Chapter 9 — 30 Whips Change Retirement, I Take You and Leave Brilliantly

Let's stop for a moment.

"In her womb, there is your child. You can handle this yourself."

He raised his head, his eyes red.

“Thanh Hoa, if I had known about these things at the time—”

“There are no ifs.”

I stood up.

"You can stay in Lam An for a few more days. I--if you want to see me, come tomorrow."

His lips trembled.

"Really?"

"She is your daughter. No matter what you do, this will not change."

The next day, Co Hanh met Y Nhi. He sat down, Y Nhi stood in front of him. The four-year-old girl tilted her head to look at him, then spoke for a while.

“Father?”

“Why do people become so bad?”

Thuy Van standing next to her almost burst out laughing. Co Hanh smiled bitterly.

“Father is sick.”

"If you're sick, you have to take medicine. It's very bitter."

“Yes, I have to take medicine.”

“So have you drank yet?”

“Already drank.”

Y Nhi thought for a moment, then took out a piece of candy from her pocket.

"For you. After drinking bitter medicine and eating candy, it will no longer be bitter."

Co Hanh received the candy, his hands shaking. He held the candy tightly in his palm, bowed his head without saying a word. Trieu An stood next to him and secretly wiped away his tears. Y Nhi pulled his sleeve.

“Father, why are you crying?”

"Don't cry. Sand gets in your eyes."

"Fool. There's no wind outside."

Co Hanh reached out to pat her head. The hand reached out halfway, then retracted again.

"I'm sorry, before my father was not good and wasn't by my side."

“Yes, father is not good.” Y Nhi nodded very seriously, "Father did not carry me."

He froze a bit. Then pick up the baby. Hug tightly. Y Nhi wrapped her arms around his neck, her small face pressed against his shoulder.

"Your father is too thin. Don't people in the capital eat rice?"

“I eat, but I eat little.”

"Then come and stay at our house. We have delicious food. The cinnamon flower cake made by Uncle Tham is especially delicious."

Co Hanh hugged her, unable to say a word. I stood by the second floor window looking at this scene. Thuy Van walked next to me.

“Dong family…”

“Don't say it.”

We close the window. Co Hanh stayed in the hospital with Y Nhi for an hour. When leaving, Y Nhi ran out the door.

“Father, are you still coming tomorrow?”

He turned his head to look at me standing at the end of the hallway. I don't have any expressions. He sat down and said to Y Nhi: "Father has to go back to the capital to handle some matters. Once finished, he will come to visit you again."

"You're a liar. Last time you said you would come to visit me, but then you didn't come."

Co Hanh opened his mouth.

“This time it won't be like that.”

She held out her pinky finger. He hooked it. Trieu An stood next to see this scene and his eyes turned red. I turned around and returned to the study room. That night, before leaving, Co Hanh found Tham Khanh Son and left an envelope. Tham Khanh Son gave me the letter.

"Dong master, the Co family's prince said that this letter must be opened in person."

The letter is not long, only a few lines.

“Thanh Hoa:

The biggest mistake in my life was those thirty lashes. Regarding military provisions, I will return to the capital to present your vindication on your behalf. The Tham family's injustice, even if I risk my life, Co Hanh will help you reclaim it. The child in Anh Nguyet's belly, I will be responsible. But what she and her father did, I will not tolerate. She lives in Lam An and lives well. When everything is over, I will come and apologize to you. Don't ask her forgive. Just ask her—don't forget me. I put the envelope on the candle. Watch it burn into ashes little by little. Forget or not, it's not up to you to decide. The third day after Co Hanh returned to the capital, Giang Thu Nhan's case was officially opened. Dai Ly Tu coordinated with Hinh Bo and Ngu Su Dai, the three jury companies. Giang Thu Nhan denied everything on the public road, but Mama Chu's testimony and that copy of the secret letter, the evidence was like a mountain. Qi Hengyuan was even worse at resisting him than him. The Xing Bu prison could no longer bear it and opened it all up. The two of them tore each other apart, bringing every detail of the past twenty years to light. The news spread to Lam An in waves. I quietly and peacefully do business, without any problems. The second batch of brocade flowers that went overseas has now returned, with profits even higher than the first batch. After the Ningbo route was cleared, three new trade routes were opened. Within half a year, the Tham family's industry in Jiangnan doubled. One day Luc Hanh Chu drank tea and said something to me.

"Your current fortune is probably not less than one hundred and fifty thousand taels."

“I never counted.”

“Don't you care about silver?”

"Noted. But not what I pay most attention to."

“So what do you pay attention to the most?”

I think a bit.

“Y Nhi's smile.”

He smiled and didn't ask any more questions. The trial in the capital lasted more than a month. Finally, the verdict was passed down— Giang Thu Nhan: embezzlement, harm, murder, extermination, sentence of beheading and imprisonment.