Chapter 4 — Tyrant T /An S /At Throughout the Martial Court, Again Calling My Father Father-in-law

Say nothing. She stood up and slowly walked around me.

"This fabric is really good. Phuong Nghi Palace's regulations have never been this high before."

"I remember when His Majesty ascended the throne and said that there was no Queen in the harem."

"Who knew that the Prime Minister would raise such a good daughter."

The last sentence, she lowered her voice, almost close to my ear.

"I don't know... what tricks were used."

I bit the inside of my cheek. The smell of rust gradually spreads in the mouth. I cannot get angry. I can't tease her. The Queen Mother is her aunt, the Trieu family has deep roots in the court. What about my father? Just a Prime Minister who relies on caution to survive, has no military power, and no factions. If I really have a conflict with her, the last one to have bad luck will be the Tham family.

"Your Highness is joking." I forced out a smile.

Trieu Cam Sat looked at my patient appearance at this moment, the smile on his face became even deeper.

"Okay, today I just came to take a look. After watching, I should go back."

She walked to the door and suddenly turned around.

"That's right, the Queen——"

"The pink apricot forest to the east of Ngu Hoa Garden is this palace's favorite place. If you walk in the garden in the future, remember to take a different route."

Having finished speaking, she proudly left. I stood still. Hands are still shaking. Thanh Ha's eyes were red and she ran to my side: "Niang Niang, how could she——"

"Stop talking."

I sat back down and picked up the bowl of soup. The soup has cooled down. I take a sip. There's no flavor left. The next day. Trieu Cam Sat was demoted to the lower position. Detention for three months. Two members of the Trieu family in the court were also successively demoted three levels. On the holy decree were written exactly eight words ——

"Insulting Phuong Nghi, disrespecting the Central Palace."

When I heard this news, the cup of tea in my hand almost slipped out of my hand. What's going on? I have no indictment! I've never even mentioned this to anyone! Thanh Ha next to him was so excited that his face turned red: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty has vented his anger!" My face turned pale again. Not. How did he know this? Trieu Cam Sat came to me, before and after just the time it took to drink a cup of tea. I've never mentioned this to anyone. We look around in all directions. Every female eunuch in Phuong Nghi palace was still quietly doing her job as usual. No one responded to my gaze. But I suddenly realized something. In this harem, there are no secrets. At least not in front of Tieu Dien. I don't know whether I should be happy or scared. He's monitoring us. Every hour, every moment. But is he... protecting me? No way. Tyranny will not protect anyone. He was just protecting his property. I told myself that. That's definitely it. After the news of Trieu Cam Sat's detention spread, the entire harem was quiet for three days straight. On the fourth day, Queen Mother Zhao finally could no longer sit still. She went directly to the Death Palace. Go find Tieu Dien. This story was told to me by Phuc An. When he came to bring breakfast, he "inadvertently" said more a few sentences.

"The Queen Mother knelt outside the Death Palace, kneeling for a full hour."

The cinnamon flower cake in my hand almost fell down.

"Kneel for an hour? Your Majesty won't let her in?"

Phuc An bowed his head low, his tone still respectful as usual.

"Your Majesty said, 'If the Queen Mother has come to ask for love for Trieu Thi, then there's no need to come in anymore. Once you've knelt enough, then go back on your own.'"

I took a deep breath of cold air. After all, Queen Mother Zhao is his biological mother. He left his own mother kneeling outside the palace for an hour?

"What then?" I couldn't help but ask again.

"After that, the Queen Mother still went inside." Phuc An said, "But what she said is not Trieu Tan's story."

"What are you talking about?"

Phuc An raised his eyelids to look at me, then immediately lowered his eyes.

"The Queen Mother said... The Queen is of poor origin, has shallow morals, and is not strong enough to be a mother to the world. She recommended to Her Majesty... to abolish the Queen."