Chapter 17 — Instead of Marrying His Wife, 7 Years of Supporting Him to the Throne, In Exchange for a Cup of Poisoned Wine

I closed the book and slowly stood up.

“Your Majesty came thousands of miles away, just to see spring?”

He looked at me, the corners of his lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to smile, but as if he didn't dare to smile.

"Not."

He paused for a moment, his voice lowered:

“I came to see her.”

The spring breeze blew through the hallway, carrying the faint scent of flowers. The hem of his shirt swayed slightly in the wind, no longer the noble and noble appearance of the king at court, leaving only a man standing in front of me. I look at him. There are no ripples in my heart like I thought. Perhaps no matter how deep love and hatred are, when life and death have passed, in the end only peace remains. I smiled softly.

“Your Majesty, have you finished watching?”

Ta Hanh looked at me, his eyes filled with countless emotions. There is regret. There is unwillingness. There is also a stubbornness that he has never let go of. He asked softly:

“Can I… come visit you often in the future?”

The voice is very light. No longer an order. No longer an indication. Just like a question from someone trying to hold on to one last chance. I paused a bit. We know what this question means. The Emperor condescended to ask such a question, which is something that even if I had asked for it in my previous life, I would not have dared to think. But we also know. There are wounds that don't need just one word of regret to heal. I looked at him, then spoke softly for a while:

“This world belongs to Your Majesty.”

“Wherever Your Majesty wants to go… can I stop you?”

This is not consent. But it's not a refusal either. Ta Hanh looked at me, as if he understood, but also as if he couldn't believe it. For the first time, a tiny ray of light appeared in his eyes. He didn't ask more. Just say softly:

“So… I thank you.”

Then stood there again for a long time. It took a long time until the afternoon light fell on his shoulders, dyeing his long robe and casual clothes into a quiet color. Before leaving, he softly called out:

“Tham Thanh Vu.”

I don't turn back. He said very quietly:

“This time… I won't force you anymore.”

I don't answer. Just slightly raise your hand, like sending off, or not sending off. The sound of his footsteps gradually faded away. But I know. This time he didn't have to leave. It's about starting to learn how to walk towards me, step by step. When I looked up again, the end of the hallway was empty. The wind and water moved the pages of the book. I lowered my head and continued to look at the book, but my fingertips unconsciously stopped on a line of text. The corner of my lips slowly appeared in a very faint smile. In this life, I will not be anyone's Queen. But I have acquired things more precious than the Queen. And life truly belongs to us. I also know. Giang Nam is thousands of miles from the capital, the rivers and mountains are endless, seemingly so far away that it is difficult to see them again in a lifetime. But if a person really wants to come... Then thousands of mountains and thousands of waters are just a road. What's more, he is the king. This world is all his territory. (END OF FULL TEXT)