Chapter 1 — Two Fathers

My father is General Tran Bac, decisive in killing, cold-blooded and merciless. But every time I asked who my mother was, his eyes turned red, he poured himself a jar of strong wine and said nothing. From a young age, I was raised by a group of experienced soldiers in the palace, always thinking that my mother was no longer alive. Until that year's palace banquet, the officials knelt down to welcome the Lord's triumph. That person was wearing a dark red official robe, his eyes were cold, the murderous aura around his body had not yet dissipated, no one in the civil and martial arts court dared to look directly at him. My father suddenly picked me up again, three steps combined into two and rushed forward, stuffing me straight into the other person's arms. “Here, your mother is here.” The master bowed his head and looked at me, his eyes turning from cold to shock. As I stared at that person's clear, angular face, there was only one thought left in my mind— Is my mother a man? 01 My name is Tham A Dien. She is the only lady of General Tran Bac's palace. She is also the most unlikeable lady in the capital. The girl from another family knew how to read at three years old, learned to play the piano at five years old, and knew how to embroider flowers at seven years old. When I was three years old, I could climb on a horse's back, at five years old I knew how to untie a bowstring, and at seven years old, I was able to chase away a deputy general stealing meat from the kitchen for three streets. My father, Tham Hac Tranh, is General Tran Bac. He once fought Bac Dich, once defended Nhan Mon Quan, the souls under his sword were enough to cover half of the river protecting the citadel. People all over the capital said he was cold-blooded and heartless. But every time he saw my braid tied askew, he would squat in front of me and clumsily tie it back neatly. After tying it up, he said with a serious face: "Ugly." I immediately kicked him. He did not avoid it. There is no wife in the palace. No one dares to mention my wife in front of me. When I was young, I didn't understand things. I saw that little girls from other families had mothers coming to pick them up after school, so I went back to the palace to ask my father. “Dad, where is my mother?” That day he was cleaning his sword. The blade was shiny, reflecting half of his face. His hand stopped. The sword slipped from his palm, hitting the stone table with a loud sound. I was startled. But he didn't seem to hear, just staring at me. Looked for a long time. It took so long that old butler Tan Ba, standing next to him, also bowed his head and quietly retreated out. I asked again. “Is your mother dead?” My father suddenly laughed. That smile is more unsightly than crying. He raised his hand to rub my head, his fingertips trembling. "Not yet." I was immediately excited. “So where are you?” He did not reply. He turned around and went into the wine cellar. That night, he drank three jars of strong wine. The next morning, the soldiers in the palace all knelt down in the courtyard. My father sat on the steps, his eyes full of red blood. He looked at them, his voice hoarse as if it had been sandpapered. "In the future, anyone who mentions A Dien's mother in front of her will be punished according to military law." From then on, no one spoke anymore. I don't believe in evil. I asked Uncle Tan. Uncle Tan was sewing up the cuff of his shirt that I cut and tore. The needle trembled, almost pricking his finger. “Miss, please stop asking.” I asked the female chef. She put down the shovel and turned to wash the vegetables. I asked Uncle Thuong, the person who taught me how to ride a horse. Often he falls off his horse, struggling even more than me. He got up, brushed off the ground and said: "Little ancestor, please forgive me." The more no one wants to talk, the more I want to know. I secretly searched from the street. The Tham family's ancestral tablets are placed in three rows. At the top there is no name of my mother. I searched my father's study again. Military records, plans, military reports, secret messages. We rummage through everything and then arrange it neatly. There is no family room. There is no painting. Only half of the red wire was crushed in the deepest corner of the case. The red wire is old and dark. Above hangs a jade button. The back of the jade button is engraved with a word. Dumbbell. I tightened that jade button, my heart beating very fast. Just as I was about to put it in my chest, the door opened. My father stood at the door. He was still wearing royal clothes, his shoulders covered in snow. His eyes fell on the jade button in my hand. In that moment, I thought he was going to scold me. But he doesn't. He walked forward step by step, taking the jade button out of my hand. His fingertips stopped for a long time on that word Ta. “A Dien.” That was the first time he called me in such a soft voice. “There are people who don't

