Chapter 2 — Ten Years in the Backyard

His facial features were still as sharp as before, it was just that the corners of his eyes had a few more wrinkles, his eyes looked at people with a superior look, even colder than that year.

“Master suspects that I am not taking good care of you?”

He didn't answer, just walked up to the incense burner: "You're really free too."

"If your heart is troubled, cashew incense helps calm your mind. If you don't like this scent, I will change it to another scent."

"No need. Her fragrance has always been the best."

I lowered my eyes and continued the work at hand.

"Liu Thi is young and immature, doesn't understand the rules. If she feels offended, just take her out to the outside world, there's no need to personally bother."

“Master Marquis was joking.” I walked to the tea table, "Niang Di is the person you brought into the palace, I am the main wife, taking care of her is my duty. How dare you take it to heart because of a few careless sentences?"

I poured a cup of tea, the water was apricot snow collected in the morning, the tea was Long Tinh Minh Tien, the temperature was just right. Holding the tea cup in both hands, I knelt down in front of him:

“The Marquis would like some tea.”

On Thua Diep did not raise his hand and looked down at me. Just when I thought he would let me kneel until dark, he finally moved. He reached out to receive the cup of tea:

“Roll up your sleeves.”

A Nhuan in the corner suddenly raised his head, his eyes slightly panicked.

“Master... this is not…”

“Roll up.”

The scar is exposed, pale pink, ten years old, no longer painful, no longer itchy. On Thua Diep squatted down, "Does it still hurt?" I suddenly felt funny. Ten years ago, he first asked me that question.

"It's already painless. Just an old scar."

"Old scars. Tham Thanh Tu, you're always like that."

So what? I don't ask. I just looked at him, looked at the man I had married for ten years, hated for ten years, observed for ten years. He took a sip of tea and frowned: "It's cold."

"Let's mix and match."

“No need.” He conveniently put down the tea cup: "When we signed the contract in the past, she was the same, neither crying nor making trouble."

"I asked her if she regretted it, she said she didn't. I asked her if she hated me, she also said she didn't."

"What does Marquis want to hear? I can say it again. No regrets, no hatred. Marrying into the Marquis's palace is my destiny."

“Blessed fate.” He squeezed my chin, "So tell me, have you been happy in these ten years?"

“Are you happy?” He asked again, his voice low, like a whisper beside a pillow.

"Are you happy? Taking one person after another, taking the eldest son to another place, and giving alms to stay one night every month, are you happy?"

His hand tightened, my chin hurt, I laughed again. On Thua Diep stared at me, then let go of my hand for a long time and stood up. I was still kneeling there, looking up at him.

“Five days from now, it's time for the Rooster to depart.”

At the door, he stopped, without looking back:

"There are new clothes and jewelry in the treasury room. Don't wear it too plainly or you'll lose face."

A Nhuan came to support my hand. Her hands trembled. I shook my head, signaling that I was fine, stood up with my hands, but my knee hurt again, I fell back down.

“Madam…” A Nhuan was full of worry.

“A Nhuan, tell me, how much does a person have to hate to keep someone by their side for ten years?”

A Nhuan shook his head. She doesn't know. She came to us six years ago, when this silent war had begun four years earlier.

3

The following Monday When Concubine Lieu was released from prison, Canh Nhi returned. Not the first day. A Nhuan burst in while I was frowning at the garnet-colored shirt. It was the clothes the loin room had just brought in this morning, embroidered with golden bird and bird patterns, so gorgeous that it was dazzling.

“Madam!” A Nhuan ran in, "Little master... little master is back! In the front yard!"

“What time?” I glanced outside, it was just past Mui time, "Why suddenly..."

Before he finished speaking, footsteps were heard outside. A woman's voice came in: "Hurry up! Carry it straight into the winter room! Where is Thai Doctor Lam? Hurry up and invite Thai Doctor Lam!" I didn't have time to change my clothes, so I ran out in my white nightgown. The hospital is chaotic. Two rough ladies carried a soft palanquin, the palanquin's curtain was half open, revealing the small body inside. I immediately recognized the pair of green silk shoes, they were the ones I personally made for you last year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the toes of the shoes were embroidered with wall patterns, you said they would look taller.

“Canh Nhi!”

The soft palanquin was brought into the winter room, I hurriedly followed. The ladies put Canh Nhi on the bed, his face was unusually red, his eyes were closed, his lips were dry and chapped.

"What happened? Why is the fever so high? Where is the old man's side? Where did the nanny go?"

A woman bowed her head: "My lady, the young master said yesterday that he felt uncomfortable and had a fever at night. This servant intended to invite the doctor this morning, who would have thought..."

"You've had a fever since last night, so you waited until morning to invite the doctor?" I turned and stared, "How do you look?"

“Slave… slave…” her eyes were closed, not daring to look at me.

“Everyone fall down.”

On Thua Diep's voice rang out at the door. He walked in, glanced at Canh Nhi on the bed, his eyebrows slightly furrowed: "Have you invited the doctor yet?"

“Yes.” I replied, my hands still continuing to take off your shirt.

Canh Nhi's small, thin back is covered with injuries. There are old marks, there are new marks, the most obvious is the large bruise under the left shoulder blade.

“This is…” Wen Chengye spoke up behind me, “What is this?”

What? I slowly turned around and looked straight at him.

"What? Don't you see clearly? This is what you call strict teaching! This is the price of six years of leaving me!"

On Thua Diep's face darkened: "Tham Thanh Tu, calm down."

“Calm down?” I pointed at the child on the bed, "My child, six years old, has no healthy back! Are you telling me to calm down?"

I rushed forward and faced him:

"On Thua Diep, tell me, which teacher used a whip on a six-year-old child? Which family taught him to let his child have a high fever and the wound fester?"

He avoided my gaze and turned to the trembling nanny:

“Who did it?”

She knelt down: "Marquis Minh Giam! The servant... just followed the rules! The little master didn't follow the book, the servant was just... just a light punishment..."

“Light fine?” I interrupted, "What is the rule that allows you to beat the master of the main house like this? What is the rule that does not allow you to invite a doctor when a child has a high fever?"

She didn't dare look at me, just bowed her head repeatedly:

"It's... it's Miss Bieu's instructions! Miss Bieu said that young master is stubborn and needs to be severely punished! This servant will only do as told!"

Miss expression. To Nguyet Nhu. I looked towards On Thua Diep. He stood there, his face cold as iron.

"Do you hear me? Your most obedient sister, right under your eyes, made people beat your child like this."

“Nguyet Nhu... maybe just is…”

“Just what? Just seeing Canh Nhi as an eyesore? Is it just that there is no more room for me in this marquis' palace? Wen Chengye, you're not stupid, can't you see?!”