Chapter 6 — Phuong Khoi Cuu Trung

Queen Phuong stood next to her, her face alternating between blue and white, her fingertips trembling slightly, her sharp nails almost digging into her palms to the point of drawing blood. Her eyes seemed to contain fire, firmly fixed on me, as if she wanted to tear me into pieces. I just looked at my father in bewilderment, not understanding why things suddenly turned out like this. When he had sent everyone back down, only father and I remained in the main hall. He sighed, his eyes softened, and said in a deep voice: "Dao Nhi, you have grown up, there are some things that father... can't hide from you anymore." I looked up at him, my heart pounding. The royal father stood up, walked towards the antique phoenix painting hanging on the wall, his fingers gently touched the fiery bird's wings, his voice lowered slightly: "The person who raised you for many years, Bach Linh... she is not your biological mother." In that moment, it was as if I heard a "bang" in my head. But my father did not give me a chance to ask, continuing to tell slowly: "My real mother... is Than Hoang - the supreme phoenix blood strain, inherited from ancient times." I took a deep breath, my chest felt like it was being beaten by a drum. His father slowly recounted the past story: In the past, during the Great War of Gods and Demons, my mother single-handedly led the heavenly army against the Demon World, using all her life to seal the Blood Abyss. At that time... we were not yet formed. To protect me, she used the great method of Thien Phuong Hoan Linh, put the unformed phoenix fetus... into Bach Linh's belly. The woman I called "mother" for so long was actually just a maid next to my mother, someone entrusted with the task of getting pregnant and raising me. The emperor's father clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fire: "That year, she knelt before the tomb, crying and swearing to protect her child. Because of that oath, the emperor made an exception and made her Queen Phuong." He closed his eyes slightly, his voice choked in his breath: "If I knew she would break her oath, I would rather let you wander in the world than ever put you in her hands!" I took a trembling breath, only to feel a fire awakening in my veins, as if being summoned by that "God Emperor", making my breath hot. I whispered, my eyes gradually turning red: "Does... that person... really... love you like that..." Father patted my head, a rare smile appeared at the corner of his lips: "Not only does she love, she also for you... predetermined a marriage." I raised my head and looked at him in surprise. The emperor's father smiled and said each word clearly: "Hao Duong Than Quan... is the husband personally chosen by your mother." Those words are like a ray of light, shining through the layers of fog in our hearts. Suddenly, all the doubts about Phuong Chau and Queen Phuong seemed to be strung together - If I am not the biological child of Queen Phuong... then Phuong Chau is her blood. Everything… finally becomes clear. 7 In the following days, Queen Phuong and Phuong Chau seemed to change their personalities. Perhaps because in the past she helped my mother raise a child, these days mother and daughter have been unusually obedient, respectfully serving me, with every gesture showing respect. I see that, but I don't want to pursue any more old stories. Time passes quickly like clouds. In the following days, I focused on preparing for the big wedding with Hao Duong Than Quan. Even though I had never met him, the gifts he sent were overflowing Eight wild seas, from ancient jade, rare and precious beasts, to ten thousand year old herbs and seven-star treasures, all were offered to my palace. I originally thought, if this person doesn't love me, he must... be the one who devoted all his heart to this marriage. The night before the big wedding, I put on my phoenix robe and sat in front of the mirror to try on my outfit one last time. The shimmering firelight shined on the face in the mirror, like a phoenix blooming in the mist. At this moment, Queen Phuong walked in. She was wearing a lunar robe, tears were still in the corners of her eyes, her hands were shaking slightly as she held the jade comb, gently combing my long hair. “Dao Nhi… In the past, the mother was blinded by criminals and treated her child like that.” “You don't blame me, mother is truly sorry.” Her voice was low and tragic, making it difficult for listeners to doubt. She paused for a moment, then spoke again, her voice almost tearful: "Even though you are not my blood... but between us... there is still motherly love." I slightly lowered my eyes and did not answer. Just listen to the sound of the comb gently scratching through your hair. But - In the next sentence, she lowered her voice to the level of a breath, as if only the wind could hear: "Don't worry... Dao Nhi... mother... will make you feel safe on your journey..." At that moment, my heart tightened slightly. I raised my head to look into the mirror, the eyes in the mirror matched her eyes. The corner of Queen Phuong's lips curled slightly, but in the bottom of her eyes - there was no tenderness at all. Inside, there is only cold light and bone-piercing