I don't want to meet you." “It's impossible to meet.” I raised my head to look at him. “Why not?” His throat moved slightly. Outside the window, snow fell rapidly. He turned away and put the jade button back in the secret compartment. “Wait until you grow up.” I was so angry that I burst out laughing. “Everyone says the same thing every year.” He closed the secret compartment. “Then wait another year.” I refuse. I raised my hand and pulled his sleeve. “Father, did you do something wrong to your mother?” His whole body stiffened. As soon as the uncle outside the door brought the groceries, when he heard that sentence, his hands shook, and the bowl of groceries fell to the ground. The people filling the yard were motionless. My father bowed his head and looked at me. What lies in his eyes is very deep. It was like being filled with wind and snow for ten years. “Yes.” he said. “It was I who was at fault with that person.” From that day on, I don't ask anymore. Because I think my mother must really hate my father. Hate so much that even I don't want to meet you. Until the winter of the year I turned twelve. In the sacred decree. Great victory on the border. The north reclaimed three citadels. The Emperor wanted to hold a banquet at the Tai Chi Palace, and the officials brought their families into the palace to welcome the triumph of the crown prince. That morning, my father personally chose clothes for me. He chose a small, dark red cotton shirt. I criticized it for being too bright. He said beautiful. I said she looks like a doll in a Tet painting. He sounds like that person. I immediately raised my head. He turned his back. I asked: "Like who?" He did not come back. Just put the jade button that has been hidden for many years in the palm of my hand. “Bring it tonight.” I tightened the pearl button. Ice cold jade buttons. The word Ta on it is pressed into the palm of the hand. I suddenly felt that the person hidden by the whole government might be about to return. When the carriage stopped outside the palace gate, the snow had just stopped falling. Dad carried me out of the car. The far wall is so high that the top cannot be seen. The bow lights light up one after another. An inner servant raised a high-pitched voice and shouted: "General Tran Bac is here." Dad held my hand and went inside. His palms were sweaty. This is the first time we see him like this. I raised my head and asked: "Father, what are you afraid of?" His steps stopped. The golden door of the Tai Chi Palace ahead slowly opened. In the hall, the lights were bright. The officials all stood up. Father stared at that light, his voice very low. “I'm afraid I'll meet that person.” “I'm also afraid that person will meet me.” 02 Tai Chi Palace is very warm. So warm that it doesn't feel like a winter night. But my father's hands are still cold. He held my hand as we walked down the long steps. Both sides were full of people. Mandarin robes, jade belts, golden hats, pearl brooches. Everyone's eyes fell on my father. Also falls on people. I heard someone lower their voice. “Is that General Tham's daughter?” “Indeed, very similar.” “Like who?” The person behind immediately shut his mouth. I looked over. Those gentlemen all turned away. They pretend to be very busy. People looking at columns. The person looked at the wine cup. The person looked at the tip of his shoe. I'm even more certain. They all know. Only we don't know. Father took me to the general's seat. As soon as I sat down, Uncle Thuong came from behind. Today he also wore official uniform, the belt tightened his stomach uncomfortably. “Miss, don't run around.” I glared at him. “You know who my mother is, right?” Uncle Thuong immediately coughed. A mouthful of tea almost spit out. My father calmly glanced at him. Thuong picked up the cup of tea, turned around and left. Going faster than the enemy fleeing. Anger flares up in our hearts. From childhood to adulthood, it's always been like that. They consider us children. They think that not speaking is to protect us. But I'm twelve years old. I can ride a fierce horse. Can read and understand military reports. One can recognize every old wound on the father's body. We should also know who our mother is. The ladies sitting opposite were also looking at me. Among them was a lady wearing a light yellow dress, delicate eyebrows, and a very high chin. The lady next to her said something in a low voice. She laughed. “So this is the general's young lady who didn't have a mother to teach her.” The voice is not loud. Just enough for us to hear. I put down the wine cup. The wine cup touches the table. Let out a soft cry. Tan Bo next to him changed color. You want to stop me. But I got up. I walked in front of that lady. She

I was taken aback, then frowned. “What do you want to do?” I look at her. "Did your mother ever teach you not to discuss the family of a public servant at a palace banquet?" Her face turned red. “When do I discuss with you?” I raised my hand to point at the lady next to her. “She heard it.” Again, he pointed to the maid who was pouring wine next to him. “She heard it too.” The little palace maid bowed her head in fear. The lady smiled coldly. “You still dare to slander me?” I don't laugh. “Who is your father?” She raised her chin. “The Minister of Ceremonies, Phung Chinh Thanh.” I nodded. Turn around and look at father. "Father." Tham Hac Tranh raised his eyes. Many people in the palace were silent. I said: "The etiquette that the Thi Lang teaches you is not strict, allowing your daughter to humiliate the family of Commander Tran Bac Army in front of you." “What should be the punishment for this?” The whole electricity was silent. Lady Phung's face changed. The lady in the light yellow dress also panicked. She didn't expect that I would make an idle comment related to royalty and military achievements. But what she said was that I didn't have a mother to teach me. My mother is not here. It doesn't mean we can't be taught. It doesn't mean anyone can step on me. Father looked at me. A light flashed in his eyes. Then he stood up. The black martial robe suppressed all the whispers in the palace. He did not get angry. Just clasp your hands towards the emperor on high. "Your Majesty, I have been fighting for twelve years. Today is the first time I have brought my daughter into the palace." "If even my daughter can be publicly humiliated in the palace banquet, how can the Tran Bac army shed blood on the border and have the face to return to the capital?" Phung Chinh Thanh rushed out from the officials and knelt down. “Your Majesty, this young lady is ignorant and has absolutely no intention of offending the general!” I look at that lady. She bit her lip, her eyes full of disapproval. I spoke up. "Sorry." She suddenly raised her head. “You!” My father did not look at her. Just look at Phung Chinh Thanh. “Master Phung.” Phung Chinh Thanh's sweat immediately flowed down. He turned his head and shouted softly: "Don't hurry and make amends with Miss Tham!" That lady's face was sometimes white and sometimes red. She slowly stood up. “Miss Shen, it was my mistake.” I don't move. “Kneel down.” The sound of inhaling air around there connected into one piece. Lady Phung said shrilly: "Don't be too much!" I looked at her. "She insulted my deceased mother, isn't she worthy of kneeling?" Those two words just came out. Mother has passed away. My father's hand holding the cup of wine suddenly tightened. The jade cup cracked a small line. I don't see it. I just stared at the Phung family lady. The edges of her eyes turned red. But still kneeling. “Miss Shen, it was my mistake. Please forgive me.” I turned around and returned to my seat. When I sat down, I discovered that my father was still looking at me. Those eyes were very strange. There is joy. There is also heartache.