Chapter 7 — Crossing the Moonlight at Khê Quân

In those eyes, a mixture of anticipation, restraint, and flickers of fear resided. My father pointed to the chair beside him, signaling for me to sit. Uncle Bui rubbed his hands together and approached with an ingratiating smile.

"Ah Quan, you and Bui Canh grew up together since you were children. I have long since looked upon you as my very own daughter. If you marry him, with me backing you, I swear you will never suffer a moment of grievance." Bui Canh also looked at me with a pleading expression, patting his chest as he promised, "Ah Quan, everything in the past was my fault. I promise that from now on, I will listen to you in everything!"

I did not look at them, merely shaking my head faintly. Bui Canh immediately panicked, leaping up from his chair. "I know I have done many wrong things that broke your heart. But I swear, it will never happen again! I have already sent Van Hoa away; she will never appear before you for the rest of her life! Furthermore, I vow never to take a concubine. Ah Quan, can you please trust me?"

I lifted the teacup from the table and took a sip, still offering no response. Uncle Bui opened his mouth to add more, but my father simply raised his eyes.

"Bui Duong."

Uncle Bui fell silent instantly, his face pale with unease. I coughed twice, finding my throat slightly more comfortable.

"Bui Canh."

My voice was raspy and harsh, yet every syllable was perfectly clear. The main hall plunged into absolute silence. Uncle Bui and Bui Canh stared wide-eyed, their jaws dropped in shock. Even the matchmaker was so stunned she forgot her lines. I continued, "During the Lantern Festival, you once said that Van Hoa had been orphaned and destitute since childhood, while I was born with everything, and thus I should yield everything to her. Is that correct?"

Bui Canh stiffened. I looked at him, the corners of my lips curling into a mocking smile. "I find your words quite sensible. Van Hoa is indeed pitiable, lacking in everything. As for me, I have everything—the only thing I do not lack is you."

His face turned ghostly white as he shook his head frantically. "That is not it, Ah Quan. I did not mean it that way. Back then, I was just..."

"Enough!"

Uncle Bui surged up from his seat, his face flushed red. "City Lord, all that is in the past. Ah Quan has recovered her voice; this is a joyous occasion. Please, give this misguided boy another chance!" He bowed deeply as he spoke. My father reached out to stop him, his gaze as cold as ice.

"Bui Duong, there are things and there are words that cannot simply be wiped away by saying they are 'in the past'."

Uncle Bui let out a long sigh and turned to glare fiercely at Bui Canh. Seeing this, Bui Canh fell to his knees with a heavy thud before me. The teacup in my hand rattled from the sudden movement, the tea nearly spilling over. "Ah Quan, you can beat me or scold me, but how can you just throw away all the years of affection between us?"

"Years of affection?"

Xie Qi, dressed in a black python robe, stepped over the threshold carrying Xie Ya in his arms. "The Bui family truly is blessed with a convenient memory."

Bui Canh glared at Xie Qi, his eyes rimmed with bloodshot veins. "Prince Vinh, this is a private matter between Ah Quan and me. Do you, an outsider, intend to interfere?"

"An outsider?" Xie Qi narrowed his eyes, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. Before he could speak, Xie Ya called out in his high-pitched, childish voice: "Big sister, hold me!"

I took Xie Ya from Xie Qi’s arms, and Xie Qi naturally stepped up to shield me. The scene was like a blade to Bui Canh’s heart. He gritted his teeth, his expression filled with bitter resentment. Disdaining to look at him further, Xie Qi clapped his hands once. Two guards marched in, dragging a middle-aged man bound in heavy ropes—the head treasurer of the Bui family’s pharmacy. The moment Bui Duong laid eyes on him, his legs gave out, and cold sweat erupted across his forehead. Bui Canh still did not grasp the situation.

"Treasurer Vuong? Why have you captured him?"

My heart began to race as I vaguely understood what was coming.

"City Lord An, you are Ah Quan’s father and the guardian of our city. There are things you must know."

Xie Qi gestured slightly. Treasurer Vuong collapsed to the ground, trembling like a leaf in the wind, wailing as he cried, "City Lord, please spare my life! It was all forced upon me by the Vice City Lord! He ordered me to alter the medicinal formula for Lady An! If I refused, he threatened to have my entire family buried with me!"

The entire hall fell into a deathly stillness. Bui Duong lost all color in his face, crawling toward my father’s feet and clutching his robes. "City Lord! Brother! Please do not listen to the one-sided words of this servant! How could I ever harm Ah Quan? I have always treated her as my own flesh and blood!" He then turned to beg Xie Qi, struggling in a final, pathetic attempt. "Prince Vinh, if you have feelings for Ah Quan, you need only bring the betrothal gifts! My house would never compete with you. Being married to you would be her good fortune."

"Crash!"

My father’s face was livid. He abruptly lifted his foot and kicked Bui Duong squarely in the chest. Bui Duong let out a wretched cry as his body flew backward, slamming into a pillar before he vomited a mouthful of blood and slumped over, unconscious.

"You wretch!" My father was trembling with rage, his eyes bloodshot. Bui Canh rushed forward to cradle him. "Father! Father, wake up!"

Xie Qi’s voice was chillingly cold. "Competing, indeed. Lady An is a living human being, not a commodity for your family to use as a stepping stone to power."

I took a deep breath, my fingernails digging into my palms. This was what they called "treating me like their own daughter." Xie Ya hugged my neck, waving his tiny fist in fury. "Big sister, don't be afraid! I will tell Fifth Uncle to chop their heads off and get revenge for you!"

Xie Qi chuckled softly, lifting the child back into his own arms. "Children should not talk of killing all the time. Restoring justice for your big sister is something your Fifth Uncle will handle."