Chapter 6 — I've Come to Be a Concubine, What More Need for Nobleness?

She returned to the main courtyard and sat alone until dawn. I wasn't surprised at all. She believes that not helping is noble. But they don't know that, at the moment of life and death, standing on the same front line is more important than anything. My belly is getting bigger and bigger. After that transformation, Te Duc seemed to turn into a different person. He no longer mentioned Lieu Nhu Yen. Every day after the tidal wave, he ran to my hospital.

“Te Van, did the baby kick you today?”

"Te Van, what do you want to eat? I'll send someone to work."

“Te Van, just lie still and let me do it.”

Lam Lang said, His Highness has truly placed me in his heart. I just smiled and said nothing. Being placed in your heart is a good thing. But in this harem, love alone is not enough. I just smiled and said nothing. Being placed in your heart is a good thing. But in this harem, love alone is not enough. In December, I gave birth to a baby boy. Weighing four pounds and six ounces, the cry was loud. Qi Duc held the baby in his arms, his hands shaking.

"You have a son! You have a son!"

He named the baby Te Chieu, and that same day he asked his father to grant him the title of Emperor Thai Ton. All civil and military officials came to congratulate him. Chu Luong De and others brought a full room of offerings. On the baby's full month, the First Emperor passed away. The upheaval that year had left his already exhausted body completely exhausted. When the funeral bell rang, I was holding my baby to breastfeed. Lam Lang rushed in, his face pale.

“Your Highness, the Emperor has passed away.”

The movements in my hand stopped a bit, then continued breastfeeding.

“I know.”

On the day Qi Yu ascended the throne, the capital received its first snowfall. He wore a bright yellow dragon robe and walked out of Thai Hoa Palace. The courtiers knelt down and filled the entire yard.

“Long live the King of Wu.”

I stood in the middle of the crowd, looking up at him. He also saw me and smiled slightly. However, the competition for the Queen's throne has just begun. The court argued for three days. One side said that Lieu Nhu Yen was originally the Crown Princess and, according to her ancestors, should be made Queen. Another faction said that Tieu Te Van gave birth to Hoang Thai Ton, and had merit in defending the city, so she was made Queen. The deputy general under General Tran Bac loudly shouted:

"The night Trac Concubine Tieu defended the citadel, she beat the drums with both hands until she bled! She stood on the palace wall all night. And where was the Crown Princess? Just standing in the yard! People with meritorious deeds are not rewarded, the soldiers' hearts will be cold!"

Arguing to the end, Qi Duc came to find me. He frowned.

“Te Van, tell me, what should I do?”

I poured tea for him.

"If Your Majesty wants to make anyone Queen, I will be happy."

He stopped.

“Don't you want to be Queen?”

I look at him.

“I want to ask Your Majesty a question.”

“If your highness becomes Queen, will you agree to let Your Majesty accept me as a concubine?”

He was silent. We know what he is thinking. What Lieu Nhu Yen wants is to have only one person in her life. If she becomes Queen, this harem will have no room for any other women. But he is the Emperor. This country needs a balance of forces, the court needs an alliance, and the dragon needs an heir. He stood up and left. Three days later, Lieu Nhu Yen came to find me. She has lost a lot of weight. Wearing a simple white outfit, her hair is only tied up with a wooden hairpin. The first sentence after entering the door is:

“Tieu Te Van, I know you won.”

I look at her.

“Your majesty said so, I don't understand.”

She smiled bitterly.

“Stop pretending, I didn't come to argue.”

I told Lam Lang to retreat. There are only two of us left in the room. She stood in front of the window, her back facing me.

“Tieu Te Van, I ask you something.”

“You just say it, lady.”

“Let me leave the palace.”

I was stunned, she turned to look at me.

"I don't want to be Queen, I don't want to be locked in this cage, I don't want to have to face women who only know how to fight and scheme every day."

“I don't want to torture myself to death because of a man.”

“Let me go, return to my homeland, even if I am just a commoner.”

“Lady, you still don't understand.”

She stopped.

“Don't understand what?”

“You don't have to lose to me.”