Chapter 4 — He Wants To Use Me To Hide A Secret

Immediately after that came the sound of the door locking. I was completely imprisoned in this place. Darkness immediately swallowed me. There were only a few long lights standing on the temple, flickering with light as small as beans, like ghost fire. I am not afraid at all. Just slowly opened the purple wooden box in my heart. Inside, quietly lay a yellowed notebook. I reached out my hand and used my fingertips to gently stroke the three words on the cover.

"Nurse name record book."

I have succeeded. I got it. But the price to pay is my life. Kneeling here, without eating or drinking, I cannot last more than 3 days. Father... Will you come and save me? Do you understand that, at this moment, we are truly in the same boat? What we bet on... Not just our own lives. But also the last bit of consideration that has not completely died out in people's hearts, for the future of the Tham family. The first night is the hardest to endure. In the street, a cold wind whistled past, crept in from the cracks in the doors and windows, and blew the flame of the Truong Minh lantern constantly. The lines of black letters on the sacred objects under the shaking light seemed to suddenly come to life, twisted into faces that were laughing at us. The cold air from the cold tile floor seeped into my knees little by little, penetrating deep into my bones. Hungry and thirsty like two poisonous snakes, constantly biting and tearing my internal organs. I hugged the notebook with my first name tightly, curled up on the blanket, my body trembling constantly because of the cold and exhaustion. I can't sleep. Once you fall asleep, you will probably never wake up again. I struggled to keep myself awake, replaying the entire plan over and over again in my head. Every detail. Each event has the potential to occur. The tragic death of our previous lives is like a red-hot iron mark, imprinted deeply into our souls. That pain. That hatred. It is the only fuel that supports us right now. Don't know how much time has passed. Suddenly, from the street outside, a series of very soft footsteps sounded. Not the footsteps of a group of women guarding it. More urgently. Is a man. My heart immediately jumped into my throat. It's a parent! He has arrived! I won the bet! The footsteps stopped in front of the door. Immediately followed by his father's voice trying to suppress his anger.

"General... this... is not according to the rules, the old lady told me not to let anyone..."

"The general's words, don't you understand?"

His father's voice exuded majesty, not allowing anyone to doubt. There was silence outside for a moment. Then there was the sound of the iron chain being opened. The door opened a small crack. His father's tall figure appeared at the door. Behind him is my mother. As soon as my mother saw me kneeling on the ground, my face was pale, my lips were chapped, and tears immediately flowed out.

"Trieu Van! Mother's child!"

She picked up her skirt and was about to rush in. Her parents immediately detained her. He looked at me. There was pain in those eyes. There is outrage. But what's more is an extremely complicated reluctance because of our own planning. He closed the door, blocking his wife and mother from outside. In the street, only the two of us are left. He quickly walked in front of me, stuffed a package of oil paper and a small bag of water into my lap.

"Eat quickly."

His voice was hoarse. I don't move. Just looked up at him.

"Extra dear... have you thought it through?"

His father's face was extremely ugly.

"This girl is really good at calculations! Even my biological father came up with a plan!"

After returning to the palace, the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. My expression in the study room tonight was too calm. Too coherent. Completely unlike a concubine raised in a concubine. He immediately sent someone to inquire. It was quickly known that I had arrived at An Tho Duong, and was then punished to kneel in the temple. At that moment, he immediately understood my intention. I intentionally angered my grandmother. Using his own life, he forced him to choose. Forcing him to be completely on my side. Because he knows very well. If I die on the road. My entire plan will fail completely. The Tham family will also completely lose the opportunity to save themselves. The ancestor's punishment, at first glance, is just family law. But in reality, it is gradually pushing the Tham family into a dead end.

"If I don't come, are you really planning to die here?"

He was so angry that his chest heaved violently. I replied calmly.

"Use one of your lives in exchange for father's complete awakening, in exchange for a glimmer of vitality for the Tham family."

My father was choked by my words for a long time, unable to speak. He looked at me. The last bit of hesitation and wavering in his eyes completely disappeared.