Chapter 14 — Duong Mui Knelt Down to Pray for the Crown Prince's True Love, I Smiled and Gave Up the Marriage

Tieu Tan Nghiem slowly closed his eyes. After a long time, he spoke hoarsely:

“What about her?”

“Lanh Nghi, what about you?”

“You to me…”

I look at him. The sunlight gently shined down from above his head, covering his body. Five years ago, he also stood in front of me like this. Use those long, narrow eyes to look at me quietly. Waiting for me to be so angry that I lose all reason. Waiting for me to lose face in front of everyone. Waiting for me to reveal my "jealous and jealous" face that he always wanted to see. I smiled slightly.

“Your Highness wants to know, what does this goddess mean to you?”

Tieu Tan Nghiem nodded slightly. I looked straight into his eyes and slowly said each word clearly:

“In my previous life, my goddess was sincere towards you.”

“So honest that I would die for you.”

“Unfortunately——”

"It was your hand that pushed the goddess into the deep well, drowning her to death."

Tieu Tan Nghiem's face completely lost all color.

“As for this life——”

I took a step back, bowed and bowed.

"Goddess has only one sentence for you."

"Thank you for not marrying the goddess in the past."

Tieu Tan Nghiem left. When leaving, his steps were unsteady and wobbly, and he almost fell to the ground several times. He never turned back. I still stood at the mouth of the well, silently watching his back gradually move away. The wind blew upward from the well mouth, bringing a cool feeling and a faint musty smell to the face. Thanh Hanh leaned closer and asked in a low voice:

“Miss, what you just said… Something about a past life…”

I look at her.

“Threatened you?”

Thanh Hanh gently shook her head.

"No. This slave is just..."

She paused for a moment, her eyes suddenly turning red.

“I just feel sad for the young lady.”

“Over the years, Miss has endured too much hardship.”

I smiled slightly. Gently pat the back of her hand.

“No suffering.”

“Everything is over.”

One month later. News came from the Crown Prince's palace. Tieu Tan Nghiem fell ill. The disease is very serious. The doctor said it was a mental illness. Medicine cannot cure it either. He lies on the bed. Do not drink. Just keep repeating the two names over and over again.

“Linh Xu... Linh Nghi....”

Sometimes awake. Sometimes unconscious. When awake. He sent people to the manor to find Chung Linh Xu's grave. When in a coma. He spoke to the void again. Mumble things like:

“The well water is so cold…”

“Sorry…”

Another nine months later, it's been a year since Tieu Tan Nghiem last visited the Marquis Palace. Tieu Tan Nghiem passed away. At death. Next to him. There is not a single person. The last two words he uttered before closing his eyes were——

“Linh Nghi.”

When that news came. I am sitting in that communal house, quietly looking at that peach tree. Thanh Hanh finished reading the letter. Then look carefully at me.

“Miss... Are you okay?”

The sunlight is very warm. The wind is very light. Peach blossom petals gently flutter down. Fall on my knees. I reached out and picked up a flower petal. Quietly look at it. A light pink color. Just like the dream in my previous life.

“I'm okay.”

“Just suddenly remembered some old things.”

Thanh Hanh blinked.

“What is it, Miss?”

I look at her. Smiling softly.

“Remembering someone.”

“Someone that I loved a long, long time ago.”

Thanh Hanh said nothing. Only sit quietly next to you. Silently accompany me. The sunlight gently covers you. Extremely warm. I slowly closed my eyes. It seemed like the voice of that year sounded again.

"Leng Nghi, you can rest assured, this palace will protect you for the rest of your life."

That was the first sentence Tieu Tan Nghiem ever said to me. I'm fourteen years old. He is sixteen years old. Peach blossoms bloom most brilliantly. Extremely beautiful. Believe sincerely. Believe without any doubt. Believed for six years. Until the moment he was pushed down a deep well. I still believe. Now think again. Really pitifully stupid. But so what? Used to be stupid. Used to hurt. Ever died. Come back to life again.

“Miss, the wind is blowing.”

Thanh Hanh's voice rang out softly. The wind was indeed a little stronger. Blow so much that peach blossom petals fly everywhere. I raised my head. Look towards the sky. The sky is very blue. The clouds are very white. There were a few swallows flying across the sky. Chirping non-stop. I smiled slightly.

“We're back.”

Thanh Hanh replied softly. Then quietly follow behind me. We go through the garden. Go through the hallway. Go through the crescent-shaped arched door leading into the inner courtyard. Behind the back. That shallow well still stands quietly in the deepest part of the backyard. Lush wild grass. No one bothered to ask. The mouth of the well is dark. Like an eye. Quietly looking up at the sky. Quietly looking at the years. Quietly looking at things that can never come back again. (END OF FULL TEXT)