Chapter 5 — Where Spring Returns

I picked up the letter and read it over and over again countless times, but my heart was still restless. The elder sister is also the one who only announces the good news but hides the sad news. Moreover, in the letter, she only said that the Princess treated her very well, and did not mention the Divine King at all. That means...it's very possible that you were just like me in my previous life. The King of God never took a concubine like the eldest sister into his eyes. I can't wait to meet the elder sister once to see her situation with my own eyes. Fortunately, the opportunity soon arrived. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Emperor and Empress held a party in the palace, and Tan Nghien Tu and I were also on the invitation list. It was just an ordinary banquet. Therefore, the elder sister will also attend. … Throughout the banquet, my eyes were always following the eldest sister. The princess still had the same dignified and gentle appearance as in her memories, but there was still a hint of distance and coldness in that gentle expression. But for some reason, I always have the feeling that every time I look at my eldest sister, there is a smile in her eyes. Moreover, the eldest sister sitting next to her was also very natural. There was no longer any nervous tension, no intention to please or flatter. Just like what the elder sister once said, the two of them are more like friends than masters and servants. But...will the royal concubine really associate with the concubine as friends? I thought about it and still couldn't find the answer. In my previous life, because I was too shy, I never dared to say more than half a sentence to her. Every time I stand in front of her, I feel scared, like walking on thin ice.
“What's wrong, ma'am?”
Tan Nghien Tu sat next to me and gently held my hand.
“I see you seem tense, are you not feeling well?”
I shook my head.
"It's okay. It's just that I haven't seen my eldest sister for a long time, so I'm a little worried about her."
"In the middle of the banquet, everyone can move around freely. Then you can go see the elder sister."
When the banquet stopped, Tan Nghien Tu went to find Than Vuong, and by the way told the elder sister that I was waiting in the garden. Not long after, the elder sister arrived. She observed me from top to bottom for a long time then smiled.
"Not skinny at all. Looks like you're living very well in the Qin family."
“I'm very fine.”
I asked impatiently:
"What about elder sister? Are you living well?"
“You are also very good.”
She held my hand, then gently pinched her cheek.
"Look, you're still getting fat, right?"
“Does the Divine King bully you?”
"Are not."
The elder sister smiled.
"With the Queen's protection, he wouldn't dare bully me."
Then she talked about the main story.
"It's true that in the palace there is a Doctor Lam who is taking care of the Princess's body. I have already asked her. Once the Princess's health is stable, she will arrange for Doctor Lam to examine your eldest sister-in-law. You can rest assured and wait."
Before the two sisters could talk for long, a mother came to greet the elder sister, saying that Thai Concubine Khang Di wanted to meet the elder sister. My heart immediately sank. I unconsciously grabbed my sister's hand tightly. Concubine Khang Di is the mother-in-law of Than Vuong, currently residing in Di An palace. In her previous life, during a palace banquet, she also told me to come. That time I was forced to kneel in a small Buddhist hall and copy sutras for an entire day. By the time I returned, my wrists and knees were swollen. The elder sister patted my hand gently.
“Don't worry, it'll be okay.”
The elder sister went away and still hasn't returned. Ta sit still. After knowing the reason, Tan Nghien Tu gently comforted:
"This is the royal palace. The royal concubine will not do anything to the elder sister. Besides, there is also the Than Vuong and the Royal Concubine there."
I don't know how to explain to him. In my previous life, they didn't care about me. It wasn't until the next day that the Thai Phi finally let me go home. Returning to the Royal Palace, I learned that the Princess was happy. The entire Royal Palace was filled with an atmosphere of joy, even the servants in my yard were rewarded with red envelopes by the Royal Family. As for me, a concubine, no one cares whether or not the Thai concubine makes things difficult for me. Perhaps seeing that I was really impatient, Tan Nghien Tu offered to take me outside to get some fresh air. The two quietly left the banquet and walked around the garden. I was still thinking about how to separate Tan Nghien Tu when at the turn ahead suddenly appeared a familiar figure. Is the elder sister. Standing next to her is Than Vuong Phi Muc Thanh Nguyen.
"In the future, if concubine mother calls you, you must inform me first. If she keeps you, I will still know the way to rescue you."
The elder sister hugged Muc Thanh Nguyen's arm and smiled and said:
"I know. Anyway, mother-in-law did not make it difficult for me, she only asked me to copy the sutras."
“If I hadn't come today, would you really have planned to write all night long?”
"Anyway, it's about copying prayers to pray for blessings for my sister and the Royal Family. Just copy and write."
"Unctuous."
Mu Thanh Nguyen smiled and glanced helplessly at the elder sister. I breathed a sigh of relief. Elder sister is okay. Furthermore, it was the Princess who came to take her out. Memories of my previous life suddenly appeared in my mind. The reason I was able to leave Di An palace that day was because Muc Thanh Nguyen sent his close mother into the palace to pass on the word, saying that she wanted to eat lotus seed and white wood ear sweet soup that I cooked. After returning to the Royal Palace, I stood by the stove and cooked for an hour before finishing the pot of tea. But when he brought it to the main institute, it was returned. Mom said that the princess is pregnant and only eats food prepared by the housekeeper. At that time, I thought the Princess hated me. Now that I think about it, she clearly just wanted to save me, so she conveniently found an excuse. But at that time I was scared to death of her. At that moment, the eldest sister also saw me and waved. I quickly walked over, first bowing to the Princess.
"My father pays his respects to His Royal Highness the Princess. I respectfully wish the Queen a lifetime of happiness and peace."
Mu Thanh Nguyen looked at me, smiled and said no politeness.
"Before, I often heard Uyen Nhi mention that she had a younger sister. Today, when we met, I realized that she is indeed a beauty that makes people love her."
I mustered up the courage to look up at her. What catches my eye are the curved eyebrows and eyes carrying a smile and the elegant, gentle face. In those eyes, there was no coldness or distance of a person in a high position. There is only peace and tolerance. It turns out...she is also a very good person.