Chapter 9 — The Regent Hides Thousands of Secrets

He scolded and cried, like a child suffering the greatest frustration in his life. I looked at him and suddenly burst into laughter. Laugh so much that tears fall. All these years, I alone carried a hatred as deep as the ocean, walked on the edge of a knife, calculated in the midst of traps. I have never... felt as relieved as I do now. It turns out, being worried about by people... is a feeling like this. 21. The general attack of the Dat Dat people began early the next morning. The sound of war drums shook the sky, echoing throughout Nhan Mon pass. When I woke up, my side was empty. On the head of the bed, place a clean set of women's clothes, along with a small piece of paper.

“Wait for my return.”

The handwriting of dragons and phoenixes dances, strong and decisive. It is Tieu Tuan's autobiography. My heart tightened and I quickly wanted to sit up. But the deep pain in my stomach made my face immediately turn white, and cold sweat poured out like rain. It's not okay. The fetus is in motion. I tried to get out of bed, but the curtain was lifted from the outside. It's Lam Phong.

“King… Princess!”

He saw me, briefly stunned, then immediately changed the way he addressed me, his face full of worry.

"You can't go out! There is an order from His Majesty, let you rest in peace in the tent!"

“Where is he?”

I grabbed his sleeve and urgently asked: "Where is Tieu Tuan?"

“Your Majesty… Your Majesty…”

Lam Phong hesitated.

“Speak!”

"Your Majesty... the person wearing your armor has replaced you in the castle to command the battle!"

There was a "bee" sound in my head, like being struck by lightning. He's crazy! He's an emperor, he's lived in a golden palace since he was young, he hasn't even touched a knife yet, and now he's commanding battles? If not looking for death then what is it?

“Prepare the horses!”

I gritted my teeth and ordered Lam Phong: "I have to go to the citadel!"

"Your Majesty! It's impossible!"

Lam Phong knelt down, hugged my legs tightly, "Your Majesty said, if anything happens to you, you will take my subordinate's life!"

“Get out!”

I kicked him out with one kick. Ignoring the intense pain in my stomach, I staggered out of the tent. Outside, the sound of killing echoed across the world. Countless Dat Dat soldiers rushed like a tidal wave toward the Nhan Mon citadel wall. Arrows flew like rain, fireworks exploded in the sky. The whole world seemed to turn into a bloody hell. With just a glance, I saw that familiar figure on the railing. He wears my armor, wears my helmet, and stands straight, like a spear that will never yield. He is orderly commanding the soldiers: shooting arrows, dropping stones, pouring oil. The side of his face was blackened by gun smoke, but his eyes were as bright as stars. At that moment, I realized... My little emperor, has grown up. He is no longer a teenager who needs my protection. He was able to independently shoulder the burden and become a true emperor. Just as I was lost in my thoughts, a stray arrow passed through the dense rain of arrows, screaming and flying straight towards him.

“Be careful!”

I screamed without thinking, rushing straight towards him. 22. I used all my strength to push him away. Without hesitation, that arrow stabbed into my left shoulder. Tearing pain spread throughout all four limbs and internal organs.

“Ta Trieu!”

Tieu Tuan's gut-wrenching scream rang in my ears. He rushed to hug my falling body, looking at the blood continuously pouring from my shoulder, his whole body seemed to turn to stone.

"The doctor! Call the doctor quickly!"

He hugged me tightly, screaming madly at the soldiers soldiers around. I leaned into his arms, in so much pain that I couldn't utter a word. The severe pain in the abdomen became more and more intense. I feel a stream of warm liquid continuously flowing out from under my body. Blood… I'm bleeding.

“The baby…”

I grabbed his collar and tried my best to whisper: "We have to keep... our child..." As I finished speaking, my eyes turned black, completely losing consciousness. 23. I dreamed a very long dream. In dreams, we return to our previous lives. I am still a military doctor on the battlefield, fighting for life and death every day. I have saved many people and witnessed many deaths. Then a bomb exploded right in front of our operating room. We are buried under rubble. In the last moment of consciousness, I saw a familiar figure, frantically digging through the rocks that crushed me. He's my teammate, he's also the person I love. We promised that after the war we would return together. But in the end, I broke my promise… … When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was the familiar golden dragon pattern. I'm in the palace.

“Are you awake?”

A hoarse, exhausted voice echoed in my ears. I tilted my head and saw Tieu Tuan. He was so thin that he was unrecognizable, his eyes were sunken, his chin was full of beard, and he was even more emaciated than when he was at the border. He sat beside my bed, holding a bowl of medicine.

“How are you feeling?”

He asked, his voice reserved. I moved slightly, my left shoulder still had a dull pain, but it was no longer worrying. Instinct makes us move our hands to our stomachs. Flat. My heart immediately fell to the bottom of the abyss.

“The baby…”

I opened my mouth, my voice was as dry as sandpaper.

“Our child…”

He was silent. Just gently bring the bowl of medicine closer to my mouth.

“Take your medicine first.”

My tears flowed like a stream. It's gone. My baby, it's gone. I threw away the bowl of medicine in his hand, the hot medicinal herbs poured all over his body.

“Go away!”

I screamed, so angry that I went crazy.

“Get out of my sight!”

I hate him. If it weren't for saving him, my child... wouldn't have died. He did not avoid it, nor was he angry. Just let the hot herbal medicine pour over me, quietly looking at me, letting me vent. Waiting until I was tired of crying and cursing, he quietly took out a small package wrapped in gold brocade from his arms. Layer by layer opened up, inside was a tiny baby, as white as a jade doll. It was sleeping very soundly, its lips slightly parted, its breathing even. I... was dumbfounded.

“It…”

I tremblingly reached out my hand, wanting to touch the child, but didn't dare.

“It's a boy.”

Tieu Tuan's voice was so gentle that it seemed to melt into water.

"That day you had a miscarriage and gave birth prematurely. Luckily, the military was on time, and mother and child... were both safe."

My tears welled up again. This time, it was tears of joy. My child... is still alive. It is still alive and well in this world. I carefully took the tiny baby from his hand. It's so small, so soft. We embrace it, like holding the whole world in our arms.

“What's its name?”

I asked.

“Tieu Niem.”

Tieu Tuan looked at me and slowly said each word clearly.

“Reciting in 'longing'.”