Chapter 7 — The palace was happy, the Emperor went crazy.

8 "The slave is on duty at the warehouse, overheard what happened here." Ve Dan Y said briefly, immediately walked to Niem An's small bed, quickly checked the condition, then turned to check Tham Nghien's pulse. Her face sank. "The young master has acute epilepsy. If he is too late, his life will be in danger. The Emperor's anger is too much, his blood is reversing, he is suddenly in a coma, his life is not in danger for the time being." That look... is no longer the stupidity, dependence or ferocity of a wild beast before. It was an extremely complex, bottomless look. It's as if through the fog, through the madness, through time, looking directly into the depths of my soul. In those eyes, there was a rolling wave of pain, there was an unforgettable regret, there was an unbelievable shock, and there was also something so heavy that it almost burned the person. My heart suddenly trembled with a strong beat. That look... too familiar. So familiar that it almost makes one's heart freeze. It's him. It's Tham Nghien when he was still awake. Just when I thought he was about to open his mouth to say something, the light in his eyes suddenly shook violently, then those complex waves quickly disappeared, covered by an even deeper layer of confusion and fatigue. He winced in pain, raised his hand and pressed hard on his temple, letting out an uncomfortable groan. "It hurts... Nguyet Nguyet... my head... hurts..." He turned back to that stupid look, curled up, like a child looking for protection. The flash of eyes just now was so quick that it seemed like it was just my illusion. But I am extremely certain, it is not an illusion. Tham Nghien... just now... woke up. Although it was only a short moment after Ve Dan Y inserted a needle into Niem An and gave her medicine again, her high fever finally began to subside. The boy fell asleep deeply. Although his face was still pale, his breathing was much more stable. She checked Tham Nghien's pulse again, prescribed a sedative medicine, and told Thuy Vi to take medicine. "The young master is not in danger for the time being, but the convulsions are draining his energy and needs to be carefully rested. His Majesty... is due to anger and trauma, he also needs to be quiet, absolutely cannot continue to be stimulated." Ve Dan Y tidied up the medicine box and lowered his voice. said. "Master Moon, you should not stay here for long. You... should plan your retreat soon." Her words were like a warning bell ringing in my ears. I looked at Niem An sleeping peacefully on the small bed, then looked at Tham Nghien curled up in the corner, looking even more weak and pitiful because of the headache. The alert eyes that flashed through just now were like a mark engraved deep in my heart. Can't wait any longer. This royal palace has no place left for me and my child. As for Tham Nghien... the moment he regained full consciousness was the actual day of death for me and Niem An. With what eyes will he look at me, a waste concubine thrown into the cold palace? Will he look at the child born in the cold palace, the child born while he was in a daze? What about my father's unjust death... Those debts, once he wakes up, will there still be room for us to survive? I tightened my grip, a cold but clear decision rising in my heart. Must go. Before he fully woke up. Hatred, fear, the horrifying aftershocks of life and death, along with a trace of emotion that cannot be named... is it pity? It all swirls in my heart, colliding violently. A bold but decisive plan quickly took shape in my mind. Niem An's serious illness was like a basin of cold water pouring straight down on his head, making him completely awake. Let us also see clearly a terrifying truth: Stupidity

of Tham Nghien, was never permanent. Stimuli large enough can temporarily tear through that chaotic fog, allowing his true self to appear. And once Tham Nghien fully wakes up, what awaits me and Niem An is absolutely not the way to live. I can't bet. Don't dare bet either. Ve Dan Y became my only and most important ally. Her medical skills and courage give me a glimmer of vitality. Most importantly, is her disappointment in this royal palace, along with the fact that she has never forgotten the small favor I once conveniently helped her escape from a disaster. We began to secretly plot. Thuy Vi is in charge of transmitting messages, silently observing the shift change rules of the guards guarding the palace gate. Ve Dan Y took advantage of the fact that he was looking after the remote medicine warehouse, quietly preparing the medicine needed along the way, dry food, and even found an extremely rudimentary map of the outside palace. She also took advantage of the time she left the palace to buy medicinal materials, secretly contacted a distant singer, and opened a small pharmacy outside the palace. This person is trustworthy and willing to help us arrange a temporary shelter. Every step was like stepping on thin ice. Every breath was accompanied by the terror of being discovered. But I know that if I don't move forward, the price I have to pay will be my child's life. And our own. Tham Nghien's condition is sometimes good and sometimes bad. Most of the time, he is still a naive and confused person, completely dependent on me and Niem An. But sometimes, especially when Niem An approaches and affectionately calls him "father", or when I'm tired and gloomy, his eyes will quickly flash a trace of extremely complex emotions, mixed with pain and tension. Whenever that happened, he became especially restless. Or lock yourself in your room, or run out to the yard, sit dumbfounded in front of the corner of the wall, and not move for a long time. I know clearly. That was the sober Tham Nghien struggling, trying to break through that shell of stupidity. This makes us more steadfast than ever in our determination to leave. The opportunity finally came, on a stormy, rainy night. The Queen Mother was infected with wind and cold, the focus of defense in the palace was all on Tu Ninh palace. Concubine To Chi Yen was also busy attending to the sick in front of the Queen Mother to gain favor and show filial piety. The guard at Tinh Tam garden was therefore very relaxed. The wind howled fiercely, and the rain poured down. Raindrops as big as beans hit the tiled roof and the ground, emitting a roaring sound, perfectly masking all other sounds. "Master, this is the moment." Thuy Vi put on her coat, her face pale from stress, but her eyes were surprisingly steady. I turned my head and took one last look at this place. A place that has endured so much of my pain and despair, but also strangely, once gave me a short period of protection and a bit of distorted warmth that is hard to name. Then I took a deep breath, hugged Niem An who was wrapped tightly in diapers, drank a little sedative, and slept soundly in my arms. Thuy Vi carried the simple luggage she had prepared on her back. Ve Dan Y was waiting at the side door. She used the warehouse key to secretly copy the key to the remote corner door of Tinh Tam garden. "Let's go." Ve Dan Y lowered his voice and inserted the key to open the heavy bronze lock. As soon as the door opened, cold rain immediately hit my face. I squeezed Niem An tightly in my heart, followed closely behind Ve Dan Y, one deep step and one shallow step rushing into the torrential rain. Thuy Vi followed closely behind.