Chapter 15 — He Used To See Me As A Decoration, Now He Begs Me Not To Leave

I specially opened a very large yard to grow my precious medicinal herbs. On the first day I took office at the Institute of History, I encountered unprecedented resistance. Those doctors were all taking advantage of their old age, and were inconsistent about a woman like me becoming their superior, inside and out, secretly causing trouble everywhere. I don't get angry. Don't rush to establish authority. In just one consultation, right in front of everyone, I used exactly three silver needles to cure an acute illness that even Doctor Liu was completely helpless against a prince. From that day on, no one in the Royal Hospital dared to look down on me anymore. We began to vigorously reform the Thai hospital. We introduced a new examination regime, established a pharmacological research laboratory, and encouraged young physicians to study and innovate. We use our expertise and abilities to win the respect of everyone. My Te The Duong also grew stronger and stronger, becoming the leading pharmaceutical brand in the capital. We train many female doctors, specializing in treating women's illnesses. Our charity also supports more and more orphans. I invite you to come and teach them how to read and write, and learn a profession so that they can make a living for themselves in the future. We finally live into the appearance we most desire. During that time, Tieu Can Ngon also came to see me several times. He is no longer a high-ranking King. Every time he came, he just stood quietly outside the courtyard door, looking at me from afar, then left alone. One time, the capital fell in a huge snowstorm. That night, when I returned from the Royal Hospital, I saw a lonely snowman standing in front of my house. He wore the Royal Family's royal robes, standing in the middle of the wind and snow, his hair and shoulders covered with white snow. Immobility. Like a lifeless statue. He saw me, his lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't utter a word. Just looked at me with an almost broken look. Without stopping, I walked right past him and pushed open the door to enter the house. Right before I closed the door, I heard a hoarse voice behind me, carrying his choking voice.

“A Chieu, I was wrong…”

"That year I was blind, don't let me go to bed anymore..."

“A Chieu, the wind in Nam Cuong is so cold.”

“Exactly like my heart that year.”

I looked at that sentence for a long time. After that, I threw the letter and the faded wildflower into the furnace. The fire rose. Burn all the past to ashes. I walked to the window and pushed it open. Outside, the spring light is bright, my herbs are blooming with hundreds of flowers, everywhere is full of life. I know very well. Our life still has a very long road ahead. A very nice road. But the people and things that once hurt me… …have all turned into passing smoke. (END OF FULL TEXT)