Chapter 3 — Chinh The Muu

The tea soaked the carpet, spreading like an ink flower. She wiped away her tears, adjusted her skirt, and returned to her original calm and leisurely appearance as if the woman who both laughed and cried, cried and laughed had never appeared.

“Madam really has tricks.” Tiet Uyen bowed slightly, her voice was soft and calm, "On the big wedding day, I will come and drink your tea."

Tiet Uyen walked to the door and suddenly stopped.

“Miss Shen.” She didn't turn around, "I met him at the age of seven, seven years old."

The curtains fell, the sound of footsteps along the stairs gradually disappeared. I stood by the window, watching Tiet Uyen leave the tea house, get on the carriage, people on the street were bustling back and forth, no one glanced at her once more. The stage was empty, only a lonely chair remained. I drank the entire cup of cold tea. The tea stain on the ground slowly dried, leaving a ring of dark marks on the carpet, like a drop of ink falling in the wrong place. The wedding was chosen on my birthday, the master said that my husband was prosperous, and that this day was auspicious for my husband's family. Ten miles of red dowry spread from Thua Ba palace straight to Tran Quoc Cong palace. I sat in a palanquin, a red scarf dropped to cover my face, his hand reached out, led me down from the palanquin, separated by a layer of red bamboo, his fingertips were warm and powerful. Worship heaven and earth, worship high street, husband and wife worship each other. Everything is in the correct order. Then the door was pushed open. When Tiet Uyen rushed in holding the child, the red wishes in the wedding hall were shaken by the wind. She knelt in front of the entire reception hall, holding a cup of tea with both hands, raising it above her head.

“I request you to drink this cup of tea, ma'am.” Her voice was small and trembling, tears falling drop by drop onto the cold tile floor.

"Please, ma'am, give this child a way to live. He is the flesh and blood of the dukedom."

The child in her arms cried, the eyes of all the guests were focused on her. There was a dull sound from above. Truong Princess Chu Tri Doanh's body staggered and fell straight back.

“The eldest princess fainted!”

The wedding hall immediately turned into a pot of porridge, the maids rushed in, the guests whispered, Bui Chieu's face turned pale, he was about to rush forward - I held his arm. After that, I lifted the veil from my head, first told the maid to help Princess Truong into the back hall, invited the royal physician, told the butler to calm the guests, and continued playing music as usual. Then I turned around and looked at Tiet Uyen kneeling on the ground.

“Offering tea.”

"You glass the tea cup, I'll drink it." I took off the jade bracelet on my wrist, grabbed her hand and put it on, my voice still calm, "The Duke's Palace has not had any descendants yet. You have given birth to a eldest son, which is a merit to the clan. This bracelet, consider it as a reward from me."

Having finished speaking, I conveniently picked up the cup of wine and placed it next to me, my eyes slightly shifting to Bui Chieu.

"It's just wedding wine. It's still appropriate to drink it to be polite. I wonder if Marquis would be willing to drink a cup with me or not?"

The whole wedding hall was as quiet as paper. Bui Chieu just hoped this commotion would end quickly. After listening to me, it was like catching a lifeline. He immediately responded, raised his cup and drank in one gulp. I looked at him, then slowly continued: "The child is the family's blood, of course Receiving my ancestors, I will later raise them in my house, register them as my mother, and educate them as my own children." Tiet Uyen's face suddenly changed color, she suddenly yanked her hand away, and the bracelet flew onto the tile floor, making a cold, crisp sound.

“No way! My child, I raise it myself!”

Some people in the group of guests began to whisper, Bui Chieu's eyebrows furrowed, and finally he opened his mouth. Tiet Uyen stiffened in place, raised her head to look at him, tears still on her face, her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something, but was forced back by the coldness in his eyes.

“The child will be raised in the madam's 'room'.” He said slowly, his voice cold, "This is the best way."

Tiet Uyen knelt on the ground, like a small bird drenched by the rain, her body trembling, but in the depths of her eyes burned a bright fire that could not be extinguished. In the new room, roses burn high. Happily she spoke auspicious words, the maid offered a plate of royal cake, I gently took a bite, the filling inside was half raw and half cooked, happily she stood next to me and smiled and asked "have you given birth or not", I replied "birth", the maids withdrew one by one, the door gently closed from the outside, the red curtain slowly fell. Bui Chieu sat at the table, poured two cups of wine, one cup was pushed in front of me, the other cup was taken by himself, twirled around on his fingertips, but did not drink, the candlelight illuminated his profile face, the pale scar on his neck in the swaying light was slightly white. He was silent for a long time, then finally opened his mouth: "Uan Ninh." We waited for him to continue.

"From now on, in this palace, no one will bully her." He stopped for a moment.

“I will treat you well.”