Chapter 9 — King, It's Not Done! Princess... Princess has slapped Your Majesty!

I took off my cloak.

"She is the Thai Concubine's ex."

"Are you afraid of this king?"

"I'm afraid of the Royal Palace."

I turned to look at him.

"The prince may not care about the life or death of his ex."

"But I just took over the inner court. I can't let everyone think that anyone who followed the old master will be purged."

Tieu Thua Uyen looked at me for a long time.

"Did the Ta family teach you like that?"

"The Ta family teaches us patience."

"I learned these things myself."

A smile appeared in his eyes.

"She studies very well."

Bach Lo walked in carrying tea. After putting down the tea, she promptly walked out. Suddenly there were only the two of us left in the room. The pair of red candles have not been removed yet. The curtain is still up there. Last night was supposed to be the wedding night. However, an incident in the palace turned into a matter of ousting the emperor. We look out the window.

"Does the Royal Family still have to go to the Royal Library tonight?"

Tieu Thua Uyen did not answer. When I turned around, I realized he was looking at me. Those eyes were not as cold as those at court. Not as sharp as in the palace. On the contrary... It's somewhat profound.

"Is the princess trying to keep the king here?"

I calmly replied:

"I just asked the King if he would go or not."

"What if this king doesn't go?"

"Then rest."

"Aren't you afraid?"

I smiled softly.

"Even the prince of heaven dares to slap me."

"Are you still afraid of getting married?"

Tieu Thua Uyen laughed softly. He walked closer. Raise your hand and take down the hairpin from my hair. The jade brooch fell into his palm, making a very soft sound.

"Ta Lenh Nghi."

"Before you married into the royal palace, did you know what kind of person this king was?"

"If you know, why do you still dare to marry?"

I look at him.

"The Ta family brought me here because they wanted me to be a chess piece."

"But if the piece reaches the final step..."

"You can still eat it, marshal."

Tieu Thua Uyen's eyes suddenly deepened.

"Whose marshal do you want to eat?"

I raised my eyes.

"Let's see who gets in our way."

He suddenly bowed. Stand very close to me. So close that I can smell the cool fragrance on his clothes.

"So what about this king?"

I don't avoid it.

"If the King goes the same way as me."

"It won't get in the way."

Outside the window, the wind gently moved. The pair of red candles burned even brighter. Tieu Thua Uyen looked at me for a long time. Finally... He smiled.

"Starting tonight."

"This king and her..."

"We will go the same way."

On the day of the dowry, the wind in the capital was colder than in the palace. When the royal carriage stopped in front of the Ta family's palace gate, the first gatekeeper remained stunned for a long time, then crawled up and ran in to report. In the past, every time I left the Ta family's palace, the gatekeepers pretended not to see me. Now, if I just slightly raise my eyes, their backs are bowed close to the ground. Bach Lo helped me get out of the car and said softly:

"Miss, they are scared."

I looked at the sign covering the Ta family.

"Still not scary enough."

In the main hall of the Ta family's palace, his father was waiting. He was wearing a brand new set of official robes, with a smile on his face, but the smile was extremely stiff. The stepmother sat next to her, the towel in her hand was wrinkled. Several uncles and aunts were also present. Before, every time they met me, they only said one sentence, "Lanh Nghi has grown up", then turned to talk about the dowry my mother left me. Today, everyone stood up. Parents are the first to speak.

"Linh Nghi is back."

I bowed and performed a half-ceremony.

"Father."

The smile on his face became even more forced.

"You are now the Regent Princess, no need to be so formal."

I stood up straight.

"If father knew, he should have sent someone to open the main gate to welcome me."

The main hall immediately fell silent. The stepmother's face changed slightly. Father coughed lightly.

"We're all family, there's no need to worry about formalities."

I looked at him.

"The day the Ta family married me, they said we were all one family."

"But the dowry list is missing three parts."

The model immediately spoke up:

"What does the princess mean by saying that?"

"The Ta family's preparation of a dowry for my child is enough dignity."

I looked at her.

"Where are the store, land deed, jewelry deed, gold, silver, and precious things that my mother left me now?"

The stepmother's eyes immediately avoided. The father's face darkened.

"Leng Nghi, today is dowry day, not book checking day."

"I can still check the books of the Royal Palace."

"So why aren't we allowed to ask about the Ta family's records?"