Chapter 2 — After being chased away by my husband, 18 years later, I took my poinsettia back and trampled on his entire palace.

The game has only just begun. Thanh Kien Nghiep is the center of Giang Nam and is also the money bag of the entire world. I used half of the fortune that Bui Van Chu gave me to stand firmly here. Time passed three years. Thirty-six stores, under my control, were turned into seventy-two silver pages (money pages) spread throughout Giang Nam. I exchanged a thousand acres of good fields for a hundred big ships, monopolizing the entire waterway transport route. In the marketplace, I am the "Giang dong family" that makes people change color when they hear my name, and feel scared when they hear my name. No one knows my past, nor does anyone know that I was once an abandoned woman. They only know one thing, that is the lifeblood of Giang Nam, half of which is in our hands. Five years later, one day, the gate of the Jiangnan Governor's Palace was knocked open by my own hand. The war in the North was urgently reported, and the national treasury was extremely empty. The court had to go everywhere to borrow money, but the merchants were unable to avoid it in time, afraid of getting into trouble. I only led the maid who was close to Ban Ha, step by step, into the governor's hall.

“What is the reason why Giang is here today?” The governor's face was full of sadness, with wrinkles clearly visible between his eyebrows.

I raised my hand and slowly pushed a thick, heavy box in front of him. The box is opened. Inside, it was clear that three hundred thousand taels of silver were neatly arranged. The governor was so frightened that he immediately stood up.

"In the face of the national disaster, the common people are willing to give up half of their wealth, hoping to supplement military provisions." My expression remained unchanged, my voice was extremely calm.

That year, the North won a great victory. The holy edict was passed down to Giang Nam. Giang Minh Nguyet, because of her meritorious deeds, was especially appointed as Chinh grade two lady. The whole city was in shock. That same year, my son was born. Giang Hac Xuyen. I looked at the child lying still in his diaper, strangely quiet, without a husband or father. Outside, rumors emerged from all directions, growing more and more every day. Some people say I nurture male pets, others say I am the exterior of some noble person in the court. I don't pay any attention to all those words. Thirteen years have passed. I kept Hac Xuyen by my side and never took a step away. When I discussed business matters, he sat to the side, quietly strumming the abacus, each bead clicking clearly. When I met the Governor, he stood behind the screen, intently flipping through historical books, without any distractions. This child is so smart that it makes people feel a sense of fear. At the age of three, he recognized a thousand words, at the age of five, he read the Four Books and Five Classics fluently, and at the age of eight, he wrote a book of treatises, which caused the top Confucian leader of Jiangnan to exclaim endlessly, insisting on accepting him as a disciple and closing the door. He's not like me, his personality is gentle, his eyes are cold and profound. Not even like Bui Van Chu - that selfish and ungrateful puppet gentleman. Today, at Kien Nghiep citadel's harbor, colored flags flutter and the wind blows. We have to return to the capital. Thirteen years have passed. Hac Xuyen just turned thirteen this year, and it's the spring period that comes every three years.

“Mother, the wind is strong.”

One shirt wrap it gently around my shoulders. I turned my head back. Hac Xuyen has grown into a young man half a head taller than me. The eyebrows are delicate, the charisma is bright, the body is straight, like a green bamboo tree growing full of vitality. He looked in the direction of the capital, a light of excitement that was hard to detect flashed through his eyes.

“Are you afraid?” I asked him.

"I'm just afraid, this world's exam questions... aren't difficult enough." He smiled slightly, his voice revealing absolute confidence.

This is my son. Ban Ha walked out of the cabin, holding in his hand a secret letter that had just arrived from the capital. Her demeanor at this time was no longer the tearful little girl of the past, but had become the general manager of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, calm and steady.

“Madam, there is news in the capital.” Ban Ha lowered his voice.

I reached out to receive the envelope, only glancing at a few lines. In the letter, it was clearly written that Dai Ly Tu Khanh Bui Van Chu, recently at large restaurants in the capital, continuously held large banquets, entertaining all parties. The purpose is to create a position for his eldest son, Bui Ke Nghiep. It is said that Mr. Bui is eighteen years old this year, more talented than anyone else, and has been revered by the capital's literary circle, considered the best candidate for this year's new valedictorian. Eighteen years old. Coincidentally, it was the child that was still in Tham Ngung's belly, the year he and I separated. Bui Van Chu... Bui Van Chu... have you really put all your heart and soul into betting on that son? The eldest son that you are always proud of. I crumpled the secret letter in my hand and conveniently threw it straight into the fast-flowing river.

“Command, depart.” I coldly ordered.

The giant boat slowly left the wharf, following the water down, its bow pointing straight towards the capital. Along this journey, the waves were calm, without a ripple. The day we arrived at the capital gate, it just happened to be Kinh Trap period. In the sky, low rolling thunder sounded faintly. My carriage was just about to complete the registration procedures to enter the city, when suddenly there was a chaotic noise in front.

"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way! The old man of the Bui Thuong Thu palace's palace has entered the city. Idle people quickly retreat!"

The family's unruly shouting came from far away. Eighteen years have passed, not only has Bui Van Chu been promoted to Minister, but the Bui family's style of action is even more arrogant than before. Our carriage stopped in the middle of the road, not moving at all.