Chapter 7

They were Ta Thuat’s personal guards. They had fought their way through layer after layer of resistance.

The commander’s eyes were so wide with rage they looked ready to split. He shouted urgently, “My lord, the palace is crawling with ambushes. You cannot keep dragging her along and put yourself at risk. We’ll fight to escort you out of the palace. As long as you survive, there’ll be another chance!”

But Ta Thuat acted as if he hadn’t heard.

His gaze remained fixed on me. He hadn’t looked away for even a moment.

Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out with his long arm and seized mine.

“I came to save you,” Ta Thuat said in a low voice. “I never intended to leave alone.”

I froze, staring at him with a jumble of feelings.

Not far away, the violent aura around Bui Chieu Dan erupted completely.

He snatched the crossbow from a nearby guard.

He aimed at Ta Thuat’s heart, raised it, and fired without mercy. The motion flowed smoothly, merciless and decisive.

The arrowhead glinted with a chilling light.

“My lord, look out!”

One of the guards used all his strength to shove Ta Thuat away.

There was a soft thud as the sharp arrow pierced flesh.

The shot meant for Ta Thuat’s heart veered off and sank deep into his left shoulder. Fresh blood immediately soaked his pale blue-white robe.

Ta Thuat staggered. His hand, which had been gripping mine, suddenly loosened.

The guards didn’t dare delay.

Several rushed forward and surrounded the badly wounded Ta Thuat, supporting him.

The commander ordered in a low voice, “Get the heir out through the encirclement. Move!”

Ta Thuat struggled weakly, his voice hoarse. “Tan Tuyet Tan…”

He still wanted to take me with him.

His guards wouldn’t let him have his way. They firmly supported him and turned to leave.

The others stayed behind to hold off the pursuers, ready to die.

Arrows flew in every direction. Swords clashed with a ringing sound.

The battered troops fought a bloody path through the palace, surrounded layer upon layer, and quickly retreated.

In the end,

only a scene of devastation and deathly silence remained.

Bui Chieu Dan held the empty crossbow, a lingering chill in his fingertips.

There wasn’t a trace of warmth in his eyes. His voice was cool.

“Pursue them.”

The guards around him answered in unison and withdrew one after another.

The noise gradually died away.

The world grew terrifyingly quiet.

Bui Chieu Dan dropped the crossbow. The hem of his black robe brushed over the smears of blood as he slowly walked toward me.

He was tall, backlit, and his shadow swallowed me completely.

“Just now, I regained another piece of my memory.”

Bui Chieu Dan spoke without warning.

“So we were husband and wife.”

I involuntarily tore my gaze from the direction Ta Thuat had disappeared and looked back at him.

12

Ta Thuat’s father was a pillar of the court, while his mother came from a distinguished family.

Everyone had been strict with him from the time he was young.

He was fourteen the year he met Tan Tuyet Tan.

He had accompanied his father to visit the Chancellor’s residence. The elders were talking in the front hall.

Suddenly, a snow-white cat appeared out of nowhere and jumped onto his lap.

Chancellor Tan’s expression darkened. “That girl never watches her cat properly. She has no manners.”

His father smiled and smoothed things over. “It’s all right. She’s only a child.”

Ta Thuat knew who owned the cat. It belonged to the Chancellor’s third daughter.

She was only a concubine-born daughter, yet she was exceptionally doted on.

The Chancellor indulged her, and even her stepmother showed her some affection.

Ta Thuat lowered his head and looked at the cat in his arms, tentatively reaching out to stroke its soft fur.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed a little head peeking in from outside.

She glared at the cat in his lap, anxiously signaling for it to come to her. But the cat stayed sprawled across Ta Thuat and ignored her completely.

The third young lady was about his age and had grown into a striking beauty.

Her skin was fair, her features delicate, like a hibiscus just rising from the water.

“Father, Uncle Tan,” Ta Thuat said, standing with the cat in his arms. “I’ll return it to Third Miss.”

Both fathers turned to look.

The little head peeking in from outside had vanished.

His father waved him on. “Go ahead.”

Uncle Tan said, “Have that girl show you around. Don’t let her spend all day lazing about.”

Ta Thuat stepped outside.

The young woman stood not far away, her delicate brows furrowed as she reproached him.

“You sold me out.”

Ta Thuat held out the cat. “I’m sorry.”

She refused to take it, crossing her arms over her chest and snorting. “It’s a traitor too—forsaking its friend for a pretty face.”

Ta Thuat was taken aback.

The cat took the opportunity to leap down and trot off to play elsewhere.

After a moment of silence, Ta Thuat said, “Uncle Tan told you to show me…”

“I heard him!” she cut in. Clearly still unhappy about what had just happened, she nevertheless took his hand. “Where do you want to go? Oh, your marquis’s residence must be much prettier than ours.”

Ta Thuat’s fingertips twitched. He was about to remind her that men and women shouldn’t touch.

But for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

The words that finally came out were, “My name is Ta Thuat.”

She gave a little “Oh.” “I know you.”

She smiled. “I know a few people who study with you at the Imperial Academy. They all say you’re really impressive.”

“You know them?” Ta Thuat asked.

“Sure. They’re just like you,” she said offhandedly. “Always speaking so formally and taking everything too seriously. I don’t like that.”