Chapter 3 — The Fifth Year After Reconciliation

Hearing this, I finally couldn't bear it anymore. I stood up, looked straight at him, and slowly spoke:

"You're right. We weren't on the same path, that year... we shouldn't have gone the same way."

"Since that's the case, let's get along!" "My husband and my father once swore that if in the future we were no longer on good terms, we would separate." "If there is a separation, there is a separation, but Lan Nhi must follow me back to the palace and take my family name!"

It's just that, after hearing this, Tham Nam Tinh burst into cold laughter.

“Huh huh…” “Reconciliation?” “What will you use to separate yourself from me?” "Your father is dead! Just like my father, both have gone to the grave!" "Our Shen family has no separation, only... retirement!"

5

He gave me three days to choose. Or I can settle down as the eldest father of the Tham family, and let him accept his sister Tu Nuong - a gentle and polite person - as his wife. Or, he will give me a retirement letter and let me leave the palace. I thought for a long time, finally took the sword my father gave me, and went to find Tham Lan. I asked him: "A-niang wants to separate with your father. Lan-er, are you willing to leave with me?" After listening, Tham Lan looked at me with a strange expression.

“Father just married another wife, why did he have to be like that?” "What family doesn't have three wives and four concubines? What's more, father only takes care of one person!" "Nguyen Tu is kind and virtuous, she will definitely not compete with others. Moreover, if she enters the door, her father's path will also be much smoother!" "Haven't you always hated making connections and visiting guests? Now that you have Lady Tu, you can take care of everything!" “This is clearly the best thing, why are you angry?”

I didn't expect that the child I bore so much and spent half my life to give birth to... could say those words. I looked straight at Tham Lan and saw that his ears were already red. Although it learned a lot of ideas from Tham Nam Tinh, after all, it is my flesh and blood, how can it hide some thoughts from my eyes?

"Tham Lan, I know you don't know the grammar, but I still understand the principles." "First, a long time ago, your father swore in front of your ancestors that he would only marry me in this life. He broke his trust, which means he has no trust." "Second, if there is an official family in the house and you entrust the housekeeping to someone else, you will have your face trampled on the ground." "Third, you are my child, do you really care for me, or do you just hope for a glorious future? A mother who has been kicked out of the house is of course not as good as a father who is getting promoted. But the old saying is not wrong: 'It is better to follow your mother to beg, than to follow your father to become a mandarin.'"

After listening to me, Tham Lan still stubbornly argued:

"Auntie, don't be confused! Father did this... it was all for our family's sake!"

Here, I finally understand. People say that sons often resemble their fathers, which is certainly true.

"You are indeed exactly like Tham Nam Tinh. You always know how to choose what is best for yourself."

In the past, he married me to borrow my father's position. Today I want to retire because I have found better support.

“I ask you one last question — do you want to follow me?”

“If you are willing to follow, I will use all the outside forces for you!”

There is only me left in the house. Although my father is gone, the power in the court is still intact weaken. The brothers who were with my father in life and death, the monks who accepted my worship... can all help me pave a bright path for Tham Lan. But after hearing this, Tham Lan just shouted fiercely:

“I'm not going!” "My hands were born to write words, not to live a rough life like those lowly people!" "What about the generals? Now the world is peaceful, all the birds and animals are gone, and the good bows are also put in storage!" "Ah lady, father is right! You are just a stupid woman, a crazy person! You should have been kicked out the door a long time ago!" “The Shen family is the most unfortunate to have a father like you!”

When I heard this, I didn't say another word, just quietly turned around and left. Behind, came Tham Lan's angry scream...

"You don't need father, you don't need me anymore, right? Once you step through this door, don't ever come back!" “If you leave, I will consider you dead!”

Hearing that, I didn't bother to turn around, I just continued to walk straight.

"Crazy nun! I wait to see how you die in the future!"

Hearing that sentence, my heart felt a little bitter, but in the end I just turned my head and smiled faintly. Then I asked Tham Lan one last question: "If it weren't for me - a crazy woman like you said - then why would there be you today?" "I just want to know, in your heart, are all the mistakes today... all because of me?" Responding to me was Tham Lan's angry scream, using all his strength to scream:

“Of course it's you!” “You are no different from what your father said!” "You are a foolish woman, a crazy person, you should have been kicked out of the Tham family long ago!" “If the Shen family has someone like you as their main wife, it's a big disaster!”

When I heard that, I didn't say another word, just turned around and left. At that moment, from behind came the sound of Tham Lan screaming, full of resentment... The day I left, I only brought with me a divorce letter that Tham Nam Tinh gave me. At first he refused and tried to play tricks in front of me. But he seems to have forgotten that I - Song Di Lac - am the ancestor of those who play tricks! When I was in the North, the thugs had to respect me three times.