Chapter 15 — Royal Regret

After listening, the Queen Mother calmly looked at me. "You raised this child well." I bowed and thanked him. The Queen Mother asked Tieu Nghien again: "Are you willing to go to the palace to study and be an auditor?" Tieu Nghien did not answer immediately. It looked at me first. I smiled. "The Queen Mother asked you, not me." At this point, she bowed her head. "Tieu Nghien agreed." The Queen Mother nodded. "Then let's go." "The descendants of the royal family must have the appearance of the descendants of the family." On the way back to the palace, Tieu Nghien hugged the book the Queen Mother gave her, her fingers clenched until they turned white. I asked: "Are you scared?" He said: "A little." "If you're afraid, you have to go." He nodded. "I know." When the carriage passed through the palace gate, the wind lifted the curtains. We see a deep red wall in the distance, like a road with no end in sight. I suddenly understood. The place where Tieu Nghien really had to step out was no longer just Doan Vuong Palace. 14After Tieu Nghien entered the palace to study, the atmosphere in Doan Vuong Palace changed again. Before, the servants who met him only called him little master. Now there was three more points of awe in that young master's voice. The learning palace is not a place where everyone can enter. Being able to read books right under the Queen Mother's eyes is like having an extra layer of protective talisman that others don't dare to arbitrarily touch. Tieu Thua Canh also changed. A few days later, he sent someone to deliver things to Hanh Vu Vien. Sometimes it's an inkstone. Sometimes it's a bow tool. Sometimes books are hard to find outside the palace. I accepted everything according to the list but did not return the favor. Xuan Dao asked me why I didn't return it. I said: "It is natural for the heir of Doan Vuong Palace to use things from Doan Vuong Palace." "As for feelings, he cannot bring them in." Tieu Nghien also understood. He received the things and said thanks as usual, but never asked the King when he would come. Perhaps Tieu Thua Canh was unwilling. One afternoon, he personally came outside the hospital gate. At that time, Tieu Nghien had just returned from studying at the palace and was washing his hands in the hallway. Tieu Thua Canh looked at it from the door. "Nghien Nhi." As soon as those two words were uttered, Tieu Nghien's hand movements stopped. I also raised my eyes. Since he entered the palace, Tieu Thua Canh either called Tieu Nghien or called him that child. Intimate addresses like Nghien Nhi come too late, and too lightly. Tieu Nghien walked to the door and bowed. "Your Majesty." Tieu Thua Canh's face was unsightly for a moment. But he held back. "How are your studies?" "It's okay." "Is anyone giving you a hard time?" "No." "If so, tell the king." Tieu Nghien was silent for a moment. "Thank you, King." The words ended here. Between father and son, they were like a river that had frozen a long time ago. Tieu Thua Canh wanted to step over but refused to admit that the ice was frozen by him. He looked at me. "Shen Lenh Nghi, you taught the child too coldly." I calmly said: "The prince is wrong." "It's not that I taught him to be cold." "It's that he endured the cold for too long, knowing fire can't be trusted." Tieu Thua Canh's eyes sank. "Now this king is willing to teach him." I looked at him. "If the prince is willing, does he have to thank the team?" He gritted his teeth. "His last name is Tieu." I said: "First of all, he is a a human being.” Tieu Thua Canh waved his sleeve and left. After that day, he did not come for a long time. But Lieu Nhu Mi began to feel uneasy. She has been released from detention a long time ago, and although she is still favored, it is clear that she no longer has the glory as before. The money in the palace is strictly controlled, even rewarding a maid she has to consider. Yet Tieu Nghien has more and more prospects. She saw everything, how could she be willing? In December, news suddenly spread from Lieu Vien. Lieu Nhu Mi is pregnant. When the news reached Hanh Vu Vien, the scissors in Xuan Dao's hand almost fell to the ground. "Your Highness, if she really gave birth to a son, would you do it again?"

Is it difficult for you, young master?" I was arranging Tieu Nghien's palace lessons. Hearing that, I just stopped. "Let's wait for the Royal Doctor to diagnose first." Xuan Dao said impatiently: "But the word has already spread in the front yard, saying that the Vuong is so happy that he will reward up and down the Liu family." I turned to a page of the book. "She let the news spread so quickly because she wanted me to panic." "If I panic, that's what she meant." Tieu Nghien sat in front of the court, his expression very calm. He asked: "Mother, if she really has a child, what should I do?" I looked at it. "You don't need to do anything." "Whether or not she has children has nothing to do with the books you have to read and the path you have to take." He said softly: "But the Prince will not like you even more." I smiled. "Tieu Nghien, don't let worthless things get stuck in your heart." He bowed his head. "I understand." But in the end he is still a child. When I recited the book at night, it made two mistakes. I don't point it out. Just ask Xuan Dao to give him a bowl of hot soup. The next day, in the palace, the patient was safe and sound. The Queen Mother did not personally issue the decree, but only sent her mother to ask a few questions. Before leaving, she specially came to Hanh Vu Institute to visit me. She said: "The Queen's heart must be strong." I smiled and replied, "Sorry ma ma."