Chapter 9 — Widow Holding Flag

The blade slashed straight at her face, and she couldn't even react in time to raise her head. Our bodies react faster than our thoughts. When I rushed out to block her sword, I felt like I was rushing into the middle of a battlefield. The blade slashed down on the iron shackles in front of my chest, splinters shot straight into my face. My wrist turned sharply, the blade flew away. A few drops of blood splashed, staining her moonlit white shirt red. She raised her head to look at me. I lowered my eyes, meeting that gaze. In her eyes there was panic followed by terror, but there was none of the confusion and weakness often seen in young ladies. The Cam Y Ve's iron ruler fell behind my knees. My bones made a heavy chisel sound, I fell to one knee, the iron shackles hit the stone floor, shaking me to my chest. I heard her behind me asking:

“What crime did this person commit?”

The official replied:

“Killing your father is a heinous crime.”

I close my eyes. That's right, that's it. Must be spit on, burned, torn apart, and eternally unable to be reborn. That is my outcome. But the blood stains on her shirt were unreasonably imprinted deep in my eyes.

2

Because of that chaos, I was sent to prison, awaiting execution. To me, it's like being tortured. I just want to die early. That way, we will no longer dream of my mother holding my hand tightly as she breathed her last breath, and no longer have to think about how much humiliation she endured before her death. There's no need to remember how I personally stabbed a knife into my father's heart. From the end of the hallway came footsteps. Very light, not like a good prison. Embroidered shoes stopped outside the bars. Someone called me:

“General Lam.”

I did not answer. She said again:

"I am Ha Lan Minh Duong."

This time, I couldn't help but open my eyes to look at her. This name is engraved in my heart. She once submitted an indictment, clearing my grandfather To Khiem of injustice. How could we forget! But I didn't expect that she would be the person I accidentally saved under Ngo Mon that day.

"I have reviewed your case," her voice carried the manner of handling official duties, "from the time the case was announced to the time of conviction, it was only seventeen days. General Lam, you have won a glorious victory, you are the general of the Northwestern Army. According to the law, a general's serious case must be re-examined by the Ministry of Infantry, but the seal of the Ministry of Infantry was hastily sealed."

My eyelids moved slightly. Just listen to her continue:

"Someone wants you to die a little sooner. Who is it?"

In the gloomy light from the window, I saw a glint of mischief in her eyes.

“People who want to die don't need you to waste your time.” My voice is hoarse.

Who else? It's definitely the Lam family's three rooms, yearning for the legacy my mother left behind. I am a dying person, I don't want to pursue anything further. She took another step forward, her sharp eyes seemed to be able to penetrate all dirty lies.

“I know you want to die.”

"But do you intend to take the crime of 'murdering your father' to your grave, making your mother forever known as 'giving birth to a cruel son'?"

“I don't allow it.”

Boom sound. Something inside my head exploded. The iron chain rattled, I rushed forward, the chain was tight, tight against my skin. I panted, glaring at her fiercely. She didn't avoid it, didn't even blink. Just looking at me, there was no fear in his eyes, only understanding as if he had seen everything.

“If you want your mother to leave this world pure, then tell me all the truth.”

For the first time in a long time, I have the desire to live.

“What can you do?” I asked.

“Help you take advantage of the opportunity to make amends for your sins.”

I don't believe:

"We don't know each other at all."

“Before Ngo Mon, you saved my life. I owe you.”

“Just for that?”

“Not only.”

She turned around and took out an old, yellowed file from the case.

“You directly participated in seventeen battles, had more than twenty wounds on your body, and saved the marshal three times during sieges.”

“Seven hundred Han Nhan camp brothers risked their lives to follow you on the battlefield.”

“A person who can block a sword for a comrade in the midst of a rebel army, I don't believe he would kill his father for no reason.”

“You want to die, it's easy. But letting your mother die unjustly, the Han Nhan camp brothers will never be able to raise their heads, the victory of a lifetime has turned into a thousand years of scolding..."

She gave me a handwritten list. I bowed my head and saw that there were all familiar names on it. Vuong Tuong, Ly Co, Trieu Thach Dau... They are all brothers in my Han Nhan camp. If they knew I was carrying such a crime to hell, what would they think? I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. After a while, I raised my head and looked at the clear eyes outside the bars.

“I listen to you — everything.”

3

Later I learned that she had pledged her fortune in exchange for giving me a way to live. For half a month, she interrogated the Lam family's former servants, looking for evidence. She had been to prison many times, each time she was thinner than before, but the fire in her eyes was even brighter. She told me that she had found evidence that the Lam family had harmed my mother. But the fact that I killed my father is true, the verdict cannot be overturned. It's better to temporarily be patient and use her way to get revenge. She knelt down in the middle of the street, pleading on my behalf:

“Nowadays, Bac Cuong is in an emergency and needs people. I beg your Majesty to allow Lam Kha to take responsibility for his crimes and go to the front line in Northern Cuong to take effect. If you achieve military merit, you can atone for your death; If you fail — beheading immediately, no mercy.”

The Queen performs. But I know, I am still the one who must die. Winning or losing on the battlefield is irrelevant. The Queen just borrowed me to restrain her. Only you, I still believe that I can live. She repeated in my ear:

“Lam Kha, I don't care what people say about you.”

From that moment, I knew this life was hers. Even if I step onto the knife mountain, I will still fight for her. Ha Lan Minh Duong, you are the most intelligent and brilliant woman I have ever met in my life. She is the fluttering flag on the border, the bright sunlight on the border. People say she has a dangerous mind, but I only love the eternal fire in her eyes. Rumors say she's arrogant and cold, but I'm just infatuated with her courage to defy the world. I have seen too many people fall and compromise in the mud, only you - forever holding your head up straight. … The day we left the capital, we quietly went to say goodbye to our ancestors. He shed tears as he said goodbye, heartbroken that I would have to live anonymously from now on. But I tell you: This is what I have wished for for a long time. From now on... I vow to be her sword in her sheath, protecting her steel light from fading. May I be a lamp in her hand, illuminating her way home so she will no longer be alone. This world Tens of thousands of women, Only you - makes me want to spend my whole life asking for marriage. I only pray for her life: bright and clear, bright and shining. RUN OUT OF