Chapter 24 — Holy Order of Dowry

The holy decree that day was spread throughout the capital. The royal warehouse was sealed by the military for three days. One hundred twenty-eight burdens of my dowry, from the golden wooden chests to the shop land deed that my mother left behind, from the golden phoenix hat and broken jade button to half of a broken jade button, each item was listed for return. The deficit was compensated with the royal palace's own assets. I am not soft-hearted. Tieu Thua Canh personally delivered the last box. Inside are a pair of ruby earrings, along with my mother's golden phoenix brooch. He stood outside Tham Trach's door, his black shirt had been washed to the point of fading, and the wound on his arm had not yet healed. He said, Van Chi, I owe you too much. I asked Mother Tan to take the box. I replied that a debt of money can be paid, but a debt of human life cannot be lightly brushed away. His throat was choked. He said, I will use the rest of my life to make up for it. I looked at him and suddenly remembered the hand that held me in front of the palace gate three years ago. At that time, I thought I was marrying a good husband. Later I realized that if the gentleness of the home, the depths of the house, and the wide doors cannot protect us, it is no different from the sheath of a sword. I calmly told him, no need. Tieu Thua Canh stood for a long time, until the big door of Tham Trach closed right in front of him. The sound of the door latch being locked was very light. But we know, there are old stories that also follow that and permanently lock the door. A month later, the Tham family's old house was returned. We picked up our parents' tablets and placed them back on the main street. Han Than brought his old subordinates to worship. People who had been sent away, demoted, and forced to stay silent now knelt down and filled an entire yard. The wind blew through the old flag of the Tham family, flapping loudly. I put my father's military map back in a new box, then placed my mother's dowry book next to it. Previously, I thought that that notebook only recorded gold, silver, and treasures. Now I understand, it records the retreat that my mother gave me, and also the pride that the Tham family summarized for me. Late in the afternoon, Mother Tan asked me if I planned to remarry in the future. I stood on the porch, looking at the early blooming apricot flowers in the yard. I said, in the future, I will first open a shop, renovate the manor, adopt orphans of former subordinates, and then finish engraving the list of those who died in battle in the Western Lands. Mother Qin cried and laughed at the same time. She said, if the lady were still alive, she would definitely be very happy. We looked up at the distant horizon. The setting sun shines on the tiled roof, as if covering the old house with a layer of warm gold. This time, there is no red ribbon forcing me to bow my head. There is no cup of tea waiting for me to receive. No one tells us "don't cause trouble" anymore. I finally stepped out of someone else's kingdom and returned to my own sky.