Chapter 3 — Widow Holding Flag

4

I returned to the hospital, the bath water was prepared. Soak in, close your eyes and take a deep breath. A pair of hands placed on my shoulders, warm fingers, moderate pressure, massaging my tense shoulders.

“Today, it's been hard.”

His voice was close to my ear. I didn't open my eyes, just leaned my head back, my wet hair stuck to the front of his shirt.

“Let's soak together?”

"After bathing," his lips touched the back of my ear, "I came specifically to serve you."

I laughed softly, turned around, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Lips and tongue tangled, breathing quickly and chaotically. He bent down, half of his shirt soaked in water without even caring. I pulled the strap of his shirt, gently tugging. He immediately took it off. The water ripples, skin close to each other. My hand slid around his waist, touching the old scar, my fingertips stopped lingering. His body stiffened slightly:

“If you pay attention, tomorrow I will find medicine to remove the scars.”

I raised my head to look at him, his eyes reflected my own image.

“Not paying attention.”

I leaned closer and kissed his throat:

"Lin Kha, I never cared about what the world said about you."

His eyes darkened and he suddenly pressed me against the edge of the tub. The water surface rippled, splashing the entire floor. After that, he carefully used a soft towel to dry every inch of my skin. Picked me up and brought me back to the interior. As soon as he laid down on the bed, an urgent voice rang out outside the door:

“Master, there is an urgent message from the palace, the queen summons people to the palace immediately.”

His arms tightened.

“I know.” I spoke up.

Then gently patted his back to comfort him.

“Let me see you off.” He was about to put on his shirt.

“No need.” I held him back, gently scratching his chin,

“Be good, hide yourself well.”

5

The maid took me to Trung Hoa Palace. The Queen does not wear court clothes, only wears a deep purple dress.

"There's something you need to do yourself."

If I do it myself, that person must die without leaving a trace.

“Marquis of Thua An, Liu Ky.”

I knew this day would come, I just didn't expect it to come so quickly. Luu Ky is the queen's nephew, once a famous scholar, but now an insatiable greedy man - a mandarin in charge of fortune.

“God commands.”

The murderous intent on the queen's face suddenly disappeared, replaced by a look of mercy. She walked in front of me, reaching out to caress my white bun.

"It's been hard for you, Minh Duong. Lam Kha... what a pity."

I lowered my eyelids, the edges of my eyes quickly dyed pale pink. The grief choked her and she bit her lips, not shedding tears - which again made the queen satisfied. She sighed and helped me stand up:

"If the people of the Lam family don't know how to behave, I'll take your place..."

“No.” I had already planned the time to shed tears, "Your Majesty, you already owe the Lam family dozens of lives, I can't leave you under the nine springs without peace of mind."

"I didn't expect you to be so sincere with him... Well, it's up to you." She returned to her seat, "Once this matter is done, in the future, such matters will be left to Di Nhi."

Without hesitation, I offered with both hands a jade ring that could mobilize the entire network of gangster spies. The Queen was slightly stunned. Behind the pearl curtain in the corner of the palace, there was a shadow of a person moving slightly. I pretend not to see:

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy.”

Leave Trung Hoa Palace, follow the long palace corridor and exit. Suddenly I remembered an old day, also on this road, Kieu Nguyet Di's voice penetrated through the rain into my ears.

“This woman, Ha Lan, is so intelligent love, unpredictable hearts, and no weaknesses."

“Your Majesty, that sharp weapon hurt your hand!”

So I created my own weakness. Lam Kha. A martial general who came from a general's family, but because of his family's struggle, he fell into a dead end. At that time, there was chaos inside and out, the court had no one able to lead the army, I alone protested with thousands of words, begging the queen to spare him the death penalty and allow him to make amends for his crimes. Over the past three years, I gradually made him dependent, taming him into a loyal person. He became the "weakness" that I displayed to the world. I also saw him with my own eyes, from being a death row prisoner to putting on his armor again, from wishing for death to burning with hope. Lam Kha fought without success, but the more reports of victory were reported, the more fierce the court debate became, and the accusations rose endlessly. The Queen always secretly tested me, wanted to know how far I could go for him, and secretly pushed the underground waves, forcing me to show my attitude. If I cross the barrier once for him, it is "weakness", if I cross the barrier twice, it is "delusion and ignorance". So, I sent him a letter, ordering him to fake his death in the battlefield. My weakness is gone. But she - Kieu Nguyet Di - is still there, her biological sister, Kieu Thi Thi, whether she lives or dies is in my hands. And perhaps the queen never expected that the Marquis of Thua An, Liu Ky, would dare to touch military provisions, and in the beginning "accidentally" discovered what that treacherous path was like. Again, someone led me step by step down that irresistible path.