Chapter 1 — Holy Order of Marriage for the Northern Marquis Town

At the horse racing festival, as soon as I met, I fell in love with Co Ngon, the prince of the Marquis palace. My sister encouraged me to pursue it courageously. He even laid out plans for me, telling me to proactively initiate conversations and boldly express my feelings. The story of me pursuing him was so loud that the whole capital knew, but Co Ngon remained unmoved. At this point, my sister shyly confessed to me: "Actually, Co Ngon and I have been corresponding for a long time. I told you to pursue you just because I wanted to test your heart." "I didn't expect that even the number one beauty in the capital like you wouldn't give you any respect. I think you're the person I can trust for the rest of my life." 1 "Good Van Linh, my good sister, don't be angry with me anymore!" Sister Tham Van Nhu Take my hand and shake it back and forth. Her teary almond eyes looked at me, the corners of her lips still holding that familiar sweet smile. If it were before, I would have softened my heart a long time ago. From childhood to adulthood, whatever a sister wants, she just needs to be a little spoiled, and her parents will comply with her every request. Even though that item was originally mine, as long as she looked at it, my parents would not hesitate to ask me to give it up. When I was ten years old, my sister noticed the begonia flower brooch I had just given her, but I refused to give it to her. Mother immediately broke the brooch into two pieces right in front of me. She said it would be better to destroy it than to let us develop narrow-mindedness and not know how to yield. There are countless stories like that, and you always get what you want. As for me, if I don't get scolded, I get hit on the palm with a ruler. From then on, I never fought over anything with my sister again. Even if it's your fault, as long as you shake my arm like that, I will forgive you. But this time, I don't want to forgive you anymore. "Why didn't you tell me the truth from the beginning?" I stared at your face, wanting to know what the reason was this time. She turned her head to the side, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and finally reluctantly opened her mouth. "You're more beautiful than me... I'm afraid that when Co Ngon sees you in the future, you'll lose your soul, so I asked you to help me test your heart first..." The more she spoke, the lower her voice became, but suddenly became eloquent and full of reason: "But look, I've been chasing you for so long and you still don't agree! What does this prove? Proof? I really only have myself in your heart!” I heard my voice as cold as ice in the middle of December: “So you deliberately incited me to use those shameful tricks to entangle you, making me lose face in front of you, in front of the entire capital?” Her eyes immediately turned red, tears falling: “Why are you being so fierce? You are my own sister, shouldn't you think about my happiness? What's the point if I just ask you for a little help? Why are you so selfish? "My parents heard me crying and came running. Mother immediately hugged her sister in her arms, turned around and scolded me: "Van Linh, your sister has always had a weak body, why did you make her cry?" Father's face darkened: "Tell me clearly, what's going on?" Sister cried and sobbed: "My sister blames you for taking away the person in her heart, but... but Co Shi Tu has been corresponding with you for a long time, so I'm the one who shamelessly ran after him..." Am I right? mouth, but felt that this matter was so absurd that it was impossible to put it into words. Sister has been corresponding with Co Ngon for a long time, but has never revealed even a single word to me. That day at the horse bridge yard, she herself said that when I looked at Co Ngon, it seemed like Co Ngon also had feelings for me. She urged me to courageously pursue my happiness. She knew that Co Ngon often went to the teahouse in the west of the city to drink tea and listen to stories, so she pulled me to block Co Ngon's way. She helped me openly express my feelings in front of everyone, making me

lose face. When I didn't want to continue pursuing, she held my hand and encouraged me: "Good sister, please try again. A woman pursuing a man is only a thin layer of sand away. You're so beautiful, sooner or later he will be moved." I thought she truly wanted the best for me. Unexpectedly, in her eyes, I was just a tool used to test Co Ngon's heart. Mother coldly snorted: "You don't know how to keep yourself, running around the capital chasing men, ruining the Tham family's reputation, now you blame your sister?" She pointed at the door: "Go back to your room and reflect! You can't eat today!" I was locked in the room. A door away, I heard my sister's voice cooing: "Mom, you won't really blame me, will you?" She gently coaxed her: "How dare he? If he dares to blame my baby, I will break his leg, making him unable to marry into a good family for the rest of his life!" I leaned my back against the door, closing my eyes. The last bit of softness in the bottom of my heart was completely cold. 2I was locked up for three days. During those three days, only the maid Bich Dao secretly brought me two mantou cakes. Early in the morning of the fourth day, my mother pushed the door open and walked in, with a rare smile on her face: "Let's clean up, Princess Truong's Palace sent us an invitation to attend the flower viewing party." I stood in front of the bronze mirror, letting Bich Dao brush her hair. Mom put the clothes and jewelry prepared for me and my sister on the table. Her sister's is a red-pink robe woven with gold thread, combined with a whole set of jade jewelry, both noble and sophisticated. Mine is just a slightly old purple lotus robe, with a simple silver hairpin in my hair. Mother walked up behind me, looked at my face in the bronze mirror and sighed: "I only blame you for being born so outstanding. If clothes and jewelry overwhelm your sister, how will she face everyone? You should bear the disadvantage a little."I have been used to it for a long time. From childhood to adulthood, no matter the food or utensils, yours is always one level better than mine. Parents always force us to sympathize with our sisters. I replied softly. Mom left satisfied. Not long after, the older sister pushed the door in, happily turned around: "Van Linh, am I beautiful?" "Beautiful." The older sister leaned closer, lowered her voice: "I've been listening, today Co Ngon also came to the flower viewing party! I intended to find an opportunity to tell you my identity, then express my feelings to you." She tilted her head and looked at me: "Van Linh, will you bless me?" I didn't say anything. The sister's smile faded, she pouted: "Do you still blame me? I've already apologized! Moreover, in the beginning, didn't you yourself voluntarily pursue him? I didn't hold a knife to your neck..." "Have you said enough?" I interrupted her. My sister was stunned, then immediately covered her face and cried. The sound of crying brought my mother in. As soon as she walked in, she pointed her finger at my forehead: "Your sister only said a few private words to you, who are you showing your face to? If you continue to bully your sister, don't even step out the door this month!" I kept my mouth shut. My sister peeked at me through her fingers, the corners of her lips curled up slightly. 3The princess's palace's garden was extremely large, and throughout the garden were blooming clusters of Dieu Hoang and Wei Tu peonies. As soon as I walked in, my close friend Luc Thanh Hoan pulled me behind the rockery. She was full of excitement: "Van Linh! Why are you only here now! Do you know what the flower viewing party is being held for today?" "A blind date?" "That's right! The Princess specially invites young ladies and gentlemen who have come of age to marry in the capital. I just found out that Co Ngon is also coming, do you want to take this opportunity to ask the Princess Truong to be a match for the two of you?" I shook my head: "No need, I no longer like Co Ngon." Luc Thanh Hoan was startled. I exclaimed in surprise: "Could it be that you also came because of him?" I was shocked

