Chapter 4 — He Forced Me to Raise Bach Nguyet Quang's Children, I Returned Him a Leave of Separation

Tieu Canh Diem gave me the peeled pear. I don't accept it.

"You're not helping me, you're helping yourself."

He pulled his hand back and took a bite, the pear flesh felt both sweet and crunchy.

“Not wrong.”

“I need an identity to leave that cage.”

"And she needs a reason to come to the border with integrity."

“We are the most suitable allies.”

Many years ago, news spread in the palace that Ninth Prince Tieu Canh Diem fell from his horse and died. Up to now, not many people still recognize and know his existence... simply a man with the surname Tieu, the documents were arranged by me. Everyone believed, including the Emperor sitting on that high dragon chair. No one knew that he was hidden by me in a manor outside the city.

“I am the daughter of Dinh Quoc Cong.”

"My father guarded Luong Chau for twenty years, and finally died there."

“I came back because my father maintained filial piety, it was a matter of heaven and earth.”

We look at the rapidly receding snow outside the car window.

“But you, a ‘dead person’, were able to avoid all the trouble and start over in Liangzhou.”

“Aren't you afraid that after arriving in Liangzhou, I will cross the bridge and escape?”

He looked at me, his eyes carrying a bit of scrutiny.

“You won't.”

I met his eyes.

"Because the person who killed my father and the person who wanted your life are the same group of people. Our enemies are the same."

The little bit of excited smile on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold solemn look.

“Giang Xu, from the moment you married Tham Dinh Chu, did you start planning for today?”

"Not."

I shook my head.

"But from the moment my father died in battle, and Tham Dinh Chu brought Co Thanh An's tablet back from Luong Chau."

My father, Dinh Quoc Cong Giang Vien, during the fall of Luong Chau citadel, fought until his last breath and then died. At that time, Tham Dinh Chu was a deputy general, only after nine deaths did he lead the remaining army back. Everyone said he was a hero. Only I know, on the night before the citadel was attacked, in order to save Co Thanh An who was surrounded by enemy troops, he voluntarily left his defensive position and dispatched the most elite army in the south of the citadel. That is the sharpest blade under my father's command. Because of that, the southern defense line completely collapsed. I married him to find out the truth about that year. But now, the truth is no longer important. The important thing is that we must take back the things that belong to our Giang family.

“Who is in charge in Luong Chau now?”

"Vuong Duc Hai. A civil servant sent by the Ministry of Defense, as cowardly as a mouse, only hoping not to make a mistake."

Tieu Canh Diem said.

"No one obeyed him among those arrogant soldiers."

“That's good.”

I closed my eyes and leaned against the soft mattress behind me. The wheel keeps rolling forward, the road ahead is also long with no end in sight. But my heart is more peaceful than ever. The capital, Tham Dinh Chu, Co Thanh An... everything is just like the story of a previous life. From now on, I am just Giang Xu. Jiang Xu of Liangzhou. Tham Dinh Chu stood in my hospital all night. Snow covered him, making him look like a snowman. Until When morning came, he returned to the study room, his whole body as if his soul had been taken away. He thought about it and still didn't understand. After three years of being married, he always thought that he understood Jiang Xu very well. She is quiet, knows her duty, understands the big picture, and has never caused him trouble. Like a delicate piece of porcelain placed in the Marquis Palace, beautiful but without any vitality. He liked her quietness. Because of that, he could without any hesitation miss Co Thanh An - that vibrant and vibrant woman. He always thought she loved him, that's why he was so patient. But that peaceful letter, that empty room, seemed to be fiercely laughing at his self-righteousness.

“Go, bring all of my lady's things here for me, don't miss a single thing.”

He commanded hoarsely. The butler trembled and reported:

"Young master, ma'am... you only left with your dowry. The things you gave as rewards were all sealed in the warehouse, not a single item was ever touched."