Chapter 3 — Rebirth Leaving the Eastern Palace

03The day I left the Tham family, I was alone. I didn't take away any of the Tham family's belongings. Just like ten years ago, I only wore a simple outfit, came empty-handed and then left empty-handed. Also on that day, I met Vong Tran Phat Tu. He lived in seclusion all year round, had a cold and indifferent personality, and was an enlightened monk who was respected and feared throughout the capital. While panicking, I carelessly dropped the jade pendant he always carried with him. The sound of jade falling was crisp and clear. I froze in place. I am penniless, have nothing in hand, and have absolutely no ability to compensate. I originally thought I would be hated and punished, but Vong Tran just lowered his eyes and calmly looked at the broken piece of jade on the ground. He did not make it difficult for me, his voice was clear, without any ripples: "If you cannot repay, then follow me back to the temple, copy the scriptures to pay the debt." Just like that, thanks to his kindness, I was able to stay at the pure ancient temple. In the days that followed, I faced the green light and the scriptures every day, crouching at the table copying the scriptures. But the news that the Tham family had found the golden Tham Truong Lac still swept across the capital like a tidal wave. There was no end to the pilgrims coming to the pagoda, their conversations were reaching my ears. "Have you heard? The Shen family's lost eighteen years of gold has been found. Her appearance is dignified and gentle, her eyebrows and eyes are very similar to that of Minister Tham, she truly has the temperament of a noble lady." "No wonder Mrs. Tham has often taken her to attend banquets of noble ladies lately. It's obvious that she wants to devote herself to nurturing her." "From now on, Eldest Miss Tham definitely will become the most outstanding lady in the capital." Everyone was full of praise, every sentence talked about Tham Truong Lac's glorious future. I closed my eyes and listened quietly. How famous she is, I don't know. After all, when she returned, I had just returned from Medicine King Cup. I don't even know her future. Because I died on the day she and Tieu Lam got married. Thinking that everything is arranged so smoothly, in the future she will definitely step up to the throne of Queen, enjoying glory and honor all her life, without having to worry. While chatting, someone casually mentioned to me: "So what about the fake genius who was previously raised in the Tham family?" Someone smiled slightly, his voice full of disdain: "Fake is still fake. A wild girl with no roots, how can she be compared to the legitimate daughter?" "In the future, if the Crown Prince wants to firmly sit on the throne, in marriage he must choose a woman with an orthodox family background. That impostor is already nothing anymore." Every sentence and every word stabbed straight into the heart, but and extremely realistic. The tip of my finger holding the brush slightly paused. I lowered my eyes to look at the neat rows of scriptures on the paper. I don't know when I was lost, a drop of dark ink fell from the tip of the pen onto the clean page, spreading out into an ugly ink stain. Vong Tran who was sitting calmly sitting next to him calmly raised his eyes, his cold gaze fell on me: "If the mind is not calm, how can one cultivate the mind to copy the sutras?" I collected my chaotic thoughts and replied in a low voice: "Yes, I know my mistakes." The corner of his eyes calmly glanced at the pilgrims chatting outside the window, but did not say anything more, just momentarily withdrew his gaze, still looking untainted by dust, completely unmoved by all the rumors above. world. But the bitterness torn in our hearts still cannot be calmed. At night, the night wind is a bit cold. A figure suddenly appeared in front of me. It's Tieu Lam. Before I could recover, he strode forward and squeezed my wrist: "Why don't you give up?

goodbye?" 04 I pushed his hand away and calmly said: "Your Highness, there's no need to tell you where I'm going." Tieu Lam burst out laughing. He approached me, his voice hoarse: "Tham Le Duong, what do you mean?" On what basis could she arbitrarily abandon me?" I raised my eyes to look at him, only feeling ridiculous. Based on what? Based on the fact that the golden girl had returned, based on the fact that he had her in his heart, based on the fact that the two of them were a natural couple. But I didn't say it out loud, just calmly replied: "Your Highness, I am a fake. The true daughter of the Tham family has returned." "I never cared about her identity!" I smiled softly. Yes, they had long known that I was not of the Tham family's blood. Ten years together, before he treated me gently and thoughtfully, seemingly not caring about my background at all. But that fate was still inevitable. In the end, he would still fall in love with Tham Truong Lac. Just like the day I left the Tham family, alone and confused. Who knows where to go, but he was rowing a boat on the lake with Tham Truong Lac, devoting all his patience and gentleness to her. "Your Highness, why do you need to deceive yourself?" "If you really like me, then how do you plan to explain what happened at Tham Phuong Lake that day?" Tieu Lam's body stiffened, his face turned pale: "That day was just a misunderstanding. Me and her..." "No need to explain." I interrupted softly. "Please, Your Highness, let me go, go back." I don't want to say the remaining words, nor is it necessary. Maybe because I'm too cold, Tieu Lam stared at me, anger and unwillingness mixed in his eyes. When he opened his mouth again, his voice was heavier: "Tham Le Duong, have you thought carefully? If you keep insisting like that, I will truly welcome Tham Truong Lac to marry you as Crown Princess!” “At that time, even if you cry and beg, I will absolutely not turn back.” I lowered my eyes and replied softly: “I will not beg.” He smiled coldly, waved his sleeve and left. The courtyard fell silent again.