Chapter 8 — Breaking the Nine Rings

8 The marriage between the Crown Prince and his sister is still finally decided. The Queen Mother loves her gentleness and calmness. The Queen also felt that the eldest daughter of the Khuong family was dignified and worthy of being the Crown Princess. The day the marriage decree was delivered, mother breathed a sigh of relief, but looked at me a little worried. I was repairing that Lu Ban box. I just laughed when I heard that.

“It's a good thing that sister got her wish.”

The mother sighed.

“Are you really not heartbroken?”

Gently push the wooden peg back into place.

“No heartache.”

After my sister received the instructions, she personally came to my hospital. She wore a lotus-colored dress, with a pale pink blush on her face. Seeing the Lu Ban box in my hand, she softly said:

“Are you still playing this thing?”

I replied:

“Idle, used to kill time.”

She sat down opposite me.

"The matter of the Crown Princess... I didn't expect it to happen so quickly."

I raised my head to look at her. There was exploration in her eyes, and also a bit of pride of someone who had just won. I laugh.

“What do you need to explain, sister?”

“This is what you wanted.”

Her fingertips tightened.

“Lanh Nghi, do you have to say those words that pierce my heart?”

“I only speak the truth.”

She looked at me, her eyes gradually turning red.

"I wasn't like that before."

“Before, you would have been happy for me.”

I gently closed Lu Ban's box.

"Before, I also thought that you would be happy for me."

She was stunned. The wind blew through the yard, the leaves made rustling sounds. She suddenly asked:

“Do you know what happened?”

I looked at her.

“Know what?”

Her lips moved slightly, but in the end she still didn't speak. In that moment, I made a decision. Perhaps she has no memories of her previous life. But she felt guilty. No matter how deeply hidden human malice is, when others see through it, they will still panic first. Before the Crown Prince's big wedding, Quy Canh Hanh came to see me again. This time, he did not enter Khuong's house, but only sent someone to bring a brocade box. In the box is a newly made nine-step set. The jade quality is not as good as the jade quality of the old tribute set, but it is still extremely gentle. In the letter, he wrote:

“The old thing is broken, I'll have someone make a new set.”

“If you're willing, I want to see you take it off with my own eyes.”

I looked at that bracelet and suddenly wanted to laugh. Old things are broken, just need to make a new set and it will be as if nothing ever happened? I closed the brocade box and told Thu Hanh to bring it back to the Eastern Palace. Accompanied by a sentence:

“I'm clumsy, your highness, please find someone else who is wise.”

When Thu Hanh returned, she said the East Palace guard's face was extremely unsightly. But I slept the most peacefully during this time. On the day of the Crown Prince's wedding, the Khuong family was filled with red silk. I followed my mother to send my sister off. Sister A wore a phoenix crown and a red robe, sitting in front of the dressing table, tears in her eyes. When her mother covered her head with a veil, she also cried. Standing next to me, I suddenly remembered the day I entered the Eastern Palace in my previous life. I also wear a red shirt. It's just that the concubine is not allowed to go through the main door, nor is she allowed to use the official red ceremonial staff. That day, sister sat in the main hall waiting for me to drink tea, smiling and saying:

“From now on, in the Eastern Palace, we sisters must support each other.”

I have supported you all your life. This time, I'll just help she adjusted her sleeves.

"Sister, the road to the Eastern Palace is very long, please take care of yourself."

She grabbed my hand through the veil. Very quiet voice:

“Lanh Nghi, do you hate me?”

I looked at her. After a long time, he quietly asked:

“Are you scared, sister?”

Her hands trembled. I slowly withdrew my hand. The sound of wedding reception music rang out outside the door. Quy Canh Hanh personally came to welcome him. He was wearing a happy outfit and his appearance was still as handsome as before. It's just that when he saw me, his steps clearly stopped. I retreated to my mother's side and performed formal ceremonies.

“Congratulations to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

He looked at me, his eyes seemed to have many words to say. But today is the day he gets married. He couldn't say it. Sister A was helped onto the palanquin. The Eastern palace royal staff loudly left Khuong palace. Red silk flutters in the wind. I stood in front of the door and suddenly felt this scene was so gentle. It's as easy as finally letting an old dream go. 9 After my sister entered the Eastern Palace, things did not go as smoothly as she imagined. The Crown Princess must manage palace affairs, and also have to deal with the strategists in the Eastern Palace, the female relatives of officials, and the communication between palaces. She is gentle enough, but decisive is not enough. There have been errors in distributing rewards several times. But the current Crown Prince no longer completely trusts her like in his previous life. Every time something happens in the Eastern Palace, you remember me. Thu Hanh heard this story from outside.

“Miss, I heard that the Crown Princess cried at the Eastern Palace yesterday.”

I'm looking at the Western trade dispatch sent by Bui Van Chu.

“Why?”

"Something happened to a virtuous brother's mother's house in the Eastern Palace. The Crown Princess wanted to let it go, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said she had a woman's heart."

Thu Hanh looked at me.

“Also, if I were a young lady, I would definitely have known to check the books first.”

My page turning stopped. There was no joy in my heart. Just felt funny. In my previous life, I checked the books and he told me everything was too strong. In this life, sister did not check, and he criticized her for not being decisive enough. A man's love can indeed change according to circumstances. A few days later, sister returned to Khuong family to visit home. She became a little thinner.