Chapter 11 — Her Road Is Still Long

His eyes were exactly the same as three months ago when I was lying on the hospital bed looking at him... And there was also a vague trace of impatience. Chu Thi smiled and said:

“Of course it's the main wife.”

“With the family background of our Tham residence, how can we marry you as a concubine?”

“Isn't that too condescending for you?”

“Then that's even more wrong.” I said.

"My cousin doesn't like me. I don't like my cousin either. Trying to force two people who don't like each other to be together is not a success, but a shortened life."

The smile on Chu Thi's face stiffened. Tham Thanh Tu put down the wine cup. The bottom of the cup touched the table, emitting a clear sound. He opened his mouth. The voice was still as bland as before.

“Marriage is no joke.”

“Because it's not a joke.”

I look at him.

“That's why I don't want to.”

He gently turned the wine cup in his hand around. He looked at me. It was like looking at a stranger that I had never known before.

“She doesn't want to.”

He said every word.

“Why?”

“Because I'm not willing.”

I stood up. Go to the middle of the main hall. Then kneel down. Not kneeling before Tham Thanh Tu. It's kneeling before my maternal grandmother.

“Grandmother, Cam Thu had the courage to say something today.”

I raised my head to look at her.

“The seven-year-old child entered the palace.”

"Dressing and living are all thanks to the kindness of the Tham family."

“Grandmother treats me very well.”

Cam Thu will remember this kindness for the rest of her life."

“But the marriage thing…”

“Who said that a drugged person must marry the other person?”

The maternal grandmother's hand tightened the stick in her hand.

“Your cousin is not at fault.”

“That night he got drunk.”

“He doesn't know anything at all.”

"I didn't jump into the lake to blame him."

I turned my head. His eyes swept over Chu Uyen Nhu.

"I jumped into the lake because I didn't want to be seen as a chess piece by others, to be used to make the final move."

The last smile on Chu Uyen Nhu's face completely disappeared.

“Sister Cam Thu, what do you mean by this…”

“What I mean is…”

I look at her.

“Sister Bieu, your method of taking down the medicine is really too cruel.”

The whole hall fell into silence. Immediately afterwards there was a stir. Chu Uyen Nhu suddenly stood up. Face flushed.

“You're spitting blood! When did I..."

I pulled two pieces of paper out of my sleeve. Open them. Then read each word one by one. Bich Dao's testimony. Dosage. Who told her to take the medicine? Who gave her the money? Who told her to take me to the main room when the medicine started to take effect? Every word. I read clearly without missing a single word. After reading it. I put two pieces of paper in front of my maternal grandmother.

“Grandmother.”

“The mark points here.”

“Bich Dao is currently outside the palace.”

“At any time, you can call for confrontation.”

At this moment, Chu Uyen Nhu could no longer use the word "pale" to describe her face. She stared at me. Lips trembling. Both hands clasped the tablecloth tightly. His knuckles turned white from using too much force.

“You... you bribed Bich Dao... you slandered me..."

“Bribe?”

I stood up, lightly brushing the dust off my knees.

“My sister's name is Chu.”

“Bich Dao was originally yours.”

“Three years ago, when she entered the palace, she followed the path of your Chu family's old butler.”

“Do you want me to read your name too? Is that butler out yet?”

She took a step back. Chu Thi suddenly stood up: She looked at me. His eyes were sharp as knives.

“Miss Bieu is really clever in her tricks.”

"Without seeing each other for three months, I have learned a whole body of acting skills."

“Auntie is so praising.”

I look at her.

“These performances are all learned from my aunt.”

Finally, my grandmother also spoke up. She lifted the stick in her hand and slammed it into the ground. A heavy "pop" sounded. Everyone was silent.

“Bring Bich Dao here.”

When Bich Dao was brought into the hall, her whole body trembled like a sieve. She has lost a lot of weight. The chin is pointed. High cheekbones. His eyes were covered with blood. As soon as she entered the door, she knelt down.