Chapter 1 — The Day I Retired, I Reversed My Destiny

I took care of the Co family for three years, but in return, I only got along with my husband and the flower girl from the old castle, our first love. He raised his voice and said: "Thi To is unscrupulous and jealous. In the seven payouts, she has committed two crimes. Today I must retire her and marry the person I truly love!" In an instant, I became the laughing stock of the entire capital, struggling to get back to my mother's house. My father, being the head of a tyrannical mandarin, was furious when he heard that, but only said one sentence:

"Let him do it, tomorrow at court, I'll wait for him."

The husband thought he had grasped my weakness, so the next day he actually presented the song to the saint, saying that I was disrespectful to her, asking the saint to grant permission for separation. Unbeknownst to him, the person sitting on that long chair was my uncle. Co Yen's retirement letter was thrown right in my face. The edge of the paper slid across my cheek, leaving a very slight stinging pain.

“To Van Khanh, you are retired.”

His voice was very loud, passing through the hall, reaching the ears of every servant who was eavesdropping outside. I knelt and sat on the ice-cold ground, my body still had traces of medicine splashed out when I prepared the medicine for my grandmother. It's been three years since I married into the Co family. From the prime minister's palace, he became an unpaid employee for the Co family. Serving him, serving his sick mother, taking care of his family's empty shell. I used to think that the human heart is also meat, after being incubated for a long time, it will warm up. Today I learned that Co Yen's heart is a block of ice, no, a block of stone. Next to him stood a woman, Lieu Nhu Yen. The number one beauty queen in the capital. She was wearing a smoky evening gown, leaning weakly on Co Yen's arms. The eyes looking at me were filled with undisguised pity and pride. Co Yen supported her, as if cradling a rare treasure in the world.

“Van Khanh, don't blame me.”

“Nhu Yen already has my bones and flesh.”

"She can't continue to stay there, I have to give her a status."

My nails dug deep into my palms, drops of blood oozing out. I opened my mouth, my voice as dry as sandpaper.

“I married you for three years, because the Co family is a buffalo and a horse, so you treat me like that?”

“Being a buffalo or a horse?”

He seemed to hear something extremely funny.

"To Van Khanh, don't forget, you married me because your father forced you!"

"Your father is a prime minister, I am just a small Hanlin academy practitioner, do I dare not marry?"

“For three years now, just seeing her makes me feel disgusted!”

"She's jealous and can't stand Nhu Yen, that's the first of the seven things."

"She has no children, she has not been pregnant for three years, that is the second thing in seven births."

"I Co Yen retired her today, it was reasonable, it was according to the way of heaven!"

He said a word, and my heart became a little colder. The young man who once stood under the peach tree, promising me a lifetime, has died. Standing in front of me right now is just an extremely hateful stranger. The lady walked out of the inner hall with a cane.

"I've said it before, my daughter's business can't even get on the table, she's full of money!"

“Our Co family is the disciples of the family, how can we let a woman like you be our mother!”

"Yen Nhi, it's great! Quickly get this eyesore out!"

My mother was the daughter of a wealthy businessman in Jiangnan. When she married my father, she was ten miles away dressed in red, shocking the whole capital. The dowry she left behind, filled with treasures of the prime minister's palace, also became the support for me to marry Co Yen. During these three years, the Co family's up and down expenses, which did not have to be compensated by my dowry? Now, they spend my money and even scold me for being of low birth. I was so angry that I trembled, stood up from the ground on my hands and knees.

"Don't your so-called disciples of Huong rely on my money, a daughter to love and support, to support?"

“Without my dowry, the Co family doesn't even have this month's money to pay their servants!”

A strong slap hit my face. It was Co Yen who fought.

"You bastard! You still dare to argue!"

“Is it your turn to meddle in our Co family matters?”

“Take your retirement letter, get out!”

He threw that thin piece of paper down in front of my feet. Lieu Nhu Yen stepped up, bent down to pick up the letter, and brought it in front of me. Her voice was so soft that it seemed like it could leak water.

"Sister, don't blame Co Lang, he is also selfless."

“In the future, I will take good care of Co Lang and Auntie for you.”

“You can rest assured and go.”

I looked at her pitifully calm face, only to see a wave of nausea rising. I pushed her hand away, bent down and picked up the retirement letter myself. Co Yen, Co family. I remember it well. I turned around and walked out step by step.