Chapter 7 — Princess Chieu Ninh Chooses Her Imperial Husband

Ta Chiet Ngoc had sent someone to escort her. She knelt in front of me, her hair in a messy bun, her eyes very swollen. I sat behind a long table, a small gold bow lying before me. Ta Chiet Ngoc stood to the side, his face still pale after the illness. He said: "She was also at fault for what happened that year." Tham Thanh Duong suddenly raised her head. "Ta Chiet Ngoc!" He did not look at her. Tham Thanh Duong was terrified and knelt before me. "Princess, I was wrong. I should not have kept it from you, and I should not have worn that hairpin to provoke you. But back then I really had no choice, I was only a palace companion. I was afraid of offending Ta Chiet Ngoc, and afraid of offending the queen." She cried until tears covered her face. "Please forgive me." I looked at her. "I didn't arrest her." She stiffened. I looked at Ta Chiet Ngoc again. "It was he who made her come." Ta Chiet Ngoc's fingertips moved slightly. "I just want to return what I owe you." I laughed. "If you force her here to cry and confess, will that make you feel better?" Ta Chiet Ngoc's face changed. I picked up that small bow. The brooch glinted coldly in the candlelight. "That day I asked her if she knew, not so that you could judge her for me. Ta Chiet Ngoc, why don't you understand?" His breathing was disordered. I put the small bow back on the table. "What you stole cannot be returned with an apology." Tham Thanh Duong knelt on the ground, her sobs gradually fading. She suddenly looked at Ta Chiet Ngoc and laughed. "What are you pretending to be in love with now?" Ta Chiet Ngoc's eyes turned cold. But Tham Thanh Duong ignored him. "That year, it was you who told me that the princess was too arrogant, winning would only make the queen hate her. It was also you who said that she should learn to give in. You are not protecting me, you are enjoying the fact that she listens to you." The veins on the back of Ta Chiet Ngoc's hand stood out. Tham Thanh Duong pointed at him. "Now you regret it, because she doesn't listen anymore. If she still chooses you today, will you admit your mistake?" The hall fell silent. Ta Chiet Ngoc's face gradually lost its bloody color. He wanted to refute. His lips moved several times, but no words came out. I looked at him. The answer was clear. He slowly turned towards me, panic in his eyes. "A Lenh, it's not like that." I asked: "So what is it like?" He stiffened. Tham Thanh Duong knelt on the ground, sobbing. I was tired. "Take her back to the Tham family. From today onward, she is forbidden from entering the palace." The palace attendant stepped up to support Tham Thanh Duong. When she reached the door, she turned to look at me, with resentment and fear in her eyes. I did not look at her again. Ta Chiet Ngoc was still standing in place. I said: "You should go too." He asked hoarsely: "Do you really want to get married tomorrow?" I nodded. His eyes were red and he suddenly laughed. "What if I go steal the bride tomorrow?" Outside the door, there was the faint sound of a blade shifting in its sheath. Ve Tuan arrived. He put on his pre-wedding suit, stood at the door, his eyes calm. "Ta Chiet Ngoc can try." Ta Chiet Ngoc turned around to look at him. The two men stood a candle's width apart. Ta Chiet Ngoc said: "You are not worthy of her." Ve Tuan was not angry. "Maybe so." Ta Chiet Ngoc was stunned. Ve Tuan came in and stood next to me. "So I will learn, I will ask, I will correct. If you say it hurts, I will let go. If you want to win, I will lead the horse for you." I raised my head to look at him. Ta Chiet Ngoc's gaze shifted between us, his eyes slowly reddening. Ve Tuan continued: "Ta Chiet Ngoc won many battles, but marriage is not a reward." Ta Chiet Ngoc's shoulders sagged. I looked at him and said softly: "Go home." He did not move. "A Lenh, I have taken all the top positions for you." I said: "I know." "So why is it still not needed?" I looked at him, saying every word. "Because he is not suitable." Ta Chiet Ngoc's tears finally fell.
On the wedding day, the sky was clear. The snow on the palace was swept away, and red fire spread from Thua An Mon straight to the main hall. I was wearing a wedding dress, and the phoenix crown pressed down on me until my neck ached. Xuan Dao supported me, her eyes reddening. "Princess, you look beautiful today." I looked at the bronze mirror. The person in the mirror had lipstick on her lips and a yellow flower between her brows, as if she were surrounded by a sea of red. I touched my wrist. My wrist no longer hurt. The auspicious hour has come, the ceremony officials raised their voices in unison. We walked out of the palace door step by step. Grand Tutor Ta sat in the highest seat beside his wife, both of them wearing complicated expressions. Grand Tutor Ta was also among the hundreds of court officials. Ta Chiet Ngoc stood in the last row, wearing court clothes, without the jade ornaments he usually wore. He lost a lot of weight. When I passed in front of him, he suddenly called me softly. "Linh Nghi." I stopped at once. It was the first time he had called me that. Not A Lenh. Not Chieu Ninh. It was my name. I did not turn back. Ve Tuan stood at the end of the red-silk path, holding the other end of the red silk strip in his hand. When he saw me, his eyes lit up a bit, then quickly lowered them, as if he feared the officials would criticize him. I walked toward him.