Chapter 8 — From Sparrow to Princess

Ta Lam Xuyen stared at her. A long time later, he suddenly burst out laughing. Laughter is more unsightly than crying.

“So what Tan Tri Hanh said is not wrong.”

“She never considered me a brother.”

Ky Minh Chau's face turned pale. Ta Lam Xuyen propped himself up on the table, his voice cold and without any temperature.

“You're right.”

"It was I who hurt her to the core."

“So we have to make up for it.”

"And between you and me, it never started."

“It wasn't there before, it isn't there now, it won't be there in the future.”

He walked to the door and finally took a look at her.

“From now on, don't appear before me again.”

The door closed heavily. Ky Minh Chau sat among broken porcelain pieces all over the ground. Finally burst into tears.

12

Seven days before the big wedding. Tan Tri Hanh and I went to Cam Tu's house to buy some more items to use after getting married. The barkeeper brought a table full of brooches, round fans and incense bags. He softly asked me:

“Do you like this jade bone fan?”

I nodded, but from the corner of my eye I saw Ta Lam Xuyen standing outside the door. His eyes were red, his face was haggard. He was wearing a blue shirt, the hem of the shirt was a bit messy, as if he had rushed there, even the mandarin was not tied securely. He stood outside the door, his breathing still unstable, his eyes fixed firmly on her. He called out in a low voice:

“Ah Hanh…”

Tan Tri Hanh tilted his head and asked me:

“Do we need to send someone to invite him out?”

When I met him again, there were no longer any ripples in my heart, like looking at a stranger. I just don't want to continue being entangled with him so I shake my head.

“I will say a few words to you.”

Tan Tri Hanh nodded.

"I'm in the inner room."

Before leaving, he gently held my hand.

“If something happens, call me.”

Just a simple sentence. But it makes my heart feel at peace. Ta Lam Xuyen looked at me, his voice hoarse.

“Ah Hanh, I know I was wrong.”

“Ky Minh Chau and I have broken up.”

“After this she will not appear in front of you again.”

“The previous things were all confusing to me.”

"I just want to make her jealous. She and I really have nothing."

At the end, he almost panicked.

“These past few days, my life has not been good.”

“I went to the private hospital, to the medical clinic, to the front door of the temple where she used to wait for me.”

"Only now do I know, without you, I don't even know where I should go."

He took a brocade box from his sleeve. After opening it, inside was a white jade begonia brooch. The corners of Ta Lam Xuyen's eyes were red.

“A Hanh, don't marry him.”

“Follow me back, is that okay?”

"I will marry you. This time, I will definitely treat you well."

I looked at that brooch and suddenly burst out laughing. Ta Lam Xuyen seemed to be hurt by my smile and quickly said:

“Don't look at me like that.”

“You can scold me, you can hit me.”

“If you just turn around, I will change everything.”

I shook my head.

“Ta Lam Xuyen, do you know?”

“Actually, I have arrived on your birthday.”

He was stunned. I said softly:

“I hid behind a screen in an elegant room, holding an embroidered brocade bag in my hand for seven nights.”

"I originally wanted to wait until the party was over and wish you a peaceful birthday myself."

“I still want to talk to you that my mother's illness is much better.”

"If you are willing, you can go to Wenfu to seek marriage."

Ta Lam Xuyen's face immediately turned pale. We continue to say:

“But I can't wait.”

“What I'm waiting for is laughter throughout the room.”

“I heard Ky Minh Chau say I was an orphan from a failing family, saying I was clinging to the Marquis Palace.”

"I also heard you say: Just out of pity for my situation, I raised a sparrow for comfort."

Ta Lam Xuyen staggered back a step.

“A Hanh, that's not…”

I interrupted him:

“He always said that Ky Minh Chau and he were in love together.”

“But she came into your study without communication.”

“Using your cup of tea, sleeping on your soft bed, looking through my letters.”

“Openly wearing flowers for him, drinking with him, saying things that make others feel uncomfortable.”

"Every time I'm sad, you tell me not to think too much, tell me to understand things."

I laughed softly.

“Now I finally understand.”

“I have understood that a person who truly loves someone will not force that person to be patient over and over again.”

“Will not use someone else's overreach to destroy her face.”