fever: "Who?" "Marquis of Tran Bac Tieu Triet!" "You just won a great victory, returning triumphantly to the capital! The Princess saw that you had been single for many years, so she also invited you to a flower-viewing party. If you catch sight of a noble lady, the Princess will personally ask Her Majesty to marry you! Didn't you see that today there were twice as many people as usual? It's all because of you!" I was locked up for three days, so I completely didn't know that Marquis of Tran Bac had returned to the capital. The reputation of Tran Bac Marquis Tieu Triet resonated far and wide. At the age of sixteen, he led the army and guarded the northern border for ten years, winning every battle. Last year, 100,000 Northern Dich cavalry invaded the border. He led 3,000 light cavalry to attack the enemy camp at night, beheaded 20,000 enemy soldiers, and became famous as a god of war in one battle. Of course I also want to meet a hero like that. "Where is Tran Bac Hau?" I quickly asked. Luc Thanh Hoan raised his chin towards the male guest's seat: "Hey, that person wearing a black round neck shirt, the tallest in the group, looks like a crane among a flock of chickens." I looked in the direction she pointed. But met another pair of eyes. Co Ngon was looking at me, his eyebrows furrowed, seemingly very unhappy to see me here. I looked away, my heartbeat still calm as usual. Thanh Hoan also saw Co Ngon, she pulled my sleeve: "You really don't like Co Ngon anymore? Although I really hate his appearance of always acting like a prince and looking down on others, but you have been chasing him for three months, how can you say you don't like him?" "You are the person in my sister's heart." Thanh Hoan widened her eyes: "Huh?" "Before I knew Co Ngon, the two of them corresponded. You urged me to pursue Co Ngon just to test your heart." Luc Thanh Hoan took a deep breath: "Tham Van Linh! Are you telling the truth? You clearly treat me like a monkey and make fun of me!" I smiled faintly: "That's right." Luc Thanh Hoan stomped his foot angrily: "You idiot! Normally, when you're bullied by your sister, why do you tolerate this?" "I can't stand it anymore." She was stunned: "Meaning. What are you doing?" I was about to open my mouth when my sister's voice rang out from behind: "Van Linh! Why are you two hiding here? You made me keep looking!" Luc Thanh Hoan and I turned our heads at the same time. The older sister, wearing a red-pink robe that accentuated her snow-white skin, walked in smiling. Her eyes glanced over Luc Thanh Hoan's face, carrying a bit of scrutiny. "What are you two talking about in private?" "Nothing." I block in front of Thanh Hoan. “Just complimenting how beautiful the flowers are blooming today.” Sister said “oh” and took my hand intimately, but her nails dug deep into the fabric of her shirt. She said in a low voice: "Don't talk nonsense." After that, she returned to her usual appearance. "Let's go to the front, I heard that we will be playing tricks later." She grabbed very hard, even though my arm was separated by a layer of fabric, it still hurt. I don't withdraw my hand. Just raised his head and looked towards the male guest's seat. The silhouette of a person wearing a black round neck shirt was too tall, obscured by flower branches, so he could not see clearly. The ladies and gentlemen in the capital sat on both sides. A few rounds passed, some recited poems, some echoed sentences, the atmosphere was extremely bustling. It's just that there are always eyes that seem to glance at me. I heard someone talking in a low voice: "That's the second lady of the Tham family, isn't it? The one who pursued Tu Tu Co so much that the whole city knew about it." "She's truly very beautiful, but unfortunately she doesn't know how to save face." "I heard that Tu Tu Co didn't pay any attention to her, it's so funny." Luc Thanh Hoan glared at them fiercely, I reached out and gently pressed her hand.