Chapter 4 — The Golden Dragon's Decree

What could possibly make you so arrogant? Do you truly believe that I, the Crown Prince, would not dare to kill you? Long Nhac Chan’s eyes were overflowing with murderous intent, his gaze sharp enough to tear my soul apart. Dao Cam! Killing you is a nightmare I have longed to see fulfilled every single night! His grip tightened around my throat, the pressure intensifying with every passing second. My vision began to blur, the edges of the world turning into a hazy, darkening blur. Just as I prepared to reveal the secret that he was sterile and could never father an heir, a blinding flash of silver light erupted from outside, slamming into Long Nhac Chan and sending him reeling backward. I was thrown into the air, but before I could hit the ground, I fell into a warm, familiar embrace. Long Dat Tran caught me, his eyes filled with overwhelming anxiety, his voice trembling with tension: Dao Cam, are you alright?

I forced a faint smile and shook my head to reassure him. In this life, I would not be as foolish as I once was. Moreover, Long Nhac Chan would not truly kill me—at least not before he ascended the throne. With his immense, unchecked arrogance, he had to force me to witness him birthing a Golden Dragon with my own eyes, to prove his royal bloodline was pure, before he would dare dump all his sins upon my head. How delusional and truly insane he was! Long Dat Tran helped me stand, a terrifying killing intent radiating from his body, creating a suffocating pressure that filled the palace chambers. Long Nhac Chan! You have repeatedly crossed my boundaries. Do you truly think I dare not strike you down? At that moment, a faint golden shimmer emanated from his body. My heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Long Dat Tran was also a Golden Dragon? But now was not the time to expose such a secret. I hurriedly grasped his arm, my voice soft and soothing: Dat Tran, do not be rash.

The murderous aura around him gradually dissipated. He scooped me up into his arms, his eyes still smoldering with lingering anger, his voice cold and authoritative: Get out! Behind us came the sound of crashing objects, followed by Long Nhac Chan’s hateful voice: Dao Cam! I will be watching you! Wait and see what kind of monster you give birth to! Long Dat Tran’s arms tightened around me. I leaned against his broad chest, listening to the steady, powerful rhythm of his heart, and a strange, profound sense of peace washed over me. Slowly, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into a deep sleep. In my hazy state, I heard a firm vow whispered in my ear: Dao Cam, I will certainly protect you and our child.

That sleep was undisturbed, and by the time I awoke, the next day had already dawned. Long Dat Tran was busy arranging baby toys, and a beautiful, hand-carved wooden cradle stood nearby. The moment he saw me open my eyes, he dropped everything and rushed over: Dao Cam, are you in any pain? His flustered demeanor made me laugh: I am merely pregnant; why must you treat me as if I am so fragile? Yet, inside, a bitter ache rose within me. In my previous life, while practicing the secret arts to nurture the dragon heir, my body had withered away until I could not even step out of bed. Back then, Long Nhac Chan had claimed everywhere that I was unable to withstand the spiritual power of the Golden Dragon, which was why I had become so frail. He had never once shown me a shred of concern! Recalling the events of the day before, I softly asked Long Dat Tran: Are you... a Golden Dragon? He froze, gave a bitter laugh, and explained everything. He was indeed a Golden Dragon, but his mother, wanting to shield him from the cutthroat struggle for the throne, had used a secret art to mask his true nature, disguising him as a Silver Dragon. So he had been a Golden Dragon all along! No wonder Uyen Khe had been able to bear a Golden Dragon in our past life.

Long Dat Tran reported everything to the Dragon King and decided to set aside all court affairs, dedicating himself entirely to my side and caring for me until the day I safely delivered our child. Under his meticulous care, my body regained its strength, and my complexion grew radiant. Ugh! Suddenly, an intense surge of pain tore through me. I furrowed my brows and clutched my abdomen. Long Dat Tran rushed me to the bed in a panic. The royal midwife, who had been on standby, immediately hurried in: Quickly, prepare everything! The Third Prince’s Consort is going into labor! In a heartbeat, the chamber descended into chaos. This birth was painless, unlike my previous life, where I had felt as though I were dying on that birthing bed. Outside the door, Long Dat Tran dashed to my side, his face filled with profound compassion: You have suffered, my love.

The midwife carefully wrapped a jade-green egg and brought it forward, her eyes flickering with hesitation: Third Prince, this is... He took it with trembling hands, placing it into my arms with immense care, his eyes shining like stars: Dao Cam, this is our child. In his gaze, there was no disdain or aversion! In my past life, when Long Nhac Chan saw that it was a green-tinted egg, his face had darkened instantly. He hadn't bothered to look at my exhausted, post-labor body, but had instead dragged me and the egg away to perform blood tests to prove my lineage. But now, everything was entirely different! At that very moment, panicked shouts erupted outside: Where is the midwife? Follow me quickly, the Crown Princess is also giving birth!

The midwife looked confused, muttering to herself: The Crown Princess is months behind the Third Prince’s Consort, so why is she giving birth already? Although puzzled, she did not dare delay and hurried away with her medical kit. I also found it strange—could it be a premature birth? Seeing me glance toward the door, Long Dat Tran tucked the blanket around me, speaking in a low, soothing voice: Do not concern yourself with matters outside. The most important thing is for you to recover your strength. After I touched it affectionately, he placed the dragon egg carefully into the small wooden cradle and tucked it in with a light blanket. Not long after, news arrived from outside—the Crown Princess had given birth to a golden egg! So it was indeed a golden egg! Long Nhac Chan, your theatrical performance is about to begin!

A month later, after I had fully recovered, the dragon palace held a grand banquet. We were all required to bring our dragon eggs so the Dragon King could personally bestow his spiritual power upon them to help the eggs hatch successfully. My family came as well, but appearing alongside my father was... Uyen Khe’s mother! My gaze dropped, feeling a deep sense of injustice on behalf of my own mother; my heart turned cold. Uyen Nhi! My father bypassed me entirely, walking straight toward Uyen Khe, his voice brimming with joy: To be able to birth a Golden Dragon, you are the pride of our entire family! So this was what they called kinship—in the end, it was nothing more than this! I sighed softly and walked beside Long Dat Tran. He reached out and took my hand; that simple gesture gave me a profound sense of security. Throughout the hall, everyone crowded around to flatter Long Nhac Chan and his wife. Only where I and Long Dat Tran stood was it quiet, attended by only two maids. The Crown Prince is truly formidable; it was a golden egg from the moment it was born! Indeed, the Crown Prince is a true Golden Dragon, so it is only natural his heir is one as well!

Long Nhac Chan’s lips curled upward, nearly touching the sky: My child, the Crown Prince’s heir, would naturally be nothing less! Uyen Khe stood beside him, her eyes filled with triumph, glowing as if the entire world were meant to kneel at her feet. Suddenly catching sight of us, Long Nhac Chan strode over, his eyes dripping with contempt: What is it? I heard you produced another green egg? I have told you before, your bloodline is impure; you are only fit to birth base things that aren't fit for the table! Behind Long Nhac Chan, the phantom of a Golden Dragon shimmered with golden light, every flicker showcasing his arrogance and pride.