Chapter 1 — The day he established me, I did not make a fuss, 17 days later, he searched the world looking for me

"The day he got married, I stood and watched... didn't cry, didn't make a fuss, just quietly left. Seventeen (17) days later, he searched the world looking for me"... On the big day of the wedding ceremony, Du Van stood in the middle of the crowd, watching everything from beginning to end.

I originally thought she would cry, riot, and grab my sleeve and not let go. She doesn't. Just bowed slightly and bowed, then left the main hall. From then on, everyone in the palace praised her: "Nguyen Duong has finally grown up." I also think so. Until I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen her for seventeen days. I turned the whole palace upside down and asked every palace servant. No one knows where she is. On the day of the great ceremony, the sun was shining brightly. The glass tiles on the golden hall reflect so brightly under the sunlight that it makes people unable to open their eyes. Ta Than sat on the dragon chair, receiving the worship of the hundred mandarins. Next to him is the new queen Khuong Tuyet Nhu. She wore a delicate and cumbersome phoenix robe, her face was meticulously made up, a style chosen by him himself. Gentle, dignified, enough to make her suspicious of the world. That was the queen he chose for Dai Ha. She was also the woman he promised to give him grace for the rest of his life. Hundreds of officials shouted in unison, long live, the sound resounded into the sky. Ta Than's eyes unconsciously pierced the crowd, looking for a figure. He thought, she would definitely be there. She likes excitement, but she loves him even more. On such an important day, she will absolutely not be absent. He quickly found her. She stood in an unnoticed corner in the crowd. Not wearing the gorgeous palace costumes that he rewarded, just wearing elegant plain clothes. There is no makeup on the face. That face, always filled with charisma, was now so calm that it was like a deep lake without any ripples. Ta Than's heart suddenly tightened. He thought she would cry. Like countless times before, red eyes would rush forward regardless of everything, grabbing his sleeve and questioning him. She can even cause chaos, right in front of the civil and military mandarins, making him unable to get off the stage. He had already thought of a response. First, he would coax her, then promise, if that still didn't work, he would directly order someone to pull her down. In short, he had countless ways to deal with her turmoil. But she didn't do that. She didn't do anything. Just stood there quietly, watching the whole process. From the time of the investiture, to the time of giving the seal, then to the time when he and Khuong Tuyet Nhu stood side by side to receive the royal court. Her eyes had no resentment, no hatred, not even a hint of sadness. There is only one kind of… deadpan silence. It's like the ashes have burned out. The great ceremony ended, and the officials retired. She mixed in with the crowd, together with the concubines.

“My concubine congratulates your majesty and your queen.”

The sound was not loud, but it clearly reached his ears. After that, she bowed slightly and bowed, then left the main hall. So quiet, it was as if she had never appeared. Ta Than's hand was holding the wine cup, stopping in mid-air. Next to her, Khuong Tuyet Nhu softly asked: "Your Majesty, what's wrong?" He regained consciousness, put down the wine cup, and calmly said: "Nothing." The little unreasonable frustration in the bottom of my heart was forcefully suppressed by him. That's good too. She followed him all year Five years, from a lawless, lawless young lady, she became the most arrogant concubine in the harem. It's time to grow up. Knowing the rules, understanding advance and retreat, is the basis for survival in this harem. From that day on, Du Van really changed. She was no longer standing outside his study, peering in. No more sending people to bring you strange soups and breakfasts. She no longer stayed up all night because he went to other palaces, and the next morning came to question him with red, swollen eyes. She became the concubine who understood the most rules in the harem. Every day, morning and night, I'm never absent. Meeting the new queen Khuong Tuyet Nhu, she was always the first to bow, her demeanor so humble that it was impossible to refute. Everyone in the palace was secretly discussing. It was said that in just one night, Lady Du seemed to have transformed into a different person. Saying that she has finally grown up and understands things. Even the Queen Mother specially summoned him, happily saying: "That child Yu Van, has finally honed his character, you should visit him more often." Ta Than also thinks so. He was very satisfied. He finally has a harem that matches his ideal. The queen is virtuous and the concubine is gentle. There are no more scenes of chickens flying and dogs barking because they are fighting for love. There were no more loud cries that gave him a headache. Everything is in order, peaceful like a spring lake. He was busy with court affairs, busy comforting the new queen. Days passed like that day by day. Until one day, he was in the royal study room approving the chapter until late at night. A little eunuch offered a bowl of lotus seed soup. He took a sip, it was too sweet. He frowned slightly: "Change to another bowl." The little eunuch trembled and asked: "What flavor do you want to change to?" Ta Than instinctively opened his mouth: "Call Du Van..." Halfway through his words, he suddenly stopped. How long has it been since he saw her? He began to reminisce. The last time I saw her, it seemed like it was in the palace to greet the Queen Mother. She stood among a group of concubines, her head bowed, quiet as a shadow. Since when was that a thing? He asked the chief eunuch next to him, Vuong Duc. Vuong Duc bowed and carefully answered: "Your Majesty, counting today, you have not seen Lady Du for seventeen days...." Seventeen days. Ta Than's heart suddenly sank. Like a large rock, violently thrown into that quiet spring lake. What he thought was that she understood, in fact, her heart was numb. What he thought was peace was actually her leaving him. He suddenly stood up.

"Offer the price! Come to Lanh Van palace!"