Chapter 82 — The Medicine Bearer Through the Chaos

In front of the Thai Hospital Gate

Yen Phung citadel appeared from afar on a misty morning, the curved tiled roofs of the royal palace peeking out from behind the towering walls, completely different from the chaotic scene of ruins that the group had just left in Nghinh Phong. Tinh Yen looked at that familiar scene - the place where she had been falsely accused, had almost lost everything - with a complex feeling, both familiar and cautious, like a person returning to visit the old house that had witnessed both her happiest and most painful days.

The city gate was more crowded than usual, with a stream of traders, mandarins, and soldiers jostling back and forth, but there was an underlying tension in the air that only those who had experienced battle could clearly feel - convoys carrying grain and crops hurriedly left the city in the North direction, groups of newly recruited soldiers were hastily training in the courtyard, people's eyes flashed with anxiety every time war news was mentioned.

The group first went to Princess Nhuoc Tran's palace according to the arrangement in the invitation letter, where she had people wait outside the gate. When she saw Ve Khai Trach getting out of the car, her face showed a clear expression of relief.

"Tran Bac Hau, you came at the right time." Nhuoc Tran said, her voice both happy and urgent, signaling the group to come inside. "I'm afraid that if you come a few more days late, Can Ba Thong will have enough time to rearrange the entire situation."

In the elegant but unobtrusive living room of the Princess Palace, Kinh Ba Van was also present and stood up when he saw Tinh Yen enter. His eyes, which always held an unpredictable stern look, this time revealed something close to a rare warmth.

"Doctor Do." He called, his voice low but unable to hide his respect. "I heard reports of what you did at Nghinh Phong. Crossing the battle line to save people, including enemy soldiers. Bold, and exactly what I expected when I first appraised you."

"I only do what I believe is right, Lord Chancellor." Tinh Yen replied, bowed her head in ceremony, then turned to introduce Ngan Ba Thuyen standing behind. "Medicine Doctor Ngan spent all his days on the front lines with me, and he also found important clues about the lotus symbol in Chu Dac Hoanh's books."

Kinh Ba Van looked at Ngan Ba Thuyen, their eyes briefly met in a strange moment, carrying a layer of meaning that Tinh Yen felt but could not name. "Nang Thai Doctor." Kinh Ba Van nodded slightly in greeting, his voice a bit more reserved than when talking to other people in the room.

"Master Chancellor." Ngan Ba Thuyen responded, keeping a similar distance in her voice, as if there was something between the two of them that had never been said for the past twenty years.

Nhuoc Tran, seemingly not paying attention to that tacit exchange, continued to explain the situation. "I have asked for the Holy Father's approval for an official confrontation session at the Great Hall, scheduled to take place in the next three days. Can Ba Thong has heard the news, and as expected, he has sent someone to request a postponement, citing the urgent war situation and the need to concentrate all resources."

"How ironic." Ve Khai Trach said, his voice cold. "It was he who sabotaged the war by withholding medicine and food, and now uses the war itself as an excuse to delay justice."

"His Majesty has rejected his request for postponement." Kinh Ba Van added, "but that also means, Can Ba Thong now knows he doesn't have much time left, and a guy like him, when cornered, will not hesitate to do anything to escape."

Those words made the whole room fall silent for a moment, each person imagining the dangerous possibilities that could happen in the next three days. Tinh Yen tightened her grip on the bag where all the evidence was stored, clearly feeling the weight of responsibility weighing heavily on her shoulders.

On the way to the Thai Medical Institute, the group encountered Au Ba Tuong, a former colleague who had gone through the exam with Tinh Yen last year, and had now become a first-class physician. He paused for a moment when he recognized her, then hurriedly walked forward, clasped his hands and bowed with an attitude completely different from the arrogance of the day before.

"Doctor Do, you're back." Au Ba Tuong said, his voice was somewhat reserved but sincere. "News of what you did on the front lines has spread throughout the hospital. Some people even say that you are the only doctor who dares to cross the line of battle to save people, regardless of side."

