Chapter 4 — The day I stopped taking care of the books, the Marquis Palace collapsed

The tip of my pen stopped.

“No, she understands very well.”

Understand how to spend other people's money in exchange for your own reputation. The more I understand how to cry while letting Bui Huyen Do clean up the mess for her. A few days later, Lam Kieu Kieu's reputation began to spread in the capital. People say that as soon as she returned to the capital, she set up a tent to distribute porridge to help the poor. People also said that the housekeeper's new lady was too strict, but on the contrary, the Lam family's lady had a Bodhisattva heart. I sat in the carriage and heard passersby talking like that. Xuan Dao was so angry that he almost jumped out of the carriage.

“Madam, slave go tear their mouths!”

We stopped her.

"No need."

Mouth is on people. But the books are in our hands. Initially, we planned to wait until the winter coats were distributed before making clear calculations with Bui Huyen Do. But I underestimated Lam Kieu Kieu. On the day of distributing winter clothes, the orphans of the Northern Camp were invited to the gate of the Marquis Palace. Lam Kieu Kieu wore a pure white outfit and personally put on winter clothes for the children. A group of ladies and gentlemen standing nearby continued to applaud. When I got there, I discovered that all the winter clothes had been changed to thin fabric. What I prepared was originally thick cotton cloth. But now given to the children, it's just a thin layer of cotton clothes. I stepped forward and pulled off a corner of my shirt. There is pitifully little cotton inside. Lam Kieu Kieu's face immediately turned pale.

“Sister, what are you doing?”

I look at her.

"You touched the money for winter clothes once, and I paid for it myself. Now even the fabric of the clothes has been changed, do you still want to say you don't know what happened?"

Her eye sockets immediately turned red.

"Sister, I just want the children to receive their winter clothes soon. The lady in charge of purchasing said this fabric is light and will be more comfortable for children to wear."

I was so angry that I burst out laughing.

“After winter, can being comfortable block the wind?”

Everyone around looked at each other, no one dared to speak. Lam Kieu Kieu's tears fell.

"Sister, I really don't understand these things. I just want to help you share a little."

At that moment, Bui Huyen Do arrived. He saw Lam Kieu Kieu crying to the point of shaking and about to fall, and saw the winter shirt being torn open in his hand.

"What is up?"

I gave him the winter coat.

“You should see for yourself.”

Lam Kieu Kieu cried and said:

"Brother Huyen Do, you're all bad. You shouldn't meddle in my wife's affairs."

Bui Huyen Do received the winter shirt and his expression gradually darkened. He asked me:

“If you tear your shirt like that in a crowded place, do you want the Marquis Palace to become a laughing stock?”

I was stunned.

"Is this a joke? These are winter clothes given to the children of soldiers who died in battle."

He lowered his voice.

“Go back to the palace and continue talking.”

I look at him.

"Your first question, don't you ask her why she changed the fabric?"

Bui Huyen Do did not answer.

“The guests are all here today.”

Therefore, the reputation of the Marquis is even more important. Lam Kieu Kieu's tears are even more important. My books, the winter clothes of those children, can all be put behind me. I let go. The thin winter coat fell to the ground. A little girl stood in the crowd, so cold that her lips turned purple, yet still clutching her shirt tightly in my heart I did not dare to move. I walked over, took off my cloak, and put it on the little lady. The little girl raised her head to look at me and cautiously asked:

“Madam… can I wear it?”

My throat tightened a bit. Bui Huyen Do stood behind me, his voice tense.

“Linh Nghi.”

I don't turn back. Because at that moment, I suddenly heard someone laughing softly in the distance. Not laughing. It's like after watching a bad play, you finally lose all patience. I raised my head and looked over. At the end of the long street, a jet black carriage was quietly stopping. The car curtain was lifted to one corner. The person inside was wearing the prince's civilian clothes, his appearance was cold and sharp, and his demeanor was so noble that no one dared to look directly at him. Prince Regent, Ninh Van Tieu. He is also watching this winter shirt commotion. No one expected that Regent Vuong Ninh Van Tieu would appear at the gate of the Marquis Palace. He is the reigning imperial uncle, assistant to the regent of the young emperor, in charge of the Three Divisions, controlling the forbidden army, no one in the court dares to take it lightly. Even if Bui Huyen Do is the Crown Prince of Vu An Marquis, he still has to bow in front of him. The guests all knelt down. I also intend to perform the ceremony. The little lady wearing my cloak was so scared that she hid behind me. Ninh Van Tieu stepped down from the carriage. He did not look at Lam Kieu Kieu. Just look at that torn open winter shirt.

“Is this the winter shirt that the Marquis gave to soldiers' families?”

Bui Huyen Do's face darkened and he immediately clasped his hands in ceremony.