Chapter 4 — The Queen Likes to Eat Melon Seeds

6
No matter how many words he said to Du Phong Minh, one thing... was true. I need to see King Yen — but not to send a letter. But... you have to come see him personally. I have been "safe and secure" in my room for several days, and the guards outside have also begun to be negligent and lax. Therefore, Bach Dao and I easily snuck out of the back door. Suddenly, a man blocked our way - at this time we were both in simple disguises - he clasped his hands respectfully and said: "Second Miss, the carriage is ready, please get on." I recognized him - he was the person that King Yen once arranged outside the Minister's Palace. Bach Dao was even more overjoyed: "The bodyguard is named Ta!" He grabbed the hem of my shirt and shouted: "Miss, miss! Those delicious breakfast dishes the other day were all bought by him!" I smiled, gently pinched its cheek, then glanced at the other guard. He bowed his head very low, but his exposed ear was slightly red. The wind outside was bitterly cold. I originally planned to go far before renting a car, so I didn't refuse the invitation. Bach Dao was obviously very close to this bodyguard Ta. As soon as he lifted the car curtain, he asked loudly: "It's so cold. Do you have a hand warmer?" I didn't expect it to actually exist - even included two of them. At that moment, my eyes looking at Bach Dao immediately carried some profound meaning. I began to suspect - every time this girl was not in my room, she was most likely sneaking off to play with that guard Ta. No wonder her information is so clear. I hugged his hand to warm it and asked him softly:
“Did you ask him to buy those snacks, or… did he buy them for himself?”
Bach Dao blinked her clear eyes: "Both." Seeing that I wanted to say it again, he was stunned for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something, and quickly patted his chest to assure:
“Miss, don't worry, I will pay you properly every time!”
“……”
So... still not initiated. I suddenly remembered Du Phong Minh. He was even a year younger than Bach Dao, yet there were already five maids in the room. Immersed in the gentle fragrance, so captivated that he can't stop, and the books of saints and sages that I once advised him to read every day, I don't know if he has now pressed them under the bed. However, I didn't expect that the man I was about to meet was even more hateful than Du Phong Minh. The two guards guarding the gate of Yen Vuong's palace looked very familiar - obviously they also recognized me. However, they immediately drew their swords to block the way, saying sternly: "Improper people, do not enter!" My face darkened, and Bach Dao, who was also angry, turned around and left. As soon as he got on the carriage, the Ta guard immediately stuffed it into an exquisite jewelry box. Through the car curtain, he said in a low voice:
"Second young lady, please don't be angry. The prince knew that someone was coming, he was just deliberately putting on a show for outsiders to see."
At first, I was about to laugh coldly and reply a few words, but Bach Dao quickly opened the box. In just a moment, the blinding golden light from a box full of sparkling jewelry almost blinded our eyes. Bach Dao stared at me dumbfounded. As for me, I quickly closed the lid of the box and hugged it tightly. I coughed lightly, my voice immediately softened a bit:
"I understand, I'm not angry. As a man, of course you have to put your career first." "You tell me for me: just rest assured and act, I will definitely cooperate as much as possible!"
When he went out on a trip, he was immediately kicked out, but he happily brought back a box full of gold jewelry. With Yen Vuong's reputation for being as bad as a rabid dog, if I can't endure it, who else will come in? There's no way - he really gave too much.
7
I had just finished hiding the new jewelry in the "little treasury" when someone arrived outside the courtyard.
“Second Miss, Master and Madam are waiting for you in the lobby.”

Come really fast. I also adjusted my clothes and covered my face with white powder without hesitation. Then Bach Dao helped him walk out, coughing as he walked, every three steps, as if he couldn't survive tomorrow. As soon as I entered the door, the tears that I tried to squeeze out along the way had not yet fallen - Someone had already robbed me of the confession part.
"Father, mother... daughter knows it's wrong!"
Third sister Du Nhu Quyen, the child of a concubine, immediately knelt down on the ground, tears streaming down her face, crying so much that the pear flowers were drenched in rain, appearing extremely remorseful. While wiping her tears with her sleeve, she trembled and said:
"The daughter thinks that her father and mother are busy and hard every day... "Only the daughter is useless. If I settle down early, it will also help the government reduce some of the expenses..."
These words were not spoken wisely at all. As expected, Truong Thi did not bother to show respect. She coldly snorted, turned to her father - whose face was already dark - and sarcastically said:
"Look, old man, this is the good daughter you raised!"
“One seduces men from outside, the other gets entangled with her husband. No one knows what integrity is! It really makes our government lose face!”
I immediately knelt down to follow, bowed my head very low, without saying a word - to avoid making them angry at me. His father's voice rang out with anger. He first vented it on Du Nhu Quyen's head: "You evil woman! Normally I thought I was cowardly and gentle, but I didn't expect to be so brave! “Is the Prince of the Marquis also someone you can climb high on? It was the elder brother who invited him to the palace as a guest, yet you took the opportunity to seduce him? It's so humiliating that people will laugh at you and have nothing more to say! “This palace owes you food and water, or does it force you to marry out? But you are so ungrateful? Animals! Come out and kneel in the snow for me!” The servants immediately pulled Du Nhu Quyen out. Outside, the sun was almost setting, the old snow had not yet melted, and new snow was falling. This scene of kneeling in the snow... is absolutely no small matter. But — there's no other way, it's my turn for the next person. Unexpectedly, after being angry, his father took a sip of tea and his tone softened a lot. He said in a low voice: "Yen Vuong was originally Chieu Nhi's fiance. Now that such an incident has occurred, it is inevitable that there will be trouble in his heart." “But now that Tuyen Nhi has settled down with Yen Vuong, this matter will no longer be pursued. Chieu Nhi, don't do it again in the future, do you hear me?" I did not immediately nod in agreement. Sure enough - not long after, Vuong Thi sarcastically spoke up: "As a concubine, your master is really biased." "Could it be that... in my heart I still linger on that woman from my old hometown who passed away?" Next to Du Ninh Xuyen, he also softly called out, full of resentment: "Father..." Father coughed, then remained silent without saying anything more.