Chapter 5 — Tham Xuan Doanh

“You really have a future, helping people from that family bully your future wife.” After a moment of silence, Bui Hanh Ngoc's low voice rang out: “I don't know she's injured.” There was no longer any arrogance in his voice like before. I closed my eyes and quietly listened to everything. Where he couldn't see, the corner of my lips curled up slightly. In the following days, I was able to stay at Phuong Nghi Palace as I wished. No need to continue to be ridiculed by the elder brother, nor have to endure the favoritism of the mother. As for the elder sister and Bui Can, their wedding day is near and both are busy preparing. Every day I just need to be by the Queen's side, arranging flowers, enjoying tea or helping people handle palace affairs. Bui Hanh Ngoc came to Phuong Nghi palace every few days. Sometimes I throw down a fox skin I just hunted. Sometimes he gave me two round, shiny Dong Chau tablets. I also always prepare gifts in return. Back and forth many times, the scented bags, fan strings and belts on Bui Hanh Ngoc's body were all made by my own hands. He even hid me and went to fight with the elder brother. The news that the little king of the capital had fought with Marquis Vinh An quickly spread throughout the palace. Both of them are not the type to be easily teased. When Bui Hanh Ngoc returned, there were a few more bruises on his handsome face. I stood coldly waiting for him in front of the palace gate. When I applied the ointment, I intentionally hurt him and gritted my teeth and said: "I brought it on myself, I deserved it." Bui Hanh Ngoc didn't care. "Don't worry, I have moderation, your elder brother was not seriously injured..." "Who feels sorry for him?" Bui Hanh Ngoc paused. He looked at me intently, suddenly realizing something. "Is this... the feeling of having a wife?"..., The elder brother is the Crown Prince's secretary. The relationship between him and Bui Can is very good. One is the Crown Prince's confidant, the other is the Crown Prince's biological brother. To persuade the two to make peace, Bui Can asked the Queen to hold a party. But Bui Hanh Ngoc did not intend to attend. He escaped to the island in the middle of the lake in Ngu Hoa Garden, holding a fishing rod, lazily teaching me to fish. "Remember, being my Royal Highness, playing chess, calligraphy, painting, or being a lady of etiquette are not the most important things." "Learning well, eating, drinking, and having fun is the most important thing." I was stunned and then seriously replied: "If this goddess loses to the other ladies in everything, I'm afraid Her Highness will be disgusted." Bui Hanh Ngoc raised his eyebrows and looked at me. "No." "You won't lose." Also very lovely.” The carp in Ngu Hoa Garden is as fat and round as a pig. I held the fishing rod tightly, my fingertips turned white with force. Bui Hanh Ngoc stood beside him with his arms crossed, occasionally giving a few words of advice. Until the fishing rod was bent down, his hand covered my hand. Dry, warm. He held my hand with force, but in the end I pulled him down to the ground. The result... was a giant turtle. I crawled up from his arms, laughing until tears flowed from my eyes. Bui Hanh Ngoc quietly looked at me, saying with deep meaning: "See? I didn't say anything wrong." I raised my head in bewilderment. "What did you say?" He smiled for a long time before replying: "Nothing." "Just seeing the eyes she just looked at that turtle... a bit cute." The sky was gradually getting late, the sparkling water reflected on his long eyelashes. My heart suddenly trembled slightly. I pursed my lips, trying to stay calm, then took the initiative to hold his hand. "Your Highness is also very..." Before he finished speaking, footsteps sounded behind him. The Queen's happy laugh came: "Oh my, there is a couple here." The man turned his head to blame his lover: "Look, your younger brother knows how to comfort the lady much better than you." Bui Can said nothing. He stood there, his face expressionless, his silhouette like a dark cloud quietly imprinted on the lake surface. Exactly like the previous life. An epidemic broke out in the palace again

sick. Every day I personally watch over the palace staff burning mugwort leaves and spraying vinegar water everywhere. But even though she was resurrected once, the Queen was still sick. The patient is very sick. To ensure safety, I let all the palace staff in Phuong Nghi palace move out. Just keep me alone to take care of you. During that time, my brother and mother came to pick me up many times. He looked at me, his jaw tensed. "You don't have to be angry with me and then play with your life." Mother grabbed my hand tightly and said chokingly: "Son, follow me home. It's safer in the house." "The Queen is just your future mother-in-law, why do you have to risk your life for her?" I looked at the two of them quietly for a long time and then gently shook my head. "I won't go back." Brother stunned, my voice a bit angry. "Nonsense! Are you not going to marry from Tham Palace in the future?" "No." I calmly replied. "The Queen has allowed me to marry from Phuong Nghi Palace. All the bride price and dowry will be taken care of by you." Mother's face immediately turned pale. Tears welled up in her eyes. "How can this be? I am your mother. How can I ignore your life's important matter?" I smiled slightly. "Of course mother still has to worry." "On the day we get married, I still welcome you two to my wedding." As soon as the words finished, both of them stiffened on the spot. I didn't look at them one more time, quietly turned around and left. … I didn't expect that I would also be infected with the disease. Perhaps because he had been punished by kneeling before, his body was already weak. Sickness comes like a falling mountain, our body becomes weaker and weaker day by day. Bui Hanh Ngoc does not rest day or night, always standing by my bedside. The back of his hand pressed against my forehead, his voice tired: "I'm not married yet, have I already become a mandarin?" I lay on the bed barely alive. He was silent for a moment and then said: "You still haven't told me why you didn't choose your royal brother instead of me."