Chapter 1 — On the big wedding day, the Queen Mother exchanged me for another prince

On the big wedding day, the Fourth Prince forced me to kneel down in front of everyone to offer tea to his maid. The guests filling the hall all turned their eyes towards me, waiting for me to bow my head and accept humiliation. Before I could even open my mouth, the Queen Mother gently put down the tea cup and said a sentence that made everyone's faces change simultaneously:

"This girl, Ai's family has other arrangements. Marrying the Ninth Prince, it's just right."

Nine princes? Isn't it said that the prince whose illness was at an incurable stage was forgotten in a deserted garden outside the capital? Everyone thinks that our life is over. But little did they know, when the gate of that deserted garden slowly opened, the person who appeared before my eyes was not a dying person at all.

"Miss Tham, don't blame this old slave for talking too much. That lady Lieu Ngam Suong, the Fourth Highness let her wear a goose yellow silk dress to enter the wedding hall! The color is only a little lighter, from a distance, standing next to your wedding dress, it doesn't look any different!"

Mom Chung was adjusting the phoenix crown for me, but she was so angry that her hands were shaking. I looked into the bronze mirror and raised my hand to adjust the tassel that was a little askew.

"Mom, today is a day of great joy. We shouldn't discuss anything about your highness."

"A great joy? This old slave used to attend the royal family's three palaces, and has never seen a bridegroom bring a maid into the wedding hall! This is not just a slap in the face of the young lady, but also a slap in the face of the entire Tham family!"

Outside, the sound of a sonar suddenly rose a beat higher. I stood up, the phoenix coffin was so heavy that my neck ached.

"Let's go. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, sitting here can't be avoided."

My name is Tham Nhuoc Van, eldest daughter of Tham Chinh Khanh, current Prime Minister. Today is the day I get married and marry the fourth prince Tong Duc. This marriage was two months ago, the Queen Mother herself gave the order to grant the marriage. The fourth prince, Tong Duc, is the eldest son of Queen Trieu. He is twenty-one years old this year. He is a proud son of heaven recognized by the whole capital. He is both talented in literature and martial arts, and his appearance is also outstanding. Our Tham family has been noble for three generations, with my father holding the position of Prime Minister and students spread throughout the Six Departments. Outsiders say this is a match made in heaven, a perfect match. Only I know, before the marriage decree was given, the Fourth Prince once asked someone to pass a sentence to my father.

"Daughter of the Tham family, being a Trac concubine is enough."

Father was angry and immediately knocked the inkstone on the script to the ground. After that, I don't know why this story reached the Queen Mother's ears. A decree was immediately issued, directly ordaining me as the Chief Concubine. It is said that when Tong Duc received instructions, his face was black for an hour. The float passed through more than half of the capital, the sound of gongs and drums resounded from one end of the street to the other. Sitting in the palanquin, my fingers tightened around my sleeve. Not because of stress. It's a premonition that's hard to put into words. The float stopped. Hi Nuong raised her voice and shouted:

"Please let the bride down from the palanquin."

A hand entered. The knuckles are long and slender, the skin is cold. The moment I put my hand on him, he squeezed my hand hard. It's Tong Duc. I didn't say a word, letting him lead me through the coal basin, over the threshold, and into the path of worship. The originally noisy atmosphere in the hall suddenly calmed down. Even though the red veil is far away, I can still feel all eyes on me.

"The auspicious hour has come, the new man worships!"

The priest's voice was so high-pitched that it was deafening.

"First worship of heaven and earth."

I stood shoulder to shoulder with him.

"Second bow high street."

When I turned around, there were three people in the chair. The emperor sits in the middle. Queen Trieu sits on the left. On the right is an old woman with gray hair, wearing dark yellow plain clothes embroidered with group patterns, her back still straight. That is the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother herself came. I bowed a little lower.

"Husband and wife worship."

At that moment, Tong Duc suddenly pushed my hand away.

"Wait."

The whole hall felt like someone was choking its throat, so quiet that there was no sound left. His voice rang right above my head. Through the red veil, we can only see the python pattern embroidered on his boots.

"Master Shen."

No name calling. Also don't call for a title. But call them by their last names.

"Before you perform the final bow, there is someone you must meet first."

In the hallway, the sound of cold air was heard. The Emperor spoke in a low voice:

"Tong Duc, what are you doing? Finish the ceremony first."

"I'm not confused at all."

Tong Duc's voice was a bit higher, carrying a leisurely tone as if he had rehearsed it in advance.

"This lady's name is Lieu Ngam Suong. She is a maid who has served by my side for eight years. Last fall, during the autumn hunt, my son fell off his horse. She rushed forward to help me take the horse's hooves, injuring my lumbar spine, and to this day I still can't stand up straight. Such a great kindness, I don't dare to forget."