Chapter 1 — Shining Pearl

During the Queen Mother's birthday celebration party, the ladies had to solve the nine consecutive combinations on the spot. You're the best at clever tricks, but you deliberately changed my bracelet to a broken one right before going on the field. In my previous life, the more I solved, the more confused I became, to the point where my ears turned red. The fifth prince said I was innocent and cute, and asked to marry me. Later, he saw that his sister had solved the bracelet in just three breaths, and was stunned for a long time. "It turns out she is the truly intelligent person." Opening his eyes again, I picked up the broken bracelet, just looked at it and put it down. "This thing is broken, the goddess cannot solve it." The fifth prince indeed looked disappointed. The young Emperor next to the Queen Mother suddenly reached out his hand. He picked up the broken bracelet, gently twisted it, and the mechanism immediately opened with the sound. "Being able to realize with just one look that the underground latch has been broken is smart enough." He looked towards the Queen Mother. "I want to propose to the second lady of the Tham family to marry me."1. The palace was quiet for a long time. I knelt in the middle of the celebration of life, my fingertips still resting next to that nine-link chain. The silver bracelet was held in Wen Zhi Dao's hand. The hidden latch on the innermost floor had popped out, revealing a piece that had been pried open by someone. If I had just stubbornly solved it, the bracelet would have gotten tighter and tighter, and in the end it would have been just like that life, so urgent that my palms sweated, my ears turned red, and I was laughed at like a clumsy girl. Fifth prince Tieu Thua Canh used to like that clumsiness. He said I don't know how to hide, I'm innocent and cute. After that he got bored. He saw his sister in just three breaths solve the nine-circle in the palace banquet. His eyes stood still for a long time. After returning to the palace, he threw the broken bracelet in front of me. He said: "Tham Chieu Vi, did you intentionally hide your talents that year, or were you really stupid?" "If you had had half of your sister's wisdom, my king would not have been fooled by that lovely bit of innocence of yours." Then I knew, it turned out that he liked my stupidity, and could also use it to blame me for being stupid. Now I'm not stupid enough to show you anymore. He immediately looked disappointed. The Queen Mother held the fireplace in her hand, her eyes glanced between me and Wen Tri Dao. "Tri Dao, do you want to marry the second lady of the Tham family?" Wen Tri Dao bowed and bowed. His voice was very steady, like jade falling into clear water. "I ask for your grace from the Queen Mother." The Queen Mother did not immediately respond. At the birthday party, there were many noble ladies from all over the capital, ladies from all palaces, and several princes were also present. Wen Tri Dao is the Emperor personally appointed by the First Emperor. Although he is still young, he is in charge of Kinh Dien, in charge of Quoc Tu Giam, even when the Emperor meets him, he must maintain three points of politeness. He had never meddled in the ladies' little games at a banquet like this. Today, in front of everyone, I opened my mouth for me. Sister Tham Minh Xu stood next to me, the smile on her face stiffened. Just now when she
Unlocking the bracelet, in just three breaths, the Queen Mother personally praised her for her sparkling thoughts. She should have been the most dazzling person today. But one sentence from Wen Zhi Dao made everyone's eyes turn to him. The five princes are also looking at me. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if he suddenly realized that he had just looked away too soon. The Queen Mother slowly smiled. "Second lady of the Tham family, what do you say yourself?" I raised my eyes. "The goddess is scared." These are sincere words. Avoiding Tieu Thua Canh is one thing, being proposed to by Wen Tri Dao right in the middle of the palace is another. The Wen family's disciples are noble and have strict rules. The person of Wen Zhi Dao is even more unpredictable. In that life, I only saw a few of his essays in Tieu Thua Canh's study. The handwriting is elegant and strong, the words are sharp, each sentence leaves no room for retreat. Every time Tieu Thua Canh finished reading it, he had to frown. He said, people like Wen Zhi Dao are born without knowing how to love others, and are only suitable for living their lives holding scriptures. Later, I was locked up in the Fifth Prince's palace. On the contrary, I felt that not knowing how to love others was not considered a bad thing. At least better than people who know how to like it and also know how to hate it. The Queen Mother looked at Wen Tri Dao, her smile deepened a bit. "This child, from childhood to adulthood, never opened his mouth to beg anyone. Today, the moment he opened his mouth, he startled someone." Wen Tri Dao said: "I really have selfish thoughts." The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows. "What selfish thoughts?" Wen Tri Dao put the broken nine-circle back on the tray. "I have been repairing the Bach Gong Old Pho set for many years, the most lacking is someone who can distinguish the organs. damaged." "The second lady of the Tham family knew with just one look that the underground latch had been breached." "It would be a pity for a person like that to be kept in the inner house." The palace was quiet again for a moment. This statement is really not like a marriage proposal. On the contrary, it's more like Quoc T. Tu, a student scout. When I heard it, my heart felt a little relieved, but for some reason I felt a bit bitter. At least what you said is that we can see the damaged organ. Not innocent and adorable, nor interestingly stupid. The Queen Mother burst out laughing. "I asked to marry someone else's lady, but first I said that she could repair the old pagoda." On Tri Dao's face did not change. "I want to marry you as my wife." "I also want to invite you to repair the old pagoda." This time, even I was stunned. The Queen Mother's eyes fell on her again. "Second lady of the Tham family, today is Ai's birthday party, Ai did not force me to nod." "But Tri Dao opened her mouth, Ai immediately left a sentence." "If you are willing, three days later I will return to the palace to answer." I bowed and bowed my head. "I thank the Queen Mother for your grace." When I retreated, Tham Minh Xu suddenly reached out and gently supported me a little. Her fingertips were placed on my wrist, the pressure was very light, her voice was also light. "You are truly blessed." Her tone was still gentle. But her fingernails almost dug into her neck bone
