Chapter 1 — She Is My Blessing

I am the daughter of Marquis Trung Dung. While out on a spring trip, I was chased by bandits and slipped and fell into the water. Luckily, he was rescued by a farmer's lady at the foot of the mountain. While unconscious, I heard that lady arguing with her mother.
"My family is already in need, you still brought in an outsider, how can you feed her? Quickly take her away."
"She was still breathing, how could she see death and not save her? Later, you can eat just one less piece."
I feel extremely guilty in my heart, secretly thinking that when I find a servant, I will definitely thank them very generously. Who would have thought that at sunset, the little girl's heart-wrenching cries suddenly rang out in the yard.
"You killed my Great Emperor! You must pay my Great Emperor!"
I sat up in surprise and stepped out into the yard to clearly understand the end. That little lady also has a sister who is physically weak and sick all year round. Her mother, wanting to nourish her eldest daughter, killed the golden dog she had raised since childhood. In my heart, I felt both fear and pity, and I silently made up my mind. When the day comes to leave here, you must take this lady with you.
01
The yard is messy everywhere. I stood quietly behind the door. I knew clearly that Luu Ngoc Thuy didn't like me, so I intentionally kept to myself, not wanting to attract others' attention. Little Truong Xao was covered in mud, sitting on the ground, crying until his face was dirty.
"Dai Hoang realized that you guys wanted to kill him so he ran away early."
"And yet you tricked me into calling him. You knew he trusted me the most. I killed him with my own hands..."
Luu Ngoc Thuy's thoughts were exposed, her face was cold and scary.
"I'm just an animal, how can it be as precious as your sister?"
"The house is already in need. If it weren't for you bringing an outsider into the house, why would I need to kill that dog?"
As soon as the words ended, a cold, sharp gaze swept straight towards me. It turned out that she had already discovered me hiding in the dark. Truong Xao cried until his breath was choked in his throat, he could only open his mouth and sob, he couldn't even cry. My heart was tense, I quickly called Luu Ngoc Thuy:
“Quickly look at her, I'm afraid she's choking.”
Luu Ngoc Thuy just rolled her eyes and dragged the yellow dog's body from the ground towards the kitchen, still muttering.
"We usually dance happily, but now we act like we're half-dead for anyone to see?"
“Don't say you're a dog, it's not even your turn to decide your own life.”
I didn't have time to argue with her, so I quickly stepped forward to help Truong Xao. I gently patted her back to help her relax, and used a silk scarf to wipe away the tears and nose that covered her face. After a long while, she regained her breath, looking at the mud all over the yard, constantly panting heavily. I gently held him in my arms, softly comforting him.
"Dai Hoang understands people's hearts. He knows you didn't mean it, so he won't blame you."
She buried her face in my shirt, her suppressed sobs rising again. Hot tears soaked my clothes. When it was time for dinner, she curled up in her room, refusing to go out. The fishy smell of dog meat soup floated in from outside through the window. My nose was so irritated that I didn't understand why a sudden feeling of nausea arose in my stomach. I suddenly woke up and realized it was urgent The best thing right now is to quickly contact family members to get out of here. I immediately waved to Truong Xao who was sitting huddled on the corner of the bed.
"Xiao Nhi, how far is this place from the upper town? I want to ask someone to help deliver a message."
The girl thought for a moment and then replied softly:
"It's not far, it only takes half a day to go one way. But hiring a courier costs money, and I don't have a penny on me."
My fingertips quietly probed deep into my side. Fortunately, when he fell into the water, even though he was extremely panicked, the money bag hidden close to his body was still there. But I said nothing. According to common sense, this family saved my life, of course I have to repay the kindness like a flowing stream. But Truong Xao's desperate cry just now, along with the fishy smell of dog meat that had not yet dissipated in the yard, pierced my mind over and over again. Silver I can give. But this favor belongs only to Truong Xao, and has no relationship with Luu Ngoc Thuy! Seeing me silent and absent-minded, Truong Xao thought I was in need so he quickly understood what was going on and moved on to something else.
"Sister, I'm going to go get two mantou. The way to town is very tiring, you absolutely cannot go hungry."
Thinking of the mother and child gathered around the pot of soup out there having a meal, my heart can't help but feel cold. If Truong Xao went out alone, he would definitely have to endure a round of cold words and disdain. I'm already an adult, how can I let a little girl endure humiliation for me every time? I immediately stood up and said:
“I'll go with you.”
02
The moment I saw Truong Xao's sister Truong Thanh Nguyet, I couldn't help but be a little stunned. She looked a few years older than Truong Xao, wearing a clean, simple light pink cloth dress, her hair neatly combed and braided into two small braids. Although the clothes were not considered exquisite and precious, they were extremely neat in this small farmyard. Looking back at Truong Xao, her whole body covered in dirt, she was looked up to as nothing more than a little beggar begging for food on the side of the road. As soon as the two of us walked out of the room, the mother and daughter in the yard immediately put down their bamboo chopsticks. In front of Truong Thanh Nguyet was a pile of bones as high as a small mountain. The plate of food on the table was completely clean, with only a few leftover soup left. Truong Xao's eyes fell on the only remaining mantau in the bowl. The girl walked straight forward, reaching out to take it. Pop! Luu Ngoc Thuy raised her hand and slapped the back of her hand hard.
