Chapter 1 — Red Bean Cake on New Year's Eve

Went out on a trip with the lady of the Tiet family. After returning, she argued with me because I ate one more piece of red bean cake than her. I felt sorry for myself, so I went to find Tiet Canh Uyen to explain my suffering. But he was extremely impatient. "Last time we went out, you spent two taels more than her. This time you ate one more piece of cake than her." "Ninh Tieu Du, you're just an orphan living off the beans, and Tiet Tinh is my younger sister." "Can you stop being greedy for small profits all the time, trying to oppress others everywhere?" But the red bean cake was bought by me, the extra two taels of silver were also my own money. save up. I've thought it through, the taste of eating beans is really not pleasant. But luckily we've almost saved enough money to leave. Just wait three days after releasing the moon silver, I will be able to leave the Tiet mansion.01 "You want to leave?"Tiet Tinh's eyes widened. I bowed my head, concentrating on embroidering the last needle on the scarf, not answering her. Tiet Tinh refused to let go, went around the table to pull me: "Ninh Tieu Du, you say it." "You want to leave, after all, there must be a reason, right?" "Could it be because I criticized you for eating more than one piece of red bean cake that day?" I put the needle and thread into the basket, then raised my head to look at her. "Yes." I nodded seriously. "It's because of that piece of red bean cake." Tiet Tinh's face was filled with disbelief: "But that was it." I'm just teasing you." "Besides, in the end, isn't that piece of cake still for you to eat? What's there to be angry about?" I pursed my lips and said nothing. It's just that in my mind I remember the scene after returning to the palace that day, Tiet Tinh denounced me to Tiet Canh Uyen. She said I was so greedy that I couldn't stand it. She originally wanted to bring that piece of cake home for him to taste, but she didn't expect that I would eat it all in one gulp. Just as I was about to open my mouth to explain, Tiet Canh Uyen glanced at me impatiently. "Ninh Tieu Du, do you really consider yourself the eldest lady of the Tiet palace? Telling you to go out with the young lady to enjoy spring, you enjoy it first?" I only felt full of resentment. That day, the person who told me to go with Tiet Tinh on a spring trip was Tiet Canh Uyen's temporary decision. What's more, when I went out in the morning, she rushed me, didn't even let me eat a piece of breakfast, and just dragged me along. In addition, the snacks prepared in the palace only have one portion for each person. Once she eats it all, I have nothing left. The whole day passed, I was so hungry that my stomach stuck to my back, so when I passed by the bakery, I couldn't help but walk over. That house's red bean cake is really expensive, five pieces per piece, the shop I usually go to only has three pieces. If it weren't for the fact that I was really uncomfortably hungry that day, I wouldn't have had the heart to spend that money. What's more, when I bought it, I asked Tiet Tinh. It was she who said she didn't want it, so I didn't buy her share. So we bought three pieces in total. I had a good idea in my heart, I ate two pieces, and took one piece back for Tiet Canh Uyen to taste, to see if he could taste the difference between five-texture red bean cake and three-texture red bean cake. Surely he will be very happy, right? Because he has always loved eating these sweet cakes. Maybe when he's happier, he'll try harder to help me find my family's whereabouts! I thought very well, but I didn't expect that the remaining piece on the way home was taken by Tiet Tinh and eaten. When we got back to the palace, she even criticized me for buying less and eating more. I really couldn't help it, I wanted to explain a few words: "I used my own money to buy that cake..." Tiet Canh Uyen sneered. "Your money? Not to mention your food, clothing, and travel are all taken from the public. Isn't your usual moon silver also given to you by the Tiet Palace?" "After all, aren't you still spending money from the Tiet Palace?" "Where did you get it?"

