Chapter 21 — Retired on the same day, I turned around and married the Regent

I stepped forward, placed the heavy medicine box on the table next to him and opened the lid.

"This is Ti Chuong Dan, take one pill every morning."

“This is Kim Sang Chi Blood Powder, used on the skin, the effect... is quite good.”

"This is Sam Nhung Tuc Menh Dan. When in danger, take one pill and you can hold your breath..."

"And these are medicinal powders to repel snakes and centipedes. Nam Cuong has many poisonous substances..."

I stopped him from watching one by one, trying to keep my voice calm, but the slight trembling of my fingertips still revealed the fluctuations in my heart. Ta Vo Cuu listened quietly, his eyes from the jars and jars in the medicine box slowly moved to my face. Those eyes were attentive and deep, as if wanting to engrave my appearance into the depths of my heart.

“...It's been hard for her.” He said softly.

“Your Majesty... take care.” Thousands of words choked in his throat, and in the end, they only turned into these four most ordinary, and also the heaviest, words.

He looked at me deeply, then suddenly reached out his hand, not to take the medicine box, but to gently stroke my cheek. The fingertips have a thin layer of callus, a bit rough, but unusually warm. Gliding past my eyebrows, the corners of my eyes, finally stopping at my lips. A strong force suddenly hit my heart, a bitter feeling immediately rose to the bridge of my nose, and my eye sockets burned.

“Wait for me to return.” His voice was low, carrying a promise that left no room for doubt and... an attachment that was so strong it couldn't be broken.

His thumb gently caressed the corner of my lips. Then, he lowered his head. A kiss that was a bit cold but extremely respectful, gently fell on my forehead. Like a mark. He let go and finally looked at me deeply, his eyes as determined as a rock. Immediately after that, he decisively turned around, picked up the helmet on the table, and strode out. The sound of footsteps is as heavy as a war drum, each beat beating on our hearts. The figure wearing dark armor disappeared into the deep night. I stood still, my fingertips gently touching the forehead that he had just kissed, where the cold feeling from his lips still seemed to remain.

“I will wait for you.” I looked towards the empty room door and spoke quietly.

The cold wind swirls the fallen leaves on the ground. That night, the torches in Vo Cuu Cu continued to shine until dawn. The next morning, heavy snow filled the sky. I stood on Quan Tinh Cac, the highest palace in the Royal Palace, wearing a thick fox fur coat, looking towards the outside of the city. The wind and snow were foggy, the sky and earth were a chaotic color. But I know, in the depths of that snowy curtain, on the mandarin road leading to Nam Cuong, a silent but murderous army is marching through the wind and snow towards an unknown battlefield. The flag flutters, the armor is like a forest. The leader wore a black iron mask covering his face, his body straight as a pine tree, like a golden tree, heading straight towards the land of fire and smoke reaching the sky. The cold wind blew snowflakes across my face, chilling me to the bone. I tightened my fur coat, my eyes pierced the wind and snow, stubbornly looking towards the South. In my heart, I hold the words "Wait for me" that he left behind, like holding a warm ember. No matter how strong the wind and snow are, there will eventually be a time when it stops. The fire of war, no matter how intense, will eventually go out. I will stay here, protect this vast Royal Palace, protect our home. Covered with wind and snow, bearing according to ten thousand feet of glory. Return safely. (END OF FULL TEXT)