Chapter 17 — The Emperor gave me a wedding, the General publicly proposed me as his concubine, I threw away my veil and left

A soldier held an arrow in both hands and entered the temple. Half a piece of cloth was still tied with blood stains on the arrow's body.

“Your Majesty, someone shot this arrow from outside the palace wall.”

The Emperor opened the piece of cloth. There were only two lines written in blood on it. Lam Chieu Nha, enter Black Stone. Don't trust Luc Canh Tham. I stared at the piece of cloth, my throat felt like something was blocking it. The Queen asked softly:

“Do you recognize this handwriting?”

I shook my head.

“It's not the prefect's handwriting.”

The senior's pen strokes are always sharp, horizontal like the edge of a knife, each time he lowers the pen is very strong. And these lines of words written in blood are crooked and hasty, like the writer has an injured hand. The Emperor handed the piece of cloth to the General Manager of the inner city.

“Investigate where the arrow came from.”

The commander of the forbidden army said:

“The outside of the palace wall has been sealed, that person probably hasn't run far yet.”

I suddenly asked:

“If he wanted me to go to Black Stone, why did he only write one more sentence: Don't trust Luc Canh Tham?”

The Queen looked at me.

“Do you think this is a trick to lure you out of the capital?”

"That's right."

I tightened my sleeves.

“But it's not necessarily all fake.”

In the main hall, no one spoke up to object. Because all clues are pointing to Black Stone camp. Even if it's a trap. We can't pretend we've never seen it. Miss Van quickly brought the cavalry over. When I changed into my wedding dress in the temple, I saw how many blood stains were on the red silk. That set of phoenix officials was supposed to take me into the cave. Now it was carefully folded by the palace staff and placed in a basswood box. Miss Van tied the guard for me, her fingers stopped next to the wound on the palm of her hand.

“Miss, try to hold back a bit.”

As soon as the powder was sprinkled, my fingertips were so painful it was numb. I never spoke up. Her eyes were red.

“If your mother finds out, I'm afraid her heart will be broken.”

I said softly:

“For the time being, do not report news to the government.”

“The person is sick.”

"Wait until you have solid news about the prefect before telling him."

Miss Van put the brass button on my coat for me.

“Miss, you must prepare in your heart first.”

“A place like Black Stone Barracks... it's unlikely that anyone could still be alive until now.”

I raised my eyes to look at her.

“But there is only a little hope left.”

"hen see you again."

“I definitely have to go.”

She doesn't advise anymore. When I returned to the main hall, Lady Thai was still kneeling in the same place. Seeing that I had changed my disguise, a guilty look appeared in her eyes.

“Chieu Nha.”

I stopped in front of her. She took out an old key from her sleeve and raised it in front of me with both hands.

“This is what the fairy left behind.”

"He once said that if one day someone from the Lam family asks about the past in Bac Canh, then hand over this item."

I don't accept it.

“Why didn't you hand it over to Your Majesty sooner?”

Lady Thai closed her eyes.

“The old man is afraid.”

Her voice choked.

“That year, the Luc family was also in the Bac Canh army.”

"I'm afraid this key won't open the favor from the past... but the sins of the Luc family."

I looked at her pale face.

“Finally, Mrs. Thai told the truth.”

Her whole body trembled slightly.

“Chieu Nha, I don't ask you to forgive me.”

“If the Luc family really owes a debt to the Lam family blood debt, I am willing to share in the crime."

I reached out to receive the key. It was very cold, with a small word North Pole engraved on it. The Emperor ordered his inner servant to bring the Luc family's old trunk. That was the box that the Thai Lady ordered someone to carry from the secret compartment in the Luc Palace study to the palace. The outside of the iron layer is covered with rust, but the lock is cleaned and shiny. When the key turns. The eyes of everyone in the main hall were focused on the box. A slight "click" sounded. The trunk lid opens. There was no gold, silver or jewels inside. There was only a goatskin map roll and three old envelopes. His Majesty opened the parchment map roll first. That is the terrain outside the Bac Canh gate. The location of Hac Thach barracks is surrounded by cinnabar, next to it there is another secret path, going straight to the back of the mountain of Ngoc Duong station. The Minister of Military Affairs lost his voice.

“This road is not on the Army's map.”

The Thai lady said softly:

"The old man once said that this is the old road used to transport food and herbs in the past."

I hold the envelope at the top. The letter paper has turned yellow and the ink has blurred over the years, but it is still clearly readable. Temporarily postpone entry, waiting for La Thua Nghiep's next order. Anyone who disobeys orders will be beheaded for colluding with the enemy. At the end of the letter there is no signer's name. Only the old seal of Xu Mat Institute. The Emperor's face darkened.

“This is not my intention.”

The Queen said softly:

“But that year, someone held this order and blocked reinforcements outside the gate.”

I looked at Lady Thai.

“After the old Marquis of the Luc family received this military order, what did he do?”