Chapter 2 — Chinh The Muu

"The Tiet family has been a family for hundreds of years. My father is Tiet Minh Vien, the most trusted official of the emperor."

"When I was seven years old, I met the crown prince of Tran Quoc Cong Bui Chieu. The two elders had each promised marriage."

"Later, the first emperor passed away, and when the reigning king ascended the throne, the Tiet family was arrested on charges of treason, trafficking in military provisions, and mishandling military plans. The whole family was beheaded, and the marriage also fell apart."

“He saved me.” Tiet Uyen's voice finally wavered slightly.

"It took a huge risk, I changed my household registration, changed my identity, from then on, there was no longer a woman from the Tiet family in the world, only one person of unknown origin remained."

Tiet Uyen stopped for a moment, her eyes softened slightly, as if remembering those buried years.

"After something happened to me, he didn't get married for many years. It's not that there weren't any good marriages in the court, but because he didn't want to."

She looked straight at me.

"After that, you saved his life. This marriage was decided. You are his benefactor, I should thank you, but you should also know that this life of his, the reason he is still alive waiting for you to save him, is because I have already died for him once."

On the stage, Ly Thien Kim was singing the line "The first wall, the horse, the horse, the two are together, the one who sees the army is the end of the world (as soon as we meet, we fall deeply in love, but that love brings with it lasting pain)". I was silent for a moment, then raised the cup of tea in front of me.

“Tea is not bad.”

Even though the tea had cooled, a slight bitter taste spread on the tip of the tongue.

"I believe what you said, I also know the Tiet family's case, and I also accept the friendship between you and him." I put down the tea cup, my eyes fell on her, "But you did something wrong, you shouldn't have pushed the child out in front of everyone."

The smile at the corner of her lips faded somewhat.

"The child is only six years old, you let him kneel in front of the Ba palace's door, and ordered the nanny to stand in the middle of the street and scream those words. You thought it was a wise move, but that was his flesh and blood. You turned his flesh and blood into a blade to use. Try to put yourself in his position and think, how will he look at you in his heart?"

Tiet Uyen didn't say anything, her finger that was twirling the jade circle stopped midway. I stood up and walked to the window.

"I can show you a way, you stay quiet, don't try any more tricks, wait for the wedding to pass, wait for this matter to calm down, I will arrange for you and the child to enter the palace. I can't give you too high a status, but I will let you save face."

I turned around.

“If you don't listen—about the nanny that day, the Kinh Trieu mansion has not yet condemned it, defaming the honor and dignity, according to the law, what is the outcome, you must understand, the Tiet family's sentence was confirmed by the emperor, if it is believed that you are still alive—”

I don't say it all. The court was silent for a long time. The theater downstairs on the opposite side, I don't know when it ended. Tiet Uyen suddenly laughed softly. That laugh was not loud, but like a stone thrown into a still water surface, the ripples spread out in circles. She slowly stood up, adjusted her sleeves, raised her head to look at me, the faint, proper smile on her face seemed to be blown away by the wind, revealing what was hidden underneath.

“Miss Thuan, what you said is so pleasant to listen to.”

Her voice is still not loud, But every word seems to be grinded out from between teeth:

"Be safe and keep your head. Go to the palace. Look good. Are you giving alms to me?"

Tiet Uyen took a step forward.

"Let me tell you, Bui Chieu has only loved me from beginning to end. I met him at the age of seven. What can you compare to me? You saved his life, he gave his life back to you—he married you, what else do you want?"

The edges of her eyes turned red, but the corners of her lips still hung with that smile that sent chills down the viewer's spine.

"The nanny was beaten like that, she was carried out bleeding, have you seen her? She raised Niem An. Since the year I had the accident, she has been by my side, taking each sip to breastfeed my child. She knelt in front of the Ba palace's door because I told her to leave, but she was beaten to death by life and death, because of whom?"

Tiet Uyen held out a finger and pointed straight at me.

"It's because of you, because you brought this matter to the Duke's Palace, you tied her up and took her away. You think you're protecting the reputation of Ba Palace, you're sending her to die, her blood is on your hands, Miss Thuan."

Tiet Uyen retracted her hand and lowered her head to look at her own hand.

"As for Niem An, he was only six years old. When he was taken out of Tran Quoc Cong's palace, he was unconscious, his little face was as white as paper. He was Bui Chieu's flesh and blood, the eldest son of the National Duke's palace, but he was considered something, something that could not be revealed, stuffed into a carriage, taken from one gate to another, like transporting a package."

Tiet Uyen raised her head, tears finally fell, drop after drop, but she was still smiling.

“Thuan Uan Ninh, you owe me, you owe the nanny a life, you owe my son a justice, you sit here, holding a cup of tea, telling me ‘I will show you a path’—”

Tiet Uyen raised the cup of tea, slowly, little by little, not even a single drop missed, splashing onto the floor.

"My path, I don't need your instructions."