Chapter 8 — I Actively Yield My Husband To The Benefactor Who Saved His Life

“Have you seen any women?”

The two looked at each other, and the younger one continued.

"I didn't see any women. Only an old hunter told his subordinates that there was a girl in the village who drove an ox cart and pulled Marquis away."

"That's right, it's a cart. Less than half a mile from that tree there is a small village."

I turned my head to look at Lady Thai. The Thai lady leaned back in her chair, not too quickly or too slowly, touching each Buddha bead in her hand.

“Half a mile, cart.”

“Not ten miles of snow.”

“It's not like carrying someone back.”

The two soldiers didn't understand how their heads and ears were squinting, so they just looked at us blankly. I ordered Thanh Hoa to arrange accommodation for them, gave them a silver reward, and then turned to tell Mrs. Thai.

“Grandmother, witnesses and physical evidence are enough.”

Mrs. Thai nodded slightly, her deep eyes carrying a bit of indifference.

"And three days from now, it just so happens to be the princess's flower banquet."

Princess An Duong's palace holds banquets all year round, some days she rewards flowers for fame, some days she uses the excuse to watch the snow and recite poetry. On the surface, it was to invite the female relatives of the royal family in the capital to gather for fun, but in reality it was a place to find out news about the backrooms of mandarins' palaces. As soon as I finished speaking... she stood up with her cane, the tip of the cane lightly hitting the green stone floor with a dull sound.

“Then choose that day.”

Three days later. Princess An Duong's Palace, Bach Hoa Hall. I arrived neither early nor late. As soon as I passed through the palace door, I immediately met To Nhuoc Huyen's eyes. She glanced at me slightly, the corners of her lips curling up into a gentle, fake smile.

"Did you go alone today, Sister Moc? Didn't your maternal grandmother come with you?"

I replied leisurely:

“People of advanced age do not like crowded and noisy places.”

“Then it's a pity.”

To Nhuoc Huyen covered her lips and smiled softly, then turned around and left, the hem of her skirt passing by like a breeze. Halfway through the party, Princess An Duong made an excuse to change her clothes and leave the hall. As soon as the master left, the bustling atmosphere in the palace also eased a bit. Only a few ladies reluctantly raised their cups and responded, trying to maintain a harmonious appearance. In the midst of that disjointed laughter, To Nhuoc Huyen sat in the center, her demeanor much more leisurely than half a month ago. She tilted her head and smiled, slowly chatting with the ladies next to her, looking gentle and dignified, as if she had truly become a winner. I put the tea cup in my hand on the table. The sound of porcelain enamel hitting wood echoed softly, but it was enough to make a few people nearby turn their heads. Then, I slowly stood up.

“Ladies, young lady Van Duong… has a few words to say.”

The hall gradually became quiet. To Nhuoc Huyen looked at me, the smile on her face remained unchanged, but her fingertips had unconsciously tightened the scarf in her hand.

"A few days ago, at the adoption banquet, the Bui family's Little Marquis said that Mrs. To was his life-saving benefactor. Originally, I shouldn't have said too much, but this matter is related to the Bui family's reputation, so I had to say it."

Mrs. Bui sat in the middle of the banquet, her face full of tension. To Nhuoc Huyen opened her mouth first, her voice still soft as before.

“Sister Moc, what do you mean by that?”

“Meaning what the lady said, no resembles the truth.”

The whole hall was as quiet as paper. I gestured towards the door. Two soldiers were led inside. Cracks finally appeared on the smile on To Nhuoc Huyen's face.

“These two are the soldiers who saved the Tieu Hau family from the Northern Cuong battlefield that year. They personally carried the seriously injured Marquis to a safe place, stopped the bleeding, gave first aid, left behind dry food and water, and then lured the pursuing soldiers behind to chase in another direction.

I looked straight at To Nhuoc Huyen.

“Lady Su, you didn't have to carry Little Marquis back from ten miles of snow.”

“The lady only used a cart to pull people back from a place half a mile away.”

The entire hall immediately exploded. To Nhuoc Huyen suddenly stood up.

“You talk nonsense! It was I who saved Hanh Chi! It was I who carried him back from the snow!”

The older soldier took a step forward.

“This lady, at that time, the Marquis was still wearing a battle robe that I personally tore off to bandage her. If it was really you who carried someone on your back for ten miles in the snow, there's no way the bandages would still be intact.”

“When we went back to look for the Marquis, the old hunter at the village said that there was a girl driving a cart to pull people away. We didn't go on the snowy road, but on the village road."

To Nhuoc Huyen took a step back, her face pale. The surrounding ladies and gentlemen immediately raised their heads to discuss, their eyes looking at her had completely changed. Mrs. Bui stood up, her lips trembling.

“So... you tricked Hanh Chi?”