Chapter 8 — The Dowry Without a Name

The carriage is waiting outside. You should leave now; I have told Thanh Hoa to pack your belongings, and she has included enough medicine for three days.

Her tears pooled in her eyes. Tai Hoai Can immediately stepped in front of her.

Lien is still unwell. Where do you expect her to go?

I looked at him. You see, she is not the one leaving.

To Lien clutched the edge of her cloak and remained silent. I turned and continued walking outside. Behind me, trunk after trunk was loaded onto the carriage. The wheels rolled over the flagstones in front of the marquis manor, emitting a heavy, grating sound. He had not written the divorce papers, so I left first. When the final chest was stowed, Luc Thua An asked me, Is there anything else? I turned to look at the manor’s plaque.

Nothing left.

Before I could board the carriage, Tai Hoai Can chased after me to the gate.

Minh Duong.

His voice was hoarse. I stopped. He looked at the trunks filling the street, then at the Luc family carriage, and finally back at the now-empty main hall.

Do you truly intend to leave?

I looked at him. Did you not tell me never to return?

Tai Hoai Can’s hand gripped the door frame until his knuckles turned white. I stooped to enter the carriage, and before dropping the curtain, I left him with one final sentence.

Rest assured, I am very obedient.

A month later, To Lien entered the Tai household as a secondary wife. The title sounded respectable, but the ceremony was chillingly sparse. There were no grand banquets, no sweet swallow’s nest soup. Even her new robes were only delivered by the Cam Tu boutique after they had demanded payment in advance from the manor. The shopkeeper had stood at the gate, polite yet firm: If the marquis manor wished to record this on the lady’s ledger, my small shop would not dare to press, but now that the Luc family’s ledgers are sealed, please settle this bill in advance. On the third day of her residence, the Duc Xuan herbal shop also ceased their credit. Nanny Chu went in person to inquire, only to be presented with a sheaf of old debt slips.

Previously, it was the servants following the Luc lady who settled the accounts. Now that the rules have changed, we kindly ask the manor to clear the old debts before we fill any new prescriptions.

The old matriarch was so furious she shattered a teacup, but the cup belonged to the Tai family; once broken, no one would replace it. To Lien’s illness still required gold. By the seventh day, the supply of charcoal for the Thinh Vu pavilion was halved. Thanh Hoa heard this from one of the former manor servants. To Lien wept before Tai Hoai Can.

I am a wife of this manor now. Why is my treatment worse than when the lady was still here?

Tai Hoai Can told her to endure it for the time being. She blurted out, I do not argue, only because there was someone providing for it before. As soon as the words left her lips, the room fell silent. When the news reached the Luc residence, I was in the back hall of our shop reviewing ledgers. After hearing it, I merely flipped the beads on my abacus.

From now on, all orders from the Tai manor will be charged at market rates.

The shopkeeper asked, What if they want to pay on credit?

Tell them to sign the ledger and provide their personal seal.

I said, Whoever desires the dignity of status must pay the price for it. The shopkeeper smiled and agreed. That afternoon, Tai Hoai Can arrived at the Luc estate. He stood in the main hall, his robes neatly pressed, though the sleeves showed signs of worn creases. My mother sent someone to invite me over. When I arrived, he was staring at the green jade screen in the hall—a piece that had been moved back from the marquis manor. Hearing my footsteps, he turned.

Minh Duong.

I sat down opposite him. Have you brought the divorce papers?

His hand, resting on his sleeve, froze. I did not come to speak of this today.

Then there is nothing to discuss.

I stood up to leave. He spoke hurriedly: My mother is ill. I stopped. He took a half-step forward, his pace quickening.

The manor is in total chaos. Lien does not know how to manage the household, and she cannot control the staff in the accounting office. Come back; the position of primary wife is still yours.

I turned to look at him. And what of To Lien?

Tai Hoai Can remained silent for a moment. She has already entered the gates; I cannot cast her out.

I smiled. So, you did not come to welcome me back. You came to retrieve the ledger and the treasury keys.

Tai Hoai Can’s hand, hanging at his side, twitched. I pushed my tea cup to the side. He said in a low voice, Minh Duong, we have been husband and wife for many years. Do you truly have no regard for our affection?

I looked at him. I once did.

I continued, I cared so much that when I was ill, I could not even have a bowl of my own swallow’s nest soup. I cared so much that you thought you could trade the rest of my life to pay off your debts of gratitude. He opened his mouth, unable to find a retort. I went on, Tai Hoai Can, affection is not something you pull out of storage only when you are desperate for someone to clean up your mess. The hall was deathly quiet. In the end, he left without signing the divorce papers. Before leaving, he looked once more at the green jade screen. He said nothing and turned away.

Ten days later, the divorce papers arrived at the Luc residence while I was drying account books in the corridor. Thanh Hoa handed me the envelope.

Young Miss, the Tai family sent this.

I opened it and looked inside. The calligraphy was Tai Hoai Can’s, and the seal was pressed.

Put it away.

Thanh Hoa was stunned. That is all?

What else would there be?

I folded the letter. Do you want me to weep for him?

Thanh Hoa lowered her head and smiled. My mother sent someone to bring me a bowl of swallow’s nest soup.