Chapter 1 — Lady Tri District

When I was young, my father often called me stupid, yet he arranged a marriage contract for me with the district attorney. So all day long I clung to Ta Khien, thinking of all kinds of ways to please him. He criticized me for being troublesome, but because he was afraid that the engagement had already been decided, he couldn't bear to send me away. Later, he was promoted to official position and took me with him to the capital. In the middle of the road, I ran away. I ran all the way back to Nha Mon, standing in front of the new district governor, a handsome man in an ink-colored official robe, solemnly announced:

"You are the new district governor? I am the district governor's wife."

He was stunned. Ta Khien came back from the capital to find me. At that time, I was choosing fabric for a wedding dress at a tailor's shop. He grabbed my shoulder, his eyes red, and questioned:

“You are my wife, now who are you planning to get married to?”

I reluctantly replied:

"You're no longer the district governor, why do you still say I'm your wife?"

1

When I carried the food box and happily ran into the district, Luc Nha behind me shouted impatiently:

"Miss! You haven't wiped the kitchen ash off your face yet!"

I immediately stopped walking. Ta Khien has always loved cleanliness. Last time the hem of my dress got a little dusty, he banned me from entering the study for three days. I stood still, obediently letting Luc Nha use a handkerchief to wipe my face. I absolutely couldn't let Ta Khien be unhappy because of that.

“Miss, go slowly this time, okay?” Luc Nha sighed.

“Um, yeah.”

I nodded like pounding garlic, then only thought about using the almond cake I just made to show off my work in front of Ta Khien. If you eat delicious food, maybe tomorrow you will become friends with me? Although, that "who knows", I have been telling myself for three years since my father passed away. When entering the study room, Ta Khien was approving documents. The sunlight penetrated through the door frame that was not completely closed, shining on the tip of his finger holding the pen, white as jade, even the bones of his wrist had a cold noble look. No wonder the ladies of Thanh Tuyen town all said that even Lord Ta's sideburns were fragrant. I gently walked closer and placed the food box on the bench next to it.

“Brother Ta Khien, I'll make some cake, will you try it?”

He didn't bother to raise his head, just said "yes" softly, his hand still writing. I hesitated for a moment, then took out a piece of paper from my pocket and placed it next to his hand, my heart couldn't help but feel nervous with anticipation.

“This is a poem I wrote myself, sir... can you help me correct it?”

Yesterday I bit off a few pen handles, and it took me until midnight to write this post. Ta Khien likes reading books the most, now I also read books and write poetry, I'm sure he will be happy... right? Hearing me say that, he glanced over, his thin lips let out four words: "Not worth anything." Disappointment immediately enveloped me, my heart suddenly choked, and I protested in a low voice:

"But yesterday the lady of the Tham family also came to ask me to correct her poem..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Ta Khien suddenly stood up. He was a head taller than me, the shadow falling down made my spine stick close to the cold bookshelf.

“Duong Hanh.” He smiled coldly, his dark brown eyes became cold, "You think that with just an engagement contract, you can make me soften my words to you?"

Lord Ta can smile and nod at that roadside shop, but he is so indifferent towards me. I stood still in place, eyes stinging, lips pressed tightly, trying not to let tears fall. Ta Khien hates me crying the most. That's what he said pretend.

"I..." My throat seemed to be choked, I couldn't say a complete word, "I just thought... if I knew how to write poetry, read books... then maybe you would..."

“Will you mind approving you?” He suddenly waved his hand, the poem fell lightly into the brazier, the fire licked it, instantly turning into ash.

"Duong Hanh, even if I marry you, I will never step foot into your room! Just wait and live alone for the rest of your life!"

I stared at Ta Khien's back knocking on the door and leaving. My heart suddenly echoed my father's words before his death, my trembling hand tightened the marriage contract:

"Hanh Nhi, the Ta people honor their promise, they will definitely welcome you as the district's wife, and will not mistreat you..."

I bent down to pick up a piece of paper that fell on the ground, absent-mindedly walked out of the district, coincidentally bumping into the snow-white body of the young lady of the Tham family - Tham Khinh Ca. She glanced at me from above, her chin raised arrogantly.

"Duong Hanh, Lord Ta doesn't have feelings for you, why do you still cling to him and not let go?"

I didn't want to talk to her and tried to leave, but she grabbed my wrist tightly, the force was so strong that it hurt.

“Does this look familiar?”

Tham Khinh Ca pulled out a piece of jade pendant from his sleeve and shook it in front of me, a sarcastic smile clearly visible in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows. When I saw the shape of the jade pendant clearly, I was stunned and reflexively wanted to raise my hand to grab it. “Why are you here?” This is something my father spent a large amount of silver to buy when he was alive, a total of two pieces, one given to me, one given to Ta Khien. Father said, this jade is an engagement token and will surely bless me and Ta Khien with white hair and dragon teeth. I always wear my block with me, every night before going to sleep I have to hold it tightly in my hand to feel secure. What about Ta Khien's block...

"I saw that this jade pendant was pretty so I asked if I could play with it. Who knew, Lord Ta gave it to me..."

She covered her mouth and smiled softly, raising the jade pendant higher. There was a surge of resentment in my heart - Ta Khien treated me however he wanted, but how could he give me the things that my father worked so hard to prepare? I reached out to grab it, but she leaned back to avoid it, teasing me like that, laughing until I fell over.

“Chat!”

She suddenly let go, the jade pendant fell straight to the ground, breaking into two pieces.

"Your father, thanks to a little money to support Lord Ta, forced him to get engaged to you. The gift has no value at all, it's truly untouchable!"

I rushed forward, carefully picked up the broken jade piece, and wrapped it with a handkerchief. Looking up and seeing Tham Khinh Ca's proud appearance, anger welled up.

“Don't talk about my father like that!”

I rushed forward and aggressively bit her arm. Tham Khinh Ca cried out in pain, stepped back, and reached out to grab my hair.

"You bitch! Let go!"

My mouth tastes of blood, but I still bite down and refuse to let go. My father is the best person in the world, you can say whatever you want about me, but you can't insult him.

“Let go of my lady!”

Luc Nha had just returned, still holding the breakfast box in his hand, hastily put it down next to the pillar, and rushed forward to separate the two of us.

“What are you doing?”

A cold voice suddenly rang out from behind, I instinctively let go. Tham Khinh Ca immediately hid behind Ta Khien, covering his hands with tears in his eyes about to cry.