Chapter 1 — Article Phu Dinh Duyen

My childhood friend, my childhood friend, was fined thirty feet and used military merit in exchange for a holy edict to annul his engagement with me. Everyone in the capital knows that the Ta family's little general wants to marry my cousin, To Ngam Suong. Mother cried and said: "Le Nhi, please complete it for them." I said okay. On the big wedding day, I stood in the middle of the crowd, watching him hold her hand and worship heaven and earth. He smiled so happily. I've never seen him so happy. I think it's all over. Three months after the big wedding, To Ngam Suong returned to the palace to visit relatives, the ostentatious procession of people stretched half the street. I hid in the hospital, but she still sent someone to call me. When I walked to the main hall door, I heard her voice: "Minh Vien, A Le alone is very pitiful. You know many people, please find her a good family." 01 I stood outside the hall, my legs seemed to be locked in place. "You don't need to have a very high family background, to avoid your sister marrying there and having to suffer resentment. Just find someone honest, peaceful, who can live with her every day." To's voice. Soaking Mist spreads behind the curtain. I heard Ta Minh Vien's voice again: "She won't be grateful, Suong Nhi doesn't need to worry about her." To Ngam Suong's voice carried a bit of pity. "That sister, she's just too stubborn. Minh Vien, tell me, with that kind of personality, what should she do to be better in the future?" Ta Minh Vien hasn't answered yet. I opened the curtain and stepped inside. In the main hall there were many people sitting. My father, mother, elder brother, Ta Minh Vien, along with several maids and grandmothers, followed To Ngam Suong back to the palace. To Ngam Suong sat in the upper position, wearing a pink lotus dress. In her hair was a pure gold brooch with pearls in it, the hanging beads swaying slightly with her every gesture. Seeing me, To Ngam Suong's face immediately filled with a smile. "A Le is here, sit down quickly." I'm not sitting. I stood in the middle of the hall, first bowing to my parents. "My sister called me here, I don't know what's going on?" She patted the empty space next to her. "We haven't talked to each other properly for a long time, sister. Come over here and sit." I looked at the empty seat next to her: "It's the same standing and talking." To Ngam Suong sighed. "Ah Le, are you still resentful of me?" "You're thinking too much." "Then you're thinking too much." good. I'm still afraid that you're not comfortable in your heart." She fixed the sideburns next to her and said: "Today I called you to tell you something." "Minh Vien knows many people, I asked you to take care of me and help you. Even though a family like ours is not worried about not being able to marry a daughter, you still... after all, your situation is different from others... Finding someone honest, peaceful, and living together peacefully is better than anything." Ta Minh Vien turned his head to look at her. To Ngam Suong's eyebrows furrowed. To Ngam Suong turned to smile at him, with a bit of pampering in her smile: "What's wrong? I'm taking care of my cousin, is something wrong?" Ta Minh Vien looked at me. Before I could clearly see the emotions in his eyes, he had already moved his eyes away. "You already have your heart, it's just that my marriage doesn't need you and General Ta to worry about." To Ngam Suong was stunned, smiled and said: "Bie, why are you so polite? We are family." I didn't answer. The lobby was quiet for a moment. The mother's face was somewhat unsightly. To Ngam Suong's smile finally couldn't be kept. She put down the teacup in her hand and let out a crisp sound. "A Le, I only have good intentions." I stood until my legs were a bit tired. "Maybe so, but I don't need to." After that, I bowed to my parents and turned around to walk out. 02 I returned to the courtyard, not long after sitting down, my close maid Thuy Nhi ran in. "Miss, Bich Dao next to Miss Ta has arrived." I raised my head to look at

