Chapter 3 — Beauty Carries No Guilt

The morning sky was remarkably clear, framed by a gentle breeze that swept through the verdant treetops, eliciting a soft, soothing rustle. Khuong La stood beneath the ornate veranda, draped in a gown of deep, crimson silk that seemed to drink in the sunlight. Nuy Chieu lingered close beside her, his head bowed slightly as he listened with a fond, indulgent smile to her playful cooing. A sudden wave of bittersweet detachment washed over me. I could not pinpoint the exact moment when the two of them had grown so inextricably close, yet the transformation was undeniable. My mind drifted back to our first encounter in this borrowed lifetime, recalling the very look Nuy Chieu had cast in her direction, the fleeting hesitation that had crossed his noble features. Back then, he had still debated whether a beauty of her staggering caliber truly belonged by his side. But now, after three months of waking and sleeping under the same roof, could this same Nuy Chieu still bear to cast her away into the gilded cage of the imperial palace? Or would history repeat itself, mirroring the past life where he had wed me as his lawful wife?

As these tangled thoughts churned within my mind, Khuong La caught sight of me standing quietly in the shadows. A sharp, triumphant smirk played upon her lips, meant solely for my eyes. Without breaking her stride, she lifted her chin and turned her gaze back to Nuy Chieu.

Brother Chieu, she murmured, her voice dripping with calculated sweetness. If I were to tell you that I no longer wish to enter the palace, would you still force me to go?

Nuy Chieu froze, the warmth instantly draining from his expression as an oppressive silence settled between them. On one side lay the culmination of years of meticulous plotting, ambition, and boundless sacrifice. On the other stood the tear-stained face of the peerless beauty who had captured his soul. He lowered his gaze, his handsome features warring with a profound and agonizing conflict. It was only after a prolonged, agonizing pause that he arrived at his verdict. With infinite gentleness, he reached out and took Khuong La’s delicate hands in his own, looking down at her with a gaze so heavy with devotion it defied reason.

A La, the young nobleman whispered, his voice steady yet filled with fierce conviction, I knew long ago that you were destined to be the only wife of my heart. If you refuse the palace, then you shall never set foot inside its walls. For your sake, I am fully prepared to forsake the entire realm.

I stood motionless, listening to words that echoed with a chilling, haunting familiarity. In my past life, on the very day Nuy Chieu had taken me as his bride, his most trusted strategist had earnestly warned him not to let matters of the heart derail his grand ambitions. Back then, Nuy Chieu had merely smiled and offered a reply nearly identical to the one he now bestowed upon another: With a virtuous wife such as this by my side, my desire to contend for the realm is already extinguished.

Yet now, upon hearing this nearly identical vow of devotion, Khuong La’s lips curled into a thoroughly satisfied smile of supreme arrogance. She cast a condescending glance downward, gesturing for me to approach before turning back to Nuy Chieu with a radiant, confident grin.

How could Brother Chieu ever let his lifelong ambitions go to waste? she purred, her tone laced with cunning. You and I shall still be man and wife, and this realm is something you must conquer all the same.

She paused for a fraction of a second, her sharp eyes darting over to settle upon my face. Besides, this personal maid of mine possesses a beauty rare under heaven. Surely she is worthy of being presented to the sovereign, serving as your secret weapon to secure the throne!

Before a stunned Nuy Chieu could even process her words, Khuong La reached out with sudden swiftness and ripped the veil clean from my face. Instinctively, Nuy Chieu’s head snapped toward me, his indifferent gaze landing casually upon my features. But the moment his eyes met mine, his breath hitched violently in his throat. His eyes widened to an impossible degree, and the legendary Nuy Prince, famed for his tranquil, jade-like composure, found his breathing turning ragged as a deep, sudden flush crept up his neck and stained his cheeks. With a voice scraped raw by disbelief, he stammered out, You... what is your name?

Khuong La’s face instantly drained of all color, turning as white as driven snow.

She was far from a fool. Within the span of a single heartbeat, the cruel truth dawned upon her: Nuy Chieu had fallen for me at first sight. This catastrophic outcome completely upended her carefully laid plans. After all, she had spent her entire life hailed as an incomparable beauty, her features entirely lacking nothing when compared to mine. Add to that the three months of intimate companionship they had shared under the same roof, and her soaring arrogance had led her to believe the Nuy Prince was entirely within the palm of her hand. That was precisely why she had boldly orchestrated this moment, wanting to flaunt her power. Never in her wildest dreams could she have foreseen that he would forsake her for me.

A tremor of rage shook Khuong La’s frame as she glared at me with undisguised venom. Yet, fighting back the tempest of jealousy raging within her, she forced her features into an expression of radiant, seductive charm and leaned close to him, whining softly.

Brother Chieu, you must not look at my maid in such a manner. Why don’t you simply offer her to His Majesty instead, letting her take my place in the palace? Would that not be for the best?

Nuy Chieu slowly lowered his gaze. The peerless beauty before him stood with tear-filled eyes, resembling a delicate peony blossom heavy with morning dew. She bit her lower lip with stubborn defiance, fighting bravely to keep her tears from spilling over. Her appearance was a breathtaking mixture of delicate fragility and peerless elegance, a sight potent enough to strip any man of his resolve to refuse. A soft, helpless chuckle escaped his lips. Remaining the epitome of gentle indulgence, he raised a hand to tenderly wipe away the moisture lingering on her cheek, yet his words remained unyielding.

She possesses no talent for song or dance, he murmured quietly. How could she possibly survive within the palace walls? No, A La, it must still be you.

Khuong La stood rooted to the spot, her expression shattering into one of absolute disbelief. Staring at Nuy Chieu as though looking at a ghost, she remained utterly speechless for a long, agonizing stretch of time. The bitter pill of reality was simply too massive to swallow; she could not comprehend how the man who had just professed his eternal devotion, claiming he would surrender the entire world for her sake, could change his heart with such terrifying swiftness.

The psychological blow dealt to her pride was fatal. By nightfall, a heavy fever had taken hold of her body. Nuy Chieu spared no expense, summoning the finest physicians in the land to minister to her day and night. The solicitude and tender care he showered upon her remained entirely unchanged on the surface, yet his underlying resolve never wavered by so much as a fraction. He remained stubbornly committed to sending her into the imperial harem.

As for myself, my status within the sprawling manor underwent an abrupt, dramatic elevation. Whenever the servants and guards crossed my path henceforth, they lowered their heads and addressed me with reverent caution: Lady Shenyu.

Gifts from Nuy Chieu began to flood into my quarters on a daily basis. Elaborate gowns woven for the grand feather dances arrived by the dozen, glistening under the sunlight with breathtaking opulence, while chests brimming with rare pearls and dazzling jewels illuminated the gloomy corners of my chamber with their blinding brilliance. At times, he would linger by my side, gently taking my arm and tracing the faint, faded scars left by whips across my skin with a look of profound sorrow.