Chapter 10 — The day I was left behind in the abandoned temple, the Princess kicked in the door to welcome me home

Until we confirm that we really have nothing to worry about. He silently breathed a sigh of relief. The corners of the lips also stretch a bit.

“It seems…”

“I don't need to worry about her anymore.”

“Your Highness came here just to say these words?”

The tone is very calm. Not angry either. Tieu Canh Hanh shook his head. Then he walked in front of me. From his chest he took out a land deed. Then place it on the table.

“This is the land deed of the Lam Gia silk shop in Nam City.”

“This morning.”

“I bought it back.”

“Consider it as an apology gift for her.”

I bowed my head and looked at the land deed on the table. I looked up at him again. His voice was very calm.

"Yesterday."

“Our people are not doing their job properly.”

“Let her be frightened.”

“I can't get there in time.”

“It was my fault.”

I was a bit surprised. Because his attitude is too straightforward. Don't look for excuses. No explanation. Also don't push responsibility onto anyone. I did not raise my hand to accept that land deed. Don't look any more.

“Your Highness.”

“Let's make a deal.”

Tieu Canh Hanh raised his eyebrows slightly. He told me to continue talking.

“The story of the Lam family.”

“I want to solve it myself.”

“I don't need you to get involved.”

“There is no need for you to use such a method to prove your abilities.”

“What we need the Tran Quoc Cong government to do.”

“It's another matter.”

Tieu Canh Hanh's eyes moved slightly.

“What?”

I looked straight into his eyes. Every word is spoken clearly.

“I want you.”

Those two words. I said very calmly. Very clear. It's like saying the weather is very nice today. It's like I'm just talking about something that's not worth worrying about. But right at that moment. The whole main hall immediately became quiet. Princess An Binh Truong is raising a cup of tea. Her hand stopped in mid-air. She looked at me. There was complete surprise in his eyes. It was undisguised surprise. Even Tieu Canh Hanh. The gentle expression on his face also stiffened in the blink of an eye. He looked at me. Eyebrows slowly furrowed. Those deep, bottomless eyes looked intently at me. First time. There was an emotion in his eyes that I couldn't understand. Not angry. Not offended either. It's an assessment. It's a person's judgmental eyes when meeting an opponent of equal talent. Like a chess player looking at another chess player. A long time later. He just opened his mouth. The voice was lower than before.

“Vinh An Marquis Palace is the cage that has imprisoned me for eighteen years.”

"As for the engagement between you and me, it is now the last straw that saved my father's life."

“The Lam family is no longer trustworthy.”

“His calculations for many years have gone down the drain.”

“Now the only thing he can hold on to is the Tran Quoc Cong government.”

"As long as this engagement still exists, he will always think that he still has a chance to turn the situation around."

“He will continue to use me as a pawn.”

"Continue to use this marriage in the name of bargaining for benefits."

"Continue to dream of relying on Tran Quoc Cong palace to save Vinh An Marquis palace which is shaking and about to collapse."

I put my hands on the table and slowly stood up. The wound in my leg still hurts. But my mind has never been so clear. I walked step by step in front of Tieu Canh Hanh. The distance between us is very close. So close that we can see ourselves in the eyes him. A completely different Tham Chieu Ninh. No longer weak. No more patience. I no longer wish for any illusory friendship.

“I don't want to be anyone's chess piece.”

“Especially the piece in his hand.”

“So I want to cut off his last hope.”

“I want him to see with his own eyes all the things he painstakingly planned to collapse little by little.”

“I want him to understand that.”

“Some things, once lost, can never be regained.”

From beginning to end, Tieu Canh Hanh never spoke. He just looked at me quietly. Quietly listen to me. We continue:

“My lord, you are a smart person.”

“You must understand better than anyone.”

“A person who still has a way to retreat will not risk his life.”

“Only when cornered does he reveal his true nature.”

“I need my father to go to that last step.”

“I need everyone standing behind him to jump out themselves.”

“We need to see all the hands that are manipulating things in the dark.”

“So this annulment is not for revenge.”

“It's to lure snakes out of their caves.”