Thuy Nhi. "What do you want to do again?" Thuy Nhi said: "She told Miss Ta to invite someone to have dinner with her this evening." "You answer for me, I'm not feeling well today, so I won't go." Thuy Nhi answered as she went out. A moment later, Bich Dao's voice rang out outside, not high or low, just loud enough for me to hear. "The second lady is truly noble. The young lady has good intentions, time after time inviting people, people show such an appearance." Thuy Nhi hastily replied: "What nonsense are you talking about? My lady said that her body is not well." "Your body is not well? Just talking in the main hall, it was still peaceful, but as soon as you returned to the hospital, you are not well? According to I see, it's obvious that I'm not comfortable in my heart, deliberately trying to show off to our young lady." I pushed the door open and walked out. Bich Dao stood at the door of the hospital. Seeing me step out, she didn't panic, just slightly knelt down: "Second Miss." I walked towards Bich Dao. "What did you just say?" Bich Dao forced a smile: "The slave didn't say anything. The slave just came to pass on the message, the young lady invited you to dinner. If the second lady doesn't want to go, the slave will go back to report." As soon as she finished speaking, I raised my hand and slapped her. The crisp sound rang out, especially clear in the quiet courtyard. Bich Dao's face was tilted to one side, her whole body was stunned on the spot. She covered her face and looked at me in disbelief. My palms are hot and a little numb. I have never beaten anyone, this is the first time. "This slap is to teach you to recognize your identity. You are the maid of the Ta family, not the master of the Quan family. In my yard, it is not yet your turn to speak sarcastically and mockingly." Bich Dao covered her face, not daring to say another word. "Go back and tell your young lady, I am not well, I will not go today." Bich Dao bowed her head, quickly bowed, then turned and quickly left. My palms are still numb. I looked at my hand, not knowing what it felt like. That evening, To Ngam Suong personally arrived. She stood in front of my hospital door, holding a bowl of soup in her hand, with a smile on her face. "A Le, I heard that you're not feeling well, I've stewed a bowl of soup for you. Drink it while it's still hot." "I'm just a little tired, want to rest early." She gave the bowl of soup to Thuy Nhi, then held my hand, sighing. "A Le, are you still blaming me?" I was really extremely disgusted in my heart. "No." "We grew up together since childhood. Don't hide it from me. I know you're upset, but I have no other choice. Minh Vien and I..." "You've done it for us, of course I'll always remember this." Saying this, she tried to force out a few tears. "That girl Bich Dao didn't understand things today, and when she collided with you, I scolded her very well. This kind of slave should not be taught properly. You absolutely should not Because of her, I feel uncomfortable in my heart." I looked at her tearful appearance and suddenly felt very tired. "Don't cry anymore, I don't blame you." She raised her teary eyes: "Really?" "Really." Finally sent To Ngam Suong away. That evening, I sat in front of the window, opened the jewelry box, and took out the silver brooch. That was the only thing Ta Minh Vien ever gave me. That year, on my birthday, he conveniently bought it on the street. I always keep it like a treasure, I can't bear to carry it. I held that brooch and looked at it for a long time. After that, I stood up, went to the courtyard, and threw the brooch into the pond. The water surface rippled with waves, then returned to silence. 03To Ngam Suong stayed in the palace for three days. During those three days, I was forced to go with her. Every morning I have to come to greet her and listen to her and my mother talk about housework. At noon we ate together, watching her pick up food and ladle soup for Ta Minh Vien. Session

Afternoon strolling in the garden, listening to her talk about how large the courtyard of Ta Phu was and how well Ta Minh Vien treated her. Every meal is a torment, every sentence is like a mausoleum. During dinner on Tuesday, the whole family sat around the table. To Ngam Suong took a sip of soup, suddenly put down the spoon, and mentioned it again. "A Le." She turned her head to look at me, with a concerned look on her face. "What did you think about the last time I told you?" I have heard her talk too much these past three days. "What?" "The matter of finding a husband for you. I told Minh Vien to help you, it's not bad for you to know a few people..." She stopped and added one more sentence: "Even though the family background is not as good. Ta's family is considered a wealthy family. If you marry there, you won't have to suffer." I put down my chopsticks. "Are you so quick to want to marry me off, because you're angry at me for staying at your mother's house, or are you afraid that one day General Ta will regret it and come back to find me?" The whole table was silent. Mother suddenly raised her head and glared at me: "A Le! What nonsense are you talking about?" To Ngam Suong's smile froze on her face. The chopsticks in her hand fell on the table, making a crisp sound. To Ngam Suong turned her head to look at Ta Minh Vien, her voice carried a cry: "Minh Vien, look at that sister..." Ta Minh Vien put down his chopsticks, raised his head, frowned at me. "The second son of the Vuong family in the south of the city, I have considered helping you. This year is twenty-one years old, has read books for several years, has two shops in the house, has good character. I have agreed on your behalf, tomorrow we will meet."I was stunned. My father was also stunned: "Minh Vien, why didn't you discuss this matter with us in advance?" "You have carefully investigated the marriage with the Vuong family. If you miss this house, you may not be able to meet someone better in the future." To Ngam Suong leaned on his shoulder and coyly said: "For your sake, Minh Vien specially came to the Vuong family twice." I looked at Ta Minh Vien. "I won't go. If you agree to replace someone, then go on your own behalf." refused.” Ta Minh Vien looked at me, was silent for a long time, then he stood up. He no longer looked at me, but turned to my father: "Father-in-law, I have already arranged the meeting tomorrow. Whether she goes or not is up to her, but from the Royal family's side, I will not refuse for her. If I miss this opportunity, if she regrets it later, don't blame me for never taking care of her." After saying that, he pulled To Ngam Suong's hand and said softly: "Let's go back to the palace." To Ngam Suong obediently stood up and followed him. When she reached the door, she turned her head to look at me. After they left, there was only silence at the dining table. I sat on the chair, looking at the cold bowl of soup in front of me, suddenly feeling extremely funny. I put down my chopsticks and stood up. Turn around and return to your hospital. The year To Ngam Suong came to my house, I was eight years old and she was seven years old. Her parents passed away in an epidemic, my mother and her mother are biological sisters. Seeing how pitiful she was, her mother immediately took her home. When she first came to our house, she was thin and small, huddled in the corner of the carriage, not daring to raise her head. Her mother held her hand, her eyes were red, she squatted down and said to her: "Good child, from now on this will be your home." Now To Ngam Suong has married into the Ta family, becoming Mrs. Ta, with infinite glory returning to the palace to visit her relatives. Her mother looked at her, her eyes filled with joy. As for my biological daughter, my marriage was annulled, abandoned, and became a laughing stock. In people's eyes, on the contrary, I become someone who makes them lose face. The person who brings glory to his mother is also the person who causes his mother to suffer humiliation. It's all Ta Minh Vien.04