Chapter 5 — Buy A Majesty

His legs... were more severely disabled than before, almost becoming a cripple. I looked at his back and asked in a cold tone:

“Do you regret it?”

He picked up a piece of food, seemed to laugh slightly, and leisurely replied:

“Of course I do. I regret not killing you all sooner.”

After that, he smiled faintly:

“Jiang To, what about you?”

“Do you regret buying me out of the chaos that year?”

I frowned and calmly replied:

“If there is an afterlife, I won't save you anymore.”

He stuffed his mouth full of food, chewed it quickly, and had difficulty swallowing it. Perhaps he was choked, it took him a while to open his mouth again, his voice was hoarse:

"Giang To, so... from now on, no one owes anyone anything anymore."

23

The Crown Prince died of choking. It is said that he choked while eating in prison, could not breathe for a while, and died on the spot. An extremely shameful death. Lam Phu Nghi and the entire Lam family were exiled to the border, unable to return to the capital for the rest of their lives. When news of Ky Chieu's death was reported, I personally went to the prison. He lay motionless on the dry straw, his face terrifyingly white. I stared at his body, the palace man next to me stepped forward, tested his breathing and pulse, then quietly reported:

“My lady, I'm really dead.”

I nodded, turned around and was about to leave. But at that moment, my eyes suddenly stopped on his chest—where a corner of the fabric was exposed. I hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly walked over. He raised his hand and pulled the object out of his clothes. When I saw it, I was stunned. My mind is blank, I can't move. It wasn't until the palace man gently reminded me that I gradually regained my spirit. Looking down at the object in my hand— Isn't that the pattern my mother left me? That year, I fell into the lake in Dong Cung, lost that piece of cloth, and couldn't find it after looking for it. Yet, it was on Ky Chieu's body. He once stood in the middle of Ngu Hoa Vien, recounting old stories from the past. But he never told me— How bone-chillingly cold the lake water in Dong Cung was that night.

24

Returning to the palace, the palace staff reported that His Majesty was in the palace. The emperor is playing with the prince. Seeing me enter, he immediately waved his hand to signal the nanny to take the child aside. He didn't ask where I went. Another spring has come, perhaps now the flowers in Ngu Hoa Vien are blooming. The Emperor was interested and personally went to the garden to plant camellia flowers. I sat next to him and looked at him, smiling. He expressed resentment, blaming me for not going out with him. I just quietly pointed to the stack of chapters next to me. So he didn't say anything more. His body became weaker and weaker, and the court gradually passed into my hands. I couldn't help but be amazed at the absolute trust he had in me. I once asked him:

“Aren't you afraid that I will overthrow the dynasty, cause chaos in the country, and cause the Ky family to decline?”

Hearing that, he burst into laughter, his eyes sparkling like spring light.

"To To, your ability far exceeds mine. In recent days, there have been more memorials praising me as a wise monarch than before."

After that, he was seriously ill, constantly in bed. Inside the palace and outside the palace, rumors arose in all directions. It was at that time that the Emperor and Empress both proclaimed themselves the Second Saint. Later, he died. We are satisfied chapter, received royal power from him. There are many disobedient people, but I hold in my hand the sword that he has prepared for me over the years. Sitting on the throne long enough, I am no longer afraid of the smell of blood.

25

My child has grown up, I abdicated the throne and left the capital. Thinking about it again and again, I still returned to Thanh Son district. Dao Hoa village has changed its name, now called Te Phuong village. I returned to the old temple and overheard an old story. They said that that year, there was a young man wearing a light-colored shirt, with a slightly uncomfortable left leg, who came here with his wife to offer incense. The two people seemed to arrive not long after. After that, he stayed alone and quietly lit three incense sticks. Wait until the incense burns out before he leaves. At that time, someone teased:

“The lady is gone, why are you still standing here?”

His face turned red and he replied softly:

“I made her angry.”

The villagers here have no malicious intent, just jokingly wishing the couple a hundred years of old age, a hundred years of consummation. The young man smiled slightly and clasped his hands in return. The narrator looked at me in ecstasy, smiled and asked:

“This lady, do you know that couple?”

