Chapter 1 — From Sparrow to Princess

On Ta Lam Xuyen's birthday, I came uninvited. I hid behind a screen in an elegant room, wanting to give him a surprise. In the middle of the party, a close female friend of his laughed and mentioned me:

“Lin Chuan, you won't really marry Wen Xing, will you?”

Someone sneered:

"Just an orphan from a failing family, her widowed mother was seriously ill. You only gave her a few favors, yet she brought soup to the Marquis' Palace every day."

"Can you even stand being so clingy?"

Ta Lam Xuyen's voice was calm:

“I pity her situation, just raise a sparrow for comfort.”

Nha space was silent for a moment, then everyone burst into laughter. The female friend nudged him affectionately.

"You're so evil. At most, other people just cheat on their feelings, and you want to ruin her whole life."

It turns out that the mutual love that we always thought was real was nothing more than his hobby of raising sparrows in his spare time. I don't cry, nor do I make a mess. After the party ended, I just quietly knelt in front of my mother's bed.

"Mother, let's go home. About the marriage with the Royal Palace, I agree to marry."

01

The mother was stunned. She leaned on her hands and tried to sit up, her eyes filled with panic.

“Ah Hanh, have you suffered any resentment?”

I don't say. Before returning, I threw the embroidered brocade bag for Ta Lam Xuyen into the river. The red thread sank to the bottom of the water without a sound. Just like my little love, it finally died. Mother looked at my wet skirt, then looked at my red eyes. She immediately understood everything.

“Is the Ta family kid bullying you?”

I shook my head, my voice dry:

“Mom, I just… don't like you anymore.”

My mother squeezed my hand and said in a hoarse voice:

“Even so, there is no need for you to marry into the Royal Palace.”

“Ah Hanh, have you thought carefully?”

"The royal palace is not an easy place to live. The little prince has an injured leg and is said to have a cold personality. If you marry there, you may not have good days."

I nodded and gently pulled the blanket for her.

"I've thought carefully. No matter what, it can't be more difficult than it is now."

The marriage with the Royal Palace was not my turn. Tan Tri Hanh was the eldest son of the Royal Palace. When he was a teenager, he was awarded the title of Marquis. At the age of seventeen, he followed the army to fight in the North. In the battle at the end of last year, he blocked an arrow for the Saint, then was crushed by a war horse and broke both of his legs. After recovering, the doctor said he would never be able to stand up again for the rest of his life. In the past, there was a crowd in front of the Royal Palace like a festival. Now, no one dares to marry her. The ladies in the capital were all afraid. Afraid of marrying over there and having to live with an invalid, afraid of being tied to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I am also a lady. Although the Wen family has fallen into decline, an ancestor once served as emperor of three dynasties. When this marriage was arranged for me, my father only said one sentence:

“The Wen family is currently reeling from wind and rain, this marriage is the only way to preserve the family.”

"A Hanh has always understood things and will definitely think for the family."

The mother immediately broke the tea cup, blushed and shouted:

“A Hanh is my daughter, not something for the Wen family to use as a raft to cross the river.”

Dark That day, she got angry with my father and sent me to the hospital. At that time, she was so angry that her health was damaged and she became seriously ill. I went to the pharmacy to beg to buy medicine and met Ta Lam Xuyen. He invited the doctor to come and treat his mother's illness, and also paid for the medicine for me.

“Ah Hanh, no matter how fierce the world's wind and rain, I will protect you.”

"If you're in trouble, just come find me. I'll definitely protect you."

I once thought that I had met a man who truly loved and protected me. I also imagined that when the feelings between both sides were solid, I would clearly explain my status and invite him to my house to pray for love. The two families are married, and each family is in love with each other. From then on, there were only a couple of people in one life and one life. But today we know. What you gave me was not a shelter, but a cage. In your heart, I am not even a person, but just a sparrow. Ta Lam Xuyen doesn't need my sincerity. Parents also don't need my discretion. Then we will change to ask for something else. True love is too light, not as powerful as the power and gold of the more realistic Royal Palace.

02

The next morning, Ta Lam Xuyen arrived at the hospital. He carried medicinal porridge and stood in the hallway. White shirt, jade crown, cold eyes, still the same as before. Before, every time she met him, her mother would smile. Today, she just calmly nodded. Ta Lam Xuyen paused, seemingly realizing that cold attitude, so he placed the medicinal porridge on the table.

"I heard that the lady's cough was very serious last night. I invited Doctor Truong to come and examine her at noon."

Mother's eyes drooped:

"No need. Thank you for taking care of me in the past time."

“Today A Hanh and I will return home.”

The room was silent for a moment. Ta Lam Xuyen looked towards me.

“Back home?”

I didn't answer, just bowed my head and adjusted my mother's cloak.