"Food from an apple tree, a fig tree! Today as punishment, you are not allowed to touch a single piece of food!"
On the surface, this statement was meant to reprimand Truong Xao, but in reality, it was used to scold me. The back of Truong Xao's hand immediately turned red. Anger welled up in her heart, but she still gritted her teeth and tightly held the curtain, refusing to let go.
"You didn't call me for a meal, not even a morsel of food was left behind. Now I only asked for a mantou but you still won't give me one. Are you going to starve me to death?"
Having finished speaking, the girl glared fiercely at Truong Thanh Nguyet next to her.
"At the beginning of the year, you were bullied by Thiet Dan next door. It was Dai Hoang who rushed up and bit his pant leg to save you."
"Now you calmly nibble on its meat and drink its soup. Aren't you afraid of having nightmares at night?"
Truong Thanh Nguyet's face immediately turned pale and she muttered an excuse in a low voice.
“Cunning Xao, originally sister don't want to eat Dai Hoang. But the doctor said that my sister's body was cold and her body was weak, so she must use food to nourish her. Over the years, I've worked so hard to take care of your body, I really can't bear to let you down."
Before the words finished, tears were rolling down. Luu Ngoc Thuy saw her crying and was extremely heartbroken. He immediately grabbed a handful of bones from the table and threw them aggressively at Truong Xao.
“I forced him to eat! If you're angry, just take it out on me. Why bother your sister?"
I stood quietly next to it, observing for a long time, and finally I couldn't look anymore. I stepped up and raised my hand to wipe the bone fragments and grease from Truong Xao's face. I understood that confronting Luu Ngoc Thuy firmly at this time would only cause more trouble, so I slowly took out a piece of scrap silver from my waist and gave it to her.
“Eldest sister-in-law, I only have this little silver left on me, consider it as living expenses for the few days I'll be staying here. When my family came to find me, I immediately left and absolutely did not bother you any further. I hope the eldest sister-in-law will not continue to be harsh with Xao Nhi."
This piece of scrap silver weighs about two taels. For a normal farming family, if they save money, it will be enough for half a year. Luu Ngoc Thuy's eyes fell on the silver piece, her eyes immediately lit up, her face also softened in an instant. She turned her head and raised her voice to tell Truong Xao.
"There's still a mantau in the kitchen, bring it out for the guests."
The moment he saw me take out the silver, Truong Xao's eyes immediately opened wide. After returning to her room, she immediately lowered her voice, so impatient that her voice trembled:
“Sister, why are you so confused? Why do you have to give her so much silver?”
“You just wait a few days, I will definitely find a way to get your money back!”
"No problem."
I held her hand, gently smiled and shook my head. Using two taels of silver to exchange for more than ten days of peace, it's worth it.
03
The next morning, as soon as it was dawn, I followed Truong Xao on the way to town. I have never gone through such a bumpy and muddy dirt road. In the past, every time I went out, I had a soft palanquin to serve as my foot, and there was also a maid accompanying me. As the daughter of Marquis Trung Dung, have I ever had to suffer like this? We walked all morning under the hot sun. When we got to the market, my legs were blistered, bleeding, and painful. Truong Xao is very familiar with this place and quickly led me to find someone who specializes in delivering mail. I borrowed pen and paper to write a short letter, carefully folded it and gave it to him.
“The postage fee is three copper coins.”
Someone spoke up to quote the price. I was just about to reach out to take the silver when a small hand grabbed it first and held out a few coins. I looked at Truong Xao in surprise:
“Where did you get the money?”
The girl bowed her head awkwardly.
“Yesterday, I gave all the scraps of money to the lady. I was afraid that you wouldn't have money to spend on the road, so before leaving, I took a few coins from the locker."
I frowned slightly. Even though I knew she had good intentions, I still sternly reminded her.
“If you don't ask and take it yourself, that's theft. Cunning child, absolutely do not do that."
The girl argued back with reason:
“Even if you stay at my sister's house for a month, twenty coins for food and accommodation is already more than enough, why do you need to send two taels of silver? Besides, that money originally belonged to you, I just took it back to help you a little."
“That's it.”
I shook my head slightly, momentarily indifferent can tell whether she is too honest or too stubborn. I took back a few coins from the postman's hand, then gave him another piece of scrap silver, instructing:
"Please go quickly. As long as it's successfully delivered to the Marquis of Trung Dung's palace, then there will be a big reward."
When he saw the scraps of silver, he was overjoyed. He wished he could grow four more legs. He immediately turned around and ran towards the horse. Truong Xao blinked in surprise:
“Sister, do you still have silver on you?”
I stuffed the coins back into her palm and smiled faintly.
“Do you really think I don't have any plans?”
"It's clear that we only need three coins, why do you give more?"
I explained to her in a low voice:
"If you have money, you can control even ghosts and gods. If you want others to be dedicated, in the end you have to give them some benefits."
Truong Xao seemed to understand nothing. A moment later, the girl bowed her head sadly again.
“But I don't have money.”
I couldn't help but laugh, hiding an unspoken sentence in my heart. The good days of my future have only just begun. During the few days of staying at Truong's house, I saw with my own eyes that Truong Xao was tormented every day, and also suffered from the pain of losing an animal that had been close to him for many years. I wanted to comfort her, so I asked:
“Where is the best wine shop in town?”
Truong Xao didn't understand what I meant, so he obediently pointed to the shop at the end of the street.