Chapter 11 — After My Father Inducted Seven Nuns, They Immediately Prepared Me A Timetable

So familiar that just looking at it brought tears to my eyes.

“My dear An Ninh, seeing the letter is like seeing my mother.”

He wrote that during a serious illness, the thing he is most uneasy about is himself. He said that he still has many things to teach us. I'm just sorry there's no more time. He said he had found seven gentlemen for me. It also helped the girls find a place to live. He said that if a woman lives in this world, if she only learns to obey and be patient, it is truly too miserable. You must learn to look at the books, to know where your money is. You must learn horseback riding and archery, to know which direction your path may go. You have to learn how to talk, to know when to be soft and when to absolutely not back down. You must learn medical theory to be able to protect your own body. You must learn how to receive guests so that others will not easily look down on you. We must learn female martial arts, but we must also learn to distinguish between good and bad. You must read books to know that there are still other ways to live in this world. At the end of the letter, the person wrote:

"I can't be by your side to watch you grow up, so let them accompany me a little longer on my behalf. If one day I'm no longer afraid, they can feel at ease."

I hugged the letter tightly, crying until I could barely breathe. Seven concubines stood outside the door. No one entered. My father sat next to me. His eyes were also red.

“Before leaving, your mother also made me promise you something.”

I choked up and asked:

“What?”

"If one day you want to leave the Marquis' palace, don't stop them."

I was stunned.

“Leave?”

My father nodded.

“The girls came to the palace to protect their children, not to lock themselves in the Marquis palace.”

The next day, I invited all seven concubines to my mother's courtyard. I gave my mother's letter for you to see. After reading, everyone was silent for a long time. In the end, Concubine Do was the first to speak.

“The lady has grown up.”

Concubine Tan crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window.

“Standing is still a bit poor.”

Concubine Liu laughed.

“Don't ruin the atmosphere anymore.”

Ta Di Nuong said softly:

"Miss's body is better than before. If something happens, she knows how to calm down and stabilize herself first."

Concubine Nguyen raised her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes.

“I also know how to receive guests.”

Concubine Song gently stroked the needle lines on my cuff.

"I also know how to choose clothes."

Concubine Hua's eyes were red.

“Books must continue to be read.”

I look at the girls.

“Do you have any plans for the future?”

Everyone was silent. Concubine Do wanted to open a school next to the room, specializing in teaching women how to read books. Concubine Tan wants to return to the village and continue her old life of oppression. Concubine Liu wants to open a tea room and tell stories to her daughter. Concubine Ta wants to open a medical shop, specializing in treating women and children. Concubine Nguyen wants to accept a few disciples and teach them everything she knows. Concubine Song wants to open a private guild. Concubine Hua wants to start a female school. We hear one story after another. Suddenly burst out laughing.

“Then just go to work.”

Concubine Do looked at me.

“Miss, what can you do?”

The bridge of my nose.

“I can't bear it.”

"Since you can't bear it, why do you let us go?"

I took her hand.

"My mother told me. You don't have to come here to be imprisoned in this place.”

The eyes of all seven people turned red. Concubine Tan turned away.

“The wind is too strong.”

I burst out laughing. Where does the air come from in the room? Later, the girls did not leave immediately. They said they still wanted to stay by my side for another year. One year later. I am sixteen years old. In the spring of that year, the school next to Do Di Nuong's room was the first to open. Next is Concubine Ta's medical shop, Concubine Tong's ward and Concubine Hua's female student. Concubine Tan returned to the bureau. The first time I came back, she also brought me a short sword from the Northern region. Concubine Lieu's tea house is doing extremely well. The first story she told was called "The Seven Gentlemen". Concubine Nguyen accepted three disciples. Each of them walks more steadfastly than I did in the past. My father asked:

“Do you feel like the palace has become lonely?”

I stand in the yard.