Chapter 2 — The Regent Hides Thousands of Secrets

I sat down on the edge of the bed, my hands unconsciously placed on my stomach—flat, without any excess flesh. Here... there is another life being formed. A child of me and Tieu Tuan. Ridiculous, it's truly the wildest thing in the world! I am the Regent Prince of Great Zhou, and I am a "man". And the child's other father, the emperor who was like water and fire, hated me to the point of tearing his bones to shreds. The child's existence, once revealed, is a disaster for me. Not only did all my hard work turn into smoke, I was also accused of lese majesty, defiled the harem, and was burned to death, with no ashes left. Impossible. This child is absolutely impossible to keep! To abort a fetus that has not yet formed, for me - someone who is knowledgeable in medical science - is like turning a hand. A few strong cold medicine can quietly solve this disaster. I immediately wrote a prescription, intending to ask Lam Phong to go to the pharmacy outside the palace to pick it up. But when the pen has not yet touched the paper, my hand trembles like never before. In my previous life, I was a doctor, my calling was to save people, not kill people. We have witnessed countless couples longing to have children, and have personally welcomed countless lives into the world. But now, I have to kill my own child with my own hands. It is still very small, just a handful of flesh and blood with an unclear shape, but it truly exists in our body, connected by our own blood. This is my child. As soon as that thought popped up, it was like a vine wrapping around my heart, squeezing it to the point of suffocation. I angrily threw the pen on the table and walked back and forth in the room. Reason tells us to immediately take action and cut off future troubles. But emotions make us hesitant and unable to decide.

“King.”

Lam Phong's voice echoed from outside the door, "Someone has come from the palace, saying the Emperor will reward you with some of the newly paid Cloud Dinh Mao Immortals." Tieu Tuan? Why is he so kind? My vigilance immediately arose. I adjusted my emotions and said in a low voice: "Put it in." Entering is the little eunuch next to Tieu Tuan, named Tieu An Tu. He respectfully presented an exquisite wooden box, smiling flatteringly: "Your Majesty, this is the precious tea from the Western Regions that you just donated. As soon as the Emperor received it, he immediately thought of you and specially asked his servant to bring it." I looked at the tea box, my eyes cold. Weasels wish the New Year of the Rooster, not with good intentions.

“Leave it there.”

I spoke softly. Tieu An Tu did not leave after placing the order, his eyes secretly observed me, and cautiously asked: "Your Majesty, your face doesn't seem to be good, have you been working too hard lately?" My heart tightened slightly. Tieu Tuan is sending someone to investigate us. I coughed softly, pretending to be tired and squeezing my eyebrows: "It's not a big deal, it's just that I haven't eaten well lately, and I'm a little nauseous." I said that to intentionally reveal some weakness, wanting to see what Tieu Tuan intended to do. Hearing that, Tieu An Tu's eyes lit up and immediately replied: "Your Majesty, nausea cannot be underestimated. How about I ask the servant to ask the doctor to come and see for you?"

“No need.”

I waved my hand and raised the tea cup, "I know my body. Go back and tell the Emperor, I have received his thoughts." Tieu An Tu had no choice but to retreat. As soon as he left, I immediately poured the tea box into the charcoal furnace and burned it all down without any remains. We cannot risk anything. It seems that Tieu Tuan has begun to doubt my body. We must make a decision soon. 4. The next morning at high tide, my eyes fell unconsciously or intentionally Tieu Tuan people. Today he seemed to be in good spirits, his pale face was a bit bloody. During the discussion, he remained silent as usual, but his eyes towards me were filled with a trace of scrutiny and... joy when someone was in trouble? I laughed coldly in my heart. He probably thought I was sick, preferably with an incurable disease that wouldn't be cured and wouldn't live much longer, so he seemed so happy. What a naive little emperor. After the tidal wave, we intentionally left last. While passing Long Depend, Tieu Tuan called me back.

“Regent, stay away.”

I stopped, turned around and looked at him: "What do you have to say, Your Majesty?" He stepped down from the long chair and walked step by step towards me. He was half a head taller than me, and he had a faint smell of ambergris, exactly like the smell I smelled that night. This realization made my stomach feel as if someone had stirred it. I tried to suppress my nausea, looking at him without changing expression.

“Prince Regent,” he slowly opened his mouth, his voice very low, only the two of us could hear, “I heard that you've been feeling unwell recently, or have you been nauseous?”

"Thank you for your concern, it's just a minor illness, nothing to worry about."

I answered discreetly without any loopholes. He suddenly burst into laughter, but that smile did not reach his eyes, but carried a bit of cruel amusement: "Is that so? I know a folk doctor who specializes in treating all kinds of incurable and strange diseases. If the regent needs it, I can send someone to the palace to check your pulse." My pupils shrink. He is threatening us. If we refuse, it will be even more like we have a habit of being startled.

“No need to bother Your Majesty.”

I smiled slightly, looking straight into his eyes, "This king is out on the battlefield, this minor illness, a few days of nursing will be fine. On the contrary, Your Majesty, at a young age, should pay more attention to the dragon's body. If there is anything 'difficult to say', you should find a famous doctor to treat it soon, lest you miss the connection to the royal family." I deliberately emphasize the four words "hard to say". Sure enough, Tieu Tuan's face immediately turned pale. What happened that night, for an emperor, was an unforgivable humiliation. He glared at me, as if he wanted to peel my flesh off.

“Ta, Trieu!”

He gritted his teeth and spit out my name, "Don't be too proud!"

“Some people are eight ounces, some people are only half a kilo.”

I laughed softly, waved my sleeve and left. As soon as I left the main hall, my back was drenched in cold sweat. Every time he fights with Tieu Tuan, it's like wielding a sword on a knife's edge, with just one wrong step, it will be irreversible. Returning to the royal palace, I immediately summoned my confidant and ordered him to handle the prescription I had prepared for an abortion. Now is not the time. Tieu Tuan's eyes were fixed on me, I couldn't have any flaws. This baby, temporarily... I have to keep it.