Chapter 3 — After three years of pretending to be mute and deaf to save my life, I married the talkative Crown Prince

My fingers suddenly tightened. From Kinh Chi. Three years ago, at the back of the Hidden Library Palace, one of the two voices I heard... was him. The Crown Prince is still talking.

"Does he think he can escape from the official position?"

"In his palace, he raises twenty-three homing pigeons. Every day, seven of them fly out and eight come back. Is it possible that the extra ones are just looking for them because of their reputation?"

"There's also Trieu Vanh on Bo Lai's side. On the surface, he's at odds with Tu Kinh Chi. On the other hand, even the bracelets given to him on the outside are made in the same shop."

I quietly remember each thing in my heart. Tu Kinh Chi, homing pigeon. Trieu Vanh, jewelry store. Twenty-three children, seven went, eight returned. These words may seem incoherent at first glance, but if you think carefully, each sentence hides a clue. The Crown Prince scolded the courtiers to the royal family, then from the royal family scolded even the royal chef in the palace.

"Today's fish dish is really difficult to eat."

"The fish already died unjustly, but they ruined it again."

"Tomorrow I will call the chef to come and make him eat it all right in front of me."

I really couldn't bear it, a very light sound escaped from the tip of my nose. The prince immediately turned his head around. I quickly looked down and pretended to cough softly. He stared at me for a long time.

"Did you laugh just now?"

I raised my head, my face full of innocence. The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. I pointed at my throat, then waved my hand. He reluctantly accepted that explanation.

"That's it. She can't hear it either, she doesn't know what she's saying."

Having finished speaking, he lay down on the bed. I had just breathed a sigh of relief when I heard him add another sentence:

"She slept very quietly, absolutely no sleep talking."

In the middle of the night, I was awakened by a series of grinding teeth. The prince closed his eyes tightly, his fists clenched.

"Tu Kinh Chi, if you dare touch her again, I will put you in a pot..."

I opened my eyes wide and stayed awake all night.

Who is the "she" in his words... exactly?

The next morning, after the big wedding, Dong Cung welcomed three guests. The first was an official from the Ministry of Rites, who came to remind the Crown Prince to pay attention to etiquette and manners after the wedding. The Crown Prince asked while having breakfast:

"Lord Ly, are you applying powder today?"

Lord Ly's face immediately stiffened.

"We don't have one."

"Then why is your face so white?"

"Vi God was born like that."

The prince put down his chopsticks.

"It turns out it wasn't powder, but you scared me."

Lord Ly's lips trembled twice, then hastily left. The second time was the royal servant sent by the emperor to ask if the Crown Prince was satisfied with this marriage or not. The Crown Prince smiled at the housekeeper.

"Satisfied."

The maid was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he spoke again:

"Please tell your father that I am extremely satisfied. After you reach the age of one hundred years, I will definitely engrave this filial piety on your tombstone."

The maid turned and ran away. The third turn is Tu Kinh Chi's wife. Lady Tu brought along two maids and brought a Bach Ngoc Quan Am statue that was half the height of her body as a gift. She held my hand and smiled full of kindness.

"Your Highness the Crown Princess is not comfortable speaking. If there is anything awkward in the future, just come find my father."

I looked intently at her lips. The voice was extremely gentle, but the fingers squeezed tightly, causing pain. The Crown Prince leaned back in his chair and suddenly spoke:

"From my wife, strength You have such big hands, do you still slaughter pigs in the palace every day?"

Lady Tu immediately let go of my hand.

"Your Highness was joking."

"You never joke. She just scolded people."

The smile on Mrs. Tu's face immediately stiffened. She turned around and pointed to the Bach Ngoc Quan Am temple.

"This is something my father's family specially requested for the Crown Princess. I hope the Crown Princess has a peaceful and prosperous life."

I glanced at the statue's pedestal. On it was carved a very small lotus flower. On the bronze key my father left me... has the exact same pattern. My heart suddenly tightened. Lady Tu is still staring at me. She is observing every expression on my face. I slowly raised my hand, gently touched the forehead of Bach Ngoc Quan Am statue, then smiled gratefully at her. The wariness in Mrs. Tu's eyes eased a bit. At that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly stepped forward, lifted his foot and kicked hard at the statue's pedestal. The jade statue swayed slightly. Lady Tu's face suddenly changed dramatically.

"That's a Buddha statue!"

"I'm just trying to see if I'm sure."

"Why would anyone try using their feet?"

The Crown Prince lifted his chin.