Chapter 5 — A Paper of Reconciliation, Breakup of Love and Breakup of Meaning

She cried and screamed, turning to Mrs. Tham:

"Grandmother, you must believe me! An brother is truly the bloodline of the Marquis!"

Lady Shen was clearly a bit shaken, but in the end she still chose to believe To Kien La.

"That's enough! To Thanh Chi, have you caused enough chaos?"

“Whether it's slander or not, wouldn't it be clear just by taking blood to confess?”

I coldly opened my mouth, blocking all their words. Extract blood to identify body. As soon as the four words were uttered, To Kien La's crying immediately stopped, and the last bit of blood on his face disappeared. Old Lady Tham's face also became extremely unsightly. Bloodletting is the most direct way to authenticate bloodlines, but at the same time, it is also a heavy blow to the family's honor. If the child is truly Tham Tu Vien's child, then I am the one who falsely framed him, an unforgivable crime. But if it wasn't... Then the Marquis of the Tham family would definitely become a laughing stock for the whole capital. Tham Tu Vien, a prestigious Marquis, raised a child for someone else. No one can bear those consequences. Old Lady Tham glared at me, as if wanting to punch a hole in my face.

“Are you sure?”

“I'm sure.”

I met her eyes without any hesitation. That person called To Kien La's "older brother" was the one I sent shopkeeper Ton to investigate. The person sent by shopkeeper Ton reported that, before entering the capital, To Kien La was indeed very close to a distant cousin in his hometown, and the two often secretly met. After that, his cousin fell into decline, he joined the army, and since then his whereabouts are unknown. And that time was coincidentally before she started dating Tham Tu Vien. I don't dare to absolutely confirm that the child is not Tham Tu Vien's, but I dare to bet. Bet that To Kien La is scared. Bet that the Tham family doesn't dare to take risks.

10

In Tung Hac Duong, the air is as quiet as paper. To Kien La knelt on the ground, shaking like a leaf. Old Lady Tham's face turned pale, her hands clasped the Buddha necklace. A long time later, she was like a deflated balloon, tiredly sitting back in her chair.

“Drag it away... lock it in the woodshed, without my orders, don't go out.”

What she said was for the servants standing outside the door. To Kien La couldn't believe it. He raised his head, his lips trembled, but he couldn't say a word. Two big, strong maids came in and each pulled her out.

"Grandmother! Grandmother, I have been wronged! Dear Grandmother!"

To Kien La's crying gradually faded away. The child named An ca Nhi also seemed to feel something, pursed his lips, and was about to burst into tears. Old Lady Tham waved her hand impatiently:

“Take the boy away, keep an eye on him.”

Soon, there were only me and her left in the room. She closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the chair, as if she had aged ten years in an instant.

“You won.” She said tiredly. “Tell me, what do you want?”

“I want peace.” I calmly repeated my request.

“No way!” She immediately opened her eyes. “The Tham family cannot bear this humiliation!”

“Whether to choose peace, or let the whole capital laugh at the Tham family—the ancestors choose for themselves.”

I finished speaking, didn't bother to look back, turned around and left. As soon as I stepped out of Tung Hac Duong, the sunlight outside was so bright that it made my eyes sting. Thanh Truc quickly ran to help me.

“Madam, you are okay right?”

I shook my head, the stuffy feeling in my chest finally dissipated a bit.

11

That same night, Tham Tu Vien rushed straight into my hospital. He had been drinking, his entire body reeked of alcohol, his bloodshot eyes glaring at me.

“To Thanh Chi, what exactly do you want to do!”

He grabbed my wrist with one hand, his strength was so great that it seemed like he wanted to crush my bones.

“Why do you have to treat A La like that! She is so honest, so simple, how could she use such cruel lies to slander her!”

The pain was so much that I frowned and tried to struggle, but I couldn't escape at all.

“Am I cruel?” I laughed coldly, "When you guys were cheating on each other, why didn't you think I was cruel?"

“I forced her!” Tham Tu Vien screamed, "It's me who's drunk and crazy, it's me who's sorry for her, this has nothing to do with her!"

“Let me go!” My wrist hurt so much that I couldn't help but cry out.

Thanh Truc heard the movement and rushed in. Seeing that scene, he was so scared that he knelt down.

“Master please spare my life! Madam's body is weak, she can't stand it like that! "

But Tham Tu Vien seemed not to hear, still holding me tightly.

“To Thanh Chi, I ask you for the last time, will you finally stop? Immediately go and tell your grandmother, the previous words were all nonsense, then release A La!”

“What if I don't?”

“No?” A fierce light flashed in his eyes, "Then don't blame me for not thinking about husband and wife love anymore!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly shook his hand. His whole body was thrown out and hit hard against the edge of the table. A severe pain shot up from my waist, my eyes went dark, I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I was lying in bed. The pain in my waist makes me unable to move. Thanh Truc was standing next to the bed, his eyes were red and swollen. As soon as he saw me awake, he burst into tears.

“Madam, you are finally awake!”

I moved my lips, my voice was hoarse:

“What happened to me?”

"The doctor said... said that the person was hit in the waist, his bones were fractured, he would have to lie down and recuperate for a hundred days to get better..."

Thanh Truc said while sobbing.

“They are all useless servants, unable to protect the lady…”

I closed my eyes and didn't say a word. Broken bones… One hundred days… Tham Tu Vien, you are so cruel.

“Where is the Marquis?” I asked.

Thanh Truc bit his lip, hesitated for a moment before whispering:

“Last night, Marquis... picked up Miss A La from the woodshed and settled in Nghe Vu Hien.”

"Early this morning, I took Miss A La and An Ca Nhi out of the city to the manor house to recuperate."

“The old lady... didn't say anything either?”

“The old lady… tacitly agreed.”

I understand.