word to me. But I asked someone to bring me a letter. In the letter, there was only one sentence: "A daughter does not blame her parents, but a daughter will not become a discarded chess piece in anyone's hands." Three days later, my father sent a reply. Only

there was one word. "Good." Late in the fall, the Crown Prince finally took action. He used the crime of "Hoo Van Tranh colluding with enemy border troops" to issue an arrest warrant. Three thousand soldiers surrounded the general's palace. Hoac Chieu Chieu hid behind me in fear, clutching my shirt and refusing to let go. A Quy walked back and forth in the yard, her face pale. "Madam, what should I do, what should I do..." I sat down and handed Hoc Chieu Chieu to her. "Let Chieu Chieu leave through the back door, to the tailor shop in the east alley. There will be someone there to respond." "But as for you..." "Listen to me. Go." She bit her lip, hugged Hoc Chieu Chieu and ran away. I stood in the front yard, watching the fire from the torches outside. When the palace gate was broken open, the people who rushed in were not soldiers. It's Hoac Van Tranh's people. They were wearing armor, but I recognized the leader. That was Hoac Van Tranh's deputy general, surnamed Ky, named Ky Hoanh Chu. "Madam, the general ordered the last general to come pick you up." "Where is the general?" "In front of the palace gate." I was stunned. In front of the palace gate. He took action. Ky Hoanh Chu led people to escort me out of the general's palace. Along the way, fires burned into the sky, screams came from all four directions. When I arrived at the palace gate, I saw a person from afar.