Chapter 7 — I Agree To Give Up The Marriage, But No One Knows I'm Smiling

The next day, when it was just dawn. I was called out of bed by Thanh Hoa and the maids to start putting on makeup and changing clothes. When entering the palace to meet the Emperor, absolutely no mistakes are allowed. The palace outfit was specially sent by the Queen, a pomegranate red palace outfit embroidered with the image of a hundred birds and phoenixes, luxurious but not ostentatious. The jewelry was personally chosen by Tieu Dien for me, a set of white jade jewelry, gentle, discreet, and just right to balance the brilliant red color of the outfit. In the bronze mirror is reflected an appearance that even I have never seen before. Presentable. Carrying some of the demeanor of the royal lineage. When Tieu Dien walked in, as soon as he saw my appearance, his eyes clearly lit up. He also changed into a royal-colored royal robe, which further accentuated his handsome and proud physique. He sincerely praised. I bowed my head a little embarrassed. He grabbed my hand, ten fingers clasped tightly together.

"Don't be afraid, everything is with me."

His palms were dry and warm, giving me an endless source of strength. The royal palace is the most noble place in the world. It is also the most dangerous place in the world. The palace walls are painted in red, the roof is made of golden lapis lazuli tiles, reflecting a cold yet majestic light under the morning light. We were silent all along the way, passing through layers of palace gates, finally stopping in front of the Royal Library Room. The eunuch's shrill voice rang out.

"Tuyen, Ho Quoc Marquis Tieu Dien, Van Thu Dien, come in for an audience."

I took a deep breath, followed Tieu Dien, and stepped through the threshold that symbolized the supreme power of the world. In the Royal Library Room, there is a faint scent of Long Dien. The emperor, dressed in a royal robe, is sitting behind a bench approving the medal. He looked to be in his forties, with an elegant appearance, but between his eyebrows, there was an imperial power that was not angry but powerful. The Queen sat neatly next to her, looking dignified and noble. We kneel down to worship.

"Vi Than (Goddess), visiting the Emperor, visiting the Queen."

"Calm down."

The Emperor's voice did not sound happy or angry. The person put down the lipstick in his hand, his eyes stopped on him. Those eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.

"Are you Van Thu Dien?"

"Your Majesty, it is the goddess."

I bowed my head and replied respectfully.

"Raise your head so I can see."

I did as told, slowly raised my head, meeting his eyes. No arrogance, no flattery. Don't avoid it. A flash of surprise flashed in the Emperor's eyes. It seems like you didn't expect such a small girl to have such courage.

"The Van family is extremely daring and commits the crime of lese majeste. Do you know the crime?"

The Emperor's voice suddenly became serious. An invisible pressure immediately enveloped the Imperial Library Room. I knelt down again.

"Goddess knows the crime."

"But this matter is also indifferent to my daughter. I respectfully request the Emperor's consideration."

The Emperor slightly raised his eyebrows, seemingly interested.

"So tell me, how is self-discipline?"

I immediately told the story of how the Van family swapped identities, how they raped my predestined relationship, and how they kept me under house arrest, recounting each incident without missing a single thing. My voice is very calm, without adding fish sauce miles of salt, merely stating the truth. After I finished speaking, the Ngu Library room fell into silence. The queen sighed softly, a trace of pity appeared in her eyes. The Emperor was silent for a long time before slowly speaking.

"You have suffered so much injustice, why didn't you inform Ho Quoc Marquis early?"

"Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't."

"At that time, the goddess was imprisoned in a small courtyard, completely cut off from contact with the outside world. Even if she wanted to report the news, she did not know how to report it."

"So how did Ho Quoc Marquis know about this?"

The Emperor's eyes turned to Tieu Dien. Tieu Dien took a step forward, bowed and replied.

"Informing the Emperor, the official and Thu Dien have long had a token of love."

"That pair of golden phoenix-shaped brooches are the tokens that the minister gave her."

"I guessed that the Van family was greedy and would cause trouble, so I left a retreat early."

"I originally intended to wait until after the big wedding to deal with it, but I didn't expect that they would be so anxious, and on the wedding night they themselves revealed their loopholes."

His words were half true and half false. Just explained everything clearly. Just took it all back on myself. After listening, the emperor did not speak for a long time. The person looked at me, then looked at Tieu Dien, his eyes gradually becoming full of meaning.

"So, this whole thing is a game of chess played by your Marquis of the House of Lords?"

"I don't dare."