Chapter 7 — Pho Ma ran towards Thanh Mai, and I left Truong An

He suddenly shed tears, but was no longer the lonely person who made me feel uneasy like before. Along with the decree admitting guilt, there was also a decree allowing the princess to abolish her husband. The rumors in Truong An reached their final peak, then quickly subsided. New rumors have begun to swirl around this year's spring semester. I picked up my skirt, like a young girl, pushed open the door and entered a small courtyard. Before I could see clearly, I jumped straight into that person's arms. The man's breath was clear and cold, without giving me time to look at him for long, he bowed his head and kissed me. After a long time, he gasped and frantically let me go.

“I heard she was sick…”

I don't answer. His hands stiffened and he continued:

“I also heard… you are a princess.”

I remained silent, just staring at him. Finally, his voice gradually lowered.

"On the way to the capital, the people who came to kill me said that my son-in-law was from a wealthy family, Do Tham Hoa, of noble status, and was the person she loved for many, many years."

Between every word, there is a sadness that is trying to be suppressed. Finally, he said:

"Yesterday, a rich young man came to see me, but he wouldn't let me see her."

Finally, I spoke up, raising my hand to cup his face.

"Tham Chieu, in the princess's palace, I planted a lot of begonias. Now is the blooming season."

“Do you want to come see?”

Just that one sentence made him cry. A native of Jiangnan, kidnapped to the border area, grew up alone. In his memory, only begonia flowers remain. So clever, it's also the flower I used to love and grow. But he refused to go see it right now. Out of habit, he half sat, half knelt down, placing his ear on my chest. Careful, reserved, gentle like when we are together in the bedroom. Then happily raised his head:

“Heart rate has stabilized, A Dung, why is it so good?”

I was sick for a long time, but you became a doctor. I smiled, swept away by those enchanting eyes. Lean down and kiss him on the lips. In a hazy breath, he softly whispered:

"Fortunately, you are a princess, from now on you don't have to follow me to suffer anymore."

As for him, he still stubbornly believes that he must wait until he passes the exam and has his name on the gold board before he is worthy to stand next to me. Outside the wall, someone spat out a mouthful of blood. It was clearly spring, yet still wearing a crane feather coat, looking both out of place and funny. Amidst the whispers of the two lovers, he clutched his chest, unsteadily turned around and left. Disappeared among the streets of Truong An. In the spring of that year, Tham Chieu passed the exam. Carrying flowers around the capital, the wind shines brightly. He married me as his wife, entered the royal court, husband and wife were in harmony, children were smart and careful. All his life he had only one political opponent. It was the old Tham Hoa, whose appearance was not inferior, always fiercely confronting him. It's just a pity that his body was already weak and he refused to take care of himself. In less than ten years, he only had time to raise his adopted son in the clan, then soon withdrew from politics. Then one day, he quietly left this world. No wedding, no farewell, no last words. That short life, in the end, is still a person. Letters from the four directions, cold reminders from the lofty throne, or old news about a woman in Jiangnan, all stopped at the door of his heart, never to enter again. As for me, I have long since stopped looking back. I put my remaining years into saving people, saving lives, saving women who were forgotten like me in the past. Sometimes when night falls, the wind blows through the sea lines in the palace, we will still remember a part of our life that has ended. But just remember. Because the hand holding my hand right now is the one who truly walks with me through the four seasons. No need for protection from fame. No need for blood and tears in exchange. Just a steady heartbeat, a peaceful life. Spouse like that. Go to the end of human life. (FULL TEXT)