Chapter 6 — The Emperor Only Has One Daughter

06

Three days later, Thai Temple. The most sacred and solemn place of Dai Thinh Dynasty. This place worships ancestral tablets of the Trieu family. Today, it has become a giant execution ground again. On the square in front of Thai Mieu, the nobles, civil and military officials lined up neatly according to rank, completely pitch black. Everyone's faces were covered with a layer of heaviness and doubt. In the middle of the square, a high platform was erected. Trieu Dien, dressed in the most solemn ceremonial dress, sat neatly on a high platform. I am held in his arms, my vision is perfect. Behind me, is a group of concubines with diverse faces. Their bodies were covered with layers of luxurious silk brocade, but they could not hide the insecurity evident in the bottom of their eyes. The queen was at the head, her face as white as paper, still trying to maintain her motherly attitude. Below the platform, eleven princes and princesses lined up in order of age. They were about to face a fateful judgment right here. The good hour has come. The Minister of Rites used his male duck's voice to read the prayers to the ancestors. Then the drama begins. Ly Duc carried a white jade bowl containing clear water and walked up to the ceremony stage.

“Please, Great Prince Trieu Khai!”

Trieu Khai stepped onto the stage under the attentive gaze of everyone. His face was pale, his lips pursed tightly. The doctor took the sterilized needle and gently pricked him on the tip of his finger. A drop of bright red blood gushed out. Trieu Khai trembled and raised his hand, placing his finger above the white jade bowl. Drops of blood fell. Everyone held their breath. The drop of blood rotated in the water, then — quietly sank to the bottom. Doesn't melt at all. Completely insoluble. The square echoed with a breath of cold air. Hien Phi - the eldest prince's biological mother - trembled all over, immediately collapsed, and was supported by the palace maid. In the row of officials, the face of Truong Uy - the commander of the forbidden army - was as gray as ashes. 【Ah, the great drama has begun!】 The little man in my heart has begun to beat the gong and beat the drum. 【The water is definitely dirty, I'm afraid I should add oil or alum. Don't say it's not a biological child, even if it is a biological child, there's no way to dissolve it.】 【This old man's move is too poisonous, completely cutting off the ability to "bleed blood", from physics to close the clue!】 【It's good now, no need to argue, it's over with a hammer, clean and neat.】 Trieu Dien didn't show any emotion, just waved his hand leisurely.

“Next person.”

Trieu Khai lost his soul and was taken down.

“Please Third Princess Trieu Nguyet!”

The delicate-looking princess was crying until her eyes were filled with tears. She stepped onto the stage, was pricked by a needle, and drops of blood fell into the bowl. The result is the same as before — it settles at the bottom, does not dissolve. Duc Phi - her mother - let out a short scream and then fainted. In the crowd, great academician Ly Thua An staggered. If there wasn't someone next to him to help him, I'm afraid he would have lost face on the spot.

“Next person.”

“Please request the Fourth Prince Trieu Lam!”

The fourth prince, who was weak and had multiple illnesses, had not yet had time to get the needle, his eyes turned white and he fainted. The doctor had no choice but to take blood when he was unconscious. Result — still not dissolved. Tinh Tan screamed miserably and was immediately silenced by the person next to her. Next were the Fifth Prince, the Sixth Princess, the Seventh Prince... One by one they stepped up. No one is an exception. The small white jade bowl is now like an abyss that swallows all hope. Each A drop of blood falling is a symbolic "death" of a prince or princess. Every time the blood does not dissolve, a concubine falls, a clan falls into despair. On the stage, more and more concubines fell down. Below the stage, the ministers' faces were pale, and there were more and more of them. The whole scene was engulfed in chaos and despair. Only Trieu Dien sat upright on the long armrest, as steady as a stone table. He indifferently observed the human tragedy that he directed, seemingly having nothing to do with him. He is using the most cruel way to wash away the humiliation he has suffered. 【Thieves, it's too pathetic, what a one-sided massacre.】 I almost feel sorry when I look at it. 【But... it's really too much!】 【Those traitors, this is the end!】 Finally, it's the last person's turn. Also the heaviest person.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Trieu Hien!”

Ly Duc's voice at this moment sounded especially shrill. The entire audience's eyes seemed to be concentrated, all directed at the young man wearing the royal prince's dragon robe.

07

Crown Prince Trieu Hien, sixteen this year. He is the first "eldest son" of Trieu Dien, the heir to the throne of the Dai Thinh Dynasty. He always believed that he was the darling of heaven and the future emperor. At this moment, he stood under the high platform, his face pale, his whole body trembling. He looked at the long line of concubines and brothers and sisters collapsed on the stage, at the white jade bowl symbolizing the verdict, his eyes filled with fear and doubt. Queen To Thi clung to the railing, her nails digging deep into the wood. She glued her eyes to her son, muttering:

"It's impossible... it's impossible... Hien Nhi is the child of this palace, the royal child's heir... there's definitely no mistake..."

“Your Highness, please come up.”

Ly Duc's voice was completely emotionless. Under all eyes, Trieu Hien stepped heavily onto the stage. He did not dare to look at Trieu Dien, nor did he dare to look at his mother. The doctor stepped forward and injected blood. Trieu Hien held out his hand, the fateful drop of blood hanging over the rim of the bowl. He hesitated. He didn't dare let it fall.

“Shrink down.”

Trieu Dien opened his mouth, his voice was light but full of pressure. Trieu Hien trembled, his hands dropped, drops of blood fell into the water. Everyone's heart seemed to stop beating. Drops of blood rotated in the water, trying to resist. But in the end, like many drops before, it quietly sank to the bottom. Does not dissolve. This result was like a hammer hitting everyone in the chest.

“No——！”

The queen's scream rang out sadly, she completely collapsed. She rushed up, pointed at Trieu Dien, and shouted frantically:

"It's you! It's you who's playing tricks! Your Majesty, how cruel are you!"

"Hien Nhi is your son! The eldest son you raised! Why would you slander your own flesh and blood because of an elf of unknown origin?"

Her finger pointed straight at me. 【Oh my, are you trying to blame me?】 【Queen, you can eat nonsense, but you can't talk nonsense. What can a milk-fed child like me do?】 【Furthermore, whether the Crown Prince is his biological son, don't you know for yourself? Lord Bo Lai Minister Vuong is still sitting down there, his face is as green as an eggplant.】 Trieu Dien's eyes turned cold.