Chapter 3 — Before I lost my peace, I quietly put it away

Throughout the capital, another story was told. The eldest lady of the Manh family, Manh Nguyet Chi, knelt in the middle of the heavy snow for Tinh Vien Marquis, her love was deep and meaningful, touching everyone. And Tieu Truong Lam publicly swore in front of everyone that he would absolutely not betray Manh Nguyet Chi in this life. I dragged my already disabled legs to find him. But the scene he saw was... Tieu Truong Lam was holding Manh Nguyet Chi's hand with heartbreaking eyes. He carefully put her broken Bodhi necklace into his chest little by little. It's like cherishing the most precious treasure in the world. That's the relic my mother left me. That day when I knelt in the snow, because my hands were frozen to the point of numbness, I accidentally dropped it. But in the end, it became the most authentic evidence for Manh Nguyet Chi to claim credit for saving his life.

"Such a pure girl, in order to save me, she doesn't even need her reputation anymore."

When he said that to me, Tieu Truong Lam's eyes were filled with tenderness for Manh Nguyet Chi.

“Ngoc Sau, I know you like me.”

“But my life was saved by Nguyet Chi.”

“I must marry her.”

Later, to appease our Wen family, and at the same time to borrow my father's influence at court, he married both of us at the same time. I am the main house. She is a peaceful wife. But in this Marquis Palace, she is the real female owner. As for me, I am a single woman who relies on family power to stubbornly separate two miserable lovebirds.

“Cough... cough..."

A cold wind blew. I couldn't hold back and suddenly coughed violently. Coughing to the point of tearing your lungs and liver apart. Luc Dan hurriedly ran to pour hot water, but before he could bring it, Mother Vuong pushed her aside.

“What valuable destiny does it have?”

"The strong mother just passed away, her bones are not yet cold, yet she still has the mind to think about drinking water?"

“Just let him cough.”

A deep, cold voice suddenly rang out from outside the spiritual hall's door. Tieu Truong Lam walked in wearing heavy mourning clothes and a haggard expression. He looked at me kneeling on the ground, his eyes still cold as before.

“If she really feels cold, then she should think about how cold she was when Nguyet Chi struggled in that cold lake water.”

He walked in front of me, looking down from above.

“On Ngoc Sau, take back this pitiful and weak appearance of yours.”

"For the past three years, you have pretended to be sick and weak every day. Isn't it just because you want to gain my pity and make me cold towards Nguyet Chi?"

I raised my head and looked at the man I once risked everything to love. His eyes were clouded by prejudice. His mind was manipulated by lies.

“Master Marquis is right.”

The corners of my lips curled slightly into a sarcastic smile.

“I faked being sick.”

“My legs are very strong.”

As I spoke, I struggled to support my legs, which were frozen to the point of numbness, and tried to stand up. Heart-wrenching pain immediately struck. It was dark before my eyes. I could only stand up halfway before I fell heavily back onto the blue stone floor. The knee hit the ground hard. Made a dull sound. Tieu Truong Lam's pupils suddenly contracted violently. Instinctively, he took half a step forward. It seemed like he wanted to reach out to help ta. But that arm had only reached half before it stiffened in mid-air. Then slowly retract. Hands clenched into fists.

“Stop acting.”

He turned away, not looking at me anymore. The voice was hoarse and dry.

"You like being a housekeeper so much. After Nguyet Chi passes away, the internal affairs management in this Marquis Palace should be left to you."

“It's just that…”

“Don't think that I will look at you one more time because of that.”

I watched his back wave his sleeves and leave. I couldn't help but burst out laughing softly. Tieu Truong Lam. Do you really think that being the butler of this Marquis Palace is a delicious piece of cake? Did he really think that during the past three years, Manh Nguyet Chi had been able to maintain the noble appearance of the Marquis Palace in front of outsiders thanks to her meager dowry and his benefits?