Chapter 1 — Crown Prince Concubine Sweet Mouth

1 My forefather was a veteran of three dynasties, literature can secure the state, martial arts can stabilize the country. When the patriarch was seventy years old, he offered a petition asking him to return home. The Emperor could not bear to let him leave, but it was also not convenient to force him to keep him, so he took a step back, brought my father into the court as an official, and stuffed me into the Eastern Palace. The night we received the decree, my father and I each hugged one of our ancestors' thighs. My father's eyes filled with tears:

“Father, please save me.”

I also shed tears:

“Father, please save me.”

The patriarch closed his eyes, feeling for the first time that the Khuong family no longer had a successor. Actually, this statement is not very fair. In our three generations of Khuong family ancestors, everyone has their own strengths. My father was good at ruling the country, my father was good at smoothing things out, and I was good at flattering people. If we must say that the Khuong family has something passed down from generation to generation, then it can only be their face. In his youth, his father was known as General Ngoc Dien. Now over seventy, just standing in the hallway, he is still a handsome, pioneering old man. My father doesn't even need to say anything. He is over forty, usually wears a blue shirt, and has a gentle and elegant appearance. When he doesn't open his mouth, he looks like someone who has read enough poetry and poetry. Wait until you open your mouth to realize that the thing people read the most is the morality of how to treat people. As for me, the title of number one beauty in the capital, I humbly refused three times. By the fourth time, there was really no one willing to accept it for me, I just had to reluctantly accept it. Perhaps the emperor is also fascinated by our three faces. People think that my father is like his father, and his bravery must also be the same. Seeing that I am like my father, I think that intelligence can more or less be passed from generation to generation. After listening to the decree, my mother was silent for a long time, and finally said only one sentence:

"The thing that Khuong family has passed down from generation to generation, obviously only has that face."

The patriarch glared at her. The mother immediately corrected herself:

“There is also an honest heart.”

At this moment, the father's face softened a bit. The mother continued:

“It's just that the next generation's mind is not as good as the previous generation's.”

“…”

The patriarch turned around and entered the street, perhaps wanting to ask the Khuong family's ancestors what he had done wrong. My father kindly helped people burn incense:

"Father, don't be in a hurry. His Majesty only told me to enter the court, he didn't say what important matters must be entrusted to me. Tomorrow I just need to stand in the court, speak less, nod a little more, I probably won't lose my life."

The patriarch closed his eyes, then turned to look at me. I immediately flattered:

"The Crown Prince, for no reason, was forced by His Majesty to put another person like you into the Eastern Palace and still did not resist the order, which is enough to see His Highness's generosity. You just need to say less, nod a little more, and you will definitely be safe."

After listening, the patriarch lit another incense stick for the ancestors. When I was three years old, the old dowager asked why I refused to memorize books. I said your lecture was really good, I just listened attentively and didn't remember to memorize it. He stroked his beard and smiled for half a day. Before leaving, he also gave me a piece of heirloom jade. When I was five years old, the Concubine asked her if her new peony brooch was beautiful. I said it wasn't the lady wearing the flower, it was clearly the flower borrowing the lady's beauty to bloom once. Then I was rewarded with a box of eastern pearls. My year is ten When I was a year old, my father punished me to copy the Analects ten times. I say that the words of our ancestors have spirit, but our words only have bones. The two types of writing were written together in the same place, and even the Confucian saints would feel angry when they saw them. Patriarch was silent for a long time, then finally wrote it himself for me. Thinking about past events, the patriarch worriedly advised:

"The Eastern Palace is not a place for you to comfort others. The Crown Prince is smart and has a strong sense of vigilance. You must use less of your little tricks in front of His Highness. Stay safe and do not cause trouble to your family."

I nodded seriously. Patriarch looked at me, clearly not believing at all. The truth proves that your worries are completely correct. The first day I entered the Eastern Palace, I praised the Crown Prince so much that I dropped my pen twice. ## 2 On the wedding night, Tieu Thua Canh lifted my veil and looked at me for a long time. I also looked at him for a long time. At least there's one thing the emperor didn't lie to me about. The Crown Prince was indeed born extremely handsome. His eyes were cold, his nose was high and straight, and he was wearing a dark red dress, like a fire burning in the snow. It's just that this fire is obviously not very enthusiastic.

“Have you seen enough?”

I sincerely replied:

"Please forgive me, Your Highness. At first, I thought that Your Majesty put me in the Eastern Palace to want the Khuong family to continue to sacrifice their lives. Now that I have met Your Highness, I know that Your Majesty is clearly rewarding me."

The room immediately fell silent. Mom was making the bed for me and dropped the whole hydrangea tree to the ground. Tieu Thua Canh looked down at me, as if he was trying to determine whether I was really stupid or just pretending. A moment later, he bent down to pick up the coin and placed it back on the table.

“I heard that Miss Khuong is best at pleasing her elders.”

I correct his words:

"Your Highness has misunderstood. This concubine never pleases others, only speaks the truth. The person next to me is happy, just because the truth is easy to hear."

The corners of his lips seemed to move slightly, but quickly straightened again. This is the first fight between me and the Crown Prince. Later I found out that that night he was already full of words, wanting to tell me clearly about the rules of the Eastern palace, the situation in the court and the advantages and disadvantages behind this marriage. But I praise Your Majesty for having sharp eyes and knowing how to see people. Then complimented him on the hand that lifted his headscarf, which was even more beautiful than worthy.