Chapter 19 — The day he established me, I did not make a fuss, 17 days later, he searched the world looking for me

Very light movement. But it carries an unshakable determination. She propped herself up, lifted the blanket, and wanted to get out of bed. Ta Than suddenly raised his head and grabbed her in panic.

“Where are you going?”

Du Van looked at him, word by word, speaking clearly.

“Go find my world of fire and smoke.”

Right then. The bedroom door was forcefully pushed open by someone from the outside. Vuong Duc crawled and rushed in, his face full of despair and panic. He knelt down on the ground and offered up a golden scroll.

“The capital... the capital has passed down an edict to oust the emperor!”

Edict to oust the emperor. These four words, like a thunderbolt, exploded loudly in the quiet room. Vuong Duc knelt on the ground, crying without a sound.

“Your Majesty… King Tinh, he… he has betrayed!”

“The Jiang family… The Jiang family has also rebelled!”

“They… they say that virtuous people have flaws, they have… dethroned them!”

He spoke incoherently. Every word carries blood and tears. Ta Than was unusually calm. He didn't even glance at that holy scroll, which was enough to overthrow his entire life. His eyes, from beginning to end, were locked on Du Van's face. It was as if there was nothing in this world that could make him more afraid than her leaving. Du Van also heard it. She was a bit surprised. But very quickly, that ray of surprise became clear. She looked at him.

“You see.”

“The things you put all your heart and soul into, want to hold in your hands.”

“In the end… it's just a void.”

Ta Than laughed. Laughing is even more unsightly than crying.

“A moment of nothingness”

He slowly stood up. He walked to the scroll, bent down and picked it up. He didn't even open it. Just throw it into the coal pot next to it. The brocade plate is bright yellow, just touching the hot coals. In the blink of an eye, a fierce fire erupted. The words representing the supreme royal authority on it quickly turned into black ash. Follow the wind, scatter away. Vuong Duc was stunned. He did not expect that His Majesty would...

“My instructions.”

Ta Than interrupted him, his voice was not loud, but clear, echoing throughout the entire restaurant.

“Your Majesty, voluntarily abdicate.”

“Dai Ha Giang Son, from today onwards, has nothing to do with me anymore.”

He stopped for a moment, turned his head, deeply and deeply, looking at the woman who was dressed neatly, preparing to leave. In his eyes, madness, obsession, pain, regret. At this moment, everything turns into a piece of gentleness, clarity, and abandonment.

“Also, prepare an after-ceremony.”

"Take this country that I don't need as a bride price."

"Congratulations to the daughter of the late Tran Quoc General Du Van, and the famous Giang Nam scholar Tham Thanh Chau, becoming husband and wife."

“Wish you two, gray hair together, many years of peace.”

After saying these words. He seemed to have used up all his strength. He grabbed the table and coughed violently. A mouthful of blood spewed out from his mouth. Dye the front of your shirt red. Also dyed the whole room red, full of sadness. Vuong Duc screamed sadly and rushed forward. Du Van's footsteps also stopped. She turned her head and looked at the man who used the whole country to fulfill himself. Look at his pale face, and the dazzling red streak on his lips. In that moment, her heart, as if it had been stabbed by something, was fiercely stabbed. There's a bit of pain. But it's just pain. Then in the end, she still turned away. Don't look away first, leaving the magnificent cage that had imprisoned her for half her life. One year later. Hanh Hoa village. The small courtyard at the beginning of the village once again lit up with warm light. The apricot rose trees in the yard are blooming more brilliantly than last year. A man in a blue shirt, sitting under an apricot tree, attentively drew a picture. In the painting, there is a woman wearing a simple dress, standing on tiptoe, reaching to pick the tallest apricot branch. On her face, there was a faint smile. That smile is no longer as bright as the fire it used to be. Which brings peace and security after years of condensation.

“Ah Van, be careful.”

The man put down his pen, stepped forward, and held her waist.

“Let me do it.”

Du Van turned her head and smiled at him.

“No need, I can do it myself.”

She picked an apricot branch and brought it to her nose to smell it gently. She turned around, intending to show him the flowers. But his eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance, on the official road. It was a traveler, riding a skinny horse, with only one arm left... "Wow... I'm so sorry, I'm rolling my eyes, but if she doesn't agree then I can't bear it. Please comment well, don't blame me for not being cooperative." He wore an old robe that had been washed to a faded color, and a long painting tube hung on his back. Just like that, he stopped in the distance, quietly looking this way. His eyes were distant and sad. Du Van's smile slightly stopped. Next to her, Tham Thanh Chau noticed her unusual appearance. He followed her eyes and looked over. Immediately after that, I understood. He didn't say anything. Just reached out, pulled her into his arms, gently held her hand. The temperature in that palm was warm and steady. Du Van regained consciousness and squeezed his hand again. She withdrew her gaze, no longer looking at the person who belonged to the past. She leaned on Tham Thanh Chau's shoulder and spoke softly.

“Thanh Chau, let's go home.”

Tham Thanh Chau replied with a smile.

“Let's go into the house.”

The two relied on each other and entered the small courtyard with the lights on. With a lonely look behind him, he completely closed the door outside. A far away official place. Ta Than looked at the tightly closed door. A long, long time. He slowly, from the drawing tube behind him, pulled out a picture. In the painting, there is a young girl dressed in red like fire. She rode on horseback, smiling brightly, her eyes brighter than the stars in the sky. That was her original appearance in his memory, and also her most beautiful appearance. He reached out and gently caressed the person in the painting. As if that was the whole world he had lost. He whispered softly.

“This world, as you wish.”

“From now on, no one can imprison her anymore.”

A wind blew. Blowing away a few strands of gray hair from his temples. Also shook a corner of the painting. He took back the painting, turned his horse around, and slowly walked in the completely opposite direction of the capital. The sunset light lengthened his shadow, very long. From here, the mountains are high and the rivers are wide. The road is far away. We will never see each other again in this life. (END OF FULL TEXT)