Chapter 84 — The Medicine Bearer Through the Chaos

Great Palace of Confrontation

The Great Hall that morning was filled with mandarins from all ministries, colorful court uniforms forming a silent but tense sea of people under the light filtering through the tall windows. Tinh Yen stood in the line of witnesses, clearly feeling hundreds of eyes focused on her - some were curious, some were openly contemptuous of her fishing village background, and there were also many people with cautious, searching eyes, not knowing which side to take.

Can Ba Thong appeared in the royal uniform of Ho Bo Thu Thuong, still looking leisurely as if he did not know that he was on the brink of collapse. His eyes glanced at Tinh Yen, Ve Khai Trach, then stopped for a moment at Ngan Ba Thuyen, and in that moment, Tinh Yen caught a glimpse of something flashing in his eyes - not exactly fear, but more like the alertness of someone who had just recognized a ghost thought to have been buried long ago.

The Saint sat on the throne, his face remaining calm and unpredictable, signaling the official start of the confrontation session. Nhuoc Tran was the first person to step forward, presenting the entire incident coherently — from the question of the army's food and provisions being gutted, to the intentional sabotage during the siege of Nghinh Phong, to Lieutenant Trong Khoat's testimony about the underground bribery ring in Ho Ministry.

"These are serious accusations, Your Highness." Can Ba Thong spoke up, his voice terrifyingly calm. "But I'm afraid, they're just based on the testimony of a petty bureaucrat fabricated out of fear, and subjective inferences from those who already had a grudge against me."

"What about the notebook found in Chu Dac Hoanh's secret medicine vault, clearly recording each item of medicine kept while Nghinh Phong was fighting the epidemic amid the siege?" Ve Khai Trach stepped out, his voice sharp. "Chu Dac Hoanh is your direct subordinate, recommended by you to the position of Director of Luong just three years ago."

"Just because I recommend him doesn't mean I'm responsible for all his wrongdoings." Can Ba Thong responded without hesitation. "If Chu Dac Hoanh commits a crime, arrest him and put him on trial, don't drag me into baseless accusations just because he was once mentioned."

Tinh Yen stepped forward when her name was called, knelt down to bow before standing up to present. She recounted the entire journey from the moment she discovered the secret medicine vault, the lotus symbol, the piece of leather found in Thanh Phong's armor, until the night Uy Trong Khoat broke in and tried to destroy the evidence. Her voice rang out clearly, without trembling, even though her heart was pounding.

"A fishing village girl, who has never been formally trained, now stands here judging a Minister who has served the court for decades." Can Ba Thong interrupted, his voice carrying cold sarcasm. "What evidence do you have to prove that piece of leather was not an arrangement, a slanderous plot by an enemy in the court to bring me down?"

"I don't need to be someone outstanding to recognize the truth, my lord." Tinh Yen replied, unfazed. "With just my eyes, I have seen hundreds of people die due to lack of medicine while Nghinh Phong's warehouse is still full of medicine that has not been distributed. That is not an inference, it is something I have personally witnessed, personally curing people who should not have died."

A short silence covered the Great Hall before that decisive response. Can Ba Thong still remained calm, but Tinh Yen noticed a muscle in his jaw twitching slightly, a small sign of his control gradually shaking.

"You are the same person who was accused of poisoning a high-ranking mandarin in the palace, right?" Can Ba Thong changed direction of attack, his voice was sharp. "Even though you were later exonerated, who can be sure that this time you are not trying to create another story to avenge what you once suffered at the hands of the court?"

That attack caused several mandarins in the palace to whisper, and their suspicious eyes turned to Tinh Yen. She clearly felt the change in the atmosphere, but still maintained her stance, raising her head high to face the eyes of the person trying to corner her.

"If I really wanted revenge, I wouldn't have spent three long months treating civilians and soldiers in the middle of a besieged citadel, and wouldn't have risked my life to cross the battle line to save enemy prisoners of war." She replied, her voice still steady even though her insides were beginning to tremble with tension. "I did those things because it was a physician's oath, not because of any personal grudge against you."

