Chapter 9 — Kien Vi

She started letting people spread rumors about me again. Say that before we got married, I already had feelings for Ta Truong Tu. Speaking of which... I'm now marrying Tieu Kien Vi just to annoy him. When those rumors reached Tieu Palace... I was at school watching female students practice their writing. Xuan Duong was so angry that his face turned red. "Madam, she has come to this point and still refuses to calm down." I looked at the notebook paper on the table. The word "Ning" that she just wrote was extremely crooked. I gently adjusted the pen handle for her. "Let her pass it on." In the afternoon... Tieu Kien Vi returned to the palace. He brought with him a transcript. A female doctor who served beside Ta Van Hanh revealed everything. Ta Van Hanh secretly prepared for an abortion. She said... If I get pregnant after I marry into Ninh Vuong Palace, then I absolutely cannot give birth to children. I look at that transcript. The tip of the finger stopped on the two words abortion. My unborn child in my previous life... Finally got an explanation. Not unintentional. It's not because I'm ungrateful. But... Ta Van Hanh took the initiative to take action. Tieu Kien Vi stood next to me. "Do you want to rest for a while?" I shook my head. "No need." I closed the palace. "Just deal with it according to the law." After knowing about the palace... Ta Truong Tu asked to meet me once. Tieu Kien Vi did not refuse for me. He just placed the greeting card in front of me. "See or not..." "You decide." I just glanced. Ta Truong Tu's handwriting was still as sharp as before. "Phu Ninh, I have a few words to ask you." I threw the greeting card into the coal basin. The fire quickly burned into the corner of the paper. "No see." Finally... Ta Van Hanh was stripped of her position as Trac Concubine and placed in a royal nun's monastery. For life... Not allowed to step outside. The day she left the Royal Palace... I heard that she was crying and calling Ta Truong Tu's name. But... Ta Truong Tu never came out to send him off. He sat alone in the study room. Quietly looking at the royal concubine's phoenix that was returned. Small scratches on the inside of the phoenix coffin... Still there. Later... He sent me another letter. In the letter, it was written... He finally understood who was worthy of being Ninh Vuong Phi. I never opened the letter. Just send someone to return it, along with all the old offerings from Ninh Vuong Palace. To the end... He still didn't understand. What I'm waiting for... It's not the day he understands. It was not the day he regretted it. It's just... I don't need it anymore. … Next spring... The school opens a third campus. Most of the students accepted are girls who have been divorced, forced into marriage, or have no other support. There was a little girl... The first day she came here, she always kept her head down. She said... The family had arranged a marriage for her. The other person was even older than her father. She ran away from home. But there's nowhere left to go. I ordered someone to bring her a bowl of hot porridge. She hugged the bowl tightly. My hands were still shaking non-stop. I sat down opposite her. "Eat first." She raised her head and looked at me. "Don't you ask what I should do later?" I smiled. "You should ask after you've finished eating." Her tears immediately fell into the bowl of porridge. I suddenly remembered myself in my previous life. At that time... The remote institute was just as cold. But... No one brought me a bowl of hot porridge. … The next time there will be a banquet in the palace... I will take the identity of Mrs. Tieu and enter the palace to attend the banquet. Outside the palace gate. Tieu Palace's carriage stopped under the stone steps. My family crest is embroidered on the car curtain. It's not the pattern of Ninh Vuong Palace. Nor is it a crown that someone else has used. In the banquet palace... The seat that once belonged to Ninh Vuong is still empty. Someone quietly discussed... Ta Truong Tu

I have been sick for a long time and no longer go to the palace. Some people also say... Ninh Vuong Palace is now extremely lonely, even the old servants have been scattered. I never looked back. After the party... Tieu Kien Vi and I left the palace. The night wind blew softly, making the car curtains sway. He asked: "Are you cold?" I shook my head. But... He still gave me the hand warmer. "Take it." I took it. The fireplace is warm. Outside the palace wall... The long street is bright with lights. The carriage rolled slowly. When passing by the old street of Ninh Vuong palace... The wheels grinded against the green stone road. That road... I passed by it countless times in my previous life. Going from days filled with anticipation... Until my whole body felt cold. In this life... The carriage never stops. Tieu Kien Vi sat next to me. He bowed his head to look at the new list sent from the school. He pointed to a line in there. "This lady has very beautiful handwriting." I stopped by to take a look. The light in the carriage swayed slightly. Outside the window... There is the sound of someone selling roasted chestnuts. I suddenly burst out laughing. Tieu Kien Vi raised his eyes and looked at me. "What are you laughing at?" I replied: "I want to eat chestnuts." He closed the list and lightly tapped the side of the car. The driver immediately stopped the car. Tieu Kien Vi got out of the car to buy it himself. I lifted the curtain and looked outside. Seeing him standing in front of the counter, carefully choosing a package of hot chestnuts. The path is the Middle School of Imperial History... Yet the cuff of the shirt has a bit of ash stuck to it. When he returned... He gave me the package of chestnuts. "Still hot." I reached out to take it. The fingertips were immediately surrounded by warmth. Ahead... Long bustling street. Behind... Ninh Vuong palace was silent. I peeled a chestnut and took a bite. Very sweet. In this life... I am no longer a veil to hide shame from anyone. I won't let anyone... Wear the phoenix crown that belongs to me anymore. Full text complete.