Chapter 1 — 30 Whips Change Retirement, I Take You and Leave Brilliantly

The whip fell on Co Hanh's back, tearing his skin. I stood outside from the street, watching him grit his teeth, not saying a word.

“Co Hanh, do you really want to retire?”

The patriarch sat at the top, his face cold, his voice as deep as a nail:

"It's been five years since Miss Shen married into the Marquis Palace. The first two years she devoted herself to nurturing, and the next three years she single-handedly took care of the internal affairs and arranged everything well. On top, she respectfully took care of her parents, and on the bottom wholeheartedly raised her daughter. Before and after, she has never committed any of the seven things."

“If you still stubbornly want to retire…”

“Then first receive thirty lashes from the family law, using that as a deterrent to the family rules.”

He replied decisively. The whip swung down once more. Blood soaked the moon-white robe on his body. I hugged my daughter and stood on the doorstep. Four-year-old Y Nhi put her head on my shoulder and asked in a low voice:

“Mother, is father in pain?”

“It doesn't hurt.”

I leaned over to block that direction for you. Thirty lashes, he did not miss a single lash but endured them all. His clothes were full of blood stains, he lay prone on the ground panting for a long time before standing up on his hands and knees. When he turned around to see me, his eyes dodged for a moment.

“Thanh Hoa, I…”

“Where is the retirement letter?”

I cut him off. He froze a bit. The manager next to him handed over the other piece of paper. I received it, opened it and glanced at it.

“One apart, two waits, everyone finds fun.”

Eight words, written neatly and neatly. The ink was dry, it must have been prepared early. I folded up the letter and stuffed it into my sleeve.

“Co Hanh, you have endured thirty lashes and are satisfied.”

I hugged Y Nhi, turned around and walked out. Behind him, he called out: "Thanh Hoa." I don't turn back.

“I will have someone collect your dowry and your expenses for the past five years, convert it into silver, and bring it to the Tham family—”

“I no longer have the Tham family.”

I never looked back.

"You can take it anywhere, but don't bring it in front of Giang Anh Nguyet, she will call it bad luck."

There is no more sound behind. Y Nhi buried her little face in my neck and asked in a soft voice: "Nguyen, where are we going?"

“Go South.”

“What does Phuong Nam have?”

“There are flowers, there are boats, there are delicious waffles.”

“Are you going, father?”

I hold you tight in my heart.

"Father won't go. Father has other things to do."

Return to Tri Tuyet Institute to pack your things. After five years of inheritance, combined there were only two chests of clothes, a jewelry box, and a few small clothes of Y Nhi. The dowry was soon removed by the mother-in-law under the pretext of "rotating around the palace", the rest were all worthless displays. I don't compare. The maid Thuy Van's eyes were red and she helped me fold my clothes: "Young lady, the old lady said to invite you to the main hall for a cup of tea before leaving."

“Don't go.”

“But—”

“She wanted to test whether I would cause a ruckus or not.”

I put Y Nhi's tiger head hat in the chest.

“Don't worry, I won't make a fuss.”

Thuy Van's tears fell.

"Young lady, you've been married here for five years, the housekeeper takes care of the housekeeping, the maid of medicine is the maid of honor, what do you not do with all your heart? How could the prince—"

"He has someone else in his heart. He's kept it for more than ten years."

We close the chest.

"I've been in the middle for five years, which is long enough."

Outside the door came the sound of footsteps. Mrs. Vuong, next to Mrs. Co, walked in, with some awkwardness on her face.

“Young lady… no, Miss Tham, old lady said, "I've worked hard for you for several years, I've prepared five hundred taels of silver for you as a way fee, and there's also a carriage to take you out of the city."

Five hundred taels. I replaced the Co family in managing internal affairs for three years. Last December alone, filling the book deficit on their behalf was no less than this number. Mother Vuong was stunned, obviously not expecting me to respond so quickly.

“I'll have to trouble you to pass on the words to the old lady. If I accept the money, the favor will end. From now on, the affairs of the Co family have nothing to do with me."

“This…”

“One more thing.”

I looked at her.

“I mean, I was born, and in the retirement letter, it was clearly stated that it belongs to me. In the future, if someone uses the child as an excuse, don't blame me for not being respectful."

Mother Vuong opened her mouth, not daring to say anything, and retreated. Thuy Van said softly: "Young lady, I heard from the young lady in the front yard that Miss Giang has already started measuring her wedding dress." I picked up the trunk.

“It seems really rushed.”

Thuy Van knelt down: "Young lady, this slave wants to follow you." I took a look at her.

"In my opinion, there is no future."

“A slave doesn't need a future, a slave just wants to follow you.”

“Stand up.”

I gave her a chest. When walking out of Tri Tuyet courtyard, there was a person standing in front of the courtyard gate. It's Trieu An, the assistant next to Co Hanh. He bowed his head, holding a box in his hand.

"Young lady, this is what the prince sent the servant over. It said it was... it said it was your brooch back then, he kept it, and now it's returned to you."

We open the box. Inside is a white jade flower brooch. The day we got married, I installed it myself. I closed the box and gave it back.

“No need anymore. Throw away."

Trieu An stood there stunned. I hugged Y Nhi and led Thuy Van through the long hallway. Walking to the main gate of the Marquis' Palace, old butler Tham Uncle used his cane and staggered after him. He was not originally from the Tham family, but was called that only because he had the same last name as me.