Chapter 25 — On the big wedding day, the Queen Mother exchanged me for another prince

The same goes for the Tham family. Father is still Prime Minister, but no longer has to live in anxiety like before. His mother is healthy and safe, his younger brother Nhuoc An studied excellently at Quoc Tu Giam and was recommended to Han Lam Academy. Second uncle Tham Chinh Binh, after the ancestral sacrifice that year, no longer dared to play tricks on the family. Tham Ngoc Dao lived in the old village in the countryside for a year and a half. After returning, the whole person became much calmer. She once came to Thuy Than Vuong palace to visit me. Sit for a long time, only saying one sentence.

"Nhuoc Van, what I did before was my fault to you."

I poured her a cup of tea.

"It's okay to know. Live well in the future."

She took the teacup, took a sip, said nothing more, then stood up and left. And Tong Duc. He was imprisoned for two years, and after being released, he was given the title of King of leisure and given a small palace on the outskirts of the capital. No real power, no land, only receiving a moderate amount of benefits each year. People in the capital who met him would still call him "Your Highness". But the meaning in that way of addressing is completely different from before. There was one time. He met me and Tong Hanh on the street. He stood on the side of the road, watching our carriage pass by. Tong Hanh lifted the car curtain and looked at him. The two looked at each other for a moment. Tong Duc was the first to move his eyes. After the carriage went away. I asked Tong Hanh.

"Do you still hate him?"

"No regrets."

"Really?"

"I hate him so much."

"I have more important things to do."

"What's going on?"

He let down the car curtain.

"Stay with her."

The Queen Mother died that fall. The person passed away very peacefully. Before his death, he called me to his bedside, held my hand tightly, and said the last sentence.

"Girl, that year Ai married you to Lao Cuu. It was not an arbitrary decision. Ai observed you for three days before making up his mind. You are a good child. In this life, Ai has done many wrong things, but this... Ai did the right thing."

The person closed his eyes. I kneel beside your bed. Cry for a long time. That was the time I cried the most since I got married. After the Queen Mother's funeral. I put the Phuong Van Kim order in a box and placed it on the top floor of the bookshelf in the study room. Tong Hanh asked me why I didn't bring it with me anymore.

"No need anymore."

"Because now no one dares to bully me anymore."

He laughed.

"That's right."

"Thuy Than Vuong Phi."

"Who dares?"

I also laugh. Two newly planted cinnamon trees are sprouting young buds. Those are the two trees we planted the first year we moved to Thuy Than Vuong Palace. Three years have passed. They were as tall as the windowsill. A few more years. They will bloom. Until then. The whole yard will be filled with the scent of cinnamon. Tong Hanh walked over. Stand next to me. Let's look at the yard outside the window.

"Tham Nhuoc Van."

"Thank you..."

"...married me."

I rested my head on his shoulder. Say nothing. No need to say more. Words that need to be said. The past three years. We've all said it all. Battles that need to be fought. They've all finished fighting. The following months and days. Only the seasons of cinnamon flowers blooming in the yard remain. Nights of firecrackers exploding throughout the capital. And peaceful and beautiful years. I gently closed my eyes. Listen to his steady heartbeat. (END OF FULL TEXT)