Chapter 9 — Cui Van Chieu

"... looking for death." I replied lightly. "That's his choice." "Miss Wen." "You've remarried." "So live your life well." "Always remembering the past..." "It's not beneficial for you." She was stunned. Then she smiled bitterly. "You're right." After saying that, she turned around and left. I looked at his back. In my heart... there are no more ripples. … Five girls turned three years old. Bac Canh transmitted bad news. Marquis of Vinh Ninh Palace, Te Dien... fought to death in the battlefield. That battle was won. He is a hero. Take your life and sacrifice your country. After his death, he was posthumously appointed General of the National Guard. His Majesty only buried him. The civil and military mandarins all came to see him off. The news spread to the Lam family's palace. At that time, I was teaching girls to read. Xuan Dao's eyes turned red after finishing speaking. Then cautiously looked at my face. I just nodded slightly. "I know." My pen stopped. The ink spreads into a black streak on the paper. We change to another sheet of paper. Continue to teach your child. "This word is read as 'An'." "Peace." The daughter followed in her childish voice. "An." Lam Nghien returned from court. His face was heavy. "Van Chieu." "The matter of Te Dien..." I interrupted him. "I've heard it." "The royal court itself has a subsidy system." "The Marquis of Vinh Ninh Palace also has its own people to take care of it." "Our family no longer has contact with the Marquis Palace." "No need to ask more." Lam Nghien was silent for a moment. Then gently took my hand. "If you feel heartbroken..." I raised my eyes to look at him. "Lam Nghien." "He and I have long since settled all our grievances." "Live or die... I will not be heartbroken because of him." Those words... They sound so wonderful. But… it's all true. … Qi Dien's funeral. I'm not coming. Lam Nghien, on behalf of the Lam family, paid tribute. When he returned, he said: "The funeral was very solemn." "Your Majesty personally bestowed the posthumous title of Trung Dung on him." On Du Lan cried in front of the shrine. Then she was picked up by her husband's family. The old Marquis of the Vinh Ninh Palace... After just one night, his hair turned white. Lam Nghien gave me a letter. "This is the will he left behind." "Your Majesty ordered a copy sent to the palaces to praise his merits." I received it. Take a look around. The letter was very short. It's all military work. Military arrangements. Bac Canh defense. There was no mention of privacy. Only the last sentence: "This life is over, no regrets, no resentment." I returned the letter to Lam Nghien. "You keep it." "After all, this is the will of a meritorious man honored by the court." Lam Nghien looked at me. "Van Chieu..." "She really..." I looked at him. "Lam Nghien." "The day I married you... I gave up everything." "Now..." "It's okay for him to be a hero." "It's okay to be a sinner." okay." "It's just a name saved in history books." "No longer has any connection to me, Cui Van Chieu." Lam Nghien looked at me for a long time. Then he gently hugged me. "Okay." "We won't talk about it anymore."… The girl was fifteen years old. The child is engaged. The other person is a prince from a scholarly family. Dignified appearance. Treat the child with sincerity. The night before the auction date. The daughter suddenly asked me: "Mother." "Did you ever love father?" I stroked the child's hair. "Of course I did." She hesitated. "So..." "Have you ever loved anyone else?" I paused for a moment. Then smiled. "Why do children ask these things?" She leaned her head on my shoulder. "I just want to know..." "What is true love?" "Father treats you very well." "You also treat father very well." "But there are times..." "I always feel like there is a place in your heart...""... that won't let anyone in." I was silent for a long time. Finally, he softly said: "Nien Niem." "The human heart is very big." "Can hold a lot of people." "But it's also very small." "There are corners..." "Can only be reserved for the past." I looked at my daughter's voice.

extremely gentle. "But you have to remember." "The person who is next to me." "Is the one worth cherishing the most." She blinked. "So..." "Do you cherish your father?" I nodded. "Yes." "Very respectful." She seemed to understand, but she didn't seem to understand. But don't ask any more. The next day. The girl bloomed and appeared. Me and Lam Nghien stood in front of the palace gate. Quietly watching the float go away. He took my hand. "Van Chieu." "Over the years..." "Thank you." I turned to look at him. "It must be me who thanks you." "Thank you..." "For giving me a home." Lam Nghien smiled. A thin layer of tears shined in her eyes. … Lam Nghien passed away at the age of sixty-five. He's sick. Passed away very peacefully. Before he died, he held my hand. "Van Chieu." "In this life..." "To marry you." "It is my greatest blessing." I squeezed his hand. "In the next life... we will still be husband and wife." He smiled. Then gently close your eyes. The daughter brought her grandchildren back to mourn. I became the old lady of the Lam family. Have fun every day with your children and grandchildren. Life is also very peaceful. Sometimes. I went to the temple outside the city to offer incense. There was one time. In the cemetery behind the temple. I saw Te Dien's grave. Just a very simple stele. On it was engraved: "The tomb of General Qi Dien of the National Protectorate." In front of the stele there was a very new offering of fruit and flowers. Surely there is always someone coming to clean. We stopped and looked for a moment. Then turned around and left. A young novice followed. "Does the benefactor know this general?" I replied faintly: "An old friend." The young novice smiled and said: "The story of this general..." "The old abbot often told it." "I heard that before he died, he left a sentence." "It's still engraved behind the tombstone." I paused slightly. "What is it?" The little novice slowly read: "If I miss someone in this life, I hope to meet each other in the next life." I stand still in place. A long time later... Laughed softly. "Let's go." The mountain wind passed by. Gently move the hem of your shirt. Old stories... are like smoke, blown away by the wind. Full text complete.