Chapter 24 — I heard that I had a loving husband and wife, and had many children and grandchildren. He crushed the white jade bowl in his hand.

I stood in front of the door, watching the palanquin gradually move away, and unconsciously put my hand on my stomach. The things we've been waiting for forever in our previous lives but couldn't have... This life has finally had enough. That winter, the child was born. It's a dragon and phoenix fetus. Han Chinh walked back and forth in front of the delivery room five hundred times. Uncle Chu counted for him. Hearing two children crying, he slammed the door and rushed in. Was scolded by the midwife and kicked out. Come in again. Got kicked out again. By the third time, he was wiser and only stuck half his head through the crack in the door.

“Do you have both a daughter and a son?”

“It's all there.”

“They all have exactly the same round faces.”

“Like the first letter in the word only at

He laughed "hell" twice, leaned against the door frame and slowly slid down to sit on the ground. Uncle Chu said he sat there stupidly laughing for a whole hour (15 minutes). The news spread outside, and people who came to congratulate him almost crushed the door steps. Old General Manh personally came and hugged the two children, laughing until they couldn't close their mouths.

“The Han family finally has an heir!”

Han Chinh's brothers were as lively as celebrating Tet, drinking for three days and three nights. These things, of course, also spread into the palace. It is said that when Tieu Duc received the news, he was holding a cup of white jade tea in his hand...at that time, several high-ranking officials were offering their prayers. After hearing that, he crushed the tea cup on the spot, the tea and porcelain pieces splashed all over the ground, and blood flowed from the palm of his hand. The ministers and servants remained silent, no one dared to say a word. When the Queen Mother knew what happened, she only said one sentence:

“That girl is blessed.”

As for Co Van Thu in Vinh An palace, she sat in an empty room looking out the window all day. Next to her, there were only two palace maids left who did heavy work. Those who once competed to please, no one comes anymore. When the ladies in the court mentioned her, their address changed from "The Queen" to "The one with the last name Co". Her senior brother, Co Nguyen Tu, was also implicated and lost his position. People went for cold tea, walls collapsed and people were jostling. All the glory in the palace, from the moment the phoenix seal was revoked... turned into foam. Five years later. In the Han family's yard, there are three more cassia trees. It was Han Chinh who asked the veteran who knew how to graft that tree to bring him, a yellow cinnamon tree, a silver cinnamon tree, and a red cinnamon tree. There are 4 cinnamon trees in total, the first tree now has lush branches and leaves. Every fall, the whole yard is filled with a sweet fragrance. Long Phuong Thai is five years old. The daughter's name is Han Nhuoc Tinh, she grew up like me, with flexible eyes. The son's name is Han Nhuoc An. He grew up to look like Han Chinh, with a small, square, black face. The two children ran around the yard every day chasing cats and dogs, with so much energy that Uncle Chu couldn't stop complaining. Currently, Han Chinh is an An Bac General. The northern border is stable, the six towns are at peace. No one in the court dared to talk about the Han family anymore. Every time he returns from the military camp, the first thing he does is cook rice for me.

“What do you want to eat tomorrow?”

“Flower waffles.”

“Eating again? Aren't you bored?"

“Not bored.”

My parents also moved in with us. Currently, my father's biggest hobby every day is teaching his two grandchildren how to write. Nhuoc Tinh's writing looks good, but Nhuoc An's crooked words make her father angry. also erected.

"It's truly the Han family's bloodline..."

Parents sighed. Where does Han Chinh travel from:

“Dad, what are you saying?”

“Are you saying your son is exactly like you!”

He scratched his head and laughed again. After Thanh Uyen married Luc Minh Vien, life went extremely well. Luc Minh Vien was promoted to deputy general by Han Chinh, but at home he listened closely to Thanh Uyen's words. Every holiday, the two families gather in one place, noisily filling the entire large table. That day was Mid-Autumn Festival. The whole family gathered in the yard to eat cake. Nhuoc Tinh lay down on my knees.

“Mother, the moon is so full.”

“Father said that when the moon is full, family members must stay together.”

“Your father is right.”

Han Chinh sat next to him, his hair being pulled by Nhuoc An's neck. He grimaced, bared his teeth and rolled his eyes, not forgetting to give me a flower waffle.

“It's for her.”

“The last piece.”

I took it and took a bite. Moonlight fell on the cassia tree, the flower petals quietly falling with the wind. Mom brought the teapot, poured water, leaned down and whispered a sentence in my ear.

“Miss, I heard that today the palace also gives out moon cakes.”

“It's just that Vinh An palace has no part.”

I don't answer. The people and stories of the past in that palace... are very far away from me. So far that sometimes we even forget we have lived two lives. Thanh Uyen on the opposite side raised her cup towards me.

“Are you happy?”

We look at the people next to us. Han Chinh was wrapped around by Nhuoc Tinh, his face was covered with cinnamon petals. Father and Luc Minh Vien were playing chess, fighting until their faces turned red over one move. Ma Ma is in the kitchen warming the third pot of soup. Uncle Chu chased Nhuoc An across the yard. The moon is big and bright, hanging on the top of the cinnamon tree. I raised the wine cup and gently touched it with Thanh Uyen. The moment those two words were uttered, I suddenly remembered that a long time ago, someone once asked me a question.

“If there is an afterlife, what do you want?”

Then I said... I want to meet you before everyone. Now that I think about it, I want to change another answer. There is no need to rush the next life. What belongs to me...sooner or later will belong to me, Han Chinh's father taught him correctly.