Huu Quan receives his high-school certificate one year after meeting Thai Thuy.
Thai Thuy would take him to a luxurious Western restaurant and then back to the mansion, their relationship is still as calm and happy as that. The other engagement appears to Huu Quan to be just a little spice to add to the relationship that he and Thai Thuy are still very close to.
Thai Thuy has also realized something, it turns out, he and Huu Quan are very compatible. Huu Quan, for example, is an excellent tennis player who also enjoys the game. He served the ball with such precision that Thai Thuy almost missed a few times. Thai Thuy also wants to invite Huu Quan to play golf. On the other hand, Huu Quan seems not to be a very good golfer.
Huu Quan would invite Thai Thuy and Khac Tuan to a horse race on the weekend when the Ministry of Justice was off work. Thai Thuy always try to invite Huu Quan to bet on which horse would win the race, but Huu Quan politely declined.
"It's entertaining to watch. But gambling is not something I enjoy."
If he thinks about it, there is something about Huu Quan that makes Thai Thuy unhappy, it's the intimate stuff.
Huu Quan is, after all, a Catholic child. He is unfamiliar with such intimate matters. Huu Quan avoids talking about it whenever Thai Thuy offers. However, this is a minor issue. Thai Thuy doesn't see this matter as big enough to become an impediment between him and Huu Quan.
"Checkmate." Huu Quan yells. "It's over. I won again."
"How come you keep winning?" Thai Thuy grumbles "This isn't fun at all."
Huu Quan folds the chessboard and says sarcastically:
"I guess you wouldn't say that if you won all the time in return."
Thai Thuy laughs and shakes his head. That's true. He hates losing, especially in front of Huu Quan. However, it seems that losing to someone doesn't make Thai Thuy feel as heavy as it used to.
Perhaps Huu Quan's smile in his eyes is more valuable than winning or losing.
"He's been so quiet lately." Huu Quan proposes.
Thai Thuy recognizes who Huu Quan is talking about. Those who believe that this engagement is a joke, such as the Ton That family soon ignore the value of the ring on Huu Quan's hand, but they continue to believe that if they don't root it out, it will be like a ticking time bomb. And the one who is certain that this engagement is not a joke, like Sir Pham, says or does nothing.
"He's a shady person." Thai Thuy says "I'm sure he's waiting for you to make a mistake before launching the move."
"I know." Huu Quan responds "But what is he waiting for?"
Thai Thuy pauses for a moment. Huu Quan didn't ask this question casually. Huu Quan undoubtedly requires answers. A precise response.
"Do you believe me, Your Majesty?" Huu Quan turns to face Thai Thuy.
Your Majesty, Huu Quan only uses these two words when he needs to ask Hoang Chinh for something. Thai Thuy has always liked this point in Huu Quan, even though he knows everything would be his, Huu Quan still requests it as a token of respect.
"I trust you." Hoang Chinh speaks up.
"Could His Majesty bestow the title of Empress on me?" Huu Quan is wary "Immediately after the wedding?"
Hoang Chinh's eyes widened in surprise, this... is a big request. And he must be cautious, whether his decision is yes or no.
He doesn't distrust Huu Quan, but he doesn't believe those who will use that as an excuse to slander him.
"Could you tell me why you want that?" Thai Thuy inquires.
Huu Quan can only sigh when he hears that. Because he never considered what he would do if he became the Empress. But this may be the only way to help Hoang Chinh stop checking out other people's faces and to protect himself. Because all he needs to do when you become the Empress is look at Hoang Chinh's face, right?
"I'm not sure either. But when I become the Empress, I will be able to do many things." Huu Quan responds "Not only for Linh Nam but also for you."
So as long as you have faith in me.
"Alright." Thai Thuy nods "I approve."
"What do you approve of?"
Huu Quan turns to look when he hears a strange voice. Who else but Tu Cuc Hoang Empress Dowager could have that style, that way of calling?
"Mother." Hoang Chinh bows slightly.
"The Empress Dowager." Tu Cuc waves her hand to stop Huu Quan from kneeling.
"No need. You go out so that my son and I can talk. Those who are not required also leave now."
When the servants hear this, they bow their heads and pull each other out without telling anyone. Huu Quan tries to follow but is stopped by Thai Thuy.
"Your Majesty?" Huu Quan is taken aback.
"You stay." Hoang Chinh gives the order.
The Emperor's orders could not be contested, but he didn't dare to displease the Empress Dowager, leaving Huu Quan in a quandary of not knowing what to do.
"Why haven't you left yet?" Tu Cuc asks Huu Quan.
