Chapter 7 — Changing the Bride and Marrying the Palace

On the day of the palace banquet, Manh Han took me to the palace early. Previously, I only entered the palace while impersonating my eldest sister. Three years have passed, and when I see the Son of Heaven again, I can't help but feel nervous. Thien Tu did not seem to notice anything unusual, the emotions on his face were very calm. You must have heard that I once ran away with a man, but you are still extremely polite to me. "Manh Han said that when you were in the Northwest, you managed everything in the palace very carefully." "Even business matters, you can help him share." "He lost both his father and mother when he was young, now having a good wife like you is his destiny." "Your Majesty is too complimenting. People's wives are not that good." I quickly responded. Manh Han held my hand, signaling me not to be nervous. I don't know how many good things you said about me to the prince to make him accept me. "I have met countless people, I will not look at you wrong." "His personality does not like to compete, being a husband and wife with you is really suitable." I raised my head in surprise, and saw the angel's eyes filled with kindness. Different from the distant look like it was covered by a layer of fog just now, this time his emotions were completely undisguised. The Emperor knows everything, but he does not object to me and Manh Han becoming husband and wife. While the palace banquet had not yet begun, the prince still told me many things. Most asked about Manh Han's life in the Northwest, such as whether he ate meals on time and whether his body was healthy. We answer in turn. Finally, the lady stepped in to remind her that the palace banquet was about to begin and invited the prince to marry her. He waved his hand and looked at me and Manh Han: "You're not young anymore, soon give Tieu Man another friend." Manh Han and I looked at each other, then immediately looked away. When leaving, I reached out and touched my face. It's too hot. 23Manh Han has been away from the capital for many years, yet he is respected by the king. In the banquet palace, there were many people who came to drink wine. Perhaps out of respect for Manh Han, everyone seems to have forgotten the old rumors about me, only constantly praising me and Manh Han as a good match. Manh Han was very happy and drank a lot of wine. I'm afraid you drink too much and it will harm your stomach. His stomach was not good, so I immediately gave him food and told him to eat a little to fill his stomach. After he finished eating, I asked the servant to pour the prepared hangover soup. Afraid that the soup was cold, I took a spoonful to taste it first. "Now drink at the right time." I took the cup of wine from Manh Han's hand and gave him the hangover soup. "You drank a lot of wine, be careful it will harm your stomach." Manh Han's eyes were a bit dreamy. His eyes fell on me, looking at me stupidly and smiling. "What are you smiling about?" "You're not drunk, are you?" I took a handkerchief and wiped away the thin layer of sweat on his face. He shook his head and grabbed my hand. "The pearl jewelry you wore today was so dazzling, it made me dizzy." I pulled my hand back and scolded him in a low voice: "You're talking nonsense." "Obviously drunk." When I recovered, I saw Manh Han holding the spoon I had just put down, spoon by spoonful drinking the hangover soup. "You... that spoon I just used..." I reached out to take it back, but Manh Han avoided it. "I don't mind." He cautiously looked up. He glanced at me and muttered in a low voice: "You can't criticize me." I couldn't do anything to him, so I just gave up and bowed my head to pick up the food myself. I felt a pair of eyes looking at me not far away, but they didn't leave for a long time. Looking up, I see Tieu Doanh. He looked at me, his hand clenched tightly around the wine cup, the blue veins on the back of his hand sometimes appeared and disappeared. 24 Tieu Doanh's alcohol tolerance is not good. Every time I attend a palace banquet, I prepare hangover soup for him in advance. Number of times Tieu Doanh got drunk

not much. The first time was on the day of marriage. He was half awake and half drunk, lifted my headscarf, looked at my face, but called my elder sister's name. I did as my mother taught me, drank wine together with him, and changed his clothes. That night, while Tieu Doanh took a shower, I secretly drank alcohol. I couldn't keep my head clear, pretending to be the eldest sister to spend the wedding night with Tieu Doanh. On the wedding night, the red candles burned out. I don't remember everything clearly anymore. Only the pain and the sound of Tieu Doanh calling the elder sister's name were the clearest in my ears. The second time was at the Mid-Autumn Festival in the palace, the prince praised Tieu Doanh. Tieu Doanh was happy and suddenly drank too much. Tieu Doanh was very quiet after getting drunk, even more like a calm lake than usual. He just looked at me silently, letting me dry his body and change his clothes. My movements are much more proficient than the first time. It's no longer easy to wake him up. But Tieu Doanh did not sleep. He was like a naughty child, when I wasn't paying attention, he hugged me. I fell into his chest, clearly hearing every heartbeat inside. In the original it says that the heartbeat doesn't lie. But what he said was: "Nhuoc Ninh, I love you." Withdrawing my thoughts, I bowed my head, avoiding Tieu Doanh's eyes.