Chapter 7 — The night before the Crown Prince paid the royal concubine, the Ministry of Ceremonies mistakenly gave me my Queen's Order

No one dares to speak up anymore. He turned around and bowed towards the main hall: "Your Majesty." Everyone stiffened. Immediately afterwards, new emperor Tieu Hanh entered the main hall. He was not wearing court clothes, only wearing dark-colored plain clothes, behind were two rows of royal guards. The red chef in the hall was reflected in his eyes, but there was no trace of joy. Everyone knelt down frantically.

“See Your Majesty!”

Even I was about to kneel, but Han Truc reminded in a low voice: "Miss, His Majesty once said, you don't need to kneel." I stopped. The whole hall was kneeling on the ground, I was the only one standing next to the altar, a cold cup of tea in my hand. Tieu Thua Quan's face turned pale, but he was still forced to clasp his hands: "Your Majesty." Tieu Hanh did not let everyone stand up. He walked to the front of the altar, looked at the tea cup and then looked at Tieu Thua Quan.

“Am I late?”

Tieu Thua Quan gritted his teeth: "Your Majesty, if you want to prosecute, why do you have to choose today?"

"You choose today to marry your concubine, I will choose today to pay my respects." Tieu Hanh's voice was calm. “Convenient.”

Tieu Thua Quan's throat was choked. Tham Lenh Nghi knelt on the ground, his shoulders trembling: "Your Majesty, I don't know about the old case. I only followed your orders and bowed." Tieu Hanh looked at her: "Your turn is not yet." Just four words. Tham Lenh Nghi's face was as white as paper. Tieu Hanh raised his hand. Han Truc lifted out a black painted box. That box was much smaller than the marble box of the Ministry of Rites, but Tieu Thua Quan's face completely changed. The seal on the box is the personal seal of the first emperor. Tieu Hanh opened the door in front of everyone and took out a scroll of honey mat. The paper has turned slightly yellow, the dragon pattern is dark.

“The Emperor's secret edict.” He said.

The whole hall bowed even lower. I can clearly hear my heart beating. Tieu Hanh gave the secret decree to Han Truc: "Read." Han Truc opened the secret light, his voice clearly transmitted throughout the main street.

"I am seriously ill, I'm afraid that after my death, there will be a traitor covering up the middle. Ta Tranh's father and son were in the Northern realm and died guarding the national gate, the credit belongs to the society. Crown Prince Tieu Thua Quan failed to lead the army, was slow to feed the grass, and later he acted in vain, forcing down Ta Thi's reward, losing his virtue and losing his faith."

Tieu Thua Quan suddenly raised his head: "No way!" Han Truc continued reading:

"Miss Minh Duong, Miss Ta, is virtuous and well-mannered. I once wanted to hire her as the Crown Princess, but later realized that the Crown Prince was virtuous, so I was not ready to admit her to the book. Now, we order the new soldier Tieu Hanh to re-investigate the old case. If Ta Thi is innocent, she should use her position in the middle of the palace to reassure her loyalty and rectify the feud."

Every word pounded hard into the hall. I stood there, suddenly feeling the sounds around me gradually fade away.

“I once wanted to be recruited as Crown Princess.”

"Later, I realized that Prince Duc Bac was not ready to enter the book."

Turns out it wasn't the Ministry of Rites that forgot to write down my name. But the emperor never approved it. Over the past years, Tieu Thua Quan relied on an idea that never took shape, trapping Ta palace under the shadow of the Eastern Palace. I thought I was just taking a step back. But actually we have never entered. Tieu Thua Quan's face completely lost all color, his fingers tightened until they turned white.

“When the emperor's father was seriously ill, it was unlikely he would come out comes from the heart.”

Tieu Hanh looked at him: "You want to check the autograph?" Tieu Thua Quan said nothing.

“Or do you want to test the private seal?”

He still didn't say a word. Tieu Hanh said again: "Or do you want to edit the application for conferment that year with your own hands?" Tieu Thua Quan suddenly raised his head. Tieu Hanh took out the last folded piece of paper from his sleeve and threw it on the altar. The piece of paper opened up, revealing the Crown Prince's personal style. Above is a mark marking my father's name. The two words "Ta Tranh" were moved to the rank of deputy. The five words "Crown Prince Tieu Thua Quan" are written on the top position. No one in the hall dared to open their mouth to help him anymore. I looked at that piece of paper, before my eyes appeared my father's face, my big brother's spear, and my second brother smiled and gave me candy. They died in the middle of the snow. Their names were pushed to the corner of the paper by a careless stroke. Tieu Hanh asked me: "Ta Minh Duong, do you recognize this handwriting?" I slowly raised my hand and took the paper. It's very light. So light that it's not like something that once weighed on three people's lives. I said: "Recognize." Tieu Thua Quan looked at me with complicated eyes: “Minh Duong, you should think carefully. If you admit it today, you won't be able to protect the Ta family anymore." I raised my head to look at him.

“When was the Ta family protected by you?”

His lips stiffened. I put the folded paper back on the altar.

"The goddess only accepts documents, not love."