Chapter 8 — Books Hidden Under a Dry Well

“Brother Hanh Chu, did you hear those words too?” Ta Hanh Chu was so embarrassed that he became angry: “Enough.” He said to the family outside the door: "Take her to the lobby." In the lobby, Dieu Thi sat on the main chair, while Co Minh Chau was supported by someone sitting on one side, her face gray and white. As soon as she saw me, she immediately stood up: "A Duong!" I was about to step forward but was held back by my family. Mrs. Dieu slammed the letter of clarification on the table. "Miss Co has admitted that the Co family and the Ta family are no longer related. A Duong, you secretly entered the Ta residence, injured the family, stole the old lady's private letters. According to the law, you must deliver it to the mandarin." Co Minh Chau quickly said: "Second lady, you have agreed that as long as I write a letter, I will release you." Dieu Thi looked at her: "I agree not to prosecute you for beating someone in Lieu Diep alley. As for sneaking into Ta residence last night, that's another matter." Co Minh Chau was so angry that he trembled: "You lied to me." Luong Thanh Ha said softly: "Miss Co, don't continue to cause trouble. Your body is more important." I looked at Co Minh Chau: "Miss, don't beg." Tears rolled down her eyes: "A Duong, I hurt you." I said: “No.” Dieu Thi laughed coldly: "Master and servant have a deep love, who should I show it to?" She instructed the woman: "Search her. The key must be on her." The woman searched again but still couldn't find it. Dieu Thi's eyes became fierce: "Fight her until she speaks." Co Minh Chau rushed forward but was held tightly. When the board hits my back, I grit my teeth. One. Two. Mrs. Ta was helped by her mother to step in and angrily shouted: "Stop." Dieu Thi stood up: "Mother, this maid secretly entered the house, we cannot avoid being punished." Old lady Ta looked at the blood on my back, and a bead from the Buddha necklace in her hand fell down. "Just a little girl, how could she intrude here? Is there too many things in the palace that are against my conscience so I'm afraid you'll open your mouth?" Dieu Thi's face turned pale: "Mother!" Old lady Ta looked at Co Minh Chau, her voice hoarse: "Child, did you write that letter of clarification voluntarily?" Co Minh Chau shook his head: "No." Luong Thanh Ha sighed: "Old lady, Miss Co is so sick that you're confused. Just now, you gave the instructions yourself." Mrs. Ta said: "Then let's wait for her to recover and then ask again." Dieu Thi said: "Today the Luong family is coming to present the marriage ceremony, we cannot delay it any longer." I lay face down on the ground, my back hurt as if it were being burned by fire. Outside the door, someone suddenly came to announce: "Second lady, the Luong family has arrived, bringing the matchmaker and the gift box." Luong Thanh Ha glanced at me, lowered his voice: "A Duong, you lost." I raised my head: "Not sure." She frowned. I said: "Miss Luong, if you don't mind, take a look at your gift chest to see if there's a layer missing at the bottom." Luong Thanh Ha's face changed. Dieu Thi suddenly stood up: "What did you do?" I don't answer. She shouted out the door: "Quickly check the gift box." A moment later, the lady staggered back. "Second lady, Miss Luong, the secret compartment at the bottom of the gift chest has been pried open, the contents are no longer there." In the lobby, all eyes were on her. Luong Thanh Ha's face was covered with a layer of cold frost. "Where are the things?" I sat up with my hands, the blood on my back sticking to my clothes. "Miss Luong is asking about Mrs. Co's books, or the Ta family's store contract?" Dieu shouted: "Sure enough, you stole it." I looked at her: "Didn't the second lady always say she didn't have those things? Why now say I stole them?" Dieu Thi choked and immediately slapped the table: "Sharp tongue. Where are you, cover her mouth." Old lady Ta said angrily: "Who dares?" Next to him, Ta Hanh Chu's face continuously changed. Matchmaker Luong poultry list

The offering walked in, saw that scene and stopped. Luong Thanh Ha quickly restored her smile: "Just a little family matter, let you laugh." I said: "The old contract of the Co family is hidden in the secret compartment of the Luong family's gift chest, is it also considered a family heirloom of the Luong family?" The matchmaker's hands trembled. Luong Thanh Ha turned his head and stared at me: "If you can't take it out, it's slander." I said: "I can't get it out, you can't get it out either. The things disappeared from the Luong family's gift box, the Luong family didn't explain clearly. The Ta family kept the Co family's master and servant, the Ta family also didn't explain clearly." Dieu Thi hates being able to tear me apart: "Do you think that doing this can turn the situation around?" I didn't pay attention to her, just looked at old lady Ta. "Old lady, please send someone to the old Tu Trang in Nam Thi. If that place really has nothing to do with the Co family, this servant is willing to be punished." Dieu Thi argued: "The old Tu Trang in Nam Thi has been abandoned for a long time, why go there?" I asked: "Second lady, how did you know that place was abandoned?" She once again missed her words. Old lady Ta slowly turned her head to look at her. Dieu Thi tightened her chair back: "Of course I know about the old shops in the capital." Old lady Ta closed her eyes: "Go." Dieu Thi was about to stop, but Mrs. Ta used her cane to hit the ground hard. "Whoever stops is the guilty one."