Chapter 18 — The Crown Prince just got married, King Tinh is already waiting outside my room

Leaving the Marquis Palace, the sky was already dawn but not yet dawn. I turned my head and looked back at the house gate, dimly lit in the morning mist, my mind filled with chaos. Tinh Vuong Palace is located in the most prosperous area of the capital, but carries a different solemn and majestic aura. Tieu Dien directly placed me at "Dinh Lan Thuy Ta" located next to the main courtyard. This place is located next to the water, the scenery is serene, and the guards are extremely strict. For the next few days, I stayed here. Tieu Dien sent powerful maids and maids to serve him. He dressed and lived with nothing that was not delicate and meticulous, even more careful than when he was at the Marquis Palace. He himself seems to be extremely busy, often leaving early and returning late at night, but every night he will definitely stop by the water to visit me. Sometimes I just sit and drink a cup of tea and ask how my wound is recovering. Sometimes they bring some new items to entertain me. He no longer mentioned the dangerous night in the deserted temple, nor did he mention the progress in investigating the person behind the scene. He only used a meticulous and silent method to quietly take me under his wings, blocking all the rain and wind from outside. The feeling of being completely protected like that is strange, but it makes people feel secure. Until five days later, at dusk. Tieu Dien came to pay his respects, his expression was completely different from his usual calmness, a cold and murderous aura appeared between his eyebrows.

“The person behind the curtain has been found out.”

He dismissed the servants, looked at me, and spoke directly. My heart suddenly tightened.

“Crown Prince, Tieu Duc.”

Even though I already had a guess in my heart, when I heard this name with my own ears, I still felt a chill run down my spine. Of course it's him. Because he wanted to attack Tieu Dien, he did not hesitate to use such despicable tricks, plotting to harm Trung Luong.

“Real evidence.”

Tieu Dien's voice was calm, but each word weighed like a thousand pounds.

"That block of military talismans was smuggled out by him through an old person at the Ministry of Public Works. Although the group of martyrs in the deserted temple insisted that they were Northern bandits, following the clues, they finally found an abandoned manor of the Eastern Palace."

He looked at me, his eyes deep.

“How do you want to handle it?”

I was stunned. How to handle? That is the Crown Prince, the heir to the nation.

"He harmed the court's official, his heart deserves to be punished."

Tieu Dien's voice turned cold.

"Even though this alone is not enough to dethrone him, it is enough to make him injured and have to pay the price."

I was silent for a moment, then shook my head. Tieu Dien raised his eyebrows and looked at me.

“Now is not the best time to touch him.”

I looked up, met his eyes, tried to keep my voice calm.

"Even though Your Majesty is dissatisfied with the Crown Prince, dethroning the throne is related to the country. He will absolutely not be easily swayed because of an unsuccessful frame. This outbreak will only make him alert and prepared."

I stopped for a moment, then continued talking.

"Furthermore, he has pulled out all the stops and resorted to such tricks, which is enough to see what his mentality is like. We should just... temporarily stay still and quietly observe. Today he can harm my father, and tomorrow he may not reveal even greater loopholes in other matters. At that time, one blow will kill him. Wouldn't that be better?

Tieu Dien looked at me, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, which immediately turned into appreciation and a deeper smile. He reached out and gently stroked my cheek, his fingertips carrying warmth.

“Your future princess,”

He smiled slightly, his voice not hiding any praise.

“Sure enough, it's not a weak flower that only knows how to hide behind you.”

His compliment made my cheeks heat up a bit, but more than that, it was a feeling of steadfastness as we faced wind and rain together.

“So this…”

I looked towards him.

“Just follow her.”

He retracted his hand, his tone firm.

“Temporarily recorded. This debt, sooner or later, she will settle with him.”

He suddenly changed his tone, his eyes became dark and focused.

“But before that, I want to pay off another debt.”

I asked reflexively. He took a step forward, approaching me, his tall body carrying a strong sense of oppression, his hot eyes locked tightly on mine.

“She ventured alone,” Tieu Dien said, his voice low, carrying a sense of danger.

“This debt, how should we calculate it, huh?”

“You took the risk alone, this debt, how should we calculate it, huh?”

He stood very close, his warm breath blowing through the hair on my forehead, carrying the unique scent of cold pinewood on his body, mixed with a hint of dangerous invasion. Those deep eyes locked tightly on me, inside were roiling residual fear, suppressed anger, and an even deeper undercurrent, almost wanting to swallow me whole.