Chapter 13 — I Am Your Royal Highness, Not Your Puppet

Van Chau is even poorer than we imagine. Everywhere there was yellow sand, the ground was cracked and dry, everyone was pale and weak, their clothes were ragged and not enough to cover their bodies.

Our "royal palace" is just a dilapidated small courtyard, exposed to the wind on all four sides.

On the first day of taking office, local officials came to pay their respects, bringing countless gifts, but every word was filled with disdain and superficiality. They think that we are people who have been abandoned by the capital and have no chance to turn back again. Tieu Canh Diem did not get angry. He just returned all the gifts intact. After that, he took me to every inch of Van Chau. He went to the fields and studied with the old farmers how to improve the land and bring water for irrigation. He walked around the markets, discussing with merchants how to open trade routes so that Van Chau's specialties could be sold outside. He even opened a school, personally teaching poor children to read and write. He is no longer the leisurely prince who only knows how to wind, fall, and fall. He began to learn how to shoulder responsibilities, the responsibilities of a man, and also the responsibilities of a prince. I am also not idle. I used the dowry I brought with me to open a medical clinic and provide free medical examination to poor people. I taught local women to spin and weave cloth, so that they could learn a profession and support themselves and their families. I brought good seeds from the capital, distributed them to farmers, and taught them how to cultivate. The two of us, one person taking care of external things, one person taking care of internal things, are like two tireless old buffaloes, silently plowing this barren land. Van Chau is changing little by little. On the desolate land, green rice fields began to grow. The markets, which were once desolate, gradually became crowded and bustling. The sharp sounds of children reading books echoed in the sky above the monastery. Smiles began to appear on people's faces. They no longer call him "the deposed Royal Family", but affectionately call him "Our Royal Family". They no longer call me "Vuong Phi", but respectfully call me "Dame Tham". There still aren't too many tender and affectionate words between us. But every evening, after we finish work and return tired, there is always a bowl of hot noodles on the table. He will sit under the lamplight, quietly reading a book, waiting for me to return. Every time he sees me, he will raise his head and smile at me. That smile was clear and warm, like the rare sun in the middle of Van Chau's winter. I know, some things that were once sealed by ice are melting little by little. Three years later. The North won a great victory, and his father triumphantly returned to the throne. Father Long was extremely happy and issued an order to summon King Diem Tieu Canh Diem and Princess Tham Thanh Ninh back to the capital to report on official business. On receiving the decree, Van Chau poured down the first heavy rain of the year. People spontaneously gathered in front of the city gate to see us off. They brought eggs, baked goods, and filled our carriage. A white-haired old woman held my hand tightly, tears flowing continuously.

“Dear Lady Shen, Royal Highness, You two definitely have to come back!”

Tieu Canh Diem looked at the people in front of him, then bowed deeply to bow.

“Rest assured, father Huong, Van Chau will forever be our home. We will definitely return.”

On the way back to Beijing, we traveled for a full month. Seeing the capital again, everything seemed like a lifetime ago. Father held a party in the palace, welcoming the wind to purify us. During the party, he looked at Tieu Canh Diem who had completely changed his skin with him, with a rosy, healthy complexion, his eyes filled with joy and satisfaction.

“Canh Diem, you have done very well these three years. I have read all the chapters sent from Van Chau."

“I decided to restore all your positions, let you stay in the capital, work in the Luc Ministry, and dedicate yourself to the country.”

This is an unimaginably large reward. Everyone thought that Tieu Canh Diem would definitely be happy like crazy and kowtow in gratitude. But he knelt down and calmly opened his mouth:

“Thank you so much, Father Long Grace. But I want to return to Van Chau."

The whole main hall immediately shook. Even the emperor was stunned.

“Why? Is the capital not good?”