Chapter 1 — Breaking the Nine Rings

In a previous life, at the Queen Mother's birthday party, foreign envoys presented a set of nine consecutives. No one in the whole dynasty could remove it. I only used half a cup of tea and took off each jade bracelet. The Queen Mother smiled and said I was clever and intelligent, the Eastern palace was lacking someone who could take care of everything like that. Sister A tightened her handkerchief again and said:

"Since childhood, my sister has never given up on anyone. If she enters the Eastern Palace, I'm afraid she will want to appear superior to your Highness in everything."

The prince was silent for a long time. After the decree was given, I was only appointed as a concubine. Later, when you were troubled by the officials, I helped you solve the problem; Being trapped by the kings, I also helped you solve it. However, after ascending the throne, he made her Queen, just because she had never made him feel embarrassed. When I opened my eyes again, the nine-link set was brought before me. I intentionally plucked twice.

With a "crack" sound, the jade bracelet fell and broke into two pieces.

The whole hall exclaimed. I quickly knelt down:

“Clumsy goddess.”

“This kind of delicate object, goddesses really don't dare to touch.”

1 The broken jade bracelet rolled on the yellow tile floor, emitting a clear crashing sound. Everyone in the palace looked over. I knelt on the ground, my fingertips still resting on the broken jade bracelet. The jade has a gentle color, but the cracks are still new. A small white splinter pierced the tip of my finger, causing me to curl my hand in pain. In my previous life, I also touched this nine-link set. At that time, the foreign envoy stood in the middle of the main hall, laughing and saying that this item was made by the most skillful craftsman in their country. If Dai Luong has someone who can untie it, they are willing to offer another hundred handsome horses. If no one can remove it, then it will be considered that Dai Luong is one level behind them. The civil and military officials looked at each other. Several old gods tried, but they were all at a loss. Several princes also tried it, and as a result, the jade bracelets became even tighter. Even Crown Prince Quy Canh Hanh stepped forward and struggled through half a cup of tea, finally his face darkened, and he placed the nine-cup tea back on the tray. At that time, I sat at the end of the row of women's seats. Through the pearl curtain, seeing it made my heart itch. Since childhood, I have loved taking apart office items. The bronze lock in my father's study, the box Elder Lu Ban brought home, and the jade button stuck in my mother's jewelry box, all of which I removed to pieces. The Queen Mother saw me looking intently, so she smiled and called out:

“Second Miss Khuong family, come and try.”

When I stood up, sister Khuong Minh Duong gently pulled me. She said:

"Luan Nghi, don't rely on force."

Her voice was gentle, but her eyes carried a bit of tension that I didn't understand at the time. I just thought she was afraid I would lose face. So I laughed and said:

"Don't worry, sister."

I received nine consecutive bracelets, based on the up and down rules of the bracelets, it only took half a cup of tea to remove each bracelet. The whole electricity was buzzing. The Queen Mother was extremely happy and immediately took off the pure gold bracelet on her wrist to reward me.

“Such a skillful and intelligent child is lacking in the Eastern Palace.”

In that moment, my heart beat very fast. I secretly glanced at Quy Canh Hanh. He is also looking at me. The gloom in those eyes had disappeared, replaced by a bit of surprise and laughter. I thought it was my luck. Until my sister tightened her handkerchief and breathed softly one sentence long:

"Since childhood, my sister has never given up on anyone. If she enters the Eastern Palace, I'm afraid she will want to appear superior to your Highness in everything."

Her voice is very small. But the Crown Prince heard it again. The smile on his face slowly faded. A few days later, the marriage decree was brought to the Khuong family. Sister A was appointed Crown Princess. And I am a concubine. My mother advised me, saying that if the two sisters entered the Eastern Palace together, they could also take care of each other in the future. Father remained silent all night, only telling me not to let myself feel resentment. At that time, I did not feel angry. I still think that Quy Canh Hanh only did it out of politeness, and in the future he will definitely understand my heart. Later, he was forced by the courtiers to use the old salt tax case to the point that he could not step down from the stage. I stayed up all night going through the files, found errors in the books thirteen years ago, and helped him fight back right on the court. The kings took advantage of the flood in the southern district to set a trap, wanting him to bear the responsibility of helping helplessly. We removed each dispatch from every continent, based on the waterway and the food itinerary to calculate, and finally discovered that someone had swapped the food ship midway. He held my hand, smiling tiredly but sincere.

"Lanh Nghi, I'm lucky to have you."

I believed in those two words "luckily". However, after he ascended the throne, the phoenix seal fell into the hands of a sister. He told me:

“The queen must be dignified and gentle to be able to stabilize the harem.”

“You are smart, of course I will use you.”

Used. It really sounds like a reward for a subject. I helped him solve the problem, solve the plot, stayed up until my eyes were red and swollen, and in the end I only changed one sentence: "Too smart, easily makes others lose face." Later, I was sick for a long time in the heavenly palace. When Quy Canh Hanh came to visit me, he still had the scent of agarwood and incense from his sister's palace. He said:

"Lanh Nghi, if you were a little more gentle, that year you wouldn't just be a concubine."

I looked at him without saying a word. A little softer.