Chapter 6 — The night before the Crown Prince paid the royal concubine, the Ministry of Ceremonies mistakenly gave me my Queen's Order

It turns out that the thing that once forced us to bow our heads, just need to be brought out and put under ceremony to test, in the end it is just a cup of cold tea that should not appear. As soon as the two words "surrender" fell, it was as if all the excitement on East Palace Street was completely wiped out. The red plum is still hanging, the happy wishes are still burning, the lotus incense in the incense burner is so sweet that it's sickening. However, the smiles on the faces of all the guests turned into horror. Tham Quoc Cuu was the first to react. He stood up and angrily said: "It's just a momentary slip of the tongue. The imperial concubine's etiquette has always been able to extend grace depending on the situation. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a noble status, Ling Yi is also the daughter-in-law of the National Palace, so what's the point of using a little kindness?" Han Truc replied faintly: "If Lord Tham feels that the Department of Rites is wrong, you can enter the palace and report to His Majesty." The corner of Tham Quoc's face twitched. He dared to force the mandarins to pay, but did not dare to publicly force the royal court to pay. Tieu Thua Quan sat back in the main seat, his face gloomy: "Han Truc, do you want to question her right on the concubine ceremony?" Han Truc bowed: "The slave is only responsible for transmitting orders. Whether there is a crime or not, we have to look at the documents." Having finished speaking, he leaned aside. Outside the main hall, four soldiers carrying two iron boxes entered. The iron box is seriously old, the corner of the box still has slash marks, the lock still has dark brown patches. With just one look, I recognized one of them. Three years ago, before big brother Ta Hanh Chu returned to the capital, he sent soldiers to bring back a letter, saying that his father had an iron box that needed to be brought into the capital, containing war reports from the North and a list of casualties. Later, the soldier died on the road. The iron box also disappeared. Unexpectedly, today, it appeared in the middle of the Eastern Palace ceremony. My throat felt like something was blocking it. Han Truc said: "The old records from the Northern Canh Phung have only been sent to the East Palace. Please, His Highness the Crown Prince, Lord Tham and everyone here look at it at the same time." Tieu Thua Quan's face immediately became extremely ugly. Tham Lenh Nghi pulled his sleeve, his voice trembling: "Your Highness..." He shouted in a low voice: "Shut up." Forbidden troops to unlock. The moment the lid of the iron box was opened, the cold, damp smell of old paper immediately came. Inside were scrolls of military reports, lists, blood books, and half a broken tiger talisman. No one dared to touch the court officials. Han Truc immediately took out a scroll and gave it to Ngu Su to accompany him. The royal historian opened it and read in a loud voice:

"In the twenty-fourth year of the first emperor's reign, Trac Chau was besieged, Ta Tranh led three thousand remnants of the army to defend the citadel. The East Palace supervised the transport of food and grass for three days late, the food ran out in the citadel, two hundred and seventy war horses were killed, and the wounded soldiers were only allowed to drink thin porridge. On the night of the seventh day, Ta Hanh Chu led the soldiers to open the Northern gate to lure the enemy and behead King Huu Hien."

In the main hall, someone cried softly. The royal historian continued reading: "After the battle, in the petition for merit awards drafted by Ta Tranh, there was a list of one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six generals who died in battle. The first merits recorded were Ta Hanh Chu, Ta Hanh Xuyen and seven captains of Tran Bac camp." He stopped for a moment and then took out another document.

“After entering the capital, the request for conferment by the royal court was changed to Crown Prince Tieu Thua Quan Truong Plan food from afar, mobilize troops to relieve the siege. Ta Tranh was ranked as a deputy, while Ta Hanh Chu and Ta Hanh Xuyen were not even listed in the first book."

My nails are firmly dug into my palms. Big brother and second brother were not even allowed to enter. Their name was changed by using the phrase "planning from afar" to exchange their lives. Tieu Thua Quan said in a cold voice: "Military achievements on the battlefield were originally reported uniformly by military supervisors. As the Crown Prince, you have merit in overseeing the war, so how can you call it daring?" The royal historian replied: "Your Highness, in the old records there is also General Ta Tranh's personal autobiography." He opened the third roll. I see my father's familiar handwriting. That handwriting was even more scribbled than the letter sent home three years ago, like it was hastily written in the middle of wind and snow.

“God Ta Tranh respectfully admonishes, Trac Chau was able to maintain it thanks to the soldiers and soldiers who died fighting, not the merit of good people. Luong Thao is late, I do not dare to attack."

Tieu Thua Quan suddenly slammed down on the table: "The authenticity of the old file has not been determined yet, how can it be announced right at the ceremony?" Uncle Tham Quoc immediately continued: "The border military records are thousands of miles from the capital and have gone through the hands of countless people. Who knows if they have been changed by others or not? If Your Majesty wants to investigate, you should let the Third Company conduct a jury, and you should not choose the Crown Prince's concubine initiation ceremony to humiliate the Eastern Palace." The officials of the Eastern Palace simultaneously chimed in.

“The old records of the border army are unbelievable.”

“The ceremony hall is not the public hall.”

"Today is a happy day, it is not appropriate for bloody documents to appear."

Han Truc had no expression on his face: "Are you finished talking?"