Chapter 5 — The Queen Mother Returns to the Dynasty

Tham Ngoc Dao bit her lips tightly, tears shining in her eyes: "Why do you have to be so harsh? In the past, I had no choice. That was the emperor's decision. I am just a weak woman, how dare I disobey?" What a weak woman. I raised my hand and gently stroked the phoenix brooch in her hair: "This brooch is really beautiful. It was given to you by Chu Hanh Chi, right? When I became queen, he even said that the treasury was empty and everything had to be simplified." "I..." "Now, get off the dragon." My voice lowered, "Follow your eyes, get out of the way." Tham Ngoc Dao stood frozen in place, his knuckles holding the child turning white. She looked towards the mandarins in the palace, but discovered that no one dared to look her in the eye. Chu Hanh Chi finally couldn't stand it anymore, flying towards us: "Thu Nguyet! Ngoc Dao has humbled herself to this extent, why do she have to force people to the end? She only sat on the dragon chair for a while, now she is the Queen Mother, the world belongs to her, can't she be a little more generous?" "She never wanted to harm you!" Chu Hanh Chi quickly said, "It's all a misunderstanding! Ngoc Dao has a kind heart, she just loves me too much..." Tham Ngoc Dao saw me silent, thinking I had wavered. "Sister, I know you are dissatisfied with me. But now that the first emperor is gone, why do we have to make things difficult for each other? What's the cost of..." "What's the cost?" I asked. "How about we take care of the royal child together?" She pushed the child in her arms a little forward, "Even though he can't speak, after all, he is the bloodline of the first emperor. Your Vinh An is still young, so why don't you two come together..." I finally raised my hand. A crisp slap echoed throughout the main hall. A red mark immediately appeared on Tham Ngoc Dao's cheek. The child in her arms was frightened, let out a choked sound, but still could not finish the word. "Now," I said word by word, "address me as Queen Mother." It was as quiet as death. Hundreds of officials prostrated themselves, no one dared to raise their heads. Tham Ngoc Dao covered his face, tears finally flowed out: "You... you dare to hit me? The Emperor's bones are not yet cold, you have humiliated my mother and child like that!" Chu Hanh Chi heartbrokenly stood in front of Tham Ngoc Dao, even though he knew he could not block anything at all: "Thu Nguyet! Even if Ngoc Dao has made things difficult for you before, you should not insult her! She is my queen, the person I love the most!"I said: "Tham Ngoc Dao, I am the queen who was officially accepted by the first emperor, carrying an eight-person palanquin through the main gate. You are nothing more than a step-mother set up by him out of respect, and even the main temple refuses to acknowledge it - just a concubine."What I just said to Tham Ngoc Dao was also said to Chu Hanh Chi. Tham Ngoc Dao trembled all over: "I'm not a concubine! I'm a queen conferred by the emperor! I have the golden books and golden treasures to prove it!" "Then burn it." I calmly said, turning to the Minister of Rites, "Lord Vuong, go get the next golden book and gold treasure, burn it right in front of everyone." "Co Thu Nguyet! You dare!" Tham Ngoc Dao screamed. "Furthermore," I continued, "passing on the family's decree: Tham Thi has poor morals and is not worthy of being a queen. From now on, she is dismissed as a commoner and moved to the cold palace." Chu Hanh Chi's soul was violently shaken, almost disintegrating: "You can't do that! Thu Nguyet, I beg you! Respecting the old love, forgive Ngoc Dao! Her body is weak, the cold palace is like that, she will die!" I turned around. people, lead Vinh An towards the dragon. The throne is carved from pine wood, the handrail is worn smooth. That is the mark left from the palms of many generations of emperors. I have stood here countless times, looking at Chu Hanh Chi sitting there. At that time, I was still his queen, thinking that I could share thousands of miles of country with him. Now the scene still has people lost. Ta

Picked up Vinh An and gently placed him on the sofa. The child is still too young, his feet have not yet touched the ground. But he sat up straight, his small hand placed on the armrest, and had some innate majesty. "From today," I turned around, facing the official, "The Emperor is still young, so whoever opens the regency curtain. Whoever has objections, can say it right now." No one answered. There was only Tham Ngoc Dao's resentful eyes and suppressed sobs, along with Chu Hanh Chi's weak plea: "Thu Nguyet... please..." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened it again, there were no longer any waves in her eyes: "Bring the commoner Tham down. As for this child..." I looked at the mute prince with empty eyes in her heart. Tham Ngoc Dao immediately hugged her child tightly like a mother animal protecting her young: "What do you want to do to my baby? He is innocent!" "Innocent?" I suddenly remembered the winter night at the temple when Vinh An had a high fever that wouldn't go away. I knelt before Buddha and prayed to all the gods, but couldn't ask for a medicine. At that time, my son - how innocent he was. "The prince was still young and couldn't leave his mother's side. Who would be kind enough? The second prince followed his mother and moved to the cold palace." When Tham Ngoc Dao was dragged away by the guards, she kept looking back at me, her eyes mixed with hatred and fear. Chu Hanh Chi wanted to chase after Tham Ngoc Dao, but was held tightly by an invisible force, unable to leave me too far. "Co Thu Nguyet, you will regret it." He said, his voice was weak and stubborn, "You will regret everything today." I looked straight ahead, looked at the mandarin shouting long live, looked at my Vinh An sitting firmly on the dragon's chair. "The only thing I regret," I said softly, "is believing in your oath in the past, thinking that you would protect me for the rest of my life."