Chapter 5 — A Woman Who Can't Change

Lieu Thua An took a step back. He was startled for a moment, then forced a cold smile.

“The brother-in-law said it was really scary.”

“But there are some things that cannot be determined based solely on slanderous accusations from people.”

“The documents are in my hands.”

“Your fingerprints are also here.”

"If you really make it big, it's still unknown who wins and who loses."

Just as Tham Nghien Chu was about to speak, A Nuong suddenly asked:

“Where is the little coffin?”

Liu Thua An's face stiffened. Mrs. A stared at him.

“If you want to cause premature death, you must have prepared a small coffin.”

“What are you going to put in the coffin?”

Lieu Thua An's throat moved slightly. Old Lady Bui's face was also pale. Tham Nghien Chu immediately gave an order.

“Search the carriage brought by the Lieu family.”

The guards outside were ordered to leave. The room was quiet, except for the sound of my weak sobs. Sweat beaded on Lieu Thua An's forehead. Several times he wanted to look out the door but was blocked by the servant. After half a cup of tea, the guard returned. Behind him, two servants were carrying a small black painted coffin. The coffin lid has not been nailed shut. As soon as he was carried in, the room was filled with the smell of damp earth. Thai Chi covered his mouth in fear. A-niang hugged me even tighter. Tham Nghien Chu said coldly:

“Open.”

Lieu Thua An suddenly rushed forward.

“Do not open!”

The guard kicked him to the ground. The coffin lid was pried off. Everyone's eyes fell inside. There was no body of a newborn baby in there. There are also no cloth dolls. Only one eternal lock was soaked in mud and water. Three small letters are engraved on the lock surface. Tham Minh Duong. A Nuong's whole body trembled. I'm also stiff. That is the lock that followed me into the firewood room in my previous life. But in this life we have just been born. Why does it appear here?

07

The eternal lock was in a small coffin, soaked in muddy water until it was tarnished. But the three words "Tham Minh Duong" on the lock are still clear. A Nuong stared at the lock, the blood on her face gradually drained away. Tham Nghien Chu raised his hand to pick it up. The doctor quickly stopped it.

“Master, there may be poison in the mud.”

Tham Nghien Chu immediately ordered someone to wrap it in a towel before lifting the lock. As soon as the lock body shook, a small crunching sound was immediately heard inside. That's not an empty lock. A lady suddenly spoke up.

“Open.”

Tham Nghien Chu looked at her. Mrs. A raised her eyes.

"This lock was made when I was five months pregnant with Minh Duong, thanks to Kim Ngoc Lau's master."

“In the inside of the lock is placed the Sutra of Peace, which I wrote with my own hand.”

“The lock is hidden very cleverly, except me and the old master, no one knows how to open it.”

The skin on Mrs. Bui's face twitched. Lieu Thua An immediately said:

“You remember wrongly.”

“The thing you gave to Nhuoc Vi to pray for blessings, why does it now belong to this child?”

A lady didn't pay attention to him. She hugged me with one hand, and with the other hand pulled a thin gold hairpin from her hair. The brooch's tail curves into a very small hook. She inserted the end of the brooch into the slot on the side of the lock and gently plucked it.

“Clack” sound.

The eternal lock opens. The breathing of everyone in the room stopped. There is no peace in the locked abdomen. Only one roll of paper was soaked in muddy water. When Tham Nghien Chu opened it, the paper was almost rotten. But the lines of text on it are still barely readable.

“The daughter died prematurely night."

“The coffin was buried in Tay Son.”

“Golden key as proof.”

There is also a sentence below.

"If the mother asked, she would just say she was bleeding like crazy."

After reading it, my fingers suddenly tightened on my diaper. I was in so much pain that I could move, but she immediately relaxed. Tham Nghien Chu's eyes were cold as ice.

“Liu Thua An.”

Lieu Thua An no longer looked calm at first. He forced a smile.

“It's just a torn piece of paper, who knows who stuffed it in.”

“If my husband wants to accuse me, there must be real evidence.”

Tham Nghien Chu hadn't said anything yet, but someone outside came to report.

“Master Marquis, Master Kim Ngoc Lau has been invited.”

Lieu Thua An's face immediately changed. Old lady Bui also looked towards the door. An old silver-haired worker was helped in by a guard. As soon as he entered the room, he knelt down to worship. Tham Nghien Chu gave him the long life lock.

“Do you realize it?”

The old master just took one look and nodded.

“Realize.”

“This is the lock Lady Hau ordered last year.”

“The three words on the lock were engraved by the old man himself.”

A asked in a hoarse voice:

“Where is the Sutra of Peace inside?”

The old master was stunned.

“At that time, the lady said she wanted to put the sutra in herself.”

“When the old man closed the lock, he never saw anyone else touch it.”

“But three days ago, a mother of Lieu Gia brought the lady's business card, saying the latch was loose, and wanted the old man to make another brooch to open the latch.”

Willow ma ma fell limp on the ground, her whole body trembling. Mrs. Bui shouted loudly:

“You talk nonsense!”

The old master trembled in fear, but still took out a receipt from his chest.

“The old man does not dare to speak nonsense.”

“The business card is still in the store.”

“She paid with the Ta family's check.”

Old Lady Bui's face turned gray. Lieu Thua An glared fiercely at Mother Lieu. Mama Lieu suddenly screamed.

“Not me!”

“I'm just running errands!”

"The lock was the one the old lady wanted to take, the paper was stuffed by Old Master Liu, and the coffin was also prepared by Old Master Liu!"

“They say the real lady must die, only the fake lady can live!”

Hearing that sentence, my whole body felt cold as if I had returned to the firewood room in my previous life. It turns out that my life in their eyes is just a stepping stone. A Nuong bowed her head and pressed her face to my forehead. Her body was still bleeding, her lips were cold to the point of turning white.

“Tham Nghien Chu.”

This was the first time tonight that she called him by his full name. Tham Nghien Chu stood in front of the bed.

“I'm here.”

A raised her eyes, each word was heavy.

“I want them to live to be questioned.”

“I want the debt books of the Ta family and Lieu family to be exposed to the world, item by item.”

Old lady Bui raised her head.

“I dare!”

A looked at her.

“Why don't I dare?”

Old lady Bui seemed to be forced to a dead end and suddenly burst out laughing. The laughter was both high-pitched and cold.

“Van Hanh, do you think you can protect this child by making a big deal out of it?”

“Don't forget, your own background is not pure either.”

A Nuong's eyes paused. My heart immediately sank. Old lady Bui stared at her and slowly uttered a sentence.

“If you dare to take us to the mandarin palace, I will let the Marquis palace know that you are not the daughter of the Ta family.”

08

In the delivery room it was scary quiet. Even Lieu Nhuoc Vi seemed tired of crying, lying quietly in Mrs. Bui's arms. Ah Niang hugged me for a long time speak up. Tham Nghien Chu was the first to move. He took a step forward, blocking A's face.

"The lady's status has nothing to do with child stealing and child murder tonight."

Old lady Bui smiled coldly.

“Why is it not relevant?”

“She does not have the Ta family's bloodline, but takes the Ta family's title, carries the Ta family's dowry, and marries into the Marquis Palace to be his wife.”

"If you really go to work, will the Marquis look good?"

Lieu Thua An also regained consciousness. He immediately responded.

“Brother-in-law and noble families value the household registration the most.”

“If the outside world knew that you married a woman of unknown origin, would this Marquis Palace still be able to stand?”

A's hand tightened slightly. I held her in my arms and heard her heart beating very fast.