Chapter 1 — Absolute Contract

My son wants to marry a beauty from the palace. I don't agree. He immediately knelt in the Ta family's temple for three days, forcing his death upon us. It said that in this life, Khuong Oan Oan alone needs to be his wife, no room sharing, no concubines. If Khuong Oan Oan cannot have children, she will not need any descendants. If the Marquis does not recognize her, he will withdraw his name from the list of people chosen to be crown prince. I'm so angry that my chest hurts. The next day, Khuong Oan Oan came to the door. She wore a light-colored dress, knelt in front of me, crying until the pear flowers were drenched in the rain. "Madam, I don't ask for wealth, I only ask for a name so that I can stand righteously next to Lam Xuyen." Then, she raised her head, gently said that she wanted to open a palace, write her name in the family tree, wanted me to hand over the position of managing the house, and also wanted me to transfer the dowry of two manors to her name. Finally, she said: "If you will give me face, I will automatically advise Lam Xuyen to return to being a good son of the Marquis." I looked at Ta Lam Xuyen who was protecting me in front of her, and suddenly I didn't want to say another word. If he is determined to cut off his future with his own hands. So Tinh An Marquis Palace should also have a second path. 1The day Ta Lam Xuyen brought Khuong Oan Oan back to the palace, I did not send anyone to stop her outside the door. I even personally told the kitchen to make a few more soft, sweet dishes. She is from the South and is said to be unfamiliar with the oily and salty dishes in the capital. I have been Lady Tinh An Hau for more than twenty years, even if I don't like it, I will not let a lady who comes to my door for the first time find fault with etiquette. Khuong Oan Oan arrived very early. She wore her hair in a low bun that women often used, looking like a pure lady. It's just a shame that some things can't be washed off. As soon as she sat down, her eyes scanned the decorations in the main hall. Finally, her eyes stopped on the pearl necklace on my wrist for a long time. We pretend like we don't see. Ta Lam Xuyen excitedly introduced: "Mother, Oan Oan is the best at poetry. The article 'Thu Thuy Phu' I wrote a few days ago, she helped me correct the last sentence." I nodded: "To be able to make you care so much, you must be a talented person." Khuong Oan Oan immediately stood up, bowed and bowed: "You are too complimentary. Oan Oan only has an ordinary appearance, I don't dare to accept that compliment." I smiled. I asked my mother to bring me a gift to meet her. It was a gold brooch inlaid with precious stones, a pair of jade bracelets, and also a banknote of five hundred taels. According to the rules in the capital, giving such a gift to someone who hasn't even passed through the door means valuing her very much. When Khuong Oan Oan received it, her fingertips immediately tested the thickness of the silver check, then touched the jade of the pair of bracelets. She quickly bowed her head in thanks, but the disappointment in her eyes was not hidden well. The last bit of patience in my heart also disappeared. At first I thought Lam Xuyen's eyes were not bad since childhood. She was willing to make such a fuss, probably seeing the good points that outsiders couldn't see in her. Now it seems that's all. After drinking half a cup of tea, when I was trying to find a reason to end this meeting, Khuong Oan Oan suddenly spoke up. "Madam, Oan Oan has something that she doesn't dare hide." I looked at her. She lowered her eyes, her voice gentle: "Lam Xuyen said that in this life you will only be with me. But my background is like that, it is difficult to avoid insecurity in my heart. To give me peace of mind, you wrote a contract in the street." My fingertips paused. Ta Lam Xuyen's face changed. I turned my head to look at it: “The contract

