Chapter 4 — I was once traded for, then became someone they couldn't reach for the rest of my life

No matter how humiliating that position was, at least before my father returned to Beijing, I still had to rely on this title to preserve the remaining dignity. The butler took me to a small courtyard located in the farthest corner of Ta Palace. The institute's name is Thanh Chi Vien. There is a small lake, a few green bamboo bushes, white walls with black tiles, it looks really peaceful. The night wind blew across the lake, bringing with it a bit of cold air, making people like me who had just gone through a chaotic night feel a little easier to breathe. Maid A Chieu followed me, looked around and whispered:

"Miss, although this place is a bit far from the main courtyard, it is quiet. For now, we will stay temporarily, waiting for the general to return. He will definitely take you back to the palace."

I nodded. At that time I also thought the same. I think Ta Van So arranged me here to avoid gossip in the palace, and also to reduce the awkwardness between the two of us. It wasn't until a long time later, when Giang Nguyet Bach stood in front of me, smiling contemptuously and telling the truth, that I realized that Thanh Chi Vien was not an elegant place. That's where she used to raise cats. Since childhood, I have not been able to stand cat hair. Just being a little closer will cause a red rash to appear on your body, itching to the point of being unbearable, and in more serious cases, you can have a high fever for many days. Ta Van So did not know about this. I believe he really doesn't know. Because he never wanted to know. He knew Giang Nguyet Bach was afraid of heat. Know what kind of scent she likes. I know she can't eat spicy food, can't stay away from ice in the summer, and has to use a silver coal stove in the winter. But he doesn't know I'm allergic to cat hair. I don't know what I like to eat. I don't know if I'm afraid of the dark or not. I don't know how much strength I had to use to force myself not to tremble the first night I entered Ta Palace, sitting in that strange room. That night, the bruises on his body began to hurt dully. The blue and purple streaks were hidden by the collar, but every movement felt like being pricked by needles. I called the butler over and calmly said:

"Get me some ice and prepare some ointment to dissolve bruises."

The butler paused for a moment. He bowed his head and hesitated for a long time before saying:

“Madam, there is no more ice in the palace… there is no more ice in the palace.”

A Chieu immediately frowned.

"The summer is so hot, Ta palace is so big, how can there be no ice left?"

The butler bowed his head even lower.

“The ice in the warehouse has all been sent to the Eastern Palace.”

I raised my eyes to look at him. He knew he had said something wrong and quickly corrected himself:

“It was sent to the Crown Princess... no, it was sent to the former Lady Giang's place.”

The room suddenly became quiet. A Chieu was so angry that his eyes turned red.

"She has now entered the Eastern Palace, do you still need your Ta Palace to offer ice and ice to please you? My lady has just entered the palace and her body is still injured, is it possible that even a pot of ice is not worth using?"

The butler did not dare to answer. At that moment, footsteps were heard outside. Ta Van So walked in. He changed his clothes and his injured hand was also carefully bandaged. His expression remained calm, as if everything tonight was just a small wave not worth mentioning. He looked at me, then looked at the butler.

“I told you to send the ice to the Eastern Palace.”

A Chieu couldn't help but ask: Ta Van So replied very naturally:

"Nguyet Bach's body is weak and can't stand the heat. I once promised her, just need The Ta Palace still has ice, it will be given priority to send it to her."

After he finished speaking, he looked towards me. Perhaps at that moment he remembered that in this yard there was also a woman who had just been caught up in an extremely humiliating game of chess, and her body was also covered in injuries. His eyes fell on my wrist. Under the sleeve, red spots have begun to spread from allergies. He frowned.

“Why did it become like this?”

I withdrew my hand and calmly said:

“It's okay.”

It's actually very itchy. It's so itchy that it makes people want to scratch their skin. But I suddenly didn't want to tell him anymore. A person who doesn't put you in his heart, even if you say you're in pain, he only feels annoyed. What's more, all his gentleness and patience were given to others. Ta Van So was silent for a moment, perhaps in the end he still felt a little guilty.

“Tomorrow I will send someone to find medicine for you. Although Thanh Chi Vien is a bit far away, it is quiet so she can stay here temporarily. If there's anything missing, let the housekeeper prepare it."

I nodded. He stood a moment longer, then turned and left. Late at night, Thanh Chi Vien became even colder. I sat in front of the dressing table, looking at my wrist covered in red rashes in the bronze mirror, and finally couldn't help but reach out and scratch it. The scratched area quickly oozed small streaks of blood, burning pain mixed with itching, making my eyes sting. In the distance, the main courtyard of the Ta Palace was still lit. That place used to be where Ta Van So and Giang Nguyet Bach lived together. And I, the current lady in name, am in the place she once left behind. I looked at the light in the distance for a long time, then suddenly burst out laughing very lightly.

“Ta Van So, I won't ask you to love me.”

“But from today, I won't expect you to turn back.”