my hand. I raised my eyes to look at her. "Your Nine-Line Solution is very good." The corner of her lips moved slightly. I slowly withdrew my hand. "Unfortunately, the broken one was in my hand." The blood on her face finally faded a bit. 2. On the way back to the palace, father was silent and did not say a word. The mother sat next to him, the towel in her hand was rumpled over and over again. Tham Minh Xu bowed his head, his eyes were slightly red, as if suffering from a sky-high frustration. I sat in the innermost corner, on my wrist there was still a half-circle of red marks that she pressed out. As the carriage passed through the long street, the sound of vendors selling roasted chestnuts with sugar could be heard outside. I suddenly remembered that life, the first winter after marrying into the Fifth Prince's palace. Tieu Thua Canh took Tham Minh Xu to the snow reward palace. She sat under the eaves and opened a sandalwood organ box. Only two or three times it was opened, revealing the jade chess pieces inside. Tieu Thua Canh looked at it for a long time. That night, he came to my hospital, picked up the wooden kite that I had just removed half of from the table, and said in a faint voice: "Tham Chieu Vi, before you couldn't even solve the nine series, now you're starting to pretend to be clever again." I explained that the wing bone of the wooden kite was already broken. He laughed again. "You always have many reasons." Only then did I understand that as long as there was resentment in his heart, everything I did was just like pretending. The carriage stopped in front of the gate of Tham palace. As soon as my father entered the main hall, he heavily patted the table. "Tham Chieu Vi, what happened to you today?" I bowed. "What did father say?" "Why did the nine-lotus bracelet intentionally reach you and it was broken?" The mother immediately continued: "Master, Vi is still young, perhaps because she was afraid of losing face in front of the Queen Mother, that's why she said the bracelet was broken." Tham Minh Xu quickly raised his head. "Mother, I won't do that. "That bracelet was probably accidentally damaged by a palace servant, my sister just had bad luck." She said that, but if I continued to pursue it, it would become incomprehensible. I raised my head to look at her. “Sister is right.” Tham Minh Xu was stunned. I continued to say: "If it was a palace servant who accidentally made a mistake, it would be better if father presented it tomorrow. Please ask the Queen Mother to find out whose hands that tray has passed through." The main hall became quiet. Father frowned. "The birthday celebration party is over, do you still want to make a scene in the palace?" I said: "I don't want to make a scene." "It's just that Deputy Wen pointed out in front of everyone that the underground bolt was broken, and the whole palace heard it." "If the Tham family didn't investigate, the outside would guess that you broke the nine-link chain yourself, intentionally attracting the attention of Deputy Wen Thai." Mother's face changed slightly. I looked towards Tham Minh Xu. "I would also guess that you and your sisters had a disagreement, someone secretly took action." Tham Minh Xu's eyelids trembled. Father rubbed the seal, obviously having a headache. "This is the end of this matter." "The Queen Mother has told you to come to the palace to answer in three days, you just obediently stay in the palace."
The Tham family still needs to probe further." I smiled. "What do you want to probe?" Father looked at me. "The Wen family is noble, not necessarily really wanting to marry you." The mother also said in a low voice: "Vi Nhi, today the Grand Deputy probably only temporarily loves you." "A woman getting married is a lifelong thing, you can't be confused because of a pleasant saying at a banquet." Pleasant words? Those words of Wen Zhi Dao are not considered pleasant to hear. If changed. In Tieu Thua Canh, the words he said were sweet and innocent, among all the noble ladies in the capital, she was the only one who was the most truthful. After that, I rolled my eyes. "The daughter obeyed her father's arrangement." But I knew that a disciple like On Tri Dao would not refuse My mother couldn't bear to let this glory fall on me. Tham Minh Xu walked me back to the courtyard. Finally, she stopped. "Sister." I turned around. Tears filled her eyes, her voice was as light as the wind. "Did you already know that the bracelet was broken?" I looked at her. "Yes." Her face stiffened a bit. Perhaps I didn't expect me to answer so directly. I said: "When you changed your clothes, your sleeve was dirty wood." She lowered her head to look at her sleeves. Before entering the palace today, she wore a newly sewn begonia-colored dress. The edge of the sleeve was embroidered with silver thread. If you look closely, there was indeed a very small black wood chip stuck in the silver thread. That was the organ core that broke when the hidden latch of the nine chain was pried. Tham Minh Xu's face was completely pale. "If you already knew, why didn't you say it on the spot?" I laughed. "Because I want to see, after my third sister "How could you think of me like that?" "Then how could you change my bracelet?" Her lips moved, speechless. I took a step closer to her, lowering my voice. "Tham Minh Xu." "In the past, I could give anything you took away." "Master, sir, father's praise, the glory of the banquet." "This time It's not possible." A trace of hatred appeared in her eyes. "Why did On Thai Fu look at you?" I looked at her. This was the truth. She did not care that the Fifth Prince was disappointed. She cared that On Tri Dao saw me. I said: "Because the broken bracelet is in my hand."