Chapter 3 — I'm as frugal as a chrysanthemum, but I'm raising a poor son? Eighteen years later, I became the queen mother

To Uyen Nghi was crazy angry.

“Catch her for me!”

She pointed straight at me and screamed.

“Arrest this bastard and that little mongrel, and capture them for me!”

The eunuchs and maids behind her immediately surrounded her. Xuan Ha was so scared that there was no blood left on her face, she knelt down on the ground and kept kowtowing her head.

"Your Highness, please spare your life! This servant's Highness did not do it on purpose!"

“Please spare me!”

I hugged Trieu Hanh, stepping back step by step, until my back touched the cold wall. There's no way back. Trieu Hanh cried in my heart until my whole body trembled. But those small hands still risked their lives to protect the jade pendant in front of their chest. I look at the people in front of me, fierce like wolves and tigers. There's a chill in my heart. I know, today is inevitable. I, On Tinh, will probably turn into ashes with this Drunk Ngoc Hien. Right when those hands were about to grab him. A leisurely voice, neither fast nor slow, rang out from outside the door.

“What are you guys doing here?”

It is the voice of Vuong Duc Toan. The great eunuch next to the emperor. The people surrounding me simultaneously stopped. They all turned their heads to look towards the door. Vuong Duc Toan held a bright-hued brocade box in his hand and walked in leisurely. Behind him were two eunuchs. It seemed like he was completely blind to the tense atmosphere like strings in an electric guitar. His eyes swept around the palace, finally stopping on To Uyen Nghi.

“Oh, Princess Hien is also here.”

He smiled beyond his eyes and said hello. To Uyen Nghi's face changed continuously.

“General Manager Wang.”

She tried to force a smile.

“Why did you come here?”

"The servant obeyed the emperor's edict and came to give some things to Lady Tinh."

Vuong Duc Toan said as he handed the brocade box in his hand to the little eunuch behind him.

“The Emperor has instructions.”

He cleared his throat, the sound was not loud, but it echoed throughout the main hall.

"The third prince just arrived at Tuy Ngoc Hien, I'm afraid he's not used to it yet."

"Bao Tinh must coax well and teach diligently."

“The Emperor also said that although the Third Prince is still young, he is also the legitimate master.”

"All of Tuy Ngoc Hien's rewards, from today onwards, will be granted according to princely standards."

“No matter who you are, don't delay.”

He said every sentence and every word. Every time she finished a sentence, To Uyen Nghi's face turned a little whiter. After Vuong Duc Toan finished speaking, his eyes seemed to have just seen me.

“Miss Tinh Tan, what is wrong with you?”

“Why are you holding the Third Prince huddled in the corner like this?”

“There is still a girl kneeling on the ground, crying.”

“My Lady, this matter is…”

He turned his head to look at To Uyen Nghi, his eyes carrying a trace of scrutiny. To Uyen Nghi's face was completely stiff. She gritted her teeth, and after a while she opened her mouth.

"Nothing."

“This palace has come to visit the Third Prince.”

"Seeing that Sister Tinh and the Third Prince have such a close relationship, this palace is also happy."

“Is that right, sister Tinh Tan?”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with warning. I hugged Trieu Hanh, unable to say a single word. Vuong Duc Toan smiled.

“So that's it.”

“Then it's really the housekeeper who's causing trouble.”

“It's just that, the emperor's edict Haven't finished talking yet."

He stopped for a moment, his voice lowered.

“The Emperor has one more thing to say.”

“He said he likes peace and quiet.”

“I don't like people disturbing my child's sleep.”

This sentence was clearly intended for To Uyen Nghi to hear. To Uyen Nghi's body slightly staggered. She understood clearly, this was the emperor knocking on her.

“My palace… my palace is clear.”

Her voice was a bit dry.

"This palace is tired, I won't stay any longer."

“Sister Tinh Tan, take care of it yourself.”

She looked at me deeply, her eyes as sharp as a poisoned knife. After that, she led her people and left in a miserable and miserable manner. Drunk Ngoc Hien regained quiet. I leaned against the wall, my legs felt weak, I almost slipped down. It was Xuan Ha who quickly crawled over to support me.

“Miss, are you okay?”

I shook my head. Vuong Duc Toan walked in front of me.

“Miss Tinh Tan, you are frightened.”

His attitude was much more respectful than before.

“Thank you, General Manager Vuong, for helping to relieve the siege.”

I sincerely say thank you.

“Your highness is being polite.”

Vuong Duc Toan waved his hand.

“The housekeeper is just doing his job.”

He glanced at Trieu Hanh in my arms, the child was still sobbing.

“Even though the Emperor entrusts the Third Prince to you, he still cares in his heart.”

"As long as the princess stays calm and takes care of the Third Prince well, it is already a great merit."

"Other people, don't dare to do anything to you."

When I heard those words, my heart was not at all relieved. What the emperor cared about was not Trieu Hanh as a person. It's the face of the word "prince". Today he sent Vuong Duc Toan, not to protect me. I just don't want others to see that I just gave my son to someone and let him be bullied to death. That would make him look incompetent, as an emperor.

“I understand.”

I replied in a low voice. Vuong Duc Toan nodded and said nothing more. He ordered the eunuch to put down his things and then left. Xuan Ha opened the brocade box. Inside are premium silks, along with several types of exquisite breakfast cakes and nutritious medicinal herbs. Compared to what Concubine Hien brought just now, it is truly a world of difference.

“Niang, that's so good!”

Xuan Ha happily said.

“Those people won't dare to bully us anymore!”

I can't laugh anymore. I lowered my head to look at Trieu Hanh in my arms, finally tired of crying and fell asleep. Its tiny eyebrows were still tightly frowned. A hand clutched the hem of my shirt. The other hand, still clutching that old piece of jade pendant. We know, today is just the beginning. Vuong Duc Toan can protect me once, but he cannot protect me for life. The feud with To Uyen Nghi seems to have ended. The days to come will only get more difficult. I picked up Trieu Hanh, put him on the bed, and covered him with a blanket. I looked at its sleeping face. A thought suddenly appeared in my heart. We can't continue living like before. For it, also for ourselves. We must continue to live. Furthermore, we must live well.