Chapter 4 — I've Come to Be a Concubine, What More Need for Nobleness?

Until the royal doctor took my pulse and confirmed that I was two months pregnant, Lieu Nhu Yen's father, the Household Minister, ordered someone to advise her to return to the Eastern Palace:

"If you don't return, the Crown Prince will truly become Tieu Te Van's."

The day Lieu Nhu Yen returned to the Eastern Palace, the gate was full of people. She stood outside the door, wearing a pure white dress, and was much thinner. The Crown Prince stood inside the gate, across the threshold, looking at her.

“Qi Duc, I came back to give you a chance.”

Lieu Nhu Yen's voice was a little quieter than before, but still as blunt.

“If you chase all those women away, we will start over.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Crown Prince only replied to her with three words.

“Back?”

No hugs. No promises. Not even a smile. Lieu Nhu Yen was stunned. She originally thought that if she returned, he would rush to hug her like before. But he just stood there, as if looking at a stranger. On the third day after Lieu Nhu Yen returned, I discovered something. Nun Hue Tam, the person she brought home from the nunnery, kept running to the kitchen. Once, twice, I don't pay attention. Three times, four times, I sent someone to watch. On Thursday, the news came back. Hue Tam is adding something to my bowl of pregnancy medicine. The amount is not much, just a little bit. But if you put it in every day, the baby will definitely not be able to keep it. I won't alert you, I'll just tell you to continue watching. On Saturday, the watcher brought back news. Hue Tam secretly met with people from That Prince's palace. The Seventh Prince has always secretly competed for the throne with the Crown Prince. As long as the first child of the Eastern Palace cannot be kept, the court will immediately raise rumors that the Crown Prince is ill-lucky and his lineage is unstable. At that time, the Seventh Prince's faction will have an excuse to protest, gradually shaking the Crown Prince's position. I sat and thought all night long. The next morning, I went to find Lieu Nhu Yen. As soon as she saw me, her face immediately turned cold.

“What are you doing here?”

I supported my stomach and slowly sat down.

“My lady, someone wants to harm the baby in my womb.”

She stopped.

“What does it have to do with me?”

“This child is His Highness's flesh and blood.”

I looked straight into her eyes.

“If you help me find the real murderer, Your Highness will be grateful to you.”

She just needed a chance. An opportunity for the Crown Prince to see himself again. Lieu Nhu Yen acted very quickly. She set up a trap, pretending to discover that Hue Tam had poisoned him, then caught him red-handed on the spot. Hue Tam knelt on the ground, so scared that her whole body was shaking, and confessed everything.

"It's the Seventh Prince! It's the Seventh Prince who sent his servants to do it! He said that as long as there are no descendants in the back yard of the East Palace, and the Crown Prince has no heirs, then he will have a chance!"

Lieu Nhu Yen led Hue Tam and went straight to the Crown Prince's study. After listening, the Crown Prince's face turned pale. Lieu Nhu Yen held his hand.

“Ah Duc, I have done you such a big favor, do you agree to chase those women away?”

The Crown Prince was about to thank her. When he heard that sentence, he slowly withdrew his hand. At that moment, I arrived. I grabbed the door frame and slowly knelt down.

“Your Highness, I am guilty.”

The prince was stunned.

“I have long known that Hue Tam poisoned me I intentionally led you into a trap and took advantage of you."

The prince was extremely surprised.

“Why did she have to do that?”

I raised my head, my eyes filled with tears.

“Because I know that your heart for His Highness is true.”

“I want to let you understand that you can also do things that are beneficial to Your Highness.”

“Not just knowing…”

I stopped, but everyone knew what I was going to say. It's not just asking His Highness: "Please drive all those women away." Lieu Nhu Yen was stunned. She didn't expect me to "want the best for her". Even more unexpected was that after hearing my words, the way the Crown Prince looked at her changed. Early the next morning, Hue Tam was taken to Dai Ly pagoda. The Seventh Prince was summoned to the palace by the Emperor. It is said that he was beaten twenty times and was also detained for three months. Lieu Nhu Yen stood in her hospital, waiting all day. The Crown Prince still did not come. Lam Lang asked me:

“Miss, why did you say to help the Crown Princess?”

We look out the window.

“Tell her to help her?”