“Surely by now, those two people have lived together in harmony and stability for a long time, right?”

I raised my head to look at the peach branches in full bloom, petals swept up by the wind and falling like a pink rain. I think, Dao Hoa village... should not have changed its name.

26

External version - Ky Chieu Giang To saved me. That day, it snowed heavily and I was so cold that I shivered. His body was full of old wounds and lingering poisons. Some people are constantly being led away. Judging eyes stopped on him. In the crowd, I saw Giang To. She is still very young and very beautiful. Eyes as clear as spring water. I want to follow her home. Next to me, the madam of Nam Phong Quan was evaluating me. I don't want to be bought by her. I begged to look towards Giang To. She blinked, but turned her head away. She doesn't want to take me away. I lowered my head, but at that moment, I heard her negotiating the price with the slave trader. I was bought by you for only five taels of silver. At first, I was extremely grateful. But Giang To is too good to me. In the dim light of the candle, her face appeared soft and gentle. The candlelight also clearly illuminated my almost disabled body. We begin to become erratic, unstable in our happiness and anger. Jiang Su should not endure these things. I want her to leave. But she just treats me better. Her hands, from taking care of me, were so chapped that even her feet were showing signs of pain. The jewelry that used to be there is now also pawned. Just in exchange for a few bowls of tonics that were deceived by the villager. I broke the medicine cup. For the first time, we saw her cry. I couldn't bear it and proactively admitted defeat. The days that follow are the time when we live most comfortably. Until news came from the capital. I understand that I cannot continue to hide in this place anymore. People from the Lam family came to me, saying they were willing to do everything to support me. But on one condition—I must promise the position of Queen. I agreed. That night, I saw Giang To's palm being rubbed until it bled. But in my heart, the mind of killing has emerged. She is my burden, she will definitely become my burden. The blade was close to her neck. But we cannot take action. Giang To saved me, even if it's just to repay her kindness, I should keep her. I said so to the people of the Lam family, to the point that I almost believed what I said. I know you have suffered a lot of wrongs, I want you to leave. Run far away, back to her Dao Hoa village. That night, the lake water was bone-chillingly cold, but in the end I still jumped in to save her. On the shore, the faces of those watching were very different. I asked the reason, then jumped down again, diving to find the piece of embroidered fabric she dropped. I remember clearly—that was the thing your mother left behind. I think it's good to keep her in the East Palace, I will take good care of her. But she said— She was willing to enter the palace and serve the Emperor.

27

External Sessions - Emperor The first time I saw this little girl, I liked her. She doesn't follow rules or understand etiquette. She eats whatever she likes, not paying attention to her appearance. Every time she eats a dish that suits her taste, her eyes brighten up—Just like a little rabbit finding food. But in that rabbit's eyes, there was only that scheming gray wolf. In my previous life, the last time I saw you again - You had been tormented to the point that you no longer had your original form. That person even had the face to say that he loved you. In this life, I absolutely will not let the tragedy repeat. Giang To, you must marry me. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but laugh softly. At court, I retracted my smile. smiled, just quietly looked at Ky Chieu. What if he knew? He couldn't change anything. I only cared about her, but she asked me:

“Why do you treat me so well?”

I feel a bit helpless. Is this a good thing? Well, in the future I will treat you better. Ky Chieu is the son of my elder brother. He died in battle and ran away because he was heartbroken and committed suicide. Because of the feeling of indebtedness, I made him the Crown Prince. Because of his reputation, everyone believes that he is my biological son. To put his mind at ease, I renounced my descendants. palace, leaving no bloodline behind. But in the end, the Ky dynasty in his hands turned into chaos. I witnessed with my own eyes that he became emperor, purged the Lam family, causing the capital to sink in a sea of blood. That day, no matter who had bullied her, Ky Chieu paid off everything. But then what? She was tormented to death. What did he do all this for? In the end, he also died. The dynasty was in chaos and destruction. End