Chapter 8 — The Crown Prince criticized me for not being worthy of the Eastern Palace, but the Martial General held my hand and wouldn't let go

That's the Crown Prince putting pressure. Little by little. Like a swarm of ants gnawing on every bone. He is waiting for me to bow my head. But I won't. We started preparing to do two things. The first thing is to write a letter to Hoac Van Tranh. Not to ask for help, but to let him know. Let him know what happened in the scriptures, then judge the situation himself. The second thing is to open female schools. Huo Chieu Chieu's neighbor's little girl is not the only girl who wants to learn to read. Behind the General's palace there are three empty rooms. I ordered someone to clean it up, put the tables and chairs in, and then took out the books from my dowry. As soon as the news spread, five girls came to school on the first day. By the third day, there were twelve people. Half a month later, the back yard of the General's palace was full every day. People began to talk in the city that General Huo's wife was teaching her daughter to read. Someone scolded me for doing something against the rules. There are also people who silently agree. On Nhuoc Huyen's reaction was faster than I expected. She did not find me directly, but chose another path. She told the Crown Prince that my opening a women's school was to win people's hearts, with unexpected intentions. The Crown Prince's bodyguards arrived again. This time I don't have to give a card. It's about passing on an order.

"Your Highness's edict. The female school opened by Mrs. Huo has not been approved by the royal court. From today on, it must be closed immediately."

A Quy's face turned pale. I stood in the middle of the yard, watching the bodyguard come to give orders.

"Do you need the royal court's permission to teach the neighbor's daughters to read and write in the back yard of the General's palace?"

The bodyguard still didn't change his face.

"His Highness said it was necessary."

"What law says so?"

He couldn't answer.

"Please come back."

We turned around and went inside.

"It's not too late until His Highness finds that law and then closes the door."

The bodyguard left. But I know. The Crown Prince will not let it go so easily. His patience is gradually running out. A month later, the border police transmitted news of victory. Huo Van Tranh greatly destroyed Tay Khuong's cavalry, slashed three thousand enemy soldiers, and won a great victory. The day the war announcement entered the capital, the whole capital was seething. Hundreds of people stood on both sides of the road, cheering the name of General Chinh Tay. It is said that the Crown Prince's face was gloomy all day. The day Huo Van Tranh returned, I stood waiting in front of the palace gate. He was riding a horse, wearing somewhat old armor, his whole body covered with road dust. When he jumped off his horse, as soon as he saw me, he stopped. Then he laughed. That was the first time I saw him smile. Not a polite smile at the corner of his lips. But actually smiling. The eyebrows and the corners of the eyes were all stretched out, like the surface of ice breaking, revealing the spring water hidden deep below.

"Miss Ngu."

"General."

"I'm back."

"Um, I see."

He threw the reins to the deputy behind him, then walked in front of me.

"I have received all the letters you sent."

He bowed his head and looked at me.

"Thank you for taking care of Chieu Chieu."

"That sister is also my sister."

His eyes moved slightly.

"Miss Ngu."

"There's a saying I thought about the whole way back. I just didn't know if I should say it or not."

"General, keep talking."

He took a deep breath, as if gathering momentum before rushing into battle.

"I said before, between you and... We just need to respect each other as guests. But during a month at the border, I thought a lot."

He looked straight into my eyes.

"I want to protect her. Not because she is my nominal wife, but because..."

He suddenly stopped, as if the words he had just said choked him. After a while, he quietly finished the second half of his sentence.

"It's because she deserves it."

I stood still, looking at him. The wind blew from the alley, shaking the sideburns on his temples.

"General."

"Your last sentence... sounds like you're talking about something very big."

"It's a really big deal."

"Then you must give me time to think."

He nodded slightly.

"She kept thinking slowly. I will wait."

When he said the words "I will wait", his voice was still calm as if saying the sun would rise tomorrow. But we still hear it. In that certainty. There is a gentleness that is as solid as a mountain. After Huo Van Tranh returned, the Crown Prince was indeed quiet for a few days. After all, a general who has just achieved great success and is favored by the saints is not at all convenient to blatantly use tricks. But the knives in the darkness never stopped. First, someone filed an accusation against Hoac Van Tranh, saying he was secretly storing food and herbs in the Northwest.