Chapter 13 — The Prophet Awakens: Shedding the Worthless Shell

In Nam Xuyên, after Tuyết Doanh's proposal of "peace in exchange for resources" was flatly rejected, Ước Liêm Phong sat in the study room, his face thoughtfully contemplating his next move.

"Count, Queen Bắcương is tougher than we expected," Chu Bình said, his voice somewhat worried. "If we only rely on the preliminary rounds and arguments, I'm afraid that with the support of the majority of the people, we will hardly be sure of an absolute victory."

"You're right." Liêm Phong lightly tapped his fingers on the table, his eyes flashing cold light. "We need a stronger lever, something that can force Xa Tuyết Doanh to give in unconditionally, regardless of the outcome of the official challenge."

"What is the Count going to do?"

"Daughter," Liêm Phong spoke, his voice cold as if he was discussing a piece on the chess board, not a human life. "Xa Tuyết Doanh has a little daughter, it is said that she loves her very much. No parents can keep their minds when their children are in danger."

Chu Bình shivered at the cruelty in his master's words. "The Count intends to... kidnap the child?"

"It's not the right time." Liêm Phong waved his hand. "Acting hastily now will cause me to lose all legitimacy before the surrounding council of lords. But I want you to begin quietly gathering information about Tiểu Nguyệt — her living habits, the places she frequents, the guards around her. When the time comes, I want this lever ready to be used immediately."

"I understand." Chu Bình bowed his head, although he could not help but feel uneasy at the increasing cruelty of his master's plan.

A few days later, a rumor was intentionally leaked and spread to the Northern Cuong detective network: Nam Xuyên was secretly investigating Miss Nguyệt Trạch's daily activities. This news, although not yet confirmed, is still enough to make Tuyết Doanh's spine run cold.

***

"Ước Liêm Phong dares to target Tiểu Nguyệt?" Tuyết Doanh stood up when she heard Bạch Vũ's report, her voice trembling with anger. "Does that person really have no limits anymore?"

"My lord, this is just an unconfirmed rumor, but my subordinates think we cannot be subjective," Bạch Vũ said, his voice serious. "From today, my subordinates will double the number of guards around Nguyệt Trạch, and minimize the possibility of letting young lady go out alone."

"Do it now." Tuyết Doanh nodded, then hurried to Tiểu Nguyệt's room, tightly hugging her daughter who was playing carefree with a few cloth dolls, as if she took her eyes off for just a second, she would disappear from her arms.

"Mom, what's wrong? You're hugging me so tight!" Tiểu Nguyệt was surprised by her mother's unusual embrace.

"It's nothing, daughter." Tuyết Doanh tried to hide the fear rolling in her heart, loosening her embrace but still not taking her eyes off the girl. "From now on, you must always stay with your nanny or mother, and don't run out alone, do you understand?"

"Yes, but why mom?" The girl looked up, her innocent eyes full of wonder.

"Because... because there have been a lot of bad guys lurking around Bắcương lately, I want you to be safe." Tuyết Doanh rubbed her child's head, trying to keep her voice gentle even though her heart was churning.

That night, when Tiểu Nguyệt was asleep, Tuyết Doanh went to Vọng Thần's room and told him all the news he had just received. She expected him to look as panicked as she did, but on the contrary, his face became unusually serious, a seriousness she had never seen before.

"You're right, this is no longer an idle rumor," he said, his voice firm. "Ước Liêm Phong will take action within the next month, perhaps on a major festival, when Bắcương organizes large gatherings of people and the guard cannot be absolutely tight like usual."

Tuyết Doanh was stunned by the strange certainty in his words. "How can you be so certain?"

Vọng Thần paused, realizing that he had accidentally revealed more than he intended. "I... I'm just speculating based on the common psychology of a schemer. The festival is the most reasonable time to make a move without attracting immediate suspicion."

"Is speculation so accurate in every detail?" She stared at him, her eyes both suspicious and a little scared. "Vọng Thần, I need to know the truth. If you know something in advance, please tell me, for Tiểu Nguyệt's safety."

Vọng Thần looked into his wife's worried eyes, his heart was torn fiercely. This was the first time he actually considered telling the whole truth. But just as he was about to speak, the sound of Bạch Vũ's hurried footsteps outside interrupted that moment.

"My Lord! There is urgent news from the southern border!"

Tuyết Doanh quickly stood up, leaving the question unfinished, not knowing that the moment of confession that Vọng Thần had been avoiding for many years, was now once again delayed by the rapid events of the times.

***

Urgent news of a small raid by Nam Xuyên mercenaries targeting a border patrol group, which was fortunately repelled thanks to previous careful preparation. After handling the urgent situation, Tuyết Doanh returned to her own room, but the unfinished conversation with Vọng Thần haunted her mind all night.

She remembered every little detail over the past six years — his mysterious disappearances, his unexplained injuries, the chilling precision of his last warning. Each of those disparate pieces, when strung together, began to paint a picture that she did not dare to believe was true, but could not continue to deny.

"Who are you really, Cố Vọng Thần?" She whispered into the darkness, not expecting an answer, just to relieve some of the thoughts swirling in her head. That night, she decided that, even though he wasn't ready to tell the truth, she would find out for herself, not out of doubt, but because she needed to know who she was fighting alongside in the coming war.

***

The next morning, Tuyết Doanh silently called Bạch Vũ privately and assigned him a special task. "I want you to quietly learn about Vọng Thần's past before he appeared on the Northern Border six years ago. Anyone who has ever met him, wherever he has gone, I want to know."

"Your Majesty, do you intend to investigate your husband?" Bạch Vũ was a bit surprised.

"Not an investigation based on suspicion of guilt." She shook her head, her eyes complicated. "I just need to better understand the person standing next to me in the upcoming war. If he really carries some great secret, I want to know before everything happens at the Great Trial, not to be surprised in the most dangerous moment."

"I understand. There will be results as soon as possible." Bạch Vũ bowed his head and retreated, and began to secretly send people to inquire all over the surrounding areas, from the old farmers who lived near the border to the merchants who often traveled back and forth to many lands.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Nguyệt Trạch becomes more tense day by day as everyone is well aware of the threat hanging over Tiểu Nguyệt's head. Đoàn Thư Nhạc, her nanny, was ordered not to leave her side, even in the smallest daily activities.

"Miss," Thư Nhạc gently said to Tiểu Nguyệt one afternoon, when she seemed upset because she was restricted from going out to play, "I know you're sad because you can't run and jump freely like before, but this is for your safety. Once everything is over, we'll take you out a lot, okay?"

"I understand." Tiểu Nguyệt nodded, although her eyes were still a little sad. "But I'm very worried about my parents. Everyone seems stressed these days."

Thư Nhạc rubbed her head, feeling sorry for this child's sensitivity beyond her age. "Young lady's parents are both strong people, they will get through it. You just need to be obedient and not let your parents worry any more."

That night, while standing guard outside Tiểu Nguyệt's room following Bạch Vũ's reinforcement order, a young soldier couldn't help but exclaim to his teammates. "The whole of Bắcương is putting all its effort into protecting a six-year-old child. If Ước Liêm Phong is really so cruel that he targets a child to achieve political goals, does he still deserve to be called human?"