Chapter 6 — Kien Vi

He was still wearing a mysterious robe. It's just that there's a bit more darkness between the eyebrows that can't be hidden. As soon as he saw me... He walked straight towards me. Everyone around immediately retreated to the sides. "Tham Phu Ninh." I bowed softly. "Meeting the Royal Family." He stared at me. "Follow this king to meet His Majesty." I raised my head. "What for?" "Change words." His voice was low. "It's enough for you to cause trouble." "Ta Van Hanh has already moved out of the Royal Palace, this king has also been punished." "What else do you want?" I looked at him. "Until now..." "The Royal Family is still... Do you think this goddess is just causing trouble?" He frowned slightly. "If it wasn't to force this king to deal with Van Hanh..." "Then why would there be a need to make a fuss all the way to the palace front?" I looked behind him. Ta Van Hanh also came. She actually mixed into the ranks of the Princess Truong's female family. She wore a light blue dress and a golden phoenix hairpin in her hair. Although that brooch did not violate the regulations for official concubines, it still intentionally circumvented the limits of protocol. She stood behind the group of women, her red eyes looking at Ta Truong Tu. Ta Truong Tu also saw her. Eyebrows moved slightly. I smiled. "If the Royal Family really sees her as just a younger sister..." "You shouldn't look at her right now." Ta Truong Tu's face immediately stiffened. At that moment, the Emperor and Queen joined the party. Everyone performed the ceremony simultaneously. Halfway through the party, the Emperor suddenly looked towards me. "Tham Phu Ninh." I stood up. "The goddess is present." The Emperor spoke: "The wedding has been going on for many days." "Do you have anything else in mind?" All eyes in Khuc Thuy garden turned to me. The wine cup in Ta Truong Tu's hand stopped. Behind the row of female relatives, Ta Van Hanh's face also changed. I walked out into the middle of the banquet field and knelt down. "Your Majesty." "The goddess wishes to choose someone else as her husband." The Emperor did not show any surprise. "Do you have someone in mind?" I raised my head. His eyes stopped under the flower tree. Tieu Kien Vi is also looking at me. I slowly replied: "The goddess wishes to marry the middle school royal historian Tieu Kien Vi." The whole Khuc Thuy garden was silent. Ta Truong Tu suddenly stood up. "Tham Phu Ninh!" The Emperor frowned slightly. "Ninh Vuong." Ta Truong Tu clenched the wine cup in his hand, his knuckles turning white. Ta Van Hanh staggered and had to hold on to the maid next to him to stand steady. Tieu Kien Vi walked out from his seat. He came to my side and knelt down. "I vow to use all the official rituals to propose to Miss Tham." The emperor looked at him. "Have you thought about it carefully?" Tieu Kien Vi bowed. "I have thought about it." "I ask to marry Miss Tham..." "Not to silence the officials." "Nor to cover up the bad things in the court." "If I am lucky enough to become husband and wife..." "I will definitely treat you with the courtesy of an official wife." As soon as the words fell... Throughout the garden, no one spoke. Those words were too straightforward. So straightforward that it was like slapping Ta Truong Tu right in front of everyone. Ta Truong Tu stared at me. In his eyes... For the first time, a crack appeared. Perhaps only now did he truly understand. I refuse marriage... Not to scare him. But... I really don't need Ninh Vuong Phi's position anymore. Ta Van Hanh also looked at me. There was a bit of panic in her eyes. Because... Once we don't need it anymore. She will have nothing left to take from me. Not far from my price. There are no more phoenixes and my vestments. My name is no longer mine. I no longer have the dignity of Ninh Vuong Palace that I once covered up for her. The Emperor looked at me for a long time. Then turned to Tieu Kien Vi again. "Okay." "If that's the case..." "I'll do it for you two." Ta Truong Tu stepped forward.

"Your Majesty!" The Emperor coldly glanced at him. "Ninh Vuong." "What else do you want to say?" Ta Truong Tu's eyes fell on me. His voice was hoarse. "Tham Phu Ninh..." "Do you really want to marry him?" I stood up. Tieu Kien Vi also stood up and stood quietly next to me. I looked at Ta Truong Tu. "By the Royal Family's side, there is Miss Ta." "I would like to no longer accompany you." At that moment, Ta Van Hanh suddenly rushed out of the row of ladies' seats. "No way!" Her voice was so shrill that she was completely lost. Everyone in Khuc Thuy Garden looked over at the same time. Her face was pale. The golden phoenix hairpin in her hair also trembled violently. "She cannot marry Tieu Kien Vi!" Ta Truong Tu turned her head. "Van Hanh." Tieu Kien Vi's eyes stopped on the phoenix hairpin she was wearing. The clerk standing next to him immediately picked up his pen. Only then did Ta Van Hanh realize that he was rude again. She quickly raised her hand to cover the hairpin in her hair. But... It's too late. The Queen's face turned cold. "Ta Thi Van Hanh." "In the Princess Palace, you learned the rules for half a month..." "Did you only learn like this?" Ta Van Hanh knelt down. Tears kept falling on the hem of her dress. Ta Truong Tu still stood in place. But this time... He didn't immediately reach out to help her. … After the spring viewing banquet, the Tieu family sent a matchmaker to Tham residence to propose marriage. This time, the Tham family no longer refused. Tieu Kien Vi's bride price is not too ostentatious, but the list of bride gifts is extremely neat. Everything is according to protocol. There are no phoenixes or ceremonial clothes that exceed the standards. There are no old items that have been used by someone else. There is also not a single sentence that makes people guess about the intention behind it. After the matchmaker left, mother sat in my room for a long time, quietly looking at the bride price list.