I have the face to say it's my money? "But it's clear that the moon silver in the palace gave me all the money I got up early and stayed up late to work to earn. The Tiet palace doesn't have its own tailoring room. Not to mention the clothes Tiet Canh Uyen wears every day are sewn by me stitch by stitch. Just how picky eaters and drinkers are the two brothers and sisters, food and drinks are all made by me alone. When I first came, because I had to pray for others, I only knew how to bow my head and do it. I don't dare to mention any other requests. Later, the wife of the Tiet family saw that I worked cleanly and quickly, so she gave me three taels of salary every month. Thinking about this, I was angry. I'm not a lazy person who only knows how to do things every day. I don't lack any work. The salary I receive is also something I deserve, so why do I say that? that's anger. That's red bean cake bought with my money. I like to eat a few bites but it's not your turn to talk." "Tell Tiet Canh Uyen, Ninh Tieu Du, I'm not in charge of him!"02Tiet Tinh ran away crying. I started packing things in the room, determined to wait until tomorrow to get the salary before leaving. That was the money I worked for a month to earn. The road to find my family is still long, there are a lot of places where I need to use silver, I can't bear to give it up. I'm here. I relied on the Tiet palace a year ago. My father once had the grace to save Tiet Canh Uyen's father's life. Before he died, he wrote a letter in advance, begging the Tiet palace to take me in. He repeatedly told me: "If you find your fiance, you must not be seduced by the riches of the Tiet family and want to stay there, do you understand?" I also assured him many times that I would definitely not cling to the Tiet family, just wait until I find someone before I leave But who would have thought that it would be so difficult to find someone in such a large Tiet Palace? So much so that a year has passed and there is still no news about the fiance. I once asked Tiet Canh Uyen. He just impatiently said, "How can it be so easy to find someone with just a piece of jade pendant?" I just don't know why, the next day the notice was completely gone. Because of this, Tiet Canh Uyen also warned me: "The capital is not like your hometown, don't arbitrarily post the notice." I also went out with Tiet Canh Uyen to meet his friends. They all said that the jade pendant was unique and had never been seen before, and advised me to stay at Tiet Palace, everyone would try their best to help me find someone. But how can I rest assured! Dad told me, I couldn't sit still. Tiet Canh Uyen told me to believe him, he would help me. But I've been here for a year, not only have I had no news, but I've often been teased by him. Ninh Tieu Du, I have hands and feet, and even if I don't help me find someone, it's okay. After all, they've accepted me for a year, so it's still okay if I can't find someone. At the very least, I can go back to my hometown. Thinking of this, my heart feels a lot lighter. Two sets of clothes to wash, a bag with all my savings, a marriage certificate, and a piece of jade pendant that has never left my body. That's all I have collected. Just wait until tomorrow to pay the salary, and I can leave the Tiet family. 03 Tieu Thu, who has a very good relationship with me, tells me a place in the capital where I can ask for information. angry. “A few days ago, my brother

came to visit me and told me." Tieu Thu bit the melon seeds in her mouth. "Go to Phu Dung Lau in the east of the citadel, there is a Bach Hieu Sinh there, there is nothing in the capital that he does not know." I raised my head confusedly: "No, Tiet Canh Uyen once told me, Phu Dung Lau in the east of the citadel are all liars. If you want to ask for news, you have to go to Phu Cu Quan in the west of the city." Tieu Thu was also stunned: "But... but my brother said that news from Phu Cu Quan can be fabricated as long as you have money, telling me absolutely not to go there." The two of us looked at each other. Tieu Thu's brother worked as a manager at the Crown Prince's palace, had extensive knowledge, and certainly would not deceive his younger sister in this matter. But if we say that Tiet Canh Uyen deceived me, it is also unreasonable. He always said that I didn't eat or drink at Tiet Palace. In my opinion, he was the one who wanted me to find a fiance as soon as possible to leave Tiet Palace. Tieu Thu saw my awkward face and couldn't help but comfort him: "Maybe the young master's source of information is not the same as my brother. It's okay, anyway, you're free later, so why don't you go check out both places?" "It's just Tieu Du, don't you really wait for the young master to come home before leaving?" I shook my head. Why wait for him to come back? Yesterday Tiet Tinh was just made to cry by me. If he comes back and finds out, he still doesn't know how he will reprimand me. "I have already said goodbye to the old master and the madame. When I find my fiance later, I will come to the door again to thank you for accepting me for this year." I picked up my bag and prepared to stand up and leave. Tieu Thu hugged me a little reluctantly. "Phu Cu Quan is closer, you should go there and ask first. If there is no news, go to Phu Dung Lau again." She carefully advised me: "For the night, go to the inn on Bach Thinh street, it's clean and cheap. In the future, when you go alone, you must pay attention to safety." I solemnly nodded. Saying goodbye to Tieu Thu, I carried my bag and left the Tiet palace, walking towards Phu Cu Quan. Just as I arrived at the door of Phu Cu Quan, I saw a man in a blue shirt being thrown out by two cruel and evil men. One of them said politely: "Last time the money was not paid in full, this time I dare to come again. Phu Cu Quan is not a place that gives you food or drink, get out." "If you dare come again, I will break your legs." Are all the people of Phu Cu Quan that fierce? I was so scared that I retreated into the corner of the wall, not daring to take another step forward. The man in the blue shirt who was thrown out was not angry, he just quietly got up, brushed off the dust on his body, and was about to leave. I saw that he had a good temper, so I couldn't help but step forward and pull his sleeve. "I want to ask..." Seeing the light. His eyes fell on his sleeve, I quickly let go. "Sorry, I'm impatient." The man shook his head, his voice gentle: "It's okay, what do you want to ask?" I peeked my head at the closed door of Phu Cu Quan, lowered my voice: "I just want to ask, is it expensive to go to Phu Cu Quan to ask for information?" The man nodded: "Ask once, it's a hundred taels." One hundred taels! Even if I sold it, I wouldn't be able to save that much money. Normally, when I eat and drink at Tiet Palace, I don't use it, and in my spare time I still embroider a few scarves to sell. In the past year, I've only saved up less than fifty taels. I immediately felt a bit depressed when I saw that. I've been in the capital for a long time. If I were from the capital, maybe I could still help the young lady a little." I looked at him suspiciously. Even though the thing he wanted to ask about hadn't been done yet, could he still have the strength to help others? Thinking of Tieu Thu's instructions before leaving, telling me not to trust people so easily when going out, I couldn't help but be more alert and opened my mouth to ask back: