Chapter 15 — Retired on the same day, I turned around and married the Regent

Ta Vo Cuu looked in the direction my hand was pointing and said "Hmm" softly. The atmosphere is very magical. There were no forced conversations, no awkward silences. There were only the noisy people nearby, the bright lights, and... his calm eyes that occasionally quietly looked towards me. Go to a relatively quiet riverbank, with low-hanging willows on both sides, filled with prayer lanterns.

“Want to drop one off?”

Ta Vo Cuu looked at the stall selling lanterns along the river. I hesitated a bit, then nodded. Go to the front of the stall and choose an elegant lotus-shaped flower pendant. Borrowed a pen and dipped ink, but for a moment I didn't know what to write. Separated early. Relatives? His father and mother have both passed away long ago, and his maternal grandparents are unknown. It seems... we all have it. Instinctively, I looked at the man next to me. He was looking at the sparkling lanterns floating on the river surface, his profile in the light and darkness became even more quiet. The tip of the pen stopped in mid-air for a moment, and in the end, I just wrote two words on the small lamp: Hope you are well. No matter what the road ahead will be, I only hope that the person standing next to me right now, the person who has given me a place to settle down in peace, will always be healthy, peaceful, and favorable. I lit the wick and carefully placed it on the water. The lotus-shaped lantern slowly floats away along the water, blending into the warm galaxy of countless lights.

“What are you writing?”

Ta Vo Cuu's voice rang out next to him.

"Nothing."

I shook my head, looking at the light drifting away.

“Just a little wish.”

He didn't ask any more questions, just quietly looked at that small flower lantern, until it turned into a weak spot of light, then disappeared at the end of his sight. On the way back, the line of people was still crowded. When passing by a crowd watching monkeys perform tricks, people suddenly jostled and pushed violently. I didn't have time to be careful, my feet wobbled and I felt like I was about to fall! A strong arm promptly wrapped around my waist, firmly protecting me in its embrace. The familiar, refreshing smell of agarwood immediately enveloped me. Through the thin layer of spruce, I can clearly feel the solid strength of his arm muscles, along with the steady, strong heartbeat transmitting from his chest. Time seemed to stop for a moment. Surrounded by noisy people and dazzling lights. My face was pressed against his chest, I could clearly hear every strong heartbeat beating. His arms firmly hugged me, blocking all the jostling and pushing from outside. A strange heat suddenly rose to my cheeks and ears. In my chest, it was as if a small rabbit was hiding, jumping nonstop, my heart pounding like a drum. It seemed he also stopped a bit. A few breaths later, the rushing stream of people passed by. He let go of my hand, his movements were as natural as if he had just caught me once, very normally.

"Careful."

His low voice rang above his head, not making any ripples. I quickly bowed my head and replied haphazardly, only to feel the heat on my face still refusing to go away. During the rest of the journey, I was always a little absent-minded, not daring to look at him again. That short but strong hug just now was like a stone thrown into the lake in my heart, creating ripples that won't subside for a long time. When we returned to the Royal Palace, it was already late at night. Arriving at the gate of Tinh Ngo Uyen, he stopped.

“Rest early.”

He looked at me, his eyes even deeper under the halo of the lantern in the hallway.

“The king also left early.”

I gently shook my eyelashes. He nodded slightly, turned around and walked towards Vo Cuu Cu. The figure wearing mysterious clothes quickly disappeared into the darkness of the hallway. I stood in front of the door, letting the night wind gently pass over my still hot cheeks, looking at the small flower lantern bearing the words "An Khang", which still seemed to slowly drift before my eyes. A corner of my heart that was once sealed by ice seemed to have been quietly melted by the countless bright lights throughout the capital and that unexpected hug. There was something, in the stillness of the night, that silently broke the ground and sprouted, quietly growing. Spring passed and summer came, and the lotus flowers in the Royal Palace's garden bloomed at their most beautiful. Ta Vo Cuu's injury is no longer a concern, he just needs to periodically take medicine to strengthen it. The Queen Mother's headache also rarely recurs. Only occasionally when the weather changes suddenly does it feel a little uncomfortable. Using herbal medicine to massage can relieve it. I also seem to gradually become idle. However, that idleness was soon broken.