Chapter 10 — 30 Whips Change Retirement, I Take You and Leave Brilliantly

Qi Hengyuan: embezzling military provisions, falsifying documents, for fleeing, sentenced to exile three thousand miles. The Giang family had all their assets confiscated and confiscated into the state treasury. Tham Van Xuyen's case was cleared, and the Tham family's wrongdoing was cleared. The court issued a decree: posthumously awarding Tham Van Xuyen as "Loyal Merchant" and a plaque. The day the decree was brought to Lam An, Tham Khanh Son knelt in the main hall and cried loudly.

“Old master… old master, your injustice has been washed away—”

I helped him up.

“Uncle, hang the sign in the main hall.”

When the sign was hung up, Y Nhi looked up for a long time.

“Niang, what is written on it?”

“Loyal merchant.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means your grandfather was a good person.”

“Oh. So where are you?”

“The people in heaven are looking at you.”

Y Nhi turned to the sign and waved.

“Good grandpa!”

Tham Khanh Son stood next to her and cried even harder. After Giang Thu Nhan was sentenced to beheaded and imprisoned, Giang Anh Nguyet's situation plummeted. Her father became a felon, the Giang family was confiscated, and in one night she turned from the daughter of Bo Ho's maid to the daughter of a criminal. The old lady of the Co family immediately made a decision—to bring Giang Anh Nguyet back to the Giang family. But the Giang family is no longer there. The courtyard was sealed, the servants were dispersed, and she didn't even have a place to hide. Co Hanh did not retire her. Not because there is still love, but because she has a child in her belly. He rented a small courtyard outside the capital and placed Giang Anh Nguyet there. Thuy Van's old acquaintance in the capital sent the latest news.

"I heard that Giang Anh Nguyet was in a commotion in the courtyard for three days and three nights. Crying, scolding, breaking things. He even called Co Hanh to scold him—scolding him for not being able to save him if he saw death, scolding him for still thinking of Tham Thanh Hoa."

We are calculating this quarter's books.

“What happens after that?”

“After that, Co Hanh said one word and she stopped making noise.”

"He said: 'What your father has done, you know in your heart. You still dare to cause trouble. When the baby is born, I will give it to Thanh Hoa to raise.'"

My pen tip paused on the page for a moment.

“Sure enough, she doesn't dare to cause trouble anymore.”

Thuy Van pouted.

"She's afraid. She knows how well the family can teach Y Nhi. She's afraid that her child will also be taught well—so well that she won't accept her as a wife."

I said nothing. Giang Anh Nguyet's ending was her own choice. She married Co Hanh not because of love, but because of the power and position of the Co family. She fought with me, not because she was jealous, but because she thought I was blocking her path. Now that the road is gone, she should also be awake. But I don't have any pity for her. Pitying an enemy's daughter? When my grandfather died unjustly in prison, her father was on the rise to become a rich man. This debt, using the word "mercy" cannot be paid off. That afternoon, an unexpected person arrived. The confidant of the old lady of the Co family, Vuong ma ma. She ran from the capital to Lam An tiredly, carrying an envelope written by the old lady herself. In the letter it was written:

“Thanh Hoa, my child: I was blind that year, many times mistreating children. Now I know that you are the blessing of the Co family. Jiang's family was not gentle, so the old man asked the clan for permission to retire. Hanh Nhi thinks of you day and night, hoping for you—to come back.”

I put the envelope on the table.

“Mother Wang, please leave a message for me.”

“Speaker.”

“Young lady of the Gu family, I have already done it. Enough done.”

Vuong's face changed continuously. She stood there stunned for a long time.

“But what the old lady means—”

“That year, the old lady took my dowry of 12,000 taels. Does this debt count?”

Mother Wang was speechless.

“That year when I gave birth to Y Nhi, the old lady was chanting sutras in the Buddhist hall, not praying for my peace, but praying for her grandson. I gave birth to a daughter, and she didn't come to see me once for three days. Does this debt count?”

The king knelt down.

“Young lady—”

“That year, I was in charge of the housekeeping and family business. Every year I had a surplus of thirty thousand taels of silver. The old lady said that was the thick foundation of the Co family. Less than a month after I left, Giang Anh Nguyet's account management became a mess, only then did the old lady remember that it was my credit. This debt—does it count?”

The king bowed his head.

“The old lady knows it's wrong, please—”

“Knew wrong?”

I stood up.

“Mom, go back and tell the old lady—I, Tham Thanh Hoa, will not return to the Co family. Not because of hatred, but because it's not worth it."

“So Your Highness—”

“He is him, Co family is Co family. To me, it's no longer relevant."

The king left.