Chapter 2 — Books Hidden Under a Dry Well

"Miss, first rent a small inn." "You can't use this money casually." "Staying at an inn is the most expensive. The second lady wants to kick us out three days later, we leave first." Co Minh Chau looked at me: "Ah Duong, am I implicating you?" I stuffed the check back into the trunk: "Miss, you say things like that again, I won't listen anymore." At night, the little private Ta Phu came again. He threw a card on the table. "Second lady told me, the other day the Ta family held a party, famous people in the capital were all coming. If Miss Co is reasonable, bring this maid with her. In front of everyone, make it clear that the engagement between the Co family and the Ta family has long since ended, and the industry has nothing to do with it." Co Minh Chau tightened the card: "What if I don't go?" The young man laughed: "Then tomorrow the whole capital will know that Miss Co used the old marriage contract to force the wedding and was greedy for the Ta family's money." I asked: "Is this the Second Lady's original text?" "About that." He looked at the fingerprints on my face, his smile deepened, "You can still go to the mandarin's office if you don't like it. It's hard to say whether or not the capital city will accept you two fleeing masters and servants." Co Minh Chau slammed the card on the table. "I'll go." After the little private left, she looked at me. "Ah Duong, I can't let them trample on the last bit of the Co family's reputation." I picked up the card, the word Ta under the light was extremely dazzling. "Then go.” She asked: “What are you going for?” I said: "Let's go hear what they are afraid of." On the day the Ta family held a party, Co Minh Chau wore the only light-colored dress she had kept during her escape. I combed her hair, wearing only an old silver hairpin. She looked at herself in the mirror: "Is it too poor?" I said: "The one who stole the girl's things is the poor one, not the one demanding justice." She laughed: "This mouth of yours, why didn't you see it in the Co Palace before?" "Before, there was someone protecting the young lady, I didn't need to be powerful." In front of the Ta palace's door, carriages were lined up. As soon as we got out of the car, someone recognized Co Minh Chau. "Is this the Third Miss of the Co family in Tay Chau?" "I heard that she was clinging to the Ta family's marriage." "Didn't Mr. Ta Nhi just get married to Miss Luong? What is she doing here?" Each sentence was harder to hear than the previous one. Co Minh Chau held my hand, his fingers tightening. I helped her continue walking forward. In the banquet hall, Mrs. Ta sat in the upper chair. Seeing Co Minh Chau enter, a look of unwillingness appeared in her eyes. Dieu Thi immediately smiled and said: "Minh Chau is here. Quickly sit down. Your body is weak, but you still willingly came to clarify everything for the Ta family, it's really understanding." Co Minh Chau bowed: "Please rest in peace, old lady." Mrs. Ta quickly ordered someone to help her: "Child, sit next to me." Dieu Thi said: "Mother, the Luong family is also present today. Minh Chau sits next to you, I'm afraid others will misunderstand." A lady wearing a dress embroidered with gold thread looked up. That is Prince Ta Nhi's new fiancee, Luong Thanh Ha. She smiled and said: "I'm not afraid of misunderstandings. If Miss Co is bright and brilliant in her heart, wherever she sits will be the same." Co Minh Chau's face turned pale. Standing behind her, I heard someone laugh softly. Dieu Thi ordered someone to bring a small chair and place it next to the door. "Minh Chau is tired from the long journey, so sit on the other side for fresh air." That position is right in front of the servants' entrance. Co Minh Chau did not move. Dieu Thi looked at me: "A Duong, don't you hurry and help your young lady over there?" I said: "Third Miss is a guest, I'm afraid it's not polite to sit next to the door." The maid next to Luong Thanh Ha laughed out loud: "Does a fugitive come and choose a seat?" In the lobby

It was quiet for a moment, then very quickly there was a soft sound of chatter. Dieu Thi raised her cup of tea: "Ah Duong, today is not the place for you to speak up." Co Minh Chau suddenly said: "I sit." She held my hand and walked over, sitting down on that small chair. I stood behind her, my spine straight. Halfway through the banquet, Mrs. Dieu ordered someone to present a brocade box. "Today, I invite you to testify. The marriage contract between the Co family and the Ta family in the past was just a happy word from the elders, there was no official marriage certificate. Miss Co personally came here today to avoid false rumors outside." She looked at Co Minh Chau: "Minh Chau, is that true?" Co Minh Chau's lips turned white: "In the past, whether there was a marriage contract or not, I have never seen it. Before her death, mother only said that the two families had a marriage contract." Dieu Thi's smile disappeared: "Your mother is seriously ill and confused. She may not remember correctly." I spoke up: "Before her death, she was still extremely conscious." Dieu Thi put down the tea cup hard: "Slap your mouth." The lady immediately rushed forward. Co Minh Chau stood in front of me: "Don't hit her." Luong Thanh Ha sighed softly: "Miss Gu, today everyone is saving face for you. Why do you have to tolerate servants causing trouble?"