Chapter 3 — This Year's Peach Blossoms Bloom Again

Truong Ninh knelt outside the door, crying and begging, but he turned a blind eye. It was not until half a month later that the promotion order was brought to Bui Palace. He knelt on the ground to receive instructions, as if his heart had been stabbed by a knife. He changed into court clothes and followed the eunuch into the palace. As soon as I looked up, I saw a beauty wearing a royal costume and her hair tied in a high bun. The moment he saw his face clearly, Bui Nhien's breath suddenly choked. His body was faster than his consciousness, he suddenly rushed forward and pulled my hand. “A Uyen!” I calmly withdrew my hand. “Master Bui, this palace is Mr. Tham.” Bui Nhien's hand stiffened in mid-air. He stared at me, his lips moved for a long time before he forced out a sentence from his throat. “Tham Uyen, you are crazy.” I didn't want to continue arguing with him anymore, so I turned around and was about to leave. But the sleeve conveyed a strong, pulling force that held me in place. His voice was lowered extremely low, as if he was afraid that the surrounding palace staff would hear him. “Follow me home.” "While I still have time to speak, I'll go beg the king, saying she doesn't understand, saying she's just angry with me. At that point..." I frowned and turned to look at him. “Master Bui, what identity do you use to beg?” He was stunned. And I, expressionless, pulled the sleeve from his hand little by little, my words were like a knife piercing his heart. "I'm just a folk girl brought back by your majesty. I'm not your sister, nor your wife. We have no relationship at all." His face suddenly turned pale. "We are husband and wife in love, at that time I really thought she was dead... Was all of this something she had planned?" I looked at his appearance and suddenly felt an inexplicable irritation in my heart. In my previous life, I endured so many years in the North, lost my child, bowed my back due to fatigue, and in return was nothing more than a sentence from him: "Maybe if you enter the palace, everything will go smoothly" from him. Now I have followed your wishes, why are you not happy and still want to save? Husband and wife of two generations, I never knew what he really wanted. I curled my lips, but there was no smile in my eyes. “What if?” "Master Bui, fish and bear paws cannot be had together. I have fulfilled your wish in your previous life. You should not be so greedy." Bui Nhien felt like someone had hit him in the head with a stick, his whole body staggered back two steps. “A Uyen, at that time I was just…” Without waiting for him to continue, I opened my mouth to interrupt. "Lord Bui, what was in your mind at that time, it doesn't matter anymore." "You go back. From now on, the Bui family's affairs will be under the emperor's care. This is the end between you and me." Bui Nhien stood in place without moving, like a wooden puppet whose soul had been drained. But I have no intention of stopping for you even for a moment. I turned around and slowly left. The days of entering the palace were much more pleasant than we imagined. That day, after Tieu Dien stopped me, she took the identity of a folk woman and took me to the palace. In the past, when I was still Mrs. Bui, I could not avoid entering the palace. Although the concubines in the palace are not familiar with me, they still know my original identity. Suddenly, there was a stir in the harem, and even the queen went to see the emperor. But Tieu Dien single-handedly suppressed all objections and placed me in Tru Tu palace. Every three or five days, he would come to my palace to sit for a while, sometimes carrying a box of fresh breakfast offerings, sometimes carrying two bundles of cloth woven by Giang Nam. Sometimes you don't bring anything, just come sit for a while and talk to me. He never mentioned my past, nor did he mention why I suddenly left the capital that day. As if it never happened. He didn't say it, so naturally I won't mention it either. The days went by like that, more than a month passed. Until that day of the palace feast. The pre-dynasty officials divided into two sides, the emperor took me and the queen with him. One left and one right next to him. Although the queen's face was a bit unsightly, she was still extremely dignified to maintain her dignity. Bui Nhien was promoted to Head of the Household Ministry, naturally qualified to participate. He had lost a lot of weight, his eyes were full of blood, and his royal uniform was a bit loose

. Truong Ninh followed him, bowed his head, not daring to look up. I poured a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp. Just as he was about to pour more, a long, slender hand with clear joints covered the wine cup. I looked up a little dissatisfied and saw Tieu Dien. He smiled and spoke softly. “Slow down, you'll complain of a stomach ache later.” I obediently replied, in the corner of my eye I saw Bui Nhien staring at us. Halfway through the banquet, singing and dancing alternated. While the cups of wine were mixed together, someone suddenly stood up. It's Bui Nhien. His steps were a bit unsteady, obviously he had drunk a lot. Truong Ninh, behind him, tried his best to pull on his sleeve, but he pushed him away. He stood in the middle of the main hall, resolutely opening his mouth. “Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask!” Tieu Dien put down the wine cup, his expression pale. "Hey Khanh, what's the matter?" Bui Nhien raised his head, his eyes passed Tieu Dien and fell straight on him. “I beg your Majesty, please return my wife named Tham to me.”