Chapter 21 — The Heir to the Throne with the Wicked Face

King Phap Immortal

After the horrifying incident at the investiture ceremony, the Đại Hạ court fell into temporary chaos for several days. But thanks to the timely presence of loyal old mandarins like Nghê Bá Ninh, and public support from the Three Kingdoms Western Liang delegation, order was quickly restored under the temporary management of a provisional regency council consisting of the most prestigious and pure mandarins remaining in the court.

The official trial was held just five days later, right at Kim Loan Palace, with the most solemn rituals according to Đại Hạ king's law. All evidence was systematically presented: the payment book, Ứng Diệu Trân's testimony, the military captain's confession, along with the additional testimony of Khấu Đình Ân himself, who was brought back from the suburban farmhouse, sitting on a special chair because his health had weakened so much.

Before the trial officially began, Nhược Hi had someone take Khấu Đình Ân from the suburban farmhouse to the capital, where he was placed in a small hospital in the royal palace to take care of his exhausted health after three years of confinement and torture. The reunion between the two, in the presence of both Trường Phong and Monk Thai Tịnh Nghi, who had just been invited back to the capital, made many people present shed tears.

"Your Highness has done it," Khấu Đình Ân said, his voice trembling with emotion, both hands clasped Nhược Hi's hand even though one side was twitching motionless. "The old man only regrets that he cannot personally stand before the court to say everything that needs to be said."

"You don't have to stand there," Nhược Hi replied, her voice choked. "The workbook kept for the past three years speaks for itself. That is the strongest testimony."

The official trial took place in an extremely solemn atmosphere. The civil and martial arts mandarins crowded both sides of the palace. The Tây Lương Three Kingdoms delegation was invited to attend as objective witnesses, ensuring the transparency of the trial in the eyes of neighboring countries.

"Khưu Bá Trạch, do you have anything you want to defend before the king's law is implemented?" The interim chief judge, an old man who held the position of Đại Lý Tự Khanh before being dismissed by Khưu Bá Trạch many years ago, asked in a stern voice.

Khưu Bá Trạch knelt in the middle of the palace, his face had lost all its former authority, leaving only the haggard look of a man who had lost everything. "I don't make excuses," he said, his voice hoarse. "I just want to say, what I do, even though it's cruel, comes from the desire to see Đại Hạ led by someone with real ability, not because of simple greed for power."

"Your desire is built on the corpses of two innocent people, and the injustice of countless others." Nhược Hi, standing with the provisional regent council as the vindicated Crown Princess, spoke up, her voice cold but fair. "No aspiration, no matter how noble, can justify the crime of murder and usurpation of the throne."

Khương Bạt Nghi stood in a corner of the palace during the trial, not daring to raise his head to look at anyone. When called in for questioning about his involvement, he knelt down, his voice trembling and full of regret. "I never wanted this position. I was just a puppet in the hands of my mother and Khưu Bá Trạch, and did not have the courage to resist them all these years. I accept all punishments, but I would like to clarify that I never directly participated in the plot to kill the royal brother."

Nhược Hi looked at her weak cousin kneeling in front of her, a little pity mixed with contempt arose in her heart. He was not an evil person, just a weak person swept up in other people's ambitions, lacking the courage to decide his own fate.

After reviewing all evidence and testimony, the provisional regency council sentenced: Khưu Bá Trạch, guilty of plotting to murder the First Emperor and Immortal Queen, illegally usurping regency, subject to the death penalty in accordance with the king's law, confiscation of all property, and exiled relatives for three generations.

Uất Nguyệt Hàn, charged with being an accomplice to the murder of the royal family, was stripped of her title as Queen Mother, imprisoned for life in the cold palace, not allowed to contact anyone outside except the minimum servants.

Cận Bá Tuyên, charged with helping cover up crimes, abusing power to torture innocent civilians, was dismissed from office, had his property confiscated, and was exiled to the most remote border area of Đại Hạ, unable to return to the capital for the rest of his life.

As for Khương Bạt Nghi, because he was judged to be just a pawn being used, he did not directly participate in the plot to kill the royal family, he was exempted from death but was stripped of all qualifications for succession, and was forced to become a monk and practice penance for the rest of his life at a remote temple, completely separate from the official world.

When the verdict was read, Khưu Bá Trạch raised his head to look at Nhược Hi one last time. His eyes no longer had the arrogance of someone who once held the power of life and death in his hands, but only the emptiness of someone who had lost everything he had pursued all his life.

"You will be a better king than I thought," he spoke, his voice light as if he had let go of all resentment. "I just hope you don't repeat my mistakes, don't let power blind your reason."

Nhược Hi looked at him, there was no gloating in her heart like she had imagined during three years of burning hatred, but only a deep sadness at the demise of a person who was once talented but chose the wrong path.

"I will remember," she replied, her voice gentle but firm.

The sentence was carried out that day in accordance with royal law. News of the fall of Khưu Bá Trạch and his faction spread quickly throughout Đại Hạ, bringing new hope to people who had endured three years of unjust regency.

At Tịnh Nghiệp Am, when the news spread, Monk Tịnh Nghi knelt before the Buddha altar, tears rolling down his face that had many wrinkles over time. "Finally, justice has been served," she whispered. "Immortal Queen, you can rest assured in the nine springs."

And in a small corner of the palace, Khấu Đình Ân sat quietly, his trembling hands clutching a cup of warm tea that a palace maid had just brought, his hazy eyes looked far away towards Kim Loan Palace, where the justice he had been silently waiting for three years had finally arrived, even though he had to pay the price with both his health and a part of his body.

Before leaving the capital to complete the remaining diplomatic procedures, Ứng Bạt Nguyên and Ứng Diệu Trân came to say goodbye to Nhược Hi. "Your Highness has proven that justice, no matter how long it is buried, will eventually be revealed," Ứng Bạt Nguyên said, his voice full of respect. "The Three Kingdoms of Western Liang look forward to seeing a prosperous Đại Hạ under Your Highness's reign in the years to come."

"Thank you angel for helping me in the most difficult time." Nhược Hi bowed her head in thanks, then turned to Ứng Diệu Trân and held her hand tightly. "And thank you, Madam, for your courage in helping me find justice for my parents. If you have the opportunity, please return to Đại Hạ, I want to repay this kindness in a more worthy way."

"To see Her Highness standing so dignified in the middle of the royal court today is the greatest reward for me." Ứng Diệu Trân smiled, her eyes shining with rare peace after many years of living in fear and humiliation.

Watching the Tây Lương envoys leave the capital with honor, Nhược Hi stood next to Trường Phong on the citadel wall. Both of them silently looked at the distant horizon, where a new chapter of their lives, and of the whole Đại Hạ country, was gradually opening up after many storms that had passed.

"Three years ago, I didn't dare think this day would come," Nhược Hi spoke softly, the afternoon wind swayed her shirt. "There were nights when I thought I would forever have to live under that mask, never having the chance to regain my true face."

"But she did it," Trường Phong replied, his eyes filled with pride and love. "Not thanks to luck, but thanks to her perseverance, intelligence and courage during those three long years."

Nhược Hi turned to look at him, the corner of her lips curled into a rare, relieved smile. "And thanks to you, always by my side throughout that journey. Without you, perhaps I wouldn't have been able to go to the end of this path."

The two people stood silently together, the sunset dyed the entire western sky red, like a signal for a new beginning waiting ahead, after the last shadows of the painful past had been swept away from the Đại Hạ country.