Chapter 4 — Tran Bac Vuong Phi

Tieu Truong Minh's eyes swept back and forth between the two of us, his jaw line tight to the extreme. After a long while, he tugged at the corner of his lips, that smile was even colder than no smile: "Good. Very good." He waved his sleeve and left. 7 It wasn't until the black robe disappeared behind the round door that I suddenly regained my senses and began to tremble uncontrollably. The hand he just squeezed my chin, that feeling still lingers on my skin, like a red-hot iron mark, forever fading away. I have never suffered such strange humiliation in this life. The eye sockets finally filled with moisture, I bit my lower lip, refusing to let the tears fall. A pure white handkerchief was brought before my eyes. The scarf is neatly folded, sewn with premium marble, the corner of the scarf is embroidered with a cluster of orchids, elegant and leisurely, like the person holding the scarf. "Oanh Nhi." Tieu Truong Linh's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something, "Tears don't fall, they choke in my heart, on the contrary, they will harm my body." I took the towel, my fingertips touched the still warm fabric, lowered my eyes, quickly wiped away the water from the corners of my eyes. "Thank you, Second Highness." My voice was still a bit hoarse, I quickly knelt down, "Goddess leaves." "Wait." I stopped walking. He said in a soft voice: "When you entered the palace just now, you met Princess Thanh Hoa's palace and said that the princess was waiting for you at Ngu Hoa Vien. Coincidentally, this time you brought back a few rare items from Bac Cuong, intending to bring them over for her to enjoy. If you don't mind, can we come with you?" At Princess Thanh Hoa's side, I had originally received orders from the Queen to come. I nodded: "Sorry, Your Highness." On the path, we walk shoulder to shoulder. The late spring wind penetrated through the palace walls, blew away a few peach blossom petals, fell on his shoulders and then rustled and slid down again. He tilted his head and looked at me, then suddenly said: "In Bac Cuong, there is a flower that grows on the snow, called snow lotus. The petals are as thin as cicada wings, but can bloom for several months in the middle of ice and snow." I didn't understand why, so I just said in a low voice: "That's really rare." "Yes." He withdrew his eyes, his voice was faint, "Everything in the world, each has its own way of life. There are flowers that need to be carefully cared for in a warm room, with just a little bit of wind and rain already gone; there are flowers that grow in cold, miserable soil, searching for dew from the wind, but on the contrary, they bloom even more brightly." My heart moved slightly, and I did not respond. In Ngu Hoa Vien, Princess Thanh Hoa was boredly playing with a peony tree. When she saw us coming in, her almond eyes immediately lit up, the fire of anticipation was almost overflowing from her eye sockets. "Second brother! Sister Tham!" She put down the flower branch and ran to pick it up. Her eyes glanced around my slightly red eyes, her mouth opened, clearly wanting to ask something. Tieu Truong Linh slowly took a step forward, interrupting her story: "At the palace gate, I heard you making noises wanting to see something new, but why don't you let Miss Tham sit down and have a sip of tea first?" When the princess was interrupted like that, her attention immediately turned and she clapped her hands and said: "Yes, yes, yes! Second brother, quickly take it out!" Tieu Truong Linh leaned over and nodded slightly to the attendant. Several inner maids carried three large red wooden chests with gold rims one after another, walked in, and placed the chests in front of the stone table. As soon as the lid of the chest was opened, the princess's surprised voice kept ringing. "This, this is... what is this?" She lifted up a mixed sky made of green bronze. That mixed sky was made extremely delicately. The three layers of inner and outer circles interlocked, and with the slightest touch it moved, emitting a very small mechanical sound. "The mixed sky is used to observe stars." Tieu Truong Linh softly explained, "An old craftsman in Bac Cuong has exquisite skills, she found it interesting so

Bring it back." The princess turned over each item, one by one. There were bronze sparrow candles that could ring by themselves, there were military lanterns that could change patterns, there were Persian silver vases carved with hollow patterns... Three chests were full, brilliant with a variety of colors. I was a bit mesmerized when I looked at them. Those delicate organs, those tightly connected tenon structures, each place revealed the craftsman's thoughts. "Sister Shen, look at this!" The princess handed over a small wooden box. I took it, gently pushed the organ next to me, the lid of the box automatically opened, inside hid a small rabbit carved from jade, with a cute and innocent appearance, its ears could even move slightly. "Very clever." I couldn't help but praise. Tieu Truong Linh's eyes fell on my face, a faint smile appeared on her lips: "If Miss Tham likes it, just take it." I was stunned, quickly put down the wooden box: "This is a gift from your highness to the princess, I don't dare." "Give it to the princess, give it to you..." He paused, his voice as gentle as the warm wind in late spring, "Another part." The princess at the side covered her mouth and secretly smiled, winking teasingly, that sly look made me turn my head away in embarrassment. The three of us chatted and enjoyed those small items, suddenly the sun had turned to the west. A light wind blew, shaking the bronze bell in the corner of the communal house, making a ding sound. I haven't been this relieved for a long time.8