Chapter 6 — Article Phu Dinh Duyen

I wore a dark red robe and sat on a palanquin. When the palanquin passed Chu Tuoc Avenue, I lifted the curtain to look outside. In the crowd, I did not see Ta Minh Vien. He didn't dare come. I let down the curtain and don't search anymore. The palanquin arrived at the Eastern Palace, Tong Giac held my hand to help me get off the palanquin. His hand was very steady, his palm dry and warm. I held his hand and walked step by step up the stone steps covered with red light. On the wedding night, he lifted my veil. He looked at me and smiled softly: "Quan Minh Le, I have framed your poem." I was taken aback, then laughed. "Your Highness has already told me." "I'm afraid you'll forget." "I can't forget." He bowed his head and placed a kiss on my forehead. The following stories passed to our ears one after another. To Ngam Suong was abandoned by the Ta family. She came to Dong Palace to ask for my help, saying she wanted to see me once. The Crown Prince sent someone to chase her out, telling the person who came to convey the message: "Your wife is not something everyone can meet." Ta Minh Vien achieved feats on the frontier, was appointed general, but still did not marry anyone else. On a normal afternoon, I practice writing in the courtyard of the East Palace. Tong Giac returned from court, stood behind me and looked at me for a moment, then said: "Your handwriting has improved again." Without looking up, I asked: "Your Highness, do you want to write a letter?" He took the pen and wrote a line of words next to me: "I wish to have someone with one heart." I looked at those eight words and said nothing. He put down the pen, grabbed my hand, and said: "You will write the rest for me." I was silent for a moment, then picked up the pen and wrote next to those words: "The gray hair will never leave." The sunlight shone on us, extremely warm.