"I only did what anyone who truly learned medicine should do." Tinh Yen replied, unable to hide her surprise at the change in his attitude.

"Maybe so." Au Ba Tuong nodded, a complicated expression flashed through his eyes. "My family used to have a business relationship with the Can Ba Thong faction. You probably remember the pressure I told you about that year. After my father learned everything he had done with the relief food, he personally cut off all ties, even though he suffered a lot of damage. If the cross-examination session needs more witnesses about the hidden relationships in the court, I am willing to stand up."

That unexpected suggestion moved Tinh Yen, realizing that the task of uncovering the truth this time did not rely solely on her, but had become a common flow of people, despite different backgrounds, who could no longer stand the lies that lasted too long. She thanked him and promised to inform Nhuoc Tran about this proposal.

In the afternoon, Tinh Yen and Ngan Ba Thuyen were taken to the Thai Medical Institute to temporarily store medicine and some medical-related evidence in the institute's most secure storage facility. The familiar path leading through the medicinal garden, past the old tree where Ngan Ba Thuyen had told her those half-hidden words years ago, now made her feel nervous.

"You still haven't told me everything, have you?" Tinh Yen asked softly as the two passed by that tree. "About my master, about what happened twenty years ago."

Ngan Ba Thuyen stopped walking and looked up at the dark green foliage gently moving in the afternoon breeze. "It's not the right time, Miss Do." He replied, his voice heavy. "I have been silent for twenty years, not because I lacked the courage to speak out, but because I always wondered whether the truth, once told, would save anything, or just reopen a wound that had already healed."

"But now maybe it's time." Tinh Yen said, her eyes determined. "The truth, no matter how painful, is better than letting it remain buried."

He looked at her for a long time, then nodded slightly, not promising anything specific but no longer avoiding it like before. "After everything with Can Ba Thong ends." he said. "I promise, then, I will tell you everything."

That promise, although vague, was enough to make Tinh Yen feel a little lighter, as if a door had opened slightly even though it had not yet been completely opened. She nodded, didn't ask any more questions, let him continue walking ahead, and she stood for a moment under the canopy of the old tree, remembering that evening long ago when she first heard the warnings about "walls built to bury things that people don't want anyone to bring up again".

That evening, when the group had settled down in the guest house arranged by Nhuoc Tran, Thanh Phong went to Tinh Yen's room, bringing a pot of hot tea. The two of them sat by the small window overlooking the garden, the moonlight hanging in the middle of the sky with a few thin clouds.

"Three more days." Thanh Phong said, his voice thoughtful. "I don't know whether I should be happy because it's finally time to confront, or should I be scared because I don't know what cards Can Ba Thong still has hidden in his hand."

"Whatever cards he has hidden, we are as prepared as possible." Tinh Yen replied, pouring more tea for him. "The notebook, the piece of leather, the testimony of Dinh Ba Kham and the soldiers who witnessed Chu Dac Hoanh keeping medicine - all are true, no one can deny forever."

Thanh Phong looked at her, his eyes filled with absolute confidence. "I believe you, Tinh Yen. Not only because of the evidence you bring, but because over the years, I have never seen you back down from anything, whether it be an epidemic, a battle, or a scheming court."

She bowed her head slightly, hiding a bit of embarrassment at that sincere compliment. "You too." She added, her voice quieter. "I still remember the way you looked when you woke up in Go Say, so weak that you couldn't even hold a bowl of porridge, yet just a few days later you wanted to walk on your own, wanting to return to lead the army. Perhaps we are both the same stubborn people, the only difference is that one person holds a needle, the other holds a sword."

Thanh Phong laughed softly at that analogy, then they both silently looked out at the dark garden, each pursuing their own thoughts about what was coming next, while the chirping sound of insects rang out steadily in the unusually quiet night of the capital, as if the whole city was also holding its breath waiting for the storm to come.