Chapter 5 — Blood Lines Connect Spiritual Roots

Tan Hanh walked into the pavilion and personally poured tea for the Crown Prince. The movements were skillful, as if this place was originally her territory. After that, she also poured me a cup.
“Miss Shen, please.”
The cup of tea was pushed in front of me. The scent of tea is bitter and the heat hovers. Before I could reach out my hand, the red thread on my wrist was already cold to the bone.
“Don't drink.”
The elder brother's voice rang in his heart. My eyelids trembled slightly, I retracted my hand.
"Thank you, Miss Qin. It's just that I took medicine before entering the palace and it's not suitable for tea."
Tan Hanh's smile stopped.
"Take medicines?"
“Is Miss Tham's body not feeling well?”
I said softly:
"When I was a child, I was seriously ill and had weaker muscles than normal people."
She looked at me, a strange light flashed in her eyes, but quickly curled her lips again.
“So you have to be more careful.”
"This cup of tea is not strong, Miss Tham, don't be afraid."
The prince looked at me, his eyes cold.
“It's just a cup of tea.”
If it were before, I probably would have panicked and drank it. But right now, the cold air on my wrist is like a string, pulling me back, not letting me lower my head. I put my hands on my knees and said in a low voice:
“The goddess does not dare to take risks with her body.”
In the quiet house. The Crown Prince's eyes became a little colder. Tan Hanh suddenly burst out laughing.
“Miss Shen is indeed extremely precious.”
My face is hot, I can barely sit still. The cold voice in my heart rang out again:
“Look at her cuffs.”
I don't know why, but I really looked up. When Qin Hanh poured tea, there was a little brown powder on her cuff. Few. If it weren't for the slanted sunlight, it would be impossible to see. My heart beats strongly.
“What is that?”
The leader did not answer, only said:
“Ask her.”
My throat is tight.
“I don't dare.”
Tan Hanh lifted the cup of tea and brought it in front of me.
“If Miss Tham is really scared, let me take a sip first to help you feel secure.”
As she spoke, the smile on her lips deepened. But the tea cup in her hand was not facing her lips. But give it to my hand. I hear my heart beating heavily. The Crown Prince is looking at me. The palace maids are looking at me. Everyone around seems to be waiting for me to give in. I suddenly remembered when I was a child, Tham Bao Chau hid my books in a jar of water. At that time she also laughed like that, saying it was just a joke. At that time I said: I don't like that joke. Same now. I raised my head, my voice was very soft, but every word was clear:
“Miss Qin's sleeve has something stuck on it.”
“I wonder what that is?”
The smile on Tan Hanh's face immediately faded. The Crown Prince also looked at her cuff. The palace maids next to the pavilion looked at each other. Tan Hanh quickly bowed his head, as if he had just discovered it.
“Maybe I accidentally touched the mud in the flower garden just now.”
I nodded.
“So that's it.”
“Then please, Miss Qin, use this hand to pour another cup of tea for Your Highness.”
Tan Hanh's hand stopped in midair. After speaking, I felt scared, my fingertips almost pressed deep into my palm. But words once spoken cannot be taken back. The Crown Prince's eyes finally changed. He looked at Tan Hanh, his voice lowered:
“Pour tea.”
Tan Hanh raised his eyes to look at him, self-pity flashed in his eyes.
“Your Highness also doubts me?”
The prince did not speak. He just looked at that cup of tea. Tan Hanh bit his lip and lifted the teapot. Just as the tea was about to pour down, a cat suddenly rushed out from the flower bush, knocking over the stone table. Tea cup broken all over the ground. Tea spilled onto the tile floor. Not long after, several black ants crawling past all turned upside down and died. The pavilion was as quiet as a tomb. My face is pale. If I had just drunk that cup of tea... The Crown Prince immediately stood up. Tan Hanh also turned pale and quickly said:
“Not me!”

The cat still arched its back next to the flower bush, its throat emitting a low growl. We see that on its tail there is a very thin black thread, as if condensed from the ashes of burnt wood, then quickly disappears. The chief is here. I suddenly wasn't so scared anymore. The prince shouted:
“Block the flower garden, investigate!”
The palace staff immediately knelt on the ground. Tan Hanh's eye sockets turned red, his body wobbled as if he was about to fall.
“Your Highness, I will not harm her.”
The Crown Prince looked at her, then looked back at me.
“Miss Shen was frightened.”
I stood up to worship.
“Goddess please take your leave.”
He didn't seem to expect that I wanted to leave at this time. We continue to say:
"Today, something happened in the flower garden. If I stay here, I will only prevent Your Highness from investigating the truth."
The prince was silent for a moment.
"Standard."
When I stepped out of the flower garden, my legs were weak and I could barely stand. Thanh La supported me, her hand was also shaking.
“Miss, that cup of tea just now…”
I shook my head slightly, signaling her not to speak. The path in the palace is very long, the red wall is so high that you can't see the end. I lowered my head to look at the red thread on my wrist. It has returned to normal temperature. I said in a voice only I could hear:
“Brother, I'm not crying.”
The wind blew through the palace wall. A very soft "yes" came from my ear.
"Good job."
—
07 When I returned to Tham residence, it was already dark. Mother stood waiting in front of the flower gate. Seeing my pale face, she immediately ran to help. She asked what happened in the palace. I opened my mouth, but looked towards my father first. Father stood in the hallway, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. I know that the matter in the Eastern Palace cannot be hidden. But there are some words that, if spoken by my own mouth, will become the Tham family's slander against the East Palace. I said in a low voice:
"Something went wrong during the tea. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has ordered someone to investigate."
Mother's hand immediately tightened. The father asked in a low voice:
“Have you drank yet?”
I shook my head.
"Not yet."
Mother's eyes immediately turned red and she pulled me into the room. She said she wouldn't go anymore, that tomorrow she would ask her father to present her, saying I was sick. But father did not answer. I know you're having a hard time. Marriage is granted by divine decree. We can be sick for a day, sick for a month, but not sick for the rest of our lives. As long as the Eastern palace wants to get married, in the end I still have to get married. That evening, the palace was strangely quiet. The second uncle's family also came to the main courtyard. The second lady spoke worriedly, but her eyes kept glancing at my face. Tham Bao Chau sat next to her, his face complicated. Perhaps she did not expect that I had almost lost my life just once when I entered the Eastern Palace. The second uncle sighed and said that the water in the royal palace was deep, and Duong Duong's character was weak, what should he do in the future? The Second Judge immediately continued:
"If the Crown Prince already has a confidant next to him, why should Duong Duong be there to suffer the pain?"
The room was quiet for a moment. The mother's face became unsightly. Her father raised his eyes to look at her. The Second Judge quickly laughed:
“I just feel sorry for the woman.”
Tham Bao Chau suddenly whispered:
“If you are truly afraid, why not ask the Queen to choose another virtuous woman.”