Chapter 6 — The day after the wedding, he had to kneel and call me Queen

Miss Dung, standing behind Tham Vi, heard that and immediately took a step forward. She raised her hand without expression, without even a moment of hesitation. A crisp slap echoed throughout the quiet main hall. The left side of Tham Vi's face turned red and swelled at a speed visible to the naked eye. She covered her face, completely stunned. From childhood to adulthood, let alone being beaten, no one had ever said even a harsh word to her.

“You... you dare to hit me?”

She looked at me with unbelievable eyes.

“It's you who's fighting.”

I looked at her coldly.

“This slap is to teach you rules.

In front of this palace, you must always clearly remember your identity." Dung aunt returned and slapped her other cheek.

“This slap is to teach you on behalf of your deceased aunt.”

"Teaching you to clearly distinguish the true hierarchy, don't always dream about things that don't belong to you."

Tham Vi was completely stunned. Her tears fell like a broken string of pearls.

“Co Lang... save me...”

She cried while looking at Co Yen Thanh. Co Yen Thanh's eyes looked like they were about to crack open. He wanted to rush forward, but was held tightly by two guards, unable to move at all. He could only watch helplessly as his newlywed wife was repeatedly slapped by a servant right in front of him. His pride. His appearance. They were all brutally trampled under my feet and crushed until nothing remained.

“Shen Uyen!”

Finally, he couldn't hold it in anymore, screaming my name, his eyes were red like a caged beast.

“What do you want anyway?”

“What do I want?”

I slowly stood up. One step at a time. Go down from the high steps. The phoenix embroidered with gold thread on the hem of my dress seems to be spreading its wings to fly. I walked up to him and looked down from above.

“Co Yen Thanh, I should ask you this question.”

"That year, when you broke your promise, broke your engagement with me, and turned around to marry a concubine as your wife, what did you want at that time?"

“When you let her wear the robe that originally belonged to me.”

“Enjoy the glory that belongs to me.”

“What do you really want then?”

"When you first got married, the next day, you ran to the General's mansion."

“Use the appearance of giving alms to say you want to accept me as your concubine.”

“Think of me as a toy that can be thrown away and picked up again.”

“What do you want then?”

My voice is not loud. But every sentence and every word stabbed straight into his heart. Every question we ask. Co Yen Thanh's face turned even whiter. His lips trembled constantly. But not even half of the objection could be said. In the main hall, all the maids bowed their heads low. Even my breathing tried to be a little lighter, for fear of being caught up in this storm.

“Do you think that if I leave you, Tham Uyen, I won't be able to live?”

I looked at him, my eyes filled with sarcasm.

“Do you think you are heaven, earth, the final gathering place of all women in the world?”

“Co Yen Thanh, put away your pitiful arrogance.”

“Without you, Tham Uyen I can only live better.”

“You look.”

“I am the Queen now.”

“The most noble woman in this country.”

“And you.”

“And love your wife.”

“You can only kneel at my feet and let me decide.”

I held out my hand. Fingertips gently brushed his cheek. The skin there was cold and stiff.

“You tell me.”

“Isn't this world... very interesting?”

Co Yen Thanh's body trembled violently. In those eyes that were once filled with courage and confidence, fear appeared for the first time along with... Regret. A regret so thick that it cannot be dissolved. He regrets it. He finally realized how much he had given up a brilliant pearl for a woman who only had looks. He always thought that what he lost was just a marriage that didn't really satisfy him. But it wasn't until today that he understood.

“Your Highness...”

His voice was so hoarse that it was almost silent, carrying an unprecedented plea.

“What happened that year... was my fault. It's because my mind is clouded by the devil, it's because I have no eyes..."