Chapter 13 — 30 Whips Change Retirement, I Take You and Leave Brilliantly

Compared to his courtyard when he was in the Marquis Palace, it was countless times smaller. But he never complained. Thuy Van said he gets up earlier every day than anyone else, washes his own clothes, carries his own water, and never orders anyone else.

“It's like turning into someone else.” Thuy Van said.

"It's not a transformation. It's a return to his original appearance."

One night, I settled accounts in the study until very late. Opening the door and stepping out, I saw that the lights in the monastery were still on. The door was ajar. He sat at the table, a sheet of paper spread out in front of him, drawing something. He raised his head, saw it was me, and quickly turned the paper over.

“It's so late and you're still not asleep?”

“Drawing something.”

“Draw what?”

He hesitated a bit and turned the paper over. It's a picture. Draw a scene of Y Nhi chasing a rabbit. The drawing isn't very beautiful, but Y Nhi's charisma is very lively—two pigtails flying up, small hands reaching forward.

“Draw for Y Nhi.” he said.

I looked for a moment.

“The rabbit ears are drawn short.”

"… Really?"

"Yes. Little Doan Tu's ears are longer than this."

He held the pen and stretched it a little longer.

“Almost right.”

I turned around and left. After walking a few steps, I heard his voice behind me.

“Thanh Hoa.”

I don't turn back.

"Good night."

"… Good night."

Giang Thuyen's case closed in the fall. The original sentence of "beheading after beheading" was changed to "beheading in autumn", with the execution scheduled for the fall of that year. When the news reached Lam An, it was on a rainy day. I sat in the main hall, looking at the sign "Loyal Traders". It's been twenty years. Grandfather can finally rest in peace. Tham Khanh Son stood next to him, tears streaming down his face.

“Dong master, it's all over.”

“It's over.”

“So what's next?”

“Next, do business well.”

“And… what about you?”

I don't answer right away. Co Hanh has been in Lam An for nearly half a year. From a goods bearer to a student, from a student to a deputy manager of the weaving ward. He adapted very quickly. Also much quieter. He no longer mentioned coming back. Every day I work, play with Y Nhi, draw pictures, read books. Occasionally play a game of chess with Tham Khanh Son. Live like a normal person. But the way he looked at me—Thuy Van said, was different from before.

"Before, when he looked at you, he felt guilty and humble. Now he looks at you—"

“How are you now?”

Thuy Van thought for a while, couldn't find the right word.

"It's... steady. It's like I've figured something out, I'm not in a hurry anymore."

I said nothing. Another month has passed. Luc Hanh Chu invited me to his house for tea. When he arrived, he discovered that his mother was also there. Mrs. Luc is a very gentle woman, she held my hand and talked for a long time. Ask me how old I am, ask Y Nhi how old I am, ask me if I'm usually tired. Finally said one sentence: "Hanh Chu told me many stories about you. I found you both talented and beautiful, when—"

“Mother.” Luc Hanh Chu interrupted her.

Mrs. Luc smiled and did not continue speaking. I also laugh. When going out the door, Luc Hanh Chu said to me: "Don't pay attention, my mother is just too worried."

“Six Young Master, you are a good person.”

He looked at me.

“But I don't want to think about these things for now.”

He nodded.

“I can wait.”

“No need to wait.” I looked at him, "You deserve someone who is whole-hearted. As for me—I can't do it right now."

He was silent for a moment, then laugh.

“At least you didn't lie to me.”

“I don't deceive people.”

On the way back, I saw Co Hanh at the beginning of the alley. He sat against the wall, holding a small knife in his hand, peeling wood. Carve into a small wooden horse.

“For Y Nhi?”

He raised his head.

"Yes. She said she wanted a little red horse."

“It also wants to be made of wood?”

“He said that as long as his father does it, he will like it.”

I stood there looking at him for a while. His movements of peeling wood are very steady. Those hands used to hold a sword, now they hold a carving knife.

“You are from the Marquis Palace, have you ever done these things?”

“So when did you learn?”

"After arriving in Lam An, the old worker in the weaving ward taught me that everyone who works in this profession must know how to use a knife."

He turned the wooden horse over and used a grinding stone to smooth the belly.

“You still owe me one thing.”

His hand stopped. Raise your head and look at me.

"The day you received the whip, you said a lot of reasons. They were 'temperament not compatible', and 'didn't want to do something wrong'. But you never said a word honestly."

He put the wooden horse down.

“Did you never like me from beginning to end?”

He stood up.

"Not."

“So what is it?”

"It's not that I don't like you. It's that I don't understand what it means to like you."

I look at him.

“Anh Nguyet is someone I have known since childhood.”

“I always think that ‘familiar’ is ‘liked’.”

"The one who married into the palace was her, and I didn't know her, so I thought I didn't like her."

“What happens after that?”

"After she left, I discovered how much peace of mind I felt when she was still around."