Chapter 11 — Two Fathers

Because when I was three years old, I almost drowned in the well in the backyard of the general's palace. From then on, father filled the entire deep pond in the palace. I stumbled around in the water, my mouth swallowing a mouthful of cold water. In the darkness, someone grabbed the back collar of my shirt. I was pulled up hard, coughing and choking until my lungs were torn apart. “Don't move around.” It's Ta Vo Cuu's voice. I grabbed his wrist and touched a hot wet patch. Not water. It's blood. That person also fell down. I trembled and asked: "Where is father?" Ta Vo Cuu hugged me, his other hand clinging to the bulge on the cliff, his voice very low. “Up above.” Overhead came the angry roar of Tham Hac Tranh. “A Dien!” I raised my head, but only saw a line of wavering firelight. Collapsed rock separates us from above. The current is very strong, pulling us deeper. Ta Vo Cuu pressed me into his arms, using his body to block incoming debris. Each time he was beaten, his breathing became heavier. I heard that person gritting his teeth, but from beginning to end he did not let go. I was suddenly very afraid. Don't be afraid of death. But I'm afraid that person will really die in front of me. “Don't protect me anymore.” My voice trembles. “The person was seriously injured.” Ta Vo Cuu bowed his head and looked at me. In the darkness, his eyes were incredibly bright. “I have protected this road for twelve years, and this road is not missing.” The water suddenly changed direction. A faint blue light appeared in front. We are swept out of the narrow waterway and fall into a giant underground cave. At the top of the cave hang countless stalactites. The ground is a cold black river. The shore is filled with white bones. There are human bones. There are also horse bones. There is even a broken axle and an old flag of the East Palace. I was pushed ashore by Ta Vo Cuu, lying face down on the rocks, panting. That person also crawled up on his hands and knees. As soon as he got ashore, he immediately knelt on one knee, the wound behind his shoulder cracked open again, blood trickled down his arm onto the black stone. I rushed to help that person. “Sit down.” That person did not listen. The man raised his head and looked deep into the cave. There is a half-collapsed stone door there. The door is engraved with a dragon pattern. Under the dragon pattern is a rusty bronze sign. East Palace Secret Treasure. Ta Vo Cuu's face changed. I was also stunned. “Where is this place?” That person was silent for a long time, then said in a low voice: "The last place the Crown Prince left behind." My heart tightens. “Is that person here?” Ta Vo Cuu did not answer. The man walked towards the stone door. I supported that person, with every step I felt my body shaking. Not because of the cold. But because of the pain and hatred of being patient for too long. The stone door opened slightly. There was no gold, silver or jewels inside. There is only a cold stone room. In the middle of the stone room is a black wooden coffin. In front of the coffin stood a long light that had been extinguished for many years. At the base of the lamp was a blood-stained envelope. Ta Vo Cuu stopped at the door, as if unable to go in further. I looked at the coffin and suddenly understood something. “Is that person?” Ta Vo Cuu's lips are frighteningly white. That person said softly: "It's your biological father." My parents. Not Tham Hac Tranh. It's Crown Prince Tien. I stood there stunned, my chest felt like it was filled with ice water. It turns out I have two fathers. Someone who raised me. A person died twelve years ago. Ta Vo Cuu walked up to the coffin and placed his fingertips on the lid. He did not cry. But the back is more unsightly than crying. “Your Highness.” His voice was so low it was almost inaudible. “I brought her here.” The stone room suddenly shook. The cliff behind the coffin cracked a crack. A red gold token slid down from the secret compartment. Just as Ta Vo Cuu was about to pick it up, footsteps were heard outside the cave. Very light. So many. I turned my head and saw in the darkness on the other side of the cold river, Miss Phung holding a green light, walking step by step. Her eyes glowed blue, but the corner of her mouth hung with the Queen Mother's smile. “Ta Wu Cuu.” “You finally brought it to the eye of the dragon vein.” 11 The Phung family's lady's feet stepped on the cold river surface. The green light illuminates her face. That originally pretty face seemed to be covered by a layer of death. He was clearly smiling, but his eyes didn't have half the light of a living person. I supported Ta Vo Cuu, my back pressed against the black wooden coffin. Wooden coffin is cold

bone. Ta Vo Cuu blocked me from behind. That person's hand was still bleeding, but he firmly covered it in front of my face. “The Queen Mother.” That person's voice was very cold. “Even a little girl, you don't let go.” The corner of the Phung family's lady's mouth pulled higher. When she opened her mouth, it was the Queen Mother's voice. “It shouldn't be too talkative.” "You also shouldn't see things that shouldn't be seen in the banquet palace." I remember the last look she looked at me. It turns out that at that time, she was no longer herself. Ta Vo Cuu stared at the green light. “Thanh Nha guides the soul.” "You brought this into the palace banquet, aren't you afraid of being betrayed?" The Queen Mother borrowed the Phung family's lady's mouth and smiled softly. “What are you afraid of?” “Up and down the whole dynasty, the people who should be afraid are you.” She held the lamp and walked step by step across the cold river. River water rolled under her feet, but did not wet her shoes. I see my scalp numb. Ta Vo Cuu lowered his voice: "Don't look at the lights." I immediately bowed my head.