Chapter 2 — One Bowl of Soup, Two Lives of People

04

I was awakened by a nightmare. Her cheeks were soaked with tears. A Ngoc held a towel to wipe my face, looking worried.

“Sister Luc Thao, why did you cry so pitifully in your dream?”

A Ngoc is my best sister in the palace, with a simple and kind personality. He is also a young disciple taught by me.

"It's okay, it's just a nightmare." I wiped my tears and reluctantly replied.

“Are you crying because you weren't rewarded today?” Ah Ngoc is upset on my behalf.

"Who in the entire Ngu Thien room doesn't know that your skills are the best? Don't be discouraged!"

I laughed bitterly out loud. Suddenly I thought of something in my heart and suddenly made a popping sound. That's right, I entered the palace at the age of six and was the best female chef in the royal room. Over the past few years, I have been leading disciples and teaching the menu. The little palace maid who delivered meals that year, did she secretly learn my skills? Who that person is, I don't even know until death. I only know that in the winter of the eighth year of Vinh Hy, thirteen-year-old Tieu Ngan angered the emperor and was imprisoned in the cold palace. He endured torture, his leg injury had not yet healed, and he was as vile as mud. But there was a young palace maid wearing the sleeves of Ngu Thien Room's sleeves, quietly giving him rice, soup, and medicine. Arbitrarily breaking into the palace is a serious crime. That's why that young woman always came late at night, put down her bowl and ran away. Tieu Ngan couldn't walk or chase her, so he didn't know her true appearance. Being imprisoned was his greatest pain, so he never mentioned it to me in his previous life. It wasn't until Dung's instigation that he went to look up the records and discovered that I went out of the palace to visit my relatives that year. Indeed, in the winter of Vinh Hy's eighth year, my older sister became seriously ill. I prayed for the Queen Mother's grace, went out of the palace to take care of her, and didn't return until February and early spring.

“A Ngoc, in the winter of the eighth year of Vinh Hy, did anything unusual happen in Ngu Thien Room?”

I asked casually. Unexpectedly, A Ngoc suddenly widened her eyes. Her expression was evasive, and after a while, she suddenly shook her head.

“No.”

A Ngoc didn't say anything. But my intuition told me that she was hiding something. That year, Tieu Ngan angered the emperor because of the matriarch of the Bui clan. That case was tragic. Concubine Bui hanged herself, and Bui Thi's entire family was beheaded. Could it be that the person delivering the meal is related to Bui Thi? This is really strange. After all, a normal palace maid wouldn't have the guts to arbitrarily barge into the forbidden pavilion... The more I thought about it, the colder my spine became. I won't ask anymore. Early the next morning, immediately went to Tho Khang palace to find the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother has always had a weak spleen. I cook good food for people all year round and am very loved. In one and a half years, I will be twenty-five years old. But the night is long and full of dreams, I don't want to stay in the palace any longer. Kneeling in front of the queen mother's bed, I bowed my head vigorously.

“The slave Luc Thao requests the Queen Mother's grace to allow her to leave the palace early.”

The Queen Mother's eyes were a bit cloudy, she raised her hand and gently stroked my hair.

"What's wrong with this child? Hearing your voice sounds like you've been crying."

I lowered my eyes, feeling bitter in my heart. In my previous life, when I was framed by Concubine Dung, the Queen Mother had already rode a crane to heaven. If the old man were still alive, he would definitely tell me something fair.

“I only remember my sister. Her parents died early, and her sister is the slave's only relative.

"She has been sick for a long time without a doctor, only relying on medicine to save her life. The servants are afraid that she has no one to take care of her, so please ask the Queen Mother for mercy."

I couldn't hold back the tears that filled my face. In my previous life, my sister died outside the palace due to illness. Indeed, I could not see her for the last time and was in pain for the rest of my life. The Queen Mother was indeed benevolent and nodded.

“If that's the case, then someone will break the rules and release you from the palace.

“But you must punish your benefits, so as not to make others blush.

"In two days, wait for the Kinh Su room to finish sealing the seal, then go get the edict to leave the palace."

It felt like fireworks exploded in my chest. I was so happy that I crushed my head like garlic.

“The servant bows his thanks—”

Before he finished speaking, someone behind him opened the curtain and walked in. The voice was familiar, like in every nightmare. Cold and bitter.

“I pay my respects to my mother.”

05

Very lucky. Between me and Tieu Ngan, there is still a thin silk screen. The Queen Mother coughed a few times, then stopped him from coming forward.

"My family has recently been infected with wind and cold. I'm afraid of passing the disease on to you. Emperor, please sit outside the screen."

Tieu Ngan was silent for a moment.

“Yes.”

I knelt very low, my heart almost jumped out of my throat, not daring to raise my head. Tieu Ngan must be in court right now, why did he come to Tho Khang palace? What's more, the Queen Mother is not his biological mother, and the two are not close friends. I only saw Tieu Ngan slowly turning the jade ring on his finger. That's an action that only occurs when his mind is extremely unstable.