Chapter 11 — I Replaced My Sister In The Recruitment Palace, But She Didn't Know That The Queen Was My Sister

Because I didn't want to marry my cousin, I decided to make money myself. She also said that Lam Thanh Nguyet had left the capital and went to the South to live with her grandfather's family. Chu Thi fell ill on the way into exile. The Lam family has declined. Whether those people live well or not, I don't ask any more. In the spring of my second year, I opened a small medical shop in the valley. The name is Chieu Ninh Duong. On opening day, there were many people coming. Khuong Dung brought ten boxes of breakfast. The Crown Prince sent someone to deliver a sign. Ta Phu Loan gave me a whole chest of rare medicinal herbs in the palace. On the sign were written four words.

“The doctor explains himself.”

Master looked at it for a long time.

“Written by the Queen?”

I nodded. The person snorted softly.

“The writing is a little better than before.”

I burst out laughing. Late in the evening, outside the door, a horse-drawn carriage slowly stopped. A teenager stepped down from the car. He wore a blue brocade robe and his face was slightly pale. Next to him were two guards. I look at him.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?”

He was a bit embarrassed.

“Lady Lam.”

“I was just... passing by on the way.”

I glanced at the remote mountain road of Medicine King Cup, a place so deserted that even birds were too lazy to fly over.

“Convenient?”

He coughed softly.

“It's... especially convenient.”

I tried not to laugh.

“Is the medicine finished?”

He nodded.

“Drink it all.”

“So come pick up the medicine today?”

He seriously replied:

“Also come to pay the medical examination fee.”

I smiled and asked:

“What did you bring this time?”

He took out a packet of tar paper from his sleeve.

“Cinnamomum flower sugar in the palace.”

I accept it.

“Your Highness, I have said it before.”

“The goddess's medical examination fee is very expensive.”

His ears were slightly red.

“You will have money later.”

Thanh Ha stood next to her, bowing her head and secretly smiling. I also laughed.

“Then just debit first.”

The Crown Prince now breathed a sigh of relief. The afternoon light gradually falls on the horizon. The faint smell of medicine mixed with the sweet scent of cinnamon sugar, slowly spread throughout the small yard. There was a day. I replaced my sister in the selection palace. She thought that. That is the path that leads us to death. But she didn't know. What we step into is not a cage. It's a game of chess. But ever since. I have never been a pawn placed on the chessboard by others. I have a sister. There is medicine. There is a path that you want to go on. There is also a heart that never turns back. Every time in the capital someone brings up the case of the Lam family swapping beautiful women that year. Everyone will say:

“The Lam family's second lady really has a good fate.”

I just find it funny. Good fate? But it's my destiny. It was not given by the Lam family. It was not rewarded by the Queen. It's not because someone has pity that they give us a way to live. It's because of us. Little by little. Swallow it myself from that bowl of dumb medicine. Then step by step. Get it back. (FULL TEXT)