Chapter 12 — In this life, I won't fight anymore, I will personally bring White Moon Light back to the Marquis' Palace

After Luc Nguyen left, my life completely returned to peace. The Huong Dao Academy was built more and more firmly, the first group of students graduated, some entered the palace, became female mandarins in front of the palace. Some people open their own incense shop and become a somewhat famous female shopkeeper. There are people who choose to stay, become my assistant, and continue to delve deeper with me into the mysteries of the art of cashewing incense. Each of them lives out their own brilliance. Looking at them, I often remember myself in my previous life. The woman was imprisoned in the back yard of the palace, spending all her talent and enthusiasm on her husband and son, and in the end she had nothing left. We are very lucky to have the opportunity to live again. I am also very lucky, I grasped that opportunity tightly, to live into the look I always wanted. Another spring year has come, the Queen held a party in the royal garden, invited me to enjoy the peonies. In the middle of the banquet, the lady suddenly dismissed all the servants, then looked at me and said:

“An Ninh, there is one thing, this palace wants to hear your opinion.”

I respectfully replied:

“Please just say it, Your Highness.”

“Marquis Vinh An has submitted his resignation.”

The Queen looked at me with deep eyes.

"He was willing to give up his title as marquis, and asked himself to go to the royal mausoleum, for the sake of the first emperor, he would never leave half a step in his life."

My hand stopped slightly. The royal mausoleum was a punishment even more lonely than exile.

“Your Majesty… are you ready?”

I asked softly. The Queen shook her head.

“Your Majesty said, you need to ask her about this matter first.”

“If you… will nod once, Your Majesty can revoke the holy will.”

I'm quiet. I understand the emperor's intention. This is giving me one last choice. As long as I agree, Luc Than will not have to go to that cold, desolate place to end the rest of his life alone. Among us, there is even still the possibility of “a broken mirror being healed again”. Anyway, in the eyes of the world, one day of husband and wife also has a hundred days of gratitude. I looked at the peony in front of me blooming, each layer of petals overlapping each other, leisurely and precious flowers, like the glory of the position of concubine that I once longed for. But at this moment, in my eyes, it is not as lovely as the anonymous white flowers planted by the students themselves in the back yard of the Huong Dao Academy. I smiled slightly and said to the Queen:

“Your highness, this commoner has a favor to ask.”

“Just keep talking.”

Thao people have heard that the climate in Nam Cuong is hot and humid, with bad weather, and soldiers in military camps suffer all year round from injuries and illnesses. The incompetent Thao people vowed to lead the disciples of the Perfume Institute to the Southern Cuong, because the generals could research and prepare incense that could dispel miasma and heal pain and suffering. The Queen was stunned. You did not expect that I would make such a request.

"Southern Cuong is miserable, she..."

“Your Highness,”

I interrupted her, my eyes clear and determined.

"High above the castle, despite the limitless wind and light."

“But An Ninh wants to do more than anything, is for the people who are wading through the mud, light a lamp, and send out a waft of incense.”

“And Vinh An Marquis…”

I paused for a moment, my voice flat and without ripples.

“That is his choice, it no longer has anything to do with the common people again."

The Queen looked at me quietly for a long time, and finally, she smiled with relief.

“This palace, correct.”

Three months later, I took my disciples with me and officially set out to the South. The day we left the capital, the sky was clear and the clouds were calm, the spring breeze was gentle. There were many people who came to say goodbye, including my students, the ladies who had received my favor, and even the ceremonial staff sent by the palace. I didn't see anyone from the Luc family. I know, they are all using their own ways to say goodbye to the past. When the carriage arrived at the city gate, I did not understand why, but I lifted the carriage curtain. On the city wall, a familiar but old figure stood there quietly. It's Luc Than. He didn't look at me, just stood from afar, quietly looking towards the South, where I was about to set foot. The distance was so far that I couldn't see his face clearly. But I know, he is sending me on my way. It's also saying goodbye to the love that ended so early in my life. I let down the car curtain, no more waves in my heart. I used my heart and soul to build the tower for you. Now that I'm leaving, you guys are forced to experience it for yourself, what is called - the great fall. But, so what? The floor collapsed, it can be rebuilt. The road is broken, a new one can be opened. Our world has long ago no longer needed that building named "Marquis Palace". Because we have built a larger, more solid place for ourselves, as well as for many others, called —— “hope”. As for me, it is in that spring garden, the freest fragrance. (FULL TEXT)