Chapter 2 — He Wants To Use Me To Hide A Secret

Not long after, Mama Truong, the person most trusted by her grandmother, came out.

"Eldest lady, please come in."

The mother's expression was very complicated, both a bit sympathetic and a bit distant. We entered An Tho Duong. A strong scent of sandalwood hit me straight in my face. The mother-in-law was sitting on the couch in the highest position, holding a rosary in her hand. She looks much calmer than her father. Seeing me enter, she didn't even bother to lift her eyelids.

"Kneel down."

The voice was cold, without any warmth. I obeyed, kneeling on the cold tile floor.

"Do you know what's wrong?"

"I don't know."

The sound of the rosary stopped. The grandmother finally opened her eyes. Her eyes were like two deep ancient wells with no bottom, old and turbid, but with a sharpness as if they could see through everything.

"Right in front of everyone, he opposed his future fiance, causing the prince to lose face, making the Tham family the laughing stock of the entire capital."

"Is that what you call not knowing your sins?"

I raised my head and met her eyes.

"Ta Hanh is not my niece's future fiance. Tonight my niece has not lost the face of the Emperor at all."

"Your Majesty is just stating a fact."

The mother-in-law laughed coldly.

"The truth is that you made things more complicated."

"If you obey tonight, a holy edict will be issued, everything will be completely over. Although our Shen family will be tied to the Ta family, we can at least quell His Majesty's anger."

"But look at the good things you've done! You've forced Ta Hanh to the end, and also put the Tham family on the fire to roast!"

Those words again. Permanently placed in first place. Our hearts grow cold little by little. But I know that preaching morality to my ancestors is useless. She is even more stubborn than her father, and values those vain reputations more. If you want to deal with her, you can only use what she values most to defeat her. I won't continue to argue anymore. Turning towards her, he bowed his head strongly. My voice carried a sob, filled with helplessness and despair.

"Your Majesty knows it's wrong."

"A daughter should not be arbitrary, should not just pay attention to the family's overall situation just for the sake of her own temporary purity."

The grandmother's expression softened a bit. What she likes to see most is the compliance and repentance of our juniors.

"Your Majesty has now thought things through."

I raised my head and looked at her with teary eyes.

"General Ta... has high authority and position, my daughter is married to him, she is my daughter and my superior."

"For the sake of the family, my daughter agrees to marry."

"Please, great-grandmother, tell father that I have thought it through and that I am willing to be Mrs. Ta."

As I spoke, I cried until I sobbed, as if I had truly repented. A trace of satisfaction finally appeared on the grandmother's face.

"Knowing your mistakes and correcting them is nothing more precious. If you can think clearly, that's the best."

She glanced at Truong's mother.

"Go, help the young lady up."

But I still don't stand up. I knelt on the ground, used my sleeve to wipe my tears, and said while sobbing:

"It's just... my grandmother and granddaughter still have a small request."

"I want... before I get married, I want to come from the hall and light a candle for my ancestors incense stick."

"In addition, you are so bold, I hope your ancestors will give you a book to record your maiden name."

The mother-in-law frowned slightly.

"What do you need that for?"

I bowed my head, my voice as small as a mosquito's cry, filled with the shyness and nostalgia of a young girl.

"Your majesty... your majesty wants to keep some memories."

"From a young age, my daughter was raised by her grandmother, and even her maiden name was given to her by her grandmother. Later, when she marries to the Ta family, the granddaughter will become a member of another family and will no longer be able to be by her side and serve her grandmother regularly."

"I just think that carrying the notebook with my maiden name with me is like... just like my grandmother who is always by my side."

"Let's consider... cutting off the last bit of attachment to my mother's family, so that in the future I can wholeheartedly serve my husband."

Those words were so sincere and heartfelt that they pained me to the core. The image of a weak woman, about to sacrifice herself for her family, and have to marry far away to an "enemy" house, appears clearly. The last bit of doubt in my grandmother's eyes also disappeared. She was even a little emotional.

"Stupid child."

She sighed softly.

"That's it. It's just a notebook, you can take it if you want."

"Mother Truong, go to the warehouse and bring the book with the eldest lady's maiden name."

Mama Truong obeyed and left. I still knelt on the ground, bowed my head, the corner of my lips that no one could see, slowly curved up. But at that moment. The grandmother, seemingly unintentionally, spoke again. Her voice slowly rang out.

"But, Trieu Van."

"What you just said, you've thought it through and are willing to marry."

"Grandmother is afraid that you were just impulsive for a moment, regretted it later, and did something unwise, making the Tham family lose face."

My heart suddenly sank.

"Let's do this."

The great-grandmother held the rosary and spoke calmly, but every word was extremely cruel.

"Let me completely let go of all thoughts, and also to express our Tham family's sincerity to the Ta family and His Majesty."

"Before getting married, kneel in the hallway."

"Don't eat, don't drink."

"Do a good self-examination. Only when you truly understand what it means to 'take your family first' will you be able to step out."

I suddenly raised my head, my eyes filled with fear.