Chapter 19 — On the day of the big wedding, the main concubine was changed, I still refused to kneel down

I don't cry. I just feel——at this moment, all the suffering is worth it. Humiliation in the great canon of style books. Assassination plot at the spring ceremony. The poisonous ancient snake in the cold palace. Night changes the books. One step at a time, one stroke at a time ——it was all worth it.

"Long time no see."

A voice rang out from behind. I turned around. Ta Truong An stood at the corner of the citadel building, wearing a white shirt, the fan in his hand unopened. The wind blew the hem of his shirt.

“Why are you here?”

“Watching the excitement.”

He walked over, stood next to me, looking down at the bustling scene below the city gate.

"General Gu has returned. Her mission has also been completed."

“Next, what are you planning to do?”

“Let's go home and have a meal first.”

Ta Truong An burst out laughing. “I mean, after that.”

“The fourth prince's bracelet, have you finished thinking about it yet?”

I took out a brocade box from my sleeve. The jade bracelet was still inside, just like that night.

“I want to give it back to him.”

Ta Truong An seemed to pause slightly. "Why?"

“Because I don't need it.” I closed the brocade box. “Ta Truong An.”

“You said you would help me get everything I want.”

“I said it before.”

“So do you know what I want right now?”

He didn't answer. But he looked at me. In those eyes that were always cold, there was now a fire burning.

“I don't care if you know or not.”

I stuffed the brocade box into his hand.

“This, you help me return it to the Fourth Prince.”

“Why should I pay?”

“Because ——” I took a deep breath.

Stop for a moment.

“Because I want him to know, the person I choose is you.”

Downstairs, the cheers shook heaven and earth. The brocade box in Ta Truong An's hand almost fell down.

“Don't talk too much.”

I turned around and left. Take three steps, turn around again.

"Ah yes. What my father said ——"

“Father said your face is too white.”

I looked at Ta Truong An's face, blown red by the wind.

“I see it now.”

The Emperor officially ordained the Fourth Prince of So Lam Phong as Crown Prince. At the same time, a series of awards were announced: Co Kinh Thuong, the title "Tran Quoc Cong", eternal succession, and the Quoc Cong government. Ta Truong An, was given the title "Ho Quoc Cong", the position of National Teacher remained intact, and was awarded thousands of taels of gold. Co Cam Dao - this reward surprised everyone.

"Mrs. Cam Dao, intelligent and courageous, had merit in handling the rear politics in the capital, was given the special title of 'An Quoc Princess', and was granted the Princess Palace, serving three thousand households."

Princess An Quoc. This is the first woman of this dynasty who was not given a title because of marrying into the royal family, but based on her own merits. The court was immediately in an uproar. The fourth prince - no, the new Crown Prince So Lam Phong was at the top of the hundred mandarins, his face not very good-looking. Because right before awarding the reward, Ta Truong An returned the jade bracelet to him. Along with a saying.

"Miss Gu said, the bracelet is very beautiful, but you don't need it."

These two words are sharper than a blade. The day So Lam Phong received the bracelet back, he broke three tea sets in the Eastern Palace. But he said nothing. What to say? The old family has just achieved great success. The national teacher sided with Co Cam Dao. The Queen Mother also protected her. The Emperor personally made her a Princess. In the entire Dai Thinh, who dares to touch her? After the court ended, So Lam Phong stopped Ta Truong An.

“National teacher, is it you that Miss Gu chooses?”

Ta Truong An clasped his hands.

“I am not comfortable answering this matter.”

“Are you worthy too?”

So Lam Phong smiled coldly.

"A person who knows his destiny dares to compete with this palace?"

“I am not a fortune teller.”

Ta Truong An's voice is neither arrogant nor cowardly.

"I am the national teacher. I am the Protector of the Nation appointed by Your Majesty."

“But these things don't fall from the sky.”

“If your highness is not convinced, you can ask your majesty - what I have done for Dai Thinh these past years.”

So Lam Phong looked at him for five breaths. Then turned around and left. When Ta Truong An recounted this conversation to me, I was planting flowers in the new Princess's palace.

“He said you weren't worthy?”

“So how do you answer?”

“I said I'm not a destiny reader.”

We put a begonia plant in the soil.

"You're really not. You're a doctor."

“Co Cam Dao.”

“When did you start liking me?”

I brushed the dirt off my hands.

“Spring celebration day.”

“So early?”

"He stood on top of the altar, dressed in white. Everyone was panicking, only he stood as steady as a mountain."

“At that moment I thought —— this person, is worth trusting.”

“Believing and liking are not the same.”

"Alike." I look at him. “To me, it's the same.”

Ta Truong An stood there, with a few streaks of mud on his body from when he planted flowers. Such a clean person.

“Your body is dirty.”

I walked over and helped him brush the mud off his shoulders. He suddenly grabbed my hand. “Stop brushing it off.”

“Not dirty.” He held it very tightly.

It's like if you just let go, you'll lose something.