Chapter 9 — I Only Waited for Father, Yet the Court Called Me a Temptress

Father used fruit jam to comfort me.

"After drinking it all, there will be sweets."

I looked at the stack of statements and suddenly asked softly:

"That crippled sister... is it still painful now?"

Parents paused.

"Father will invite a doctor to treat her."

"Bao Bao's jam... give her one."

The corners of his father's eyes turned red again. He placed the jam in the palm of my hand. Three days later. The Ministry officially decided the verdict. Khuong Nhuoc Phu's injuries still haven't healed after suffering the injury. He was investigated for his old crimes and, according to the law, was exiled three thousand miles away and was never allowed to return to the capital. The Khuong family originally planned to go to the Royal Palace to ask for love. When the gatekeeper came in to report, my father was combing my hair. The area where the hair was cut off is completely missing, and no matter how you brush it, it's uneven. Father held the comb in his hand and was silent for a long time. The gatekeeper quietly asked:

"Your Majesty, Mrs. Khuong is kneeling outside the palace gate, saying that she would like to use thousands of gold to apologize for her sins."

Father put down the comb.

"Tell her to go to the Penal Department to compensate those who were bullied by Khuong Nhuoc Phu."

The gatekeeper retreated. Not long after, there was a cry from outside. Old lady Khuong absolutely refused to leave. She knelt in front of the Royal Palace gate, asking word after word for the Princess's mercy. I sat by the window, listening until my ears hurt. Parents immediately ordered:

"Sending her to Kinh Trieu Palace is a crime of disturbing the peace of the Royal Palace."

The crying quickly disappeared. In the mirror, my hair is a bit shorter. I raised my hand and touched it, my eyes closed. Father took out a peach wood brooch from the box. It is a relic of my mother. He gently placed it on my hair.

"A Hanh is not bad."

I looked at my still swollen face in the mirror and asked in a low voice:

"In the future... Can Bao Bao still wear a pink dress?"

Father squatted down in front of me.

"Okay. You can wear whatever you want."

Outside the yard suddenly came the eunuch's voice calling out the announcement.

"The Queen Mother gave her decree——"

The Queen Mother's will was brought along with three carts of offerings. There were brocades, medicinal herbs, pearls, and even the most beautiful peach-colored rattan brocade chest in the palace. The eunuch just smiled very respectfully.

"The Queen Mother said, Princess An Ninh wears peach pink the most beautiful. If anyone dares to say more in the future, please tell that person to personally go to Tho Khang Palace to tell the Queen Mother."

I caressed the cloud brocade, my eyes lit up.

"Rose pink."

Finally, his father smiled. But that smile only lasted for a moment. The eunuch handed down the instructions and said:

"The Queen Mother also said that over the past years, the Princess has avoided her life to recuperate, but instead made people forget about her. On the seventh day of next month, it is the Princess's birthday. Tho Khang Palace will hold a small party, inviting all the female relatives in the family to come and wish the Princess a long life."

Parents frowned slightly. I grabbed your sleeve.

"Bao Bao don't go, there's a bad aunt."

The eunuch hastily said:

"The Queen Mother predicted that the Princess would be afraid, so she specially instructed that the party would be held right at the Royal Palace. The Queen Mother would personally come."

Only then did my father accept the instructions. The day of my birth comes. In front of the royal palace's gate, horse-drawn carriages stretched across the entire street. Those who laughed at me, doubted me, and watched the excitement in the past, all came today with generous gifts. Tieu Lenh Nghi's face has not completely healed after being slapped on the mouth. Thuy Vuong personally escorted her to kneel at the gate of the Royal Palace to confess her crime. Ly So Anh also came. Compared to the day she attended the palace banquet, she was completely thinner, her head was no longer full of pearls, and she only wore a simple outfit. As soon as she saw me, she respectfully bowed her head three times.

"Your Highness, So Anh doesn't dare to ask for forgiveness. She only wants to admit her mistake. That day, the goddess laughed at you. She was a cruel and stupid goddess."

I sat next to my father, still holding a piece of jam in my hand. Bao Bao doesn't want to see her cry. However... When the crippled palace maid came to the Royal Palace to thank her, she also cried like that. I thought for a moment, then put the jam back on the plate.

"I won't hit you anymore."

Ly So Anh was stunned. Father turned to look at me.

"Just don't fight?"

I nodded seriously.

"If you don't like her, don't let her play with you."

The Queen Mother laughed out loud.

"Okay! Our Security explains rewards and punishments."

Ly So Anh cried while giving thanks, retreated to the end of the banquet table, and from then on did not dare to raise his head again. When it was Tieu Lenh Nghi's turn, her expression was clearly still unconvinced. Thuy Vuong stood behind her and kicked her. Tieu Lenh Nghi knelt crookedly.

"Prince An Ninh, I know I was wrong."

The Queen Mother's face darkened.

"Where are you wrong?"

Tieu Lenh Nghi bit his lip.

"I shouldn't speak without knowing how to keep my mouth shut."

Father picked up a cup of tea.

"Just don't know how to keep your mouth shut?"