Chapter 3 — The night before the Crown Prince paid the royal concubine, the Ministry of Ceremonies mistakenly gave me my Queen's Order

I lowered my eyes to look at Tra Tran: "Miss Shen hasn't even entered the Eastern Palace yet, and you dare to bring Her Highness's edict to the door?" Tham Lenh Nghi's smile stiffened. But very quickly, she moved a little closer and lowered her voice: "Why do you have to keep the price like that? Who in the whole capital doesn't know that the Ta family now depends on your highness. Your parents' reward, your mother's fate announcement, even your position as Crown Princess, what is not given to you by Your Highness?" I touched the jade in my sleeve.

“Did he ever give me the position of Crown Princess?”

Tham Lenh Nghi paused. I raised my eyes: "Is there my name in the message of the Ministry of Rites? Has the grand concubine investiture ceremony of the Eastern Palace ever been held? Has the Emperor's marriage decree, has the Ta palace ever received it?" Being asked repeatedly by me, her expression changed slightly, but she quickly burst into laughter again: "Sister, do you really think that last night's wild promissory note was real?" She turned her head to look at the captain of the military: "Shouldn't you burn this kind of fake object?" The principal's face did not change: "Your Majesty has orders, no one is allowed to touch it."

“My cousin is the Crown Prince!”

“The divine command is the will of your Majesty.”

Tham Lenh Nghi's expression finally could no longer be maintained. She looked at me, her voice a bit sharper: "Ta Minh Duong, don't forget, tomorrow is my concubine adoption ceremony. Today you dare to make the Dong palace lose face, tomorrow when you step through the door, I have countless ways to make you uncomfortable." I slowly put the tea tray back into the ceremony box.

"You already said it, it's your concubine initiation ceremony." I said leisurely. “Then you should go pray to the Ministry of Rites, not me.”

Tham Lenh Nghi stared at me, suddenly reached out and grabbed the brocade box. Her movements were so fast that even the forbidden army had no time to react. I immediately held her wrist tightly. She cried out in pain: "What do you mean by that?"

“This is royal wind.” I grind every word. "Those who do it arbitrarily will be charged with lese majeste."

Tham Lenh Nghi's face turned pale, but he still tried to keep his mouth shut: "Are you threatening me? I just want to see for you, see if the letter was written wrongly or not. What if it's not a posthumous conferment, but a posthumous conferment for you or something?" She struggled to pull her hand away. During the jostling, the wet notebook placed next to the camcorder was hit and fell to the ground, rolling halfway around. A single leaflet tucked inside fell out. The page was wrinkled by the rain, but the seal of the Ministry of Rites was still stamped on the edge. The mother bent down to pick it up. As soon as she looked at it, her expression immediately changed.

“Minh Duong…”

I received the ceremony order. The first line reads: “The ceremony to establish the Queen.” Further down, there is a reward accompanied by a decree: Posthumous appointment of Ta Tranh as Trung Vo Marquis, bestowing the posthumous title Liet Trung. The eldest son of the Ta family, Ta Hanh Chu, was posthumously promoted to General Tran Bac. The second son of the Ta family, Ta Hanh Xuyen, posthumously appointed General Van Huy. The girl Ta Thi Minh Duong, serving the relics of the first emperor, entered the central palace. My finger stopped on the three words "Ta Hanh Chu". That's our big brother. That year he died in the North, and couldn't even bring his remains back, only a piece of blood-stained spear tassel. That year, the Eastern Palace came to pay a visit to Ta Palace. Tieu Thua Quan held my hand and said: "Minh Duong, you can rest assured. The work of the parents and the prefects, I will definitely reclaim it for you." I believed for three years. But on this ceremony form, the rewards of parents and prefects have been clearly listed for a long time. Not without rewards. But someone intentionally forced it down. Tham Lenh Nghi also saw it. The charming look on her face disappeared completely, but she still forced herself to laugh:

“Just a few lines. Who knows if they were faked at the same time last night?"

I looked at the military captain: "This ceremony form must also be sealed." The lieutenant stepped forward to receive it, wrapping it carefully in oiled paper. Tham Lenh Nghi suddenly rushed forward and grabbed it: "Don't take it away!" Her fingernails scratched the back of my hand, drawing out a trail of blood. I don't let go. The captain's voice was cold: "Miss Shen, leave." Tham Lenh Nghi was supported by the royal servant, his eyes immediately turned red: "Do you have to force me like this? I just want to go to the Eastern Palace to find a place to live. You're the future concubine, I'm just a side concubine, is that going to get in your way?"

"You are blocking the ritual." I said.

She bit her lip: "Be polite, be polite, when you open your mouth it's polite, no wonder Your Highness says you're tasteless." I suddenly found it funny. It turns out that women's observance of rituals is tasteless. A man overcomes the ceremony and becomes a gentleman. Mother stood up, her voice was very soft, but much firmer: "Miss Tham, please go home. Today, Ta Palace does not receive guests." Tham Lenh Nghi took one look at the forbidden army in the yard, knowing he couldn't take it away, so he had no choice but to wave his sleeve and leave. At the door, she turned around and smiled coldly.

“Sister, tomorrow on the altar, I will wait for your cup of tea.”

After she left, the main hall fell silent again. Sunlight passed through the window and shone down on the mother's pale face.