Chapter 8 — One Bowl of Soup, Two Lives of People

The Queen definitely loves Lady Bui very much. So when Lady Bui died, people cried like tears. I have never seen a person with so many tears, perhaps enough to fill a large jar of water. What is death? I don't understand. But I knew I wouldn't be able to see Lady Bui anymore, so I cried with the queen. The Queen held my hand tightly: "Tieu Man, help me do something, okay?" I nodded vigorously. So from now on, every night I go to the cold palace to give food to the four princes. Giving food is so boring. You have to wake up at night and don't let anyone see you. Luckily we run very fast. Even my brother doesn't know about this. One time, on the way back to my room after serving dinner, I picked up a silver brooch. It's so beautiful! The head of the brooch has a flower, the whole body is white jade. I quickly happily put it on my head. The end of the brooch is engraved with three small words, but I don't recognize them. Brother said, those three words are Tran Ngoc Cam. He frowned: "I secretly asked everywhere but couldn't find this person. It's probably not someone from the palace.

“Maybe it's a souvenir left by someone's family. Please put it back in its original place, otherwise the owner will be impatient if he loses it."

I don't really understand, but I've heard what my brother said before. The next night, I returned to the hallway, wanting to put the brooch back in its original place, but was afraid that someone else would pick it up. So he squatted down, used his hands to dig a shallow hole, buried the brooch in, and placed a flower as a sign. That way no one will see it anymore. I clapped my hands and left satisfied. At that time, I did not know that I would later meet the owner of this brooch. In the summer of Vinh Hy's ninth year, the queen let me and my brother leave the palace. My brother was in tears, his nose was dirty, he thought he had committed a crime, until he saw the stack of bills in my arms.

“Vuong Tieu Man, you saved the queen's life! Why do you give me so much money!”

I don't know what to say, nor how to explain it to my brother. I just laughed twice, my face full of pride. Later, I opened a pig killing shop. What about my brother, who becomes a useless person carrying a birdcage for a walk every day? One day, a thin and fragile lady came to buy two kilos of pork. She smiled: "Get the part that's half lean and half fat, the best part." My elder brother was next to me, saw that the girl was quite beautiful, as a eunuch but her evil heart was not yet dead, so he started a conversation.

"Objectively, are you planning on stewing the soup or making the filling?"

“Make a lion's head. Give it to my sister to eat.

"It was very difficult for my sister and I to meet each other once. She's pregnant and only craves this food."

The lady smiled and carried the meat away, leaving a scent filling the room. My brother asked everywhere and found out that she had a younger sister who was a noble concubine in the palace and favored officials of the six palaces. He boldly gave jewelry and dresses to the lady, not seeking anything, just liking it. I also liked that girl very much, but I didn't expect her to suddenly die. She fainted on the side of the road, and after being taken for treatment, she coughed up blood non-stop. The doctor said there wasn't much time left. It was my brother who went crazy, hugged her and ran to the hospital. He ran and called.

"Ngoc Cam! Tran Ngoc Cam! Please wake up..."

It turned out that she was Tran Ngoc Cam. That brooch... was it made for her? Her younger sister is still waiting to meet her. My heart suddenly tightened, it hurt so much. I ran as fast as I could to beg my brother's crony, Kim Ngo Ve Nghiem Kinh, quickly go to the palace to deliver the news. We must let these two sisters meet each other one last time! Nghiem Kinh took me on a horse and rode quickly, but unfortunately, when passing by the medical shop, my brother suddenly stopped me.

“Don't go anymore…”

"He's gone."

Tran Ngoc Cam lay on my brother's back, no longer breathing, his face pale. Nghiem Kinh jumped off the horse and was stunned for a long time, but his eyes turned red.

"You're so young. What a fateful beauty."

My brother carried Tran Ngoc Cam, walking very slowly, towards the palace gate. I don't dare to imagine how painful that pregnant noble concubine will be. Nghiem Kinh bowed his head and led the horse back with me. Truong An Street is really long, you can't see the end. The night is cold and sad like water. Nghiem Kinh suddenly said: "Tieu Man, in half a month, I will be sent to Mac Bac to fight."

"After this, I'm afraid I won't be able to see you again. It's really a pity."

One general's success creates ten thousand dry bones. The enemy is dangerous, I'm afraid it's goodbye. My brother's soul just passed away. Nghiem Kinh is also about to leave. I suddenly felt extremely sad and lonely. I don't know where the sound came from, each sound became more and more distant. Nghiem Kinh muttered: "In recent years, I don't know how many people have been sent to Mac Bac. They've all gone and never returned.

“When will the world be at peace? Everyone said, if little General Bui was still alive, it would be good."

When I heard the word Bui, my heart moved and I asked him in sign language.

“Is he very powerful?”

Nghiem Kinh smiled.

“Yes. Very beneficial. A person with a hundred enemies is a rare talented general in the world. Originally, I should have rented a private residence.

“Unfortunately—”

His sigh disappeared into the wind. Truong An Street is really very long. So long that you can't see the end. The horse neighed softly, the sound of the bell blowing was dull. I became an adult that night. (Full text complete.)