"Mother, you said that those who are not required should retreat." Hoang Chinh speaks up.
"That's right. I intend to discuss the marriage that you concealed from me, with the son of the Nguyen Huu family." Tu Cuc speaks seriously "What does that have to do with him?"
Hoang Chinh looks at Huu Quan, who is worried, and nods to reassure him.
"Mother. This is Nguyen Huu Van Quan." Hoang Chinh says "The eldest son of the Nguyen Huu family."
Tu Cuc hears his son say that and realizes right away that the person she needs is right in front of her. She examines Huu Quan from head to toe, inside and out as if she wants to see how many points the other son has with His Majesty of Linh Nam - her son.
"You are Huu Quan?"
"Yes, Your Empress Dowager." Huu Quan responds.
Tu Cuc sighs, not sure if it's a sigh or a sigh of relief. She sits in a chair and waves to Hoang Chinh:
"You go out."
Hoang Chinh becomes concerned and takes another step to obstruct Tu Cuc: "Mother..."
"I told you to leave." Tu Cuc is adamant "Otherwise, your simple mind's intentions will not be approved by me."
Thai Thuy turns to face Huu Quan, then Tu Cuc. He finally sighs.
"Then... I'll go first."
Tu Cuc waits until Hoang Chinh leads the bodyguard away before raising her voice to ask about Huu Quan:
"When were you born?"
Huu Quan lowers his head, not daring to ponder too deeply.
"I'm a Wood Tiger, my life palace is Water from the big stream."
Tu Cuc pauses for a long time before responding, assuming she is calculating his age.
"The mulberry tree wood meets the spring water. That's good as well."
Huu Quan doesn't know what to say next because he doesn't understand Tu Cuc's sentence very well. But what you don't understand should be kept to a minimum.
"I heard you want to be the Empress?" Tu Cuc asks.
"Yes." Huu Quan replies.
"You… what do you have that is worthy of being the Empress?"
What exactly is it? Huu Quan realizes that he has nothing better to do than sit in that position. He is certain. Many people have been born and have been groomed and trained to become Empress, or at the very least, Consort. Huu Quan has never expected anything like this, not even in his wildest dreams. If Huu Quan now slacks off, that will undoubtedly be the first reason why he is unworthy of the Empress title that he created himself.
"I am aware that many people are educated and trained to become Empress. But I assure you that when it comes to being worthy of being Empress, I am second to none."
"Show me." Tu Cuc gives the order.
"I may not have stumps, Your Empress Dowager, but I have roots." Huu Quan states "The stump is the family lineage. My family is Catholic, of French nationality, and has lived in the West for generations. This could lead to a squabble between Empress Dowager and the Emperor's family. However, the notable family is all descended from well-educated habits. Proper education and understanding of it, I have it in my heart, and that is the root."
"I may not have fruit, but I do have flowers. Fruit is when the woman gives birth to children of family blood. But the fragrant flowers are nectar, and the sweet fruits are seeded. I may not be a woman, and I cannot bear children, but I can choose Linh Nam's successor."
"I may not have leaves, but I do have branches. Leaves that flaunt luxuriance and branches that nourish that luxuriance. Not to mention, I am the one who has both." Huu Quan says after a brief pause.
Tu Cuc stays silent, just looking at Huu Quan with unfathomable eyes. Then, she asks quietly.
"So… Do you love the Emperor?"
"Being an Empress, loving the country is loving the Emperor."
"Will you betray him and run after the new Emperor if he is no longer after this?"
Huu Quan pauses for a long moment, thinking. When he realizes what is on his mind, he replies:
"If Hoang Chinh is not the Emperor, how can I be the Empress?"
Tu Cuc leans back, her brows, which were still tightly furrowed involuntarily, suddenly relaxing.
"I don't think I trust you." Tu Cuc says "I don't trust a relationship with no attachment. So either you marry him soon, or the words you just said were all lies."
Huu Quan turns to face Tu Cuc. That last sentence sounded harsh, but Huu Quan doesn't hear it that way, but.
"Empress Dowager…You allow us?"
"I told you I wouldn't believe you if you didn't dare to marry him." Tu Cuc repeats.
Huu Quan is on the verge of crying with joy. So... Hoang Chinh's mother accepts him. She also expresses her desire for the two of them to marry soon.
Isn't this great news?
"I... I have no problems, as long as His Majesty gives instructions, I will follow them."
"Good." Tu Cuc stands up and begins walking towards the door. "And make sure you're prepared to face the terrible things that are about to happen. Linh Nam had never had a Male Empress before. Just consider the pressures."