Chapter 18 — The Emperor gave me a wedding, the General publicly proposed me as his concubine, I threw away my veil and left

Lady Thai's tears flowed like rain.

“He led his army to stop outside the gate.”

"By the time he returned to the capital, the Lam family army... was no longer there."

My body staggered slightly. Miss Van quickly caught me. The Thai lady burst into tears.

“He lived in regret his whole life.”

“Before his death, he once said that if that day he had dared to resist the order to storm the gate, perhaps he could still have saved a few people.”

I stared at that letter.

“So... the reinforcements that my father and brothers have been waiting for... have really arrived.”

No one answered. No reply. Already the most obvious answer. I placed the letter back on the throne and slowly knelt down.

“Your Majesty, I no longer just ask to revoke the marriage decree.”

“The goddess begs your Majesty to reopen the trial of the old case of the battle to defend the Bac Canh pass.”

His Majesty lowered his voice. When that one word rang out. The corners of my eyes finally warmed up. But the Queen's words still rang in my ears. I came here to reclaim justice. Not to beg for pity. Outside the main hall, the gray white light of dawn appeared on the horizon. The commander of the forbidden army once again entered the palace, bringing with him the cold breath of morning dew.

“Your Majesty, General Luc has caught up with La Thua Nghiep at Black Stone Valley.”

“The two sides fought, La Thua Nghiep was forced to retreat to the old barracks.”

“But from the old barracks, a group of men in black rushed out and robbed La Thua Nghiep.”

His Majesty asked:

“Where is Luc Canh Tham?”

"See you again at two o'clock."

“General Luc was injured but refused to retreat, still leading his army to pursue into the valley.”

The commander of the forbidden army paused for a moment, his voice lowered even further.

“There was also a man with loose hair who came out from the old barracks.”

"In his hand he held a sword, with the word Lam engraved on the hilt."

I immediately raised my head.

“Where is that person?”

“He has controlled General Luc.”

The commander of the forbidden army looked towards me.

“He said... he wanted to meet Lam Chieu Nha.”

"If we still don't meet him before dark, he will cut off Luc Canh Tham's head and hang it on the gate of Black Stone barracks."

When we arrived at Ngoc Duong station, the sky was already bright. The cold air of the night still covered the mountain road, the horse's hooves stepped on the misty mud, shooting out tiny spots of black mud. Forbidden soldiers escorted before and after, no one spoke. In the distance, Black Stone Valley was like a cracked wound, quietly lying between the mountains in the thick mist. The general guarding Ngoc Duong station knelt and waited early.

“Miss Lam, I can't go forward anymore.”

I turned around and dismounted, my boots stepping on the cold, damp stone floor.

“How far is the old barracks?”

“If you ride at full speed, it will take about half an hour.”

"Guide."

The general guarding the station looked awkward.

"Your Majesty has orders, the lady can only go to Ngoc Duong station."

I took out the command card the Queen gave me.

“The lady also has instructions.”

“If there is a living person from the Lam family ahead, whoever dares to get in the way will share the blame.”

The expression of the general guarding the station immediately changed. The commander of the forbidden army lowered his voice.

“Open the way.”

The further you go into the mountain, the narrower it becomes. Both sides of the cliff were pitch black, as if they had been burned by fire for many years. When you touched it, you still felt rough and cold. As soon as they reached the valley entrance, the smell of blood hit them first. Above Several black-clothed bodies lay across the ground, their arrow feathers were broken, and the knife marks on their bodies varied in depth and shallowness. Luc Canh Tham's bodyguard was tied to one side. When he saw me coming, he said hoarsely:

“Miss Lam, it's very dangerous inside.”

I don't stop walking. The old barracks gate had collapsed in half, and rusty iron rings were still attached to the wooden stakes. In front of the gate stood a person. He wore an old black robe, his hair was messy, half his face was covered by a beard. In his right hand, he held a cutting knife, the blade was close to Luc Canh Tham's neck. Luc Canh Tham knelt on the ground, the blood stains on his shoulders had dried, his uniform had long since been replaced by dark-colored goggles during the chase, but a red thread still remained at the collar. As soon as he saw me, his eyes immediately tightened.

“She shouldn't have come.”

I didn't even look at him, I just stared at the person holding the knife. That person's eyes were very deep. As deep as a well that hasn't seen sunlight for many years. We move forward step by step. The army immediately raised its crossbow. The cutting knife pressed half a deeper into Luc Canh Tham's neck, a trail of blood immediately oozing out.

“Everyone fall down.”

His voice was so hoarse that the original timbre could almost no longer be heard. I raised my hand.

“Step back.”

The commander of the forbidden army quickly said:

“Miss.”

The sound of the crossbow string gradually subsided. I stopped ten steps away from him and asked softly:

“Who are you?”

That person stared at me, with both pain and hatred in his eyes.

"Even the old people of the Lam family, don't recognize them anymore?"