Chapter 3 — From Sparrow to Princess

“Is she injured?”

The little investor shook his head.

“I don't know how.”

Ta Lam Xuyen immediately turned around. As if remembering something, he turned his head to look at me, his eyes carrying a guilty look.

“Ah Hanh, wait until I return before we continue talking.”

After speaking, he quickly left. He didn't even wait for me to answer. I stood under the apricot tree, watching his back become farther and farther away. Suddenly I remembered what he once said: No matter how fierce the world's wind and rain, he will shield me. But today, in the wind and snow, I am alone. And he ran towards another woman, never turning back. Not long after, the doorman brought a card. It's a Royal Palace card, the handwriting is elegant and neat.

"Lady Wen, Tan Tri Hanh is too bold."

“Before getting married, I wonder if we can meet once or not?”

"Also, I heard that you are sick, I hope you will recover soon."

I stared at those words for a long time. Finally, I picked up the pen to write a response letter.

04

Tan Tri Hanh arranged to meet me at Thanh Huy's building. I arrived a week early. But when he pushed the door open, he was there. The window seat had been moved, he was sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a black fox fur coat. Delicate eyebrows, calm demeanor. Seeing me enter, he nodded slightly.

"Welcome, first time meeting."

“I am Tan Tri Hanh.”

I bowed down to worship.

“Young lady Wen Hanh.”

He didn't rush to talk about marriage, just pushed the tea cup towards me.

"I heard that the lady is sick. The palace has a few senior doctors. If Miss Wen needs it, she can invite them to come and see her."

He stopped, then continued:

"This is just a suggestion. Whether to use it or not, it all depends on the lady's wishes."

I was stunned. After my mother fell ill, everyone wanted to make decisions for me. Father wanted me to get married, Ta Lam Xuyen wanted me to understand. Even the Wen family advised me to accept my fate. This is the first time someone asked me if I was satisfied or not. Tan Tri Hanh noticed my restraint and calmly smiled.

“Miss Wen doesn't need to think too much, this is also the first time this king has gone on a blind date.”

Let's relax a bit. He said again:

"Miss Wen, I know it's inconvenient for me to walk. If you're forced to come see me, I can explain it to you and the elders on both sides."

“I don't want to use my power to coerce you and imprison you for the rest of your life.”

“If a marriage is arranged, it should be done voluntarily by both parties, not forcedly, leading to resentment.”

My heart suddenly feels sour. It's like when the whole person is immersed in the wind and snow, someone brings us a warm charcoal stove. At this moment, a familiar voice came from outside the door.

"Lam Xuyen, this Thanh Huy building is a famous place for lovemaking in the capital..."

The voice suddenly stopped. My fingertips are stiff. Ta Lam Xuyen and Ky Minh Chau are standing in front of the door. Four eyes looked at each other, Ta Lam Xuyen's eyebrows immediately furrowed. His eyes fell on Tan Tri Hanh, then returned to my face. He strode forward, raised his hand to place it on my shoulder.

“A Hanh, who is this person?”

Before I could answer, the guard next to Tan Tri Hanh took a step forward, raised his hand to stop Ta Lam Xuyen, his face cold.

“Big honey!”

“The king is talking, no be disturbed.”

The matchmaker accompanying me also leaned slightly.

“Your Majesty and Miss Wen are making eye contact, please stay away, Crown Prince.”

The hall was immediately silent. Ta Lam Xuyen's hand stopped in midair, his face gradually turned cold.

“See your eyes?”

He smiled slightly, but his eyes were firmly fixed on her.

“A Hanh, are you really looking for someone to act with you?”

Ky Minh Chau leaned against the door, smirking.

“I'm still wondering why I suddenly want to break with the Marquis. It turns out that he was able to cling to the Royal Palace."

She evaluated Tan Tri Hanh from top to bottom, her eyes full of mockery.

“Miss Wen is really brave. Normally, I pretend to be weak and pure, then turn around and find a new husband's house."

“I just don't know, between the Marquis Palace and the Royal Palace, which one caught your eye first?”

I lowered my eyes, my fingertips gradually tightened. I don't feel angry, I just feel extremely awkward. I said softly:

“Your Majesty, you have already made fun of me.”

Tan Tri Hanh sat in a wheelchair but did not appear weak. He didn't look at them, just slightly raised his eyelids.

"Miss, there's no need to apologize."

“This place was not chosen well by the king, there are too many flies.”

As soon as the sentence ended, Ky Minh Chau's face immediately changed. Ta Lam Xuyen's face also became unsightly. He stared at me and said in a low voice:

“Ah Hanh, come here.”

In the past, every time you called me like that, I would come over. But this time, I didn't move, just calmly opened my mouth:

“Ta Lam Xuyen, there has never been an engagement between you and me.”

“I have fully refunded the medicine costs from the previous day.”

“From now on, you and I will no longer have a relationship.”

Ta Lam Xuyen's pupils shrank, as if he was nailed to the spot by that sentence.