What did she say?" She avoided my eyes, and after a while, she whispered: "Mother, Oan Oan used to suffer in the church when she was young, and her body was damaged. The doctor said her children's path was very difficult. I don't want her to feel like she's just a tool to continue the family line for the Marquis." Khuong Oan Oan immediately continued: "Don't worry, ma'am. If the Marquis Palace truly treats me, I am not an unreasonable person. In the future, I will advise Lam Xuyen to cancel that contract, and will also try to nurse my body to give the Ta family an explanation." She spoke very obediently. But each sentence was like a knife stabbing straight into my heart. On what basis did she decide on the Ta family's fire? And on what basis did she use my son's future to discuss conditions with me? Ta Lam Xuyen was impatient again and grabbed her hand: "Oan Wan, you don't need to. must suffer. I didn't write that contract to show off. As long as you don't want it, I will absolutely not accept anyone else. I don't have children, I accept it." I looked at him. This is the son I raised for twenty-two years. I taught him to read books of saints and sages, taught him to ride horses and shoot archery, taught him how to treat people. In the past, when I was sick, he used to stay up at night to take care of him, and before going out, he would ask me if I wanted any new things. Now, because of a woman who came out from a place of wind and moon, he brought up the story of the Marquis's succession as an object. please her. The pain in my chest suddenly stopped. When the pain reached its peak, I became calm. I raised the teacup and slowly took a sip. "If you all have thought carefully, then do as you wish." Ta Lam Xuyen was stunned. Khuong Oan Oan also raised her head, as if she didn't expect me to give in so easily. I put down the teacup and smiled "Your life is yours to bear." 2 After they left, it was dark. I sat there for a long time without moving. That year, when I gave birth to him, I bled for half the night, and I almost couldn't crawl out of the Demon Gate. The doctor said that my body's vitality was damaged. If I wanted to die again, Ta would be very difficult Nghien Son is not yet a Marquis. He knelt beside the bed, held my hand and said: "One child is enough. Her survival is more important than anything." After that, the old Marquis died, and the northern border became chaotic again. After inheriting the title, he often had to lead soldiers outside. I raised my son and took care of the Marquis Palace on his behalf. Ta Lam Xuyen had a great future. At the age of six, he was a beginner, at eight he could recite books and treatises, at twelve he could ride a horse and shoot at a red tassel a hundred paces away. At the age of fifteen, he followed his father to the After returning to the military camp, all the ladies throughout the capital praised him for having the spirit of a Marquis. I thought I had raised him very well. Until Khuong Oan Oan appeared, she played the piano very well and her voice was soft. The first time Ta Lam Xuyen met her was at a music party organized by some noblemen soul. "Mother, she is different from other people." "She is trapped in the mud, but she can still understand 'Ly Tao'." "She never asked for the jewels, she only said she wanted to go out to see the snow." "She has suffered too much, I want to protect her." I have heard these words over and over again. It's not that I don't understand the emotions of young people. But vibrations are vibrations, marriage is marriage The eldest son of the Marquis married one

A school girl being the main wife not only makes a mother like me lose face. How should genealogy be recorded? When worshiping her ancestors, where should she stand? If I later request the title of crown prince, will the Ministry of Rites make it difficult for her to come from her background? Ta Lam Xuyen clearly understands these things. It just pretends not to know. Because he is certain that he and his father only have one child. For three days kneeling in the street, he did not drink a drop of water, his lips were so dry and cracked that they bled. The clan elders scolded it for being unfilial, but it still knelt with its back straight and didn't say a word. When Ta Nghien Son hurriedly returned from the northern border, his face was cold and scary, his hand was on the horse whip. It was I who stopped him. I'm afraid I'll really hurt it. I'm also afraid that the mother-child relationship will break. But today, after Khuong Oan Oan arrived, I could see clearly. Ta Lam Xuyen's liver did not grow naturally. It's because we pampered it all these years. He knows that I will be soft-hearted, knows that the Ta family has no other children, knows that if he causes chaos, we will eventually give in. And Khuong Oan Oan is even smarter. She was in no hurry to turn against me, first pretending to be pitiful, then showing the cards in her hand. A contract of renunciation became the knife she used to threaten the Marquis' Palace. What she wanted from beginning to end was never the person Ta Lam Xuyen. She wants the title of official wife, the position of future crown prince, the position to manage the house, and my dowry. Thinking of this, I suddenly burst out laughing. Mother Qin was startled: "Madam?" I stood up and went out: "Where is the Marquis?" "In the study room. He just returned from the military camp and has not yet rested." I went straight to the outer courtyard. Ta Nghien Son is watching a border defense report. Seeing me come in, he immediately put down his pen. "What's going on? Why is your face so poor?" I sat down opposite him and calmly said: "I'm afraid Lam Xuyen's path can't be pulled back again." Ta Nghien Son was silent. I said again: "He dares to use the matter of incense and titles to pressure us, proving that he believes that the Marquis Palace has no second choice." The candlelight in the room flickered slightly. I looked up at him: "Nghien Son, let's have another child." He was suddenly stunned. After a long time, he took my hand. "Have you thought carefully? Your body..." "The doctor said that if you nurse well, it's not completely impossible." I said word by word: "I'm not angry with Lam Xuyen. I just can't let Tinh An Marquis Palace be tied to death by a son who has lost his mind and a greedy woman." Ta Nghien Son looked at me, his eyes gradually becoming deeper. "Okay." just say one word. But I know, from this moment, Ta Lam Xuyen's last card has disappeared. 3 A few days later, Ta Lam Xuyen still did not return to the main courtyard to ask for peace. I also did not send anyone to urge him. On the contrary, Khuong Oan Oan asked someone to bring breakfast twice, once it was cinnamon cake, once it was rose cake. The box was extremely delicate, and the note inside was written even more delicately. "Oan Oan knows that madam is not happy in her heart, and vows to serve her every day, asking for her mercy." After reading it, I immediately told Mother Tan to bring rewards to the cleaning maids. On the afternoon of the third day, Ta Lam Xuyen finally arrived. When entering the door, he was still angry, and his ceremony was also very sloppy. "Mother, that day Oan Oan talked about the contract, was it someone who blamed her?" I raised my eyes: "Did she write the contract on my behalf?" He choked: "No." "Then why do I blame her?" Ta Lam Xuyen frowned: