Chapter 2 — Little Demon King Khang Vuong Phu

A corner of the car curtain was lifted by a servant. Before the person inside appeared, a white jade cup flew straight out of the car. The cup crashed right next to the tip of my father's shoe, shattering into pieces. The Prince's bland voice fell:

“Uncle Khang Vuong, you can't teach your daughter, so let Dong Cung teach you instead.”

02

Shards of broken porcelain flew onto the surface of my father's boots. Instinctively, he took a step back. A very small step back. But everyone standing in front of the palace gate saw it. Tham Tung Le was the first to laugh out loud. The people next to him also followed suit. My father bowed his head and pretended not to hear. He reached out and pulled me.

“A Man, step back first.”

I didn't move. I stared at the broken pieces of white jade on the ground. Objects used in the palace are extremely valuable. So precious that even if it is thrown directly at people's feet, people still have to bow their heads in gratitude. The car curtains were finally completely lifted. Crown Prince Tham Thua Canh sat inside, playing with a string of agarwood beads. He was born handsome, and his eyes were full of gentleness. But when he talked, his eyes looked like he was looking at a bird locked in a cage.

“Tham A Man, the princess has heard of you.”

I raised my head.

“Then your highness's ears have suffered.”

The sound of cold breathing was immediately heard around. My father's legs are soft. He almost wanted to fall to his knees. I reached out my hand to hold his arm tightly. The Prince's finger that was holding the rosary stopped. Tham Tung Le immediately shouted: "Brave!" I turned to look at him.

“Are you a dog of the Eastern Palace, or a dog of Khanh Vuong Palace?”

Tham Tung Le's face turned red.

“You…!”

The smile on the Crown Prince's lips faded a bit.

“Uncle Khang Vuong, this daughter of yours really doesn't know what the sky is and how thick the earth is.”

My father finally had to speak up.

“Your Highness forgive me, this young lady is still young…”

“I'm sixteen, not a kid anymore.”

The Crown Prince dropped the agarwood beads back into his palm.

"Since the Khang Vuong Palace can't teach the rules, then after today's spring banquet ends, let her go to the Dong Palace's female student's school to kneel and be punished for three days."

My father's face changed dramatically. The female student of the Dong Palace was pleasant to listen to. In fact, it is a place specifically used to punish the female relatives of the nobility. Kneeling there for three days, half of his reputation was ruined. After that, if Dong Cung says one more "indecent" sentence, then don't even dream of getting married in this life. My father clasped his hands in supplication.

“Your Highness, A Man is my only flesh and blood, I will definitely be strict with you when I return to the palace.”

The Crown Prince did not even look at him.

“Don't you want to hear what the princess said, Uncle Khang Vuong?”

My father's back slowly bent down. I looked at his shoulder. Those shoulders and that back must have stood tall and straight when they were young. It's just that over the years, it has been crushed by every scornful look and every cold word, leading to the bowed appearance it is today. Suddenly, I pulled him hard and hid him behind my back.

“He doesn't want to hear it.”

In front of the palace gate, he was as silent as a sheet. The prince raised his eyes and looked at me. I did not hesitate to meet his gaze.

“My father has soft ears and can't hear dirty things.”

Tam Tung Le got angry: “Tham A Man, you dare insult the Crown Prince!” I reached into my sleeve and pulled out the slingshot. The bullet is a small stone I picked up on the side of the fish tank in the morning. We stretch the bowstring. Tham Tung Le's face changed drastically, he retreated in fear and dodged. But we didn't shoot him. The stone grazed his ear and hit the golden bell hanging in front of the carriage. A crisp “ding” sound rang out. The horse pulling the cart in front was immediately startled and whinnied loudly in panic. The driver quickly tightened his grip on the reins. The carriage wobbled and tilted. The Crown Prince's body staggered and hit the wall of the carriage, the string of incense broke, and the seeds scattered all over the floor. The Dong Cung guards simultaneously drew their shining swords. My father panicked and shouted: "A Man!" I put away my slingshot and strode in front of the horse. The horse was still prancing restlessly. I reached out and pressed tightly on its reins. The horse's nose blew out hot streams of steam. I lowered my voice and threatened:

“If you still move, I will rip out your mane.”

The horse immediately stood still. The crowd became even quieter. The Crown Prince stepped out of the car, his expression dark.

“Shen A Man.”

I lifted my foot and stomped on the platform in front of the carriage. The Dong Cung guard took a step forward. The soft whip in my hand suddenly slid out, clicking loudly.

“Who dares to move?”

No one dared to move. I looked straight into the Crown Prince's eyes.

“Your Highness wants to teach me the rules, that's okay.”

I kicked the bike hard. The already wobbly carriage was given another heavy blow, half of the wheel slid into the muddy ditch along the palace's edge. The jade tip on top of the car hit the stone railing hard, emitting a dull sound. The Crown Prince's face finally changed. Tham Tung Le's mouth opened wide, he couldn't even squeeze out half a word. I jumped down from the car and calmly brushed off my skirt.

“This is my rule.”

My father clung tightly to the palace wall, looking as if he would faint in the next second. I walked next to him.

“Father, stand up straight.”

His lips were pale.

“Ah Man, you have caused great trouble.”

“He threw me first.”

“But he is the Crown Prince.”

“Does the Crown Prince have the right to throw stones at my father's feet?”

The king remained silent and did not say another word. The Crown Prince stood next to the broken carriage, his eyes as cold as the bricks under the palace floor.

“Uncle Khang.”

He said every word.

“What happened today, the princess will clearly report to her father.”

My father closed his eyes tightly. I burst into laughter again.

“Go quickly.”

The Crown Prince glared at me. I add one more sentence:

"I also want to ask Uncle Huang whether the jade cup of Dong Cung is specifically used to throw at his blood uncle or not."

In the crowd, someone couldn't help but let out a cry of horror. The Crown Prince's face was extremely unsightly. At this moment, a young eunuch ran out from the palace gate. His head was full of sweat. When he saw us, he quickly glanced at the Crown Prince, then looked at my father. Finally, he knelt down on the ground.

“Kang Vuong, Princess, Your Majesty orders the two of you to immediately enter the holy palace.”

My father's body staggered. The little eunuch hastily added another sentence:

“Your Majesty said, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will also come along.”

The string of agarwood in the Crown Prince's hand broke suddenly.

03

On the way to Thai Hoa Palace, every step his father took was like stepping on a knife blade. After walking a few steps, he turned to look at me again. I know you want to scold me. But he did not dare to scold him loudly in the palace. He could only press his lips so tightly that they turned white. I walked close beside him, the soft whip had been gathered around my waist. The palace wall is high and towering. Under that crimson wall, everyone bowed their heads. Only I still hold my head high. I want to see how many people there are in this palace, relying on a noble family name to crush my father's spine. The Crown Prince walked ahead. He changed to sitting in a palanquin. The golden-topped carriage was tilted by me under the palace gate and was surrounded by the East Palace guards. From a distance, it looks exactly like a golden turtle that was kicked and crippled. I tried not to laugh out loud.