Chapter 1 — On the day of the big wedding, the main concubine was changed, I still refused to kneel down

“Your Highness, do you really want to do that?”

Dinh Quoc Vuong's voice echoed in Thua Thien Palace, bringing with it a suppressed trembling. The whole civil and martial court was silent, all eyes were focused on the front of the dragon's chair, where the couple about to celebrate the book style ceremony were standing next to each other. Crown Prince So Lam Uyen was wearing a bright yellow robe, his face was as cold as ice. He slightly tilted his body, avoiding the pressing gaze of Dinh Quoc Vuong.

"This palace's mind is made up."

He raised his hand and pointed to the woman next to him, wearing a resplendent royal gown - that should have been the position of my Crown Princess, Co Cam Dao.

"Today's decree, Lieu Thi Nhu Yen will be the Crown Princess."

As soon as the words ended, there was a cold breath in the hall. I stood in the middle of the red-carpeted main hall, the phoenix crown on my head seemed to weigh a thousand pounds for a moment. The Crown Prince turned to me, his voice lacking even half the warmth.

“Co Cam Dao, you are a concubine.”…

My name is Co Cam Dao, the pearl in the palm of Tran Bac General Co Kinh Thuong. Today is the twenty-third year of Vinh Ninh, the eighth day of the third month, which should have been the most glorious day in my life. Three months ago, a royal edict was issued to the general's palace, appointing me as the Crown Prince. Everyone in the court knew that this was the emperor's grace towards the Co family, and also a reassurance for the Great General of Tran Bac who held thirty thousand military powers on the Northern border. The day my father received the decree, he knelt in the temple all night.

“Dao Nhi, the royal family is as deep as the sea.”

He patted my head, his hands used to holding the long sword trembled slightly.

“I would rather marry you to a normal person.”

At that time, I just smiled and shook my head, but my heart contained another image - when I was nine years old, at the banquet in the palace, the young man pulled me out from behind the fake mountain. That year, I was so playful that I lost my way, when So Lam Uyen, when he was still the Second Prince, found me, crying so hard. He was covered in dust, but still had a tight face and a stern voice to teach me.

"If you don't know the way, don't run around."

From that day, I knew that the person I wanted to marry in this life was him. But today, standing on Thua Thien Palace, I suddenly feel that the young man in my memory has become so strange.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

My father, Co Kinh Thuong, finally couldn't bear it. He stepped out from the front row of military officials. This veteran general who had fought for half his life, his eyes were red at this moment.

"Little girl Cam Dao has read enough poetry since childhood, is proficient in etiquette, and is the Crown Princess appointed by His Majesty himself! Today's great ceremony, the whole court witnessed, why did Your Highness temporarily change, forcing her to live in seclusion and live in a private room?"

So Lam Uyen frowned slightly. Next to him, the woman was wearing the phoenix official uniform that originally belonged to me, gently pulling his sleeve. That woman's name is Lieu Nhu Yen, she is the concubine of Minister Lieu Vong Son of the Ministry of Military Affairs. Three months ago, she was still just an unknown official lady. Yet now I stand in the position that belongs to me, receiving the worship of all people.

“The late general.” The Crown Prince opened his mouth, his voice was terrifyingly calm.

"Liu Thi Nhu Yen three months ago during her winter patrol saved the palace's life. With such kindness, she should use the position of main concubine to repay her. Miss Gu clearly understands the great cause and will sympathize with her." the palace's dilemma."

“The dilemma?”

My father burst out laughing, his laughter filled with sadness. Throughout the civil and martial arts court, no one dared to speak up. Everyone can see that this is just a joke.

“The merit of saving the price? If there really is a rescue, why has it been hidden for the past three months without being announced, and must wait until the day of the great book to be revealed to the world?

“It is clear that this is a play that the Crown Prince has long arranged.”

“A play that wants to be seen by the whole world and humiliate the Co family.”

I finally spoke, my voice so calm that I even surprised myself. The chain of pearls on the phoenix coffin shook slightly, reflecting the candlelight in the main hall.

“There is something I don't understand, goddess.”

I raised my head and looked straight into So Lam Uyen's eyes. The eyes that we once thought contained the entire galaxy, now only a cold frozen lake remains.

"If Miss Lieu really had the merit of saving the price, why didn't she request the appointment sooner? It must have waited until today?"

"If Your Highness had long intended to change the position of concubine, why did you not give any warning and deliberately let her put on this happy outfit and stand here to be laughed at by the world?"

My voice is not loud, but every word is clear. The main hall was so quiet that you could hear the crackling sound of candle flames. So Lam Uyen's frown deepened. Next to him, Lieu Nhu Yen suddenly sobbed softly.

“Your Highness, Nhu Yen is not good… Nhu Yen should not…”

“It has nothing to do with her.”

So Lam Uyen squeezed her hand, and when she turned to look at me, her eyes carried disgust.

“Co Cam Dao, are you questioning this palace?”

“Goddess does not dare.”

I slowly knelt down, following the standard ceremony. The phoenix mandarin's head hit the cold metal floor heavily.

"I just want to know, what wrong did my Gu family do to deserve such humiliation?"

"Father fought all his life, guarded the Northern border for twenty years, had forty-two wounds on his body, and in exchange for his daughter being publicly demoted to the role of concubine at the grand festival?"

My words made many old gods' eyes turn red. Dinh Quoc Vuong, my father's life and death friend, was clenching his fist so tightly that it made a squeaking sound.