Tears fell from Ta Lam Xuyen's eyes.

“Sorry.”

“Ah Hanh, sorry.”

“Give me one more chance, will you?”

I looked at him, no longer wavering in my heart.

“Ta Lam Xuyen, I don't need it anymore.”

"Before, I always felt like I wasn't good enough."

“Then Tan Tri Hanh told me, people don't have to humble themselves to the ground to be worthy of some love.”

I lowered my head to look at the red gold bracelet on my wrist. It is the royal family's token of honor.

“He remembers that I don't like bitter tea, will ask me what color of wedding dress I want, will solemnly write my name in front of everyone, will respect every decision I make, and will firmly choose me.”

“After being with him, I know what it feels like to be favored by the person you love.”

Ta Lam Xuyen looked at that bracelet. The last bit of light in his eyes finally went out.

13

The big wedding day. The royal palace prepared ten miles of red decorations, the sound of drums and music echoed in the sky, people in the city scrambled to watch. It was inconvenient for Tan Tri Hanh to walk, so he skipped the bride-welcoming ceremony. I was led into the Royal Palace. With phoenix hat and shawl heavy on my shoulders, I stepped on the red carpet step by step. Lady Hy loudly chanted the ceremony, and the mandarin read the marriage letter. Each sound entered my ears, but it was like being separated by a thin layer of fog. Worshiped, joined the party, brought to the cave. All rituals are complete and moderate. Until late at night, all the guests had dispersed. In the cave, red candles burned brightly. Candle wax slowly dripped down, filling the whole room with warm light. The appropriate wine is warmed on the table, the wine's aroma is sweet and sweet. Tan Tri Hanh pushed the wheelchair in and stopped in front of me. He raised his hand to remove the veil from my face. The movements were very light, as if afraid of alarming something. He sat in a wheelchair, wearing a black suit, the hem embroidered with a dragon pattern embroidered with gold thread, and his demeanor was calm. The pearl curtains drooped slightly. He looked at me through that layer of broken light, his eyes were deep and quiet. Like a lake with no bottom. He lowered his voice call:

“A Hanh, do you resent me?”

Seeing that I was bewildered and didn't understand, he said again:

"My legs are sick, but I still became friends with you."

His voice was very calm, but it seemed to hide a little bit of tension that was hard to detect. I looked at him and suddenly smiled slightly.

“Your Majesty just asked today, don't you think it's too late?”

He also smiled, but his smile was very faint.

"I'm afraid you'll regret it."

“I'm afraid she'll just be angry for a while, so she married someone who can't stand up.”

I shook my head.

“I didn't marry you because of anger.”

I sat up straight, looking seriously into his eyes.

“No one living in this world can avoid flaws.”

“Some people are injured in their feet, others are broken in their hearts.”

"I'm not afraid that your body has a disability. I'm just afraid that I'm sending it to the wrong person."

The room immediately became quiet. The red candle wick crackled softly. Tan Tri Hanh looked at me, the tension in his eyes gradually eased, like ice and snow melting. He suddenly laughed in a low voice. That smile was more genuine than at any time during the day.

“If that were the case.”

"I can't let the people in my heart suffer from resentment."

As soon as he finished speaking, he put his hands on the edge of the bed and slowly stood up. I was stunned. Breathing stopped in an instant. He stood very firmly, his body tall and straight, no longer half of his disabled appearance. Right after that, he bent down and picked me up. I instinctively grabbed the hem of his shirt, my heartbeat immediately became chaotic. The red candle swayed, his breath was close at hand. He whispered in my ear:

“The injured leg is real, the disability is fake.”

"In the royal court, it is taboo that the King of Qin's palace dominates the lord. If I were completely healthy, I would become everyone's target."

He gently laid me down on the bed, helping me brush away the pearl strings hanging from my sideburns. His fingertips were warm, his eyes serious but straightforward.

“Ah Hanh, I have deceived everyone in the world.”

“But just for you, I don't want to lie.”

I looked at him. The last bit of hesitation in my heart suddenly completely disappeared. The red curtain slowly fell. The candlelight swayed, the spring breeze blew through the window. For the rest of my life, the wind will be gentle and the lights will always be bright.

— End —