Chapter 15 — I was once traded for, then became someone they couldn't reach for the rest of my life

Giang Nguyet Bach looked at him for a long time. Suddenly she remembered those years ago. She always thought that Trieu Viet loved her. Because he left Ly Trieu Ca for her. Because of her, he broke off his many years of engagement. Because of her, he fought with Ta Van So. She once thought that she was the most admired woman in the world. A person the Crown Prince is infatuated with. A person who is wholeheartedly protected by the poinsettia lang. She thought she was the winner. That's why she was jealous of Ly Trieu Ca. Jealous of her background. Jealous of her appearance. Jealous of the fact that just by standing there, she could make everything she worked so hard to win look like a joke. Until the day she saw the painting in Trieu Viet's study. Until the day she saw his eyes looking at Ly Trieu Ca. She just understood. Trieu Viet never loved her. The person he loves is a shadow in the ten-year picture. As for her, she is just a replacement. She looked at Ta Van So again. The person who fought against the whole world for her. He once did not hesitate to cut military salaries, causing General Tran Quoc to fall into danger just in exchange for her dream of Queen. Now, that person no longer looked at her. In his eyes, only regret remained for another person. She laughed even harder. Laugh until tears fall.

“It's funny.”

“I fight all my life.”

“In the end, there was nothing.”

“The person I love doesn't love me.”

"The person who loves me no longer loves me."

"Even I don't know what I've been fighting for all these years."

For the first time, Giang Nguyet Bach no longer resented Ly Trieu Ca. Because she finally understood. The loser from start to finish was not because Ly Trieu Ca was too strong. But because she herself chose to go on the wrong path. She spent her whole life competing for the affection of others. But never learned how to become a person worthy of others' love. The carriage continued to move forward. The road to exile is very long. So long that I can't see the day of return. The autumn wind blows through the car window. Ta Van So slowly closed his eyes. In the darkness, he saw a woman wearing a light-colored dress standing under the light. She smiled and called out to him:

“Husband.”

He raised his hand to touch it. But only touching the cold void. Only now did he truly understand. The price of one wrong choice. Not losing power. No loss of fame. It's about losing the only person who ever treated you honestly. But that person. This whole life. I will never turn my head to look at him again. After Trieu Viet was deposed, Ta Van So and Giang Nguyet Bach were escorted out of the capital, and the general's palace finally became quiet again. But that quiet is not like before. Before, I always felt like I was being pulled by an invisible string toward the Eastern Palace, toward Ta Palace, toward those who never truly appreciated me. And now, when all the dust has settled, I stand in the courtyard of the general's palace, looking at the old almond tree next to the wall starting to bud, and suddenly I feel like I am truly alive again. The parents returned safely to the capital. The Eastern palace changed hands. After a major cleansing of the court, those who had sided with the Crown Prince were all investigated. Trieu Hanh, because of his merits in calming the chaos, spent many years fighting on the frontier official, was appointed by the Emperor as the new Crown Prince. The news spread and the whole capital was shocked. But what makes people talk more is the fact that the new Crown Prince has just entered the Eastern Palace. The first thing to do is not to reorganize the power, nor to hold a congratulatory party, but to personally bring the bride price to the general's palace to propose. That day, the sky was clear after the rain. Trieu Hanh wore a deep blue robe, did not carry an overly ostentatious ceremonial staff, and guided the person bringing the bride-price into the palace according to proper protocol. My father sat in the main street and looked at him for a long time. The eyes of someone who has gone through hundreds of battlefields are inherently sharp, but Trieu Hanh still stands straight, not even half-evading. Parents asked:

"Your Highness asked to marry my daughter, is it because the Ly family still has military power in their hands, or because she once helped His Highness overthrow the old Eastern Palace?"

Trieu Hanh bowed and bowed.

"Not."

“I want to marry Trieu Ca, just because she is Trieu Ca.”

With just that one sentence, my heart suddenly trembled. Over the years, too many people have looked at me with all kinds of identities. Phoenix destiny. Single female minister. The crown prince is predestined. Ta Van So's wife. Chess pieces can strengthen positions. Substitute for a painting. Only Trieu Hanh said, he wants to marry me, because I am me. Father was silent for a moment, then finally stood up and went out. In the main hall, only me and Trieu Hanh remained. I look at the person in front of me. He still brought me almond flower petals at night, standing at a sufficient distance from me, not forcing me, nor making me feel suffocated. I asked in a low voice:

“Your Highness, have you really thought this through?”

He looked at me, his eyes gentle but firm.

“I have thought for many years.”

I tightened my sleeve slightly. There are words that people don't say in front of us, but we know them. I used to be Trieu Viet's fiancee. Once given to Ta Van So by Trieu Viet. Once in the Ta palace, she once took on the name of someone else's wife.