Chapter 17 — The Sister Who Stealed the Merit to Save People, I Smiled and Conceded Even to the Crown Prince

(EXTRA STORY 3 - THE CHILD ON THE LONG Y) Ly Truong An was brought back to the capital when he was just three months old. At that time, he was still too young, only knowing how to open his dark eyes to look at the people around him, his tiny hand holding my finger tightly and refusing to let go. I stood in front of the carriage, watching the Queen personally hug it, my heart aching as if someone had pulled it apart. The Empress looked at me. Her eyes no longer had the cold majesty of the court, but carried a rare sense of guilt for a mother.

“Lang Suong, I know you can't bear it.”

I bow my head. The voice was hoarse.

“Your Majesty, I understand.”

Understanding is one thing. Not being able to bear it is another matter. That is the child I bore so much, the child I held in the rainy night of Giang Nam, the small life that Thanh Du and I spent our whole lives hoping for his peace. If possible, I just want him to grow up next to the river, hear the sound of rain falling on the tiled roof, run under the green willows, be a carefree child. But some people are born with responsibility. Like Thanh Du. Like the Queen. Just like Truong An. The Empress held the baby in her arms and said softly:

“I promise you.”

“This child will not grow up calculating and cold.”

“I will teach him to become a person first, then to become a monarch.”

Those words almost made my tears fall. Ly Thanh Du stood next to me, quietly holding my hand. His hand is very warm. He didn't say anything, but I understood. We have chosen this path together. The carriage left the palace gate at dawn. I don't turn back. Because I'm afraid that if I turn around once, I won't be able to help myself and run back to hug Truong An. Truong An grew up in the palace. The Empress did not leave it entirely to her nurses and palace servants. Every day, no matter how busy she is, she will come and look at it herself for a while. When it learned to crawl, she spread a thick carpet in the heavenly palace, letting it crawl from one side to the other, ignoring the palace servants who were so scared that their faces turned white. When it learned to speak, the first word called was not "royal ancestor mother", but "mother". The palace servants who heard it were all silent. The female emperor was not angry. She just picked it up and said gently:

“My mother is in Jiangnan.”

“The rain there is very beautiful.”

Truong An was still young at that time. I don't understand what Giang Nam is. Just tilt your head and ask:

“Is mother beautiful?”

The Queen looked at it for a long time. Finally smile.

“But the most precious thing about your mother is not her appearance.”

"She once fell into the coldest place, but still came out on her own."

Truong An did not understand. But still seriously nodded. That look made the Empress laugh. This child has been smart since childhood. It resembles me in its calmness. One time, he was intentionally pushed down by the little emperor in the sect's house, his knees were scratched, he didn't cry. The palace man wanted to immediately punish the child, but Truong An himself stood up, brushed the dirt off his shirt and said:

“No need to fine in advance.”

“We have to ask clearly why he pushed me.”

The palace man was surprised. The female emperor standing behind the screen saw it and her eyes softened a lot. It is also like Thanh Du in its kindness. When he was six years old, he followed the Queen out to explore. On the way, seeing a child beggar huddled under an awning, Truong An pulled the Queen's sleeve and asked why there were still hungry people in the capital. The female emperor did not answer lightly. She took him to the place where he distributed porridge. Let him see the poor lining up. Seeing officials recording books. Seeing a bowl of hot porridge can make a person survive a winter day. That night, Truong An sat in the royal study for a long time. Finally ask:

“Your Majesty, if I sit in your position in the future, will those people no longer be hungry?”

The female emperor put down the medal. She did not say pleasant words to comfort him. Just seriously answer:

“It's not that easy.”

“Power is not a magic wand.”

"If you can't swing it, it will make the world peaceful."

“But power can decide whether food reaches the people or not, whether the weak are protected or not, whether wrongdoers have to pay the price or not.”

Truong An raised his head to look at her. The Empress said every word clearly:

“You must remember.”

“Power is not about oppressing people.”

“But to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”

From that day on, Truong An began seriously studying how to handle political affairs. Not because I like to rely on long. But because it remembered the Queen's words. It wants to become someone who can protect others. When Truong An was ten years old, Thanh Du and I returned to the capital to visit him. The child who was still in my arms is now as tall as my shoulder. It stood at the palace gate waiting very early, but when it saw me, it suddenly became flustered, as if it didn't know whether to bow first or run ahead. I couldn't help but laugh. Open your arms. He immediately ran to hug me.

“Mother.”

Just those two words made my eyes turn red. That night, Truong An slept next to me like when he was a child.

“Mother, the royal ancestor said you were the one who saved your life.”

“Is it true?”

I look at its young face. Gently stroke its hair.

“So is it difficult?”

I thought for a long time. Finally replied:

“But if you don't save yourself, it will be even more difficult.”

Truong An was silent for a moment then nodded.

“In the future, I also want to protect those who are waiting to be saved.”

I hug it to my heart. In that moment, I knew I didn't regret bringing it back to the capital. Later, history books wrote that the monarch was kind but tough all his life. Exactly like his mother living in the rain of Jiangnan. (END OF FULL TEXT)