Chapter 6 — In Rebirth, I Don't Chasing Moonlight Anymore

I looked at him blankly.

“Your Majesty… why are you here?”

“Pass by.” He answered briefly.

Then he sat down next to me, at eye level.

“If you want to cry, just cry. Crying will feel a little better.”

His voice is like warm water, soothing a wounded heart. I look into those eyes, gentle as jade. For some reason, my tears - which had stopped - welled up again. This time, I won't hold back anymore. I cried loudly, cried really loudly. Cry for the emptiness of your previous life, cry for the helplessness of this life. Crying for the fate that teases me, leaving me with nowhere to put my trust. Tieu Canh Hanh said nothing. Just sit quietly beside me, befriend me in silence. It wasn't until I was exhausted from crying and my voice was hoarse that he took out a handkerchief and gave it to me:

“Wipe it off, you're crying like a dirty little cat.”

I took the towel, wiped my face, and shyly said:

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I made you laugh."

“It's okay.” He stood up, reaching out his hand towards me. “Can you stand up?”

I look at that hand — the bones and joints are clear, clean and sturdy. Hesitating a bit, then put his hand there. He gently pulled me and I stood up.

"I'll take you back to the palace."

I nodded slightly. Right now, we really shouldn't wander around alone. He didn't call for a carriage, he just quietly walked side by side with me on the deserted street. No one said a word, but neither was embarrassed. When we neared the gate of the Minister's Palace, we stopped.

“Your Majesty, it's okay to come here. Thank you for your help.”

I took off my cloak and gave it back to him. He did not accept.

“It's for you.”

“This… how is it possible…”

“It's just a coat.” He looked at me and suddenly asked:

“You and Co Tran Hanh... are old friends?”

The question makes my heart shake. He certainly heard what I said at the princess's palace. I lowered my eyes, not knowing how to respond. Tieu Canh Hanh seemed to know that he had asked the wrong question, so he immediately changed the subject:

“Today you offended Princess Truong and rejected Co Tran Hanh in front of so many people.

Aren't you afraid... of them taking revenge?

“Scared.” I honestly said, "But there's something I'm even more afraid of."

“What is it?”

I raised my head and looked into his eyes.

"I'm afraid... of repeating the same mistake."

His pupils twitched slightly. That look is so deep that we cannot guess. After a while, he slowly said:

“I know a place that can help you escape all your current troubles.”

“Where?”

“West of the citadel – Tinh An pagoda.”

"The abbot - Master Lieu Tran - is a highly enlightened monk. If you really have any questions, you can come and ask for a hexagram."

Tinh An Pagoda... I was slightly moved. In my previous life, I had heard about Master Lieu Tran - rumored to be able to understand past and future lives. It's just that as a mother-in-law, I rarely set foot in the temple, so I never had the chance to meet her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for showing me the way."

“No need to be polite.” He glanced at the palace door and said in a faint voice:

"It's not early yet, come in. Remember - everything, think about yourself first."

After speaking, he turned and left, his back gradually sinking into the night. I watched him disappear into the night mist, not moving for a long time. This Jing King... is truly strange. It seems... he knows a lot of things. As soon as I returned to the palace, what awaited me was indeed a violent storm. My father was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed straight at my face and didn't say a word for a long time make a profit. The mother sat on one side, crying until her heart ached:

“Why did I give birth to a cruel person like you!

You have such a great fate and you don't need it, but you deliberately seek death!

“Do you know how if you do that today, it will implicate the whole Tham family in you?!”

I do not object. I know — in their eyes, I've gone crazy. I just calmly knelt down in the middle of the hall, letting every scolding fall on my head.

“Fathers, mothers, and daughters are not filial.”

“My daughter knows that today she caused a big disaster, making the family feel uneasy.

So please voluntarily accept the punishment.”

“From tomorrow, I would like to go to the family temple to repent, for the sake of the Tham family.

From then on, I vow to live under the green light, not asking about life." What I said shocked my parents to the point of petrification.

“What did you say?!” Father could hardly believe his ears.

“You want to go to the family temple?!”

“Yes.” I nodded, my voice determined.

“The daughter has made up her mind, she only asks for her parents' fulfillment.”

Going to the family temple — is something I've been thinking about since I was on the way back. Today, I went crazy in a crowded place, my reputation was completely ruined. The Princess and the Co family will absolutely not let it go. Staying in the palace only involves the family. Retreating to the family temple, one is to avoid the storm, and two is to also clearly express one's stance. I, Tham Vi, would rather take refuge before the Buddha and not want to have anything to do with Co Tran Hanh anymore. Father was about to say something, but I bowed deeply.

“Please be fulfilled!”

Looking at my determined appearance, in the end my father could only sigh helplessly:

“Forget it... I've made up my mind, just go.”

"It's just Vi Vi, later... don't regret it."

Regret? I smiled bitterly in my heart. The only thing I regret is that I met Co Tran Hanh in my previous life. As long as I can stay away from him, no matter what I have to trade, I will accept it. Early the next morning, I carried only a simple bag of luggage. Under the tearful eyes of my parents, I boarded a horse-drawn carriage and headed to the family temple in the suburbs. When the car left the city gate, I lifted the curtain and looked back. The prosperous capital city gradually receded. Finally, I left the place that contained the trauma of two human lives. That's good. I still think that from here everything will end. Our lives can turn to a new page, quiet and peaceful. Unexpectedly, at that moment - a handsome horse rushed forward, blocking the front of the carriage. The person on the horse was dressed in white, rushing like the wind, dust covering his body. His face was filled with unprecedented panic. He reined in, jumped off his horse, strode a few steps in front of my car, and yanked up the curtain.

“Tham Vi!”

Co Tran Hanh's face appeared before my eyes. In his bloodshot eyes from staying up all night was a plea:

“Don't go.”

“Follow me home.”