Chapter 8 — The day they married into the National Palace, I personally tore apart their dignity

The pupils were completely out of focus. I do not urge. I give him time to accept this truth. Wait about a week until the end of the tea week. He slowly opened his mouth. His voice was so hoarse that it almost didn't sound like his own anymore.

“Why does my uncle want to blame my father?”

“Think for yourself.”

"When your father was still alive, what was Ninh Quoc Cong palace like?"

“After your father passed away, what became of your mother's house?”

He didn't speak anymore. I speak for him.

"When your father was still alive, the Ninh Quoc Cong family's palace had a great career, and your mother's mother's family also enjoyed a lot of benefits."

"But your father is very strict. The money in the palace, the relationships, the contacts, all are in his hands."

“The benefits that your mother and her mother's family can get are very limited.”

"When your father died, the title could not be inherited, and you were still young, not powerful enough to suppress everyone."

“The housekeeper's rights fall into your mother's hands.”

"For the past three years, your mother's family has provided a lot of money to the government in the name of 'support'."

“But try looking at the books again.”

“Is that money really an allowance?”

"Or are they using that title of support to little by little reach into Ninh Quoc Cong's palace?"

“The money for the renovation of the Eastern Course, Manager Chu swallowed half of it.”

“Whose man is Manager Chu?”

“It's your uncle's person.”

"What about the eight hundred taels of silver recorded as entertaining the outside court but whose whereabouts cannot be traced?"

“Which way did that money go?”

“Your uncle works at the Ministry of Protection.”

“What he is best at... is bookkeeping.”

Tham Nghien Chi's hands began to tremble. Trembling from fingertips. Then gradually spread to both shoulders.

"You mean... my uncle murdered my father, and then in the name of providing for my mother, he emptied Ninh Quoc Cong's mansion little by little?"

“Not what I meant.”

“But the books say so.”

“You can completely investigate on your own.”

“Every item I just mentioned has evidence to compare with.”

He jumped up and stood up. The chair behind was knocked over and hit the floor hard. He didn't bother to pay attention. Just walk back and forth in the room twice. Then suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at me. Bloodshot eyes.

“Does my mother... know about this?”

“What do you think?”

“She is your mother.”

“You understand her better than I do.”

“In the end, she was just blindsided, unaware.”

“Or from beginning to end... she had a part in it?”

“This answer... you have to find it yourself.”

He stood there silently. The chest rose and fell violently. I look at him. Don't urge. Nor is it comforting. This kind of thing... No need for consolation. What he needs most now... Is to stay awake.

“Tham Nghien Chi, let me tell you one more thing.”

“Your father's books really have problems.”

“But the initial number is not large.”

“At most it can only be considered negligence in management.”

“The number written on the medal was intentionally increased thirty times.”

“Those additional fake amounts... were all fabricated based on original records obtained from the Ministry of Housing.”

“Think about it.”

“Who has the ability to touch the original records of the Ministry of Housing?”

He slowly closed his eyes again.

“My uncle.”

"So, your father was not offended by others."

"But your uncle set a trap for you, pushing you to the point of collapse step by step."

"Most likely, when your father found out something, he couldn't bear the shock, couldn't breathe... and then passed away."

“He did not die of illness.”

“But angry to death.”

The room fell silent again for a long time. Tham Nghien Chi stood in front of the window. Turn your back to me. His shoulders were no longer shaking. But the whole back was tense like a bow drawn to its full length.

“Why are you investigating these things?”

“Because I married into this palace.”

“If this government falls... I will also have to be buried with it.”

“I don't want to die with it.”

“So we must know.”

“In the end, how rotten is this government?”

“Where does the rot begin?”

“Only when we find the root of the rot will we know whether this government can still be saved or not.”

He slowly turned around. Quietly look at me. The eyes are still red. But what was in those eyes... Has completely changed. No more fatigue.