Chapter 2 — Tham Gia Horse Carriage

“The third lady disturbed the spiritual hall and was punished by kneeling until the funeral ceremony ended.” That night, the eldest sister and the second sister drank ginseng soup in the egg pavilion. The maid dried fox fur coats for them, and the room also burned premium silver coal. I knelt in the windy hallway, wearing only an old cloak. In the middle of the night, I suddenly had a high fever, the wound in my leg also recurred, and the pain was so bad that my whole body was shaking. Momma Qin went to the kitchen to get me some food, but when she returned, she only brought an empty bowl. She was so angry that her eyes turned red. "The second lady said the cat was scared and wanted to use poison residue to smoke the cat's cage to calm her down." "The lady immediately ordered someone to bring poison to the second lady's room." After hearing that, I suddenly burst out laughing. It turns out that even a bowl of toilet paper must be given priority to the sister's cat. Mother Qin squatted next to me, using her palm to slowly warm my hand. "Miss, if the old lady is still alive, she will absolutely not let you suffer such resentment." I bowed my head to dry my tears. "Mother, my grandmother is no longer there." "From now on, no one will speak for me anymore." On the third day of standing by the coffin, news came from the palace that Bac Dich asked for marriage. The new King Bac Dich had just succeeded, and the two countries had made peace. The emperor wanted to choose a woman of age to marry into the royal family or a noble family, ordain her as a princess and then marry her far to the North. The three ladies of Canh Ninh Marquis Palace were all on the selection list. This news was like a huge rock hitting Hou Palace. That same night, the eldest sister coughed up blood, the royal doctor came three times, the father guarded her bedside, and even brought water himself. The second sister broke porcelain all over the room, crying and saying that she and Crown Prince An Quoc Cong had sworn to each other that if they were taken to Bac Dich, she would stab her head to death in front of the Marquis Palace gate. Mother hugged her, comforting her again and again. "It won't work." "Mother won't let me go." I sat under the window of the mansion, wiping away the broken pieces of jade my mother left behind. The snow outside hasn't stopped yet. There was no coal in the room, so my fingers were so cold that they stiffened. I was about to stand up and put on another layer of clothing when my mother suddenly pushed the door open and walked in. In her hand she held a bowl of hot water and a pair of warm cotton shoes. I was stunned on the spot. Mother also seemed a bit unnatural, just placing the bowl of medicine on the table. "Mommy Qin said I have a fever, the wound on my foot has recurred." "Change your shoes, don't let it get cold again." She squatted down, yet she untied my shoelaces herself. Instinctively, I pulled my foot back. She raised her head to look at me, her voice softer. "Don't move." "When you were little, mother used to change your shoes like this." I don't remember. But when her palm touched my ankle, I still couldn't help but blush. The medicine is very bitter. Mother sat next to me and waited for me to finish drinking, then stroked my sideburns. She gently asked: "Have you slept well these past few days?" I shook my head. "I always dream of your great-grandmother." After a long while, my mother sighed. "Your great-grandmother passed away, and my mother is also heartbroken." "From now on, don't always be sad alone in your room. If you have any problems, come find your mother." At that moment, a little warmth arose in my heart. That night, she stayed at the mansion with me. She helped me pull the blanket neatly and gently patted my shoulder. I was so feverish that I was in a daze, suddenly grabbed her sleeve and asked: "Mother." "Yes?" "If the palace really wanted to choose one of us three sisters, would you push me out?" She patted my head. "No." "Get a good night's sleep, when you wake up, everything will be over." When I woke up again, it was bright outside the window. My head hurts like it's about to split. Looking down, I discovered that there was still cinnabar left behind that couldn't be washed between my fingers

clean. I was stunned for a moment, then suddenly lifted the blanket. I didn't have time to put on my shoes, so I rushed out of the hospital barefoot. In the main hall, the official of the Ministry of Rites was reading the decree. "Third daughter Tham Uyen of Canh Ninh Marquis Palace, virtuous and dignified, understands the great cause, especially ordained as Princess Chieu Ninh, choose an auspicious day to get along with Bac Dich..." My ears rang with a buzzing sound. On the table is a card with my date of birth. Next to it is a sealed love letter. It was written on it: Third daughter Tham Uyen of Canh Ninh Marquis Palace voluntarily married away to Bac Dich, with absolutely no regrets or complaints. Below is my fingerprint. I rushed forward, picked up the document, intending to tear it. Father shouted: "Stop it!" Two families stepped forward, one left and one right holding my arms tightly. I struggled. Mother stood in the middle of the main street, her eyes red. "A Uyen, Minh Chau's body cannot withstand the hardships in the North." "Bao Chau has a strong temper, he will really lose his life." "You are not like them." "You have always been understanding, and you are also the one who can endure the best." It turns out that last night she guarded my bedside not because she loved me. But because I was afraid, I refused to drink that bowl of medicine. The elder sister hugged her chest and weakly spoke.