malice. Before I could react, my whole body felt like it was tied tightly by invisible chains, my spiritual energy was blocked, my consciousness staggered as if falling into an abyss. I fell to the cold ground, and she stood high, looking down at me from above — a cruel smile. "Your mother is dead, why are you still alive? It's better to... go down to the yellow spring to see her!" The bell behind the curtain rang softly. An arrogant laugh rang out: "The Queen Mother is truly amazing!" Phuong Chau stepped out from behind the curtain, her posture was lazy but her eyes were filled with contempt. She took Queen Phuong's arm and raised her chin, as if she had treated me like a corpse. She curled her lips and coldly kicked my shoulder: "A cruel race with no father or mother like you, dare to give me orders? If you had just buried yourself in Dan Huyet Son, I would have spared your life. Unfortunately... you are not reasonable!" I forced myself to open my mouth, a sarcastic smile still lingering on the corners of my lips: "What... do you want to do?" Phuong Chau smiled coldly, a trace of greed flashed in the bottom of his eyes: "I will dig out your inner pill, swallow it, and take the phoenix blood in your body. Then... I will disguise myself as you, step on the palanquin and marry Hao Duong Than Quan!" Queen Phuong slowly continued, each word was small but the murderous aura was as strong as the sky: "Wait until the matter is over, whether Hao Duong or Phuong clan, if you don't accept it, you have to accept it. At that time... you are dead, my daughter is the only Phuong clan who can be called Emperor Co!" The laughter of mother and daughter echoed in the main hall, so cold that even the candlesticks trembled. Immediately after that, I felt my chest being torn apart, a brilliant golden light was violently pulled out of my body. It's my Divine Emperor inner pill! “Throw it… into Han Dam cave!” The maid immediately dragged my body, threw me into the ice abyss, the cold water cut my skin like a knife, drowning my breath. In the darkness, the corner of my lips curled up slightly, a smile full of meaning: "Finally... you guys are hooked." In our body, blood vessels The Divine Emperor rolled like fire. This is the only divine phoenix power in this world, but to awaken... there is only one path - nirvana. Phoenix nirvana: either descend to earth and suffer, living hundreds of lifetimes on earth, or... die and come back to life, reborn from a desperate situation. I know that mother and daughter will not give up easily. Then... use their own hands to push me into the path of death, help me recreate the phoenix blood, and reclaim the fate that belongs to me. Han Dam water is as cold as ten thousand swords piercing the heart. My body gradually sank into the abyss, my breath was chaotic, the spiritual energy in my body ran wildly. “It's not good…” At that moment, a golden red light flashed in the darkness. A pair of blood-red pupils suddenly opened at the bottom of the lagoon, carrying cold killing intent, locking me tightly. That's it! Black Giao in the past, who once fought with the Dragon Clan Crown Prince at the foot of Vo Tran Son! My blood is flowing, the scent of phoenix blood makes it crazy with desire. “Here we go…” “Sure enough, you can't miss it…” I clearly understand that the True God bloodline in my body is the ultimate sacred object for the demon race. If it swallows just one drop, its strength will surpass the sky and destroy the world, stepping on the great path and becoming a god. Cold water wrapped around his body, a violent aura suddenly surrounded him. Black Giao rushes forward like a ghost, his teeth are as sharp as a blade, trying to bite my neck! Before my spiritual power could recover, the internal pill was taken away, and my body became as weak as a mortal. “The only way is to endure…” I closed my eyes, forcing the phoenix aura in my body to circulate, frantically sucking in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around me. As long as… as long as I succeed in being reborn, I will truly awaken! Right at the moment Black Giao's teeth were about to touch my neck, a dragon's roar echoed through heaven and earth: "You beast! You dare?!" From above, a giant dragon covered in purple light tore through the water curtain and rushed straight into the abyss. I saw him turn around, his huge body curving like thunder, sweeping across the sky, carrying the aura of an ancient divine dragon, violently crashing into the Black Giao. In the blink of an eye, a dragon tooth as sharp as a divine weapon bit straight into Hac Giao's neck, black blood spurted out, dyeing the entire cold lagoon red. Black Giao screamed, his body struggled wildly, then fell heavily to the bottom of the abyss, lifeless. An arrogant laugh echoed through Han Dam: "Ha! In the past, this crown prince almost couldn't defeat you, so much so that all four seas and eight deserts made fun of me. Now what? What I say is kill, kill!" I opened my eyes, cold water washing away my blurred vision. That face... phoenix eyes and sword eyebrows, a domineering aura like an arrogant dragon, the whole body was covered in purple like a god descending to earth. It's him — Dragon Clan Crown Prince, Mac Uyen!