Chapter 4 — Hoang Thai Nu Tri Doanh

I haven't taken medicine for many years. Since remembering the story of the Duc Princess's bowl of sour apricot soup, the Queen Mother immediately stopped letting the doctor prescribe medicine for me. She said that whether she drank it or not, it was the same. I looked at the bowl in Bui Soc's hand, my nose wrinkled into a ball, and I instinctively wanted to retreat. "Ah Doanh, drink it. Just this one bowl. Once you drink it, the bad things that make you confused will no longer exist." Bui Soc squatted in front of me, his eyes sparkling, like stars were flashing. I believe you. He said just one bowl, then just one bowl! I took a deep breath, puffed up my cheeks, tilted my head back, and gulped it into my mouth. So bitter that tears came out of my eyes, while I was baring my teeth and rolling my eyes to wipe my tears, a round thing was stuffed into my mouth. It's malt candy! So sweet, so sweet! Bui Soc said that after taking the medicine, he must rest well and can't go out and play crazy anymore. He moved a rattan chair in the yard for me to lie down on, while I sat on a small chair next to him, telling me stories about the Northern landscape. He said the Northern wind blows like a small knife, but can blow flowers into the rocks; said that when the snow falls heavily, it can reach the horse's belly; He also said that when he led soldiers to patrol the border, he met a wolf cub in a ravine. I listened with my chin on my hands, but I didn't feel bored even a little bit. Suddenly, the sky suddenly turned dark. Bui Soc stood up: "A Doanh, you should take her back to the palace." As soon as I heard it, I immediately jumped up from the rattan chair: "I don't want to! No one in the palace cares if A Doanh returns or not! I've already told Dan Nguyet, if I don't return to the palace, tell her not to worry, I'll follow you!" Doan Nguyet is the palace maid that Lady Hien left me, she also knows Bui Soc. Bui Soc couldn't shake me and sighed: "Then stay here tonight." I was so happy that I almost jumped. He led me into his bedroom, the bed was neatly spread out, I immediately rolled over, hugged his blanket and took a deep breath, happily kicking my feet: "It smells so good! It's the smell of Bui Soc!" Bui Soc looked at me, his face seemed a bit red. He turned around to the closet, took out the blanket and spread it on the floor. I lay down on the edge of the bed, poking my head out to look at him: "Bui Soc, the ground is cold and hard. Come up here and sleep!" I patted the empty space next to me: "A Doanh wants to hug you to sleep!" Bui Soc's movements immediately stiffened, even his ears turned red. He coughed, his voice a bit unnatural: "... No. A Doanh is a big girl, she can't arbitrarily hug someone else to sleep." "But you're not someone else! You're Bui Soc!" Seeing that he still didn't move, I cried, "So... what happens when A Doanh gets scared at night?" Bui Soc stood next to the mattress on the ground, looked at my pitiful appearance, and finally compromised. He blew out the lamp, put on his shirt and lay down next to me, just a long way away, his body tense and straight. I just didn't pay that much attention! In the darkness, I used both hands and feet to move over, hug his arm, and contentedly put my face on his shoulder. This sleep, I slept sweetly like never before, even my dreams were warm. The next day when I woke up, I rubbed my eyes and discovered that Bui Soc was already awake, sitting at the table reading a book. I stretched for a long time, only to feel refreshed, as if something heavy and obscure in my head had been removed, becoming especially light and clear. Bui Soc saw me awake, picked up a book and gave it to me: "A Doanh, look at this, do you still recognize it?" It was a primer that I once read on my father's pillow. When I opened it before, those words were like black dots that danced and wriggled back and forth. I couldn't remember their shapes and meanings. I took it a little nervously and opened a page. EH? Those words lay quietly on the page, I immediately recognized them at a glance! I happily raised my head to look at Bui Soc: "I recognize it! I both recognize it!" Bui Soc's eyes immediately lit up, he opened a book again, pointed to a line of text, his voice carrying a little excitement that was hard to detect: "So what about this sentence? Let's tie our hair together to become husband and wife, love without doubt. A Doanh, can you read and understand?" I followed his finger, I knew those words, but connecting them together... Bui Soc

Looking at my confused appearance, I suddenly smiled, I knew, this was not a mockery, a smile like a royal brother was a mockery. “It's okay, A Doanh.” His voice was like a plucked string, "One day, you will truly understand the meaning of this sentence. If at that time you are still willing to marry me, I will go to His Majesty and ask him to give you to me, okay?" Marry him? Like the third royal sister married Tu An Chi? Wearing red clothes? My heart beats very fast and my cheeks get hot. "Okay!" I nodded forcefully, then felt a bit worried, "But... what if A Doanh still doesn't understand?" Bui Soc smiled and gently pinched my cheek: "That's okay. Then I will always be by your side, waiting for you to think clearly. Waiting all your life is fine." I stayed with Bui Soc for three full days. During these three days, Bui Soc taught me to recognize words, taught me to read poetry, taught me to play chess, and also taught me a few simple boxing techniques. I learned so fast that even I couldn't believe it!