Chapter 1 — I am not in charge of the Eastern Palace

In his previous life, before his death, Tieu Hoai Nghien once held my hand and said that if there was a next life, he would not let me continue to be in charge of the inner palace. I always thought that it was pity. Until I opened my eyes again, I returned to the day the Dong Cung conferred concubine position. He gave the concubine's brooch to Co Minh Duong - the wife of the historian, and ordered the palace staff to lift the concubine's brooch and step in front of me. The whole main hall was as quiet as paper. He looked at me, his tone gentle:

"An Ninh, you are a bit wronged. From now on, the East Palace accounts will still be left to you to manage."

I looked at that brooch and finally understood. He doesn't regret letting me take charge of the inner palace. He just regrets letting me sit on the throne. In my previous life, I was the Crown Princess who was most unlike the Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace. I'm not good at poetry, I don't like flowers, and I can't learn to be gentle and obedient, sitting next to Tieu Hoai Nghien and adding tea. The only thing we know is to look at the books. We can see if the internal treasury is missing a tael of silver, if the salt has an extra seal, or if any administrator in the palace has transferred the old year's deficit to a new book. Later, Tieu Hoai Nghien ascended the throne and I became Queen. Historians say we are autocratic. The courtiers scolded me for being a demon queen. Every time like that, Tieu Hoai Nghien said:

“An Ninh, it's been hard for you.”

That's why I always think that he understands. Understand that I have covered so many broken accounts for him. Understand what people look like when people scold me. Understand that from beginning to end, we have never been greedy for power. Before he passed away, I was always guarding him by his bedside. In the hall, incense burned very faintly, outside the window snow fell on the glass tile roof, making soft rustling sounds. He looked at me, his eyes filled with deep fatigue.

"If there is a next life, I don't want her to continue to rule the inner palace anymore."

At that time, my heart only felt bitter. I laughed and said:

"Okay, then in my next life I will be a little lazy. Just find another kind Queen and cook tea for you every day."

He didn't smile. Just close your eyes and say in a low voice:

“That's good.”

When I open my eyes again, I return to the age of nineteen. On the day the Eastern Palace conferred concubine status. On the main hall, the golden bell rang gently, and the officials raised their voices to read auspicious wishes. The palace man lifted a pure gold phoenix brooch and passed in front of me. Originally, that thing should belong to me. In my previous life, Tieu Hoai Nghien personally put it in my hair. Then he smiled with youthful spirit and said:

“Tham Ninh, from now on, the Eastern Palace will be jointly managed by you and me.”

But in this life, he took the phoenix brooch and walked towards Co Minh Duong. Co Minh Duong was the daughter of the Thai historian. The whole capital knows that she is dignified, gentle, has beautiful handwriting, and learns rules better than others. She looked up, clearly stunned. But Tieu Hoai Nghien did not hesitate. The phoenix hairpin gently fell into the middle of her hair. The palace was quiet for a moment. The first person to laugh was the Queen.

"Minh Duong is stable, indeed a suitable candidate for the position of concubine of the East Palace."

Everyone joined in to congratulate. I stood still, my fingertips hidden in my sleeves, silently clutching my palms. No pain. Maybe because my previous life was painful enough. Tieu Hoai Nghien turned around and looked at me. His eyes were very complicated. Guilt, nostalgia, and a bit of certainty. He thought I would be angry. In his previous life, Tham Ninh's temper was not good. If someone steals my things, I will definitely ask why. But this time, I just quietly looked at him. Looking at the palace man, he lifted up a tray lined with green brocade. In the tray is placed a jade brooch. Brooch of Trac Phi. Tieu Hoai Nghien walked in front of me and lowered his voice.

"An Ninh, the government is involved in the court. Minh Duong's father holds the history books, her being the Crown Princess will be beneficial to the East Palace."

He paused for a moment, as if trying to save some face for me.

"She is a bit wronged. From now on, the East Palace accounts will still be left to her to manage.

You know, besides you, I can't trust anyone else." This saying sounds extremely familiar. In his previous life, he often said the same thing.

“Other than her, I can't trust anyone else.”