Chapter 3 — The Golden Dragon's Decree

Upon hearing this, Uyen Khe breathed a sigh of relief. Long Nhac Chan cast a glance at me, his face full of smug triumph. "Father, if Uyen Khe does not mind, please grant us leave to tend to our health; in due time, we shall surely produce a pure-blooded Golden Dragon to bolster the prestige of the Dragon Palace!" Uyen Khe also bowed, chiming in, "Father, rest assured, this daughter-in-law will give it her absolute all." A calculating light flickered in the depths of her eyes. Hearing this, the Dragon King finally felt at ease and laughed heartily: "Good! I shall await the joyous news!" I merely sighed faintly. To diagnose someone who has no illness while ignoring the one who truly suffers—I wonder from where they intend to conjure this "pure-blooded Golden Dragon."

After the Dragon King departed, Long Dat Tran and I prepared to leave, but we were intercepted by Long Nhac Chan. He sneered, "Did you think that by calling for the dragon physician you could humiliate me? Dao Cam, you are as pathetic as ever!" I curled my lips in a cold smile. A crown prince of the mighty Dragon Palace who is physically incapable of siring an heir—is that not the greatest joke under the heavens? "You are carrying a mongrel, yet you dare to act so haughty?" he growled with contempt. Long Dat Tran’s gaze turned frigid, a biting chill radiating from his frame: "Older Brother, mind your tongue! Dao Cam is carrying the bloodline of the Dragon Palace!"

Long Nhac Chan was furious, his face turning an ashen green. He flicked his sleeves and stormed off, his voice dark and ominous: "I shall wait to see exactly what kind of monster you give birth to!" "My child does not require your concern, Imperial Brother," Long Dat Tran replied coldly, shielding me as we left the bedchamber. Ever since I became pregnant, he had become increasingly protective, his every step and word measured, terrified that I might suffer the slightest harm. The natural conception I experienced now was worlds apart from the forbidden art of the past. In my previous life, the dragon child had drained my life essence until I was withered and gaunt, eventually leaving me unable to even rise from my bed. Now, though I suffered from morning sickness, my body grew more vibrant and my complexion remained rosy.

As several more months passed, there was still no news from the Crown Prince’s quarters. Finally, the Dragon King lost his patience and ordered a physician to examine Long Nhac Chan. Throughout the process, the Prince’s face was as dark as soot; he barked coldly, "Physician, you had best examine this prince with the utmost care!" No matter what, he refused to believe the fault lay within himself. In our past life, he never knew I had employed a forbidden technique to conceive a Green Dragon, so he remained absolutely certain nothing was amiss. The physician, terrified to the point of turning white as a sheet, trembled and dared not even touch the Prince's pulse. The truth was finally about to be exposed!

Just as my anticipation peaked, Uyen Khe suddenly swooned from feigned distress. The physician hurriedly switched to checking her pulse, and after a momentary shock, his expression brightened. "Congratulations to the Crown Prince! Congratulations! The Crown Princess is with child!" I knitted my brows tightly. How could this be? Had Uyen Khe also practiced forbidden dragon techniques? The physician, as if granted a reprieve, wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression muddled with confusion. When he met my gaze, he panicked and looked away. Was he feeling guilty?

Uyen Khe regained consciousness, and upon hearing the news, she pressed her hands to her abdomen. A flash of panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly lifted her chin and flashed a triumphant smile. Something was not right. Before I could ponder it further, I heard Long Nhac Chan roar with laughter: "Hahaha! The heavens favor me! I shall surely raise this Golden Dragon!" The Dragon King was equally overjoyed, bestowing upon them treasures without limit. Uyen Khe casually picked up some of the prizes, eyeing me with a mocking smirk. "Little sister, I suppose you have never seen so many treasures in your life, have you?" Long Nhac Chan held her close, his malicious gaze locked onto me: "How could she have seen them? Such treasures are only meant for my Crown Princess."

These were merely worldly trifles; I cared nothing for them. The urgent matter was to uncover how Uyen Khe had become pregnant. I wrote a letter to my family home. My mother, though puzzled by my knowledge of dragon arts, asked no questions, only reiterating, "The rules of the dragon clan are inviolable. Aside from me, only you possess the knowledge of these forbidden techniques." If that were the case... was it not strange? A terrifying thought began to take root in my mind. If Uyen Khe had truly corrupted the bloodline of the Dragon Palace, she would be subjected to the most excruciating torture! She was daring enough to risk everything. In my previous life, Long Nhac Chan had summoned every Green Dragon to draw blood and prove paternity, all to accuse me of infidelity. But now, that "green hat" of shame... it was truly resting upon his own head.

I gently placed my hand on my slightly protruding stomach, sensing the dragon soul stirring within, and the corner of my lips arched upward. My child, in this lifetime, mother will certainly protect you well. Just then, Long Dat Tran entered, his expression somber and his eyes filled with unease. "Is something wrong?" I pulled him to sit beside me. "Father has ordered me to travel overseas. In the coming days, do not leave your quarters, lest they lose their minds and do something reckless." I knew exactly who he meant by "they" and understood the worry in his heart. With my current condition, I had no intention of inviting trouble. After repeating his warnings, he finally left, his mind somewhat at ease.

To avoid confrontations with Long Nhac Chan, I spent the following days strolling only within the confines of my own chambers. But he seemed intent on seeking me out. Every time we crossed paths, he would boast of how his child would surely be a Golden Dragon, while mine could only be a Green Dragon. Bored of this, I stopped stepping outside altogether. Yet, I had underestimated his stubbornness. Long Nhac Chan and Uyen Khe eventually forced their way into my quarters. Both wore expressions of extreme triumph; Uyen Khe was draped in so much gold and jade that it seemed she wanted to flaunt every treasure the Dragon King had bestowed upon her right before my eyes. They were truly, comically vulgar.

Uyen Khe covered her mouth and giggled, her tone arrogant: "Little sister, did you know that when we called for the physician today, he said the dragon child in my womb has abundant spiritual energy, just like the mother of the dragon did in the past?" The mother of the dragon had given birth to a Golden Dragon. She was implying she was carrying one, too. I looked at Uyen Khe’s radiant face and couldn't help but smile coldly to myself. She truly lacked all fear. But in the end, who had she found, and how could they possibly cultivate a fetus to masquerade as a Golden Dragon?

"Dao Cam, do you still remember the imperial decree Father issued?" Long Nhac Chan stood beside her, bursting with arrogance, his eyes flashing with a fanatical, obsessive fire. In our past life, he was the Crown Prince, yet he lost his chance at the throne simply because I had given birth to a mere Green Dragon. In this life, with Uyen Khe by his side, he believed his victory was absolute! But he would never know that the one with the defect was himself. Whether in the past life or this one, he was never fated to be a king!

I raised an eyebrow and replied smoothly: "I remember it well. Then, I wish you both success." A flicker of anger flared in his eyes. He had come to provoke me, hoping to see me ashamed or enraged so that he might heap humiliation upon me. But my indifference only served to infuriate him further. "Dao Cam! If I ascend the throne, I will mince you into a thousand pieces to sate my hatred! Do you truly not beg me to grant you a way out?" His voice was cold, every word dripping with murderous intent. I shook my head slightly, my lips curling into a faint smile. It was not yet clear who would be begging whom. His expression turned as dark as an abyss. He lunged forward, his hand snapping out like the claw of a wicked dragon, gripping my throat and lifting my entire body into the air!