Kinh Ba Van stepped out at the right moment, his voice rang out like a verdict. "I can confirm before the Holy King and the entire court that Do Tinh Yen is the most skilled and virtuous physician I have ever evaluated during my more than twenty years at the head of the Royal Medical Institute." he said. "In the poisoning incident in the past, I myself found evidence to exonerate her, and the real person behind that case, if investigated to the end, I'm afraid it won't be outside of Lord Near's network of connections."

Can Ba Thong glared at Kinh Ba Van, the composure on his face began to crack, revealing some of his suppressed anger. Just as he was about to open his mouth to refute, a messenger rushed into the Great Hall and knelt down amid the surprise of the entire court.

"Your Majesty, urgent news from the northwest border!" The official shouted loudly, his voice broken from running quickly. "Great Khan Truy Phong personally led the army, has passed the outermost defense line, and is moving straight towards the capital city of Yen Phung at an unprecedented speed. According to estimates, in less than five days, their advance army will approach the outskirts of the city!"

The whole Great Hall shook, panicked whispers spread like waves. The saint stood up from his throne, his face dark. "This confrontation session is temporarily suspended." He ordered, his voice sharp. "All high-ranking officials, immediately gather at the capital defense headquarters. The trial of Can Ba Thong will continue as soon as the war situation allows, but from now on, he is stripped of all rights to mobilize the army, and assigned to the Princess Truong to temporarily take over."

Can Ba Thong bowed his head to obey the order, but when he looked up, his eyes glanced at Tinh Yen one last time before turning to leave the Great Hall, carrying an unpredictable gloom - not exactly failure, but like someone silently calculating a final move amid the impending chaos.

Outside the corridor of the Great Palace, amidst the stream of mandarins rushing to prepare for an emergency war situation, Nhuoc Tran pulled Tinh Yen, Kinh Ba Van and Ve Khai Trach into a hidden corner, her voice was low but full of worry.

"I don't like this coincidence." She said. "The news about Great Khan Truong Phong's advance came right at the moment Can Ba Thong was about to be cornered. I don't dare to confirm that he had an inside contact with Bac Dich, but this time is so suspicious that it cannot be ignored."

Kinh Ba Van nodded, his face pensive. "Whether it's a coincidence or a prearranged hand, the current situation forces all priorities to focus on protecting the capital first. Can Ba Thong, despite being deprived of the right to mobilize food and grass, is still in the position of Minister, still has a significant influence in the bureaucracy. I fear, he will find a way to take advantage of the upcoming chaos to turn the situation around again."

"So we can't let him have that chance." Ve Khai Trach said, his voice resolute. "I will ask the Saint to give me a position in the capital's defense command. If this battle is really about to happen right in Yen Phung, I cannot stand by and watch my son once again rush to the front lines without me by his side."

Tinh Yen listened, her heart rising with a new worry mixed with determination. She looked towards Thanh Phong and saw that he was standing up straighter, his eyes no longer had anything like that of a sick person who had just recovered, but had returned to the look of an officer ready to go to war.

"If the decisive battle is really about to take place right in the capital." Tinh Yen said, her voice slow but decisive. "Then the Thai Medical Institute and the entire military medical team need to be mobilized now. We cannot wait until the fighting breaks out to begin preparations. I would like to ask for permission to work with the Prime Minister Kinh Chuong to reorganize the entire treatment system of the capital."

Kinh Ba Van looked at her for a moment, then nodded slightly, a rare trust evident in his eyes. "Okay. From now on, I give you full authority to coordinate with me in organizing a rescue network for the entire city. We don't have much time to hesitate."

Tinh Yen stood silently in the middle of a stream of people hastily dispersing, her heart both relieved that the confrontation session had partly revealed Can Ba Thong's true face before the whole court, and heavy at the terrible news of the war that had just arrived. She looked at Thanh Phong and saw a new determination in his eyes - the real storm, perhaps, was still ahead.