Chapter 5 — This Eastern Palace has been my hunt from the beginning

Indeed, it is the Lieu family. Unable to move me, they turned their attention to my father. If father is convicted, I will become the daughter of a criminal. How long can I hold this position of Crown Princess? In my heart I laughed coldly, but on my face I cried so much that I couldn't breathe: "Your Highness... my concubine... what should I do? If because of me, I implicate my father and suffer unjust injustice, I... even if I die ten thousand times, it will be difficult to atone for my crime..."

“Don't be afraid, I'm here.” Tieu Canh Huyen patted my back, "I will absolutely not let my loyal servant be wronged, nor will I let her suffer any wrongs."

The words were said like that, but for several days, his father continued to present the harp notes to the palace. Tieu Canh Huyen was busy taking care of the old foxes at the front court, clearly seeing that he was becoming more and more emaciated. Every time he came to my palace, he often frowned and remained silent. We cannot rely solely on his trust and protection, that is still too far. I must make him see my value, a value beyond love, enough to be able to stand side by side with him. In the evening, he walked into my palace with a tired body. As usual, I didn't immediately go out to greet him, but sat by the window, stunned in front of a chess board, with a few books in my hand.

“It's already this late, why are you still reading these books?”

I just realized he had arrived, quickly stood up, closed the book: "Your Highness... I just... just have trouble sleeping, just flip through it." He glanced at the chess board. It was not the usual layout, but a seemingly chaotic chess position, but in fact it was hiding murderous intentions. “This position…”

“It's just the concubine making a mess.” I hastily said, "I heard that the Northern region has many mountains, few plains, and the enemy's cavalry comes and goes like the wind. I immediately thought... if we use troops, can we rely on the terrain to lure the enemy deeper, cutting off their path of conscience, instead of just confronting us head-on... This is just my foolish opinion, making Your Highness laugh." My voice became lower and lower, my face also turned red.

Tieu Canh Huyen carefully looked at the situation, then looked at me, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Based on the terrain... cutting the path... you continue." I glanced at him with both joy and fear, then timidly pointed at the chess board: "My concubine is just thinking haphazardly. For example... I can intentionally show weakness, abandon one or two citadels that look important, but are actually easy to attack and difficult to defend, to lure the main force of Bac Dich into this rolling mountain valley. Then send elite soldiers to circle behind the enemy, set fire to their food and grass. The Bac Dich people operate, mostly relying on loot and food. Once the grass is cut, the army will be in chaos. At that time, our main force will rely on the favorable terrain to counterattack... perhaps, we can use a smaller price, in exchange for a greater victory." I turned to the topographic map of the Northern landscape, pointing to a few places with water sources marked: "Also... the Northern landscape is dry, water sources are extremely important. If we can find a way to take action at these water points... or spread rumors, sway the minds of the soldiers... I feel that fighting sometimes does not completely rely on how many soldiers there are, fairness is the best policy..." I spoke intermittently, my words still immature. Ignorant, in some places it even sounds like a fantasy, but the private route hidden in it, just cleverly hits the current deadlock of the Northern landscape war situation when the struggle lasts for a long time, the royal court's losses are too great, a method is needed to break the situation! These ideas, which were originally pieced together from a few separate sentences mentioned by my father in the family's letters on weekdays, were spoken through my mouth, and the effect was astonishing. Tieu Canh Huyen's eyes turned from surprise to shock, he suddenly grabbed my shoulder: "Dao Dao! These things... are these things you thought of yourself?" I was startled by him, a thin layer of tears welled up in my eyes, and timidly nodded: "My concubine... did I say something wrong? I only saw that Your Highness was troubled, but I couldn't help myself, so I randomly read a few books, then thought about it..."

"No! She's not wrong!" Tieu Canh Huyen said excitedly, "What you said is very reasonable! Showing weakness to lure the enemy, cutting morale, using justice as the best strategy... these strategies all hit the key points of the current war situation! Compared to the idiots in the court who only know how to fight to the death or pray for peace, they are a hundred times stronger!"