Chapter 17 — The Beggar Husband Turns Out to Be a Dragon

Three days after the conversation with Giang Chan Hung, Bach Tranh received a brief text message from an unfamiliar phone number: "At midnight tonight, go alone to the riverbank park north of the city. If His Highness doesn't come, what happens next, you will regret for the rest of your life."

He knew right away that this was Ngao Viet Phong, and even though his instincts told him this could be a trap, he still decided to come, because he couldn't let the threat hang over his family's head any longer. He told Tuyet Nhi to stay at home with the newly reinforced bodyguards, lied that he needed to meet with Chuong Dich Pham to discuss work, and then quietly left the house when it was just getting dark.

Before leaving, he lingered and called Chuong Dich Pham to let him know the location and time of the appointment, advising that if there was no news from him for more than two hours, to immediately find a way to contact Ngao Tinh for help. This was a careful precaution, although he himself was not sure whether it would be enough to save him if tonight's meeting turned out to be a deadly trap.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will closely monitor all developments." Chuong Dich Pham replied, his voice still worried. "But I advise you to bring something to protect yourself, even if it's just psychological."

"I don't need it." Bach Tranh replied, his voice calm. "If I have to fight, my spiritual energy is enough. What I'm worried about is not myself, but what could happen to my family if I don't handle this properly from tonight."

The north riverbank park at midnight was eerily quiet, with only the sound of gurgling water and sparse streetlights shining on the dew-wet grass. Ngao Viet Phong was waiting under an old tree, holding something in his hand that looked like an ancient round mirror, cold eyes watching Bach Tranh approaching.

"Your Highness arrived on time." He said, bowing his head slightly, his cold eyes observing Bach Tranh's every move. "Today, the regent wants to speak to you personally."

Ngao Viet Phong held up the mirror, using a gentle stream of spiritual energy, the mirror immediately lit up, revealing the image of a middle-aged man wearing a simple but majestic dragon robe, his face had faint similarities to Bach Tranh, but his eyes were much colder and more calculating.

"Grandson." Diep Thua Uy spoke, his voice was deep and warm but contained a subtle pretense. "It's been six years since I've seen you, even if only through this mirror."

"You have no right to call me nephew." Bach Tranh replied, his voice cold, his eyes looking straight at the image in the mirror full of hatred. "You poisoned my father and falsely accused me of treason. Do you think I will forget those things?"

Diep Thua Uy slightly curled his lips, showing no remorse. "Do you still think things are that simple? Let me tell you the truth that your father has never dared to admit: he was a benevolent but weak king, allowing our dragon clan to become increasingly weaker before the expansion of the human world, letting ancient rules inhibit the development of an entire clan with a history of thousands of years. I am just doing what is necessary to save the dragon clan from destruction."

"So you chose to poison your brother and usurp the throne with despicable means?" Bach Tranh shouted, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"Power has never passed cleanly, my nephew." Diep Thua Uy replied, his voice still remaining terrifyingly calm. "And now, after six years of regency, I have proven my ability. The dragon clan under my rule has expanded its influence into many areas of the human world, accumulating resources that your father never dared to imagine. You, a crown prince who revealed his identity just to save a human girl, a crown prince who lived in hiding like a beggar for six years, do you think you are more worthy of sitting on that throne than me?"

Bach Tranh was silent for a moment, feeling the arrogant confidence in Diep Thua Uy's every word, but at the same time realizing that behind those seemingly reasonable arguments was just a blatant justification for personal ambition for power.

"You can deceive yourself with any argument you want." Bach Tranh replied, his voice sharp. "But the truth is still the truth: you poisoned my father, an act of treason that cannot be forgiven under any law of the dragon race. I will find the proof, and I will bring you before the elders to face the crime."

"You're still as innocent as ever." Diep Thua Uy shook his head, his voice full of fake regret. "Okay, if you don't want to talk about right and wrong, then I will get straight to the point. I give you three days to think. Hand over the Dragon Seal to Ngao Viet Phong, declare that you give up all rights to dispute the throne, and I will let you live peacefully in this world with your wife."

"What if I refuse?" Bach Tranh asked, his eyes unwavering.

"If you refuse." Diep Thua Uy replied, his voice completely cold, no longer any fake warmth. "I will let Ngao Viet Phong show you how much your wife's family will have to pay for your stubbornness. Chan Hung Group, Anh Duong Villa, everything you are trying to protect, I can destroy in just one night if I want."

Bach Tranh gritted his teeth, anger flared up fiercely in his heart, but he still tried to suppress it, knowing that being angry at this time would only make the situation worse. "You will pay for what you did, Diep Thua Uy. I swear."

"I'll wait and see what you can do." Diep Thua Uy smiled faintly, the image in the mirror began to fade. "Three days, nephew. Don't make me wait any longer."

The image disappeared completely, leaving only Ngao Viet Phong standing there, looking at Bach Tranh with something almost pitying. "Your Highness, I advise you to think carefully. The Regent is not a man of idle talk."

"You serve a traitor who killed your father and brother. Don't you feel humiliated?" Bach Tranh asked, his voice full of contempt.

Ngao Viet Phong paused slightly, a bit of complexity that was hard to name flashed through his eyes, but then he quickly regained his usual cold look. "I'm just a salaryman, your highness. In three days, I'll come back to hear your answer." Having finished speaking, he turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the darkness of the park.

Bach Tranh stood quietly alone on the riverbank, his eyes looking down at the fast-flowing water under the moonlight, his heart filled with tears. He knew that he could not hand over the Dragon Seal, because doing so would mean giving up all hope of exonerating his father, allowing Diep Thua Uy to forever manipulate the dragon clan with despicable tricks. But if he refuses, Tuyet Nhi's family, the person he loves the most, will face unpredictable dangers.

He called Chuong Dich Pham that night, his voice full of determination. "I need you to help me prepare everything. I have no intention of handing over the Dragon Seal, and I will not let Diep Thua Uy touch a single hair of Tuyet Nhi's family. I need to know more about his plans, about the weaknesses that I can exploit."

"Your Highness intends to counterattack?" Chuong Dich Pham asked, his voice somewhat worried and excited.

"That's right." Bach Tranh replied, his eyes looked up at the starry night sky, an iron determination gradually formed in his heart. "The time has come, I cannot continue to hide any longer. I will face Diep Thua Uy, not with the fear of an exile, but with the stance of a crown prince ready to take back what belongs to him."

"Do you need me to try contacting Ngao Tinh to find out more about the situation inside Long Uyen?" Chuong Dich Pham asked further, his voice carefully weighing each word. "If there is testimony or specific evidence about Diep Thua Uy's poisoning of the Immortal King, perhaps that will be our most important trump card."

"Yes, please contact Ngao Tinh immediately." Bach Tranh replied, his eyes flashed a sharp light. "If there is real evidence, I want it sent straight to the council of elders, so that no matter what happens to me, justice will not be buried."

That night, when returning home very late, Bach Tranh looked at Tuyet Nhi sleeping soundly, her peaceful face unaware of the storm waiting ahead. He sat down by the bed, gently caressed her hair, silently promising to do everything he could to protect her and her family, no matter what the cost was.