Chapter 4 — Married to the Marquis Palace for Five Years, I Had Three Children in a Row

The mother-in-law's words are like a stone thrown into a quiet lake, making our hearts rise with waves. Those guys? Why did prosperous demographics become a disaster? I had countless questions in my heart, but looking at her tired and scared face, I didn't ask any more. She doesn't want to talk, there must be her reason. But we can't just continue to live like this. My son, my husband, I must know what situation they are in. At night, Thua Trach and Thua Khai were both fast asleep. Tieu Can Ngon helped me cover the corner of the blanket, preparing to go outside to sleep on the soft tower. I pulled his sleeve back.

“Husband, please stay tonight.”

His body stopped, turned his head to look at me, a bit of surprise in his eyes. Since I was pregnant with Thua Trach, he has never slept in the same bed as me. He said he was afraid of hurting me and the child. Even after Thua Trach and Thua Khai were born, he still stubbornly slept in the soft tower. He said he was used to it and was afraid that he would turn over at night and hit the child. I know, he appreciates us mothers and children too much.

"The mollusc tower is cold, your body is not made of iron or stone."

I patted the empty space next to me.

“It's very spacious here.”

Tieu Can Ngon looked at me, the gentleness in his eyes almost turned into water. He didn't persist anymore, so he just put on his clothes and lay down next to me. We still keep a safe distance between us. In the room, there was only a wall lamp with dim yellow light and dim light. I could hear his steady breathing, that sound made me feel extremely secure.

"Husband."

I spoke softly. His voice carried a bit of sleepiness, low and magnetic.

“Today, mother said a few words to me.”

I can feel the man next to me instantly awake. His breathing slowed down a bit.

“What did you say?”

"She said that our Marquis's population is flourishing, which is both a blessing and a curse."

"She said we must educate our children well and absolutely cannot let them fall into the hands of those people."

I stopped and asked word by word.

“Husband, who are ‘those people’?”

The room fell into silence for a long time. So quiet that we can almost hear our own heartbeat. After a while, Tieu Can Ngon sighed, turned around, and faced me. Under the dim light, his eyes were as deep as the ocean, containing complex emotions that we couldn't fully understand.

“Nien Chu, there are things I didn't want you to know.”

“I just hope for her and her children to have a lifetime of peace and harmony.”

His voice was very low, carrying a bit of fatigue.

"But now she is the mother of the Marquis Palace, the mother of Thua Trach and Thua Khai, she has the right to know."

He held my hand, his palm still warm as before.

"Our Dinh Vien Marquis Palace has been in charge of the capital's troops and horses for three generations."

"At that time, my father was an important minister who assisted the first emperor in attacking the lower country."

"My father, also her public servant, in order to defend the border, almost killed him."

"In my lifetime, the king's grace will let me continue to command the forbidden army and guard the imperial city."

"This glory was earned by several generations of the Tieu family."

“But it is also this glory that makes us a thorn in the eyes, a piece of meat in the mouth of some guys.”

My heart suddenly tightened.

“Is… someone from the royal court?”

He doesn't hide it.

“The king is old and the princes have all grown up.”

“The position of Crown Prince has not yet been determined.”

“The military power has become something that all factions want to attract, or more accurately, all want to eliminate.”

"Before, when I was thirty years old, I didn't have any children. In their eyes, Dinh Vien Marquis Palace had no successor, so there was nothing to worry about."

"They are happily waiting for the Tieu family to break the incense fire, without them needing to do anything."

“But now…”

He stopped, his eyes fell on my flat belly, his gaze became extremely gentle.

“Now she has arrived.”

“She gave birth to me Thua Trach and Thua Khai.”

“Dinh Vien Marquis Palace has a successor.”

"The Tieu family's roots are not only not broken, but on the contrary, they have even more luxuriant branches and leaves."

“This… has upset some people.”

We finally understand. We understand the profound meaning of the mother-in-law's saying "it's both a blessing and a curse". I also understand why giving birth to my son brought such great rewards in the palace. It was not simply a reward, but also an expression of the Emperor's attitude. It is your respect for Dinh Vien Marquis Palace, and your reliance on the Tieu family. But the king's reliance has always been a double-edged sword. It can bring ultimate glory, but it can also lead to personal disaster.

“So… will they deal with you? Even…dealing with children?”

My voice couldn't help but tremble.

“With me here, they don't dare.”

Tieu Can Ngon pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on the top of my head. His arms were steady and strong.

“Nien So, you don't need to be afraid of anything.”

“The three winds in the court, just let me block them.”

“You just need to help me maintain this house and take good care of our children.”

“I promise you, I won't let anyone hurt your mother in the slightest.”

I leaned into his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, the fear in my heart gradually disappeared. That's right, we have nothing to fear. My husband is Dinh Vien Hau of the highest heaven and earth. He is a great general who holds heavy troops and guards the imperial citadel. He is the support for me and my children. I nodded vigorously.

“Husband, I believe you.”

I also said it to myself. Tham Niem Chu, from today onwards, you can no longer be just a woman who only knows how to relax in the backyard anymore. You must become stronger. Strong enough to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with her husband. Strong enough to protect your children. That night, I slept extremely peacefully. Because I know, from now on, I will no longer fight alone. We are a family, sharing joy and shame, relying on life and death.