Chapter 3 — The Lady Refuses to Kiss a Disabled Man, I Choose Him as My Husband

Three days later, we got married. There were no red decorations, no crowded guests. Only a small palanquin, two palanquins, took me out of the side door of the To palace. It's like getting rid of something that cannot be exposed to the light. The wound on my body still hasn't healed, every time I move it hurts my heart. But there was not a single trace of expression on my face. I don't turn back. The palanquin swayed along the way, finally stopping in front of the general's palace. The covered gate is old, the red paint on the door has also peeled off. An old butler came forward and helped me down from the palanquin. There is no worship, no rituals. I was taken straight into a cold new room. There was only a pair of red candles lit in the room, a rare bit of joy in this palace. Tieu Bac Da sat at the table, still wearing a faded, washed robe. He quietly looked at me, there was no wedding joy in his eyes, only a bottomless darkness.

“The wound on her body… was it beaten by the To family?”

He spoke, his voice hoarse. I nodded.

“Regret?” he asked again.

I shook my head. He laughed to himself.

“To Nguyet Kien.”

“What exactly is she looking for?”

“Is it because you want the title of general's wife from a waste like me?”

“Or do you want this empty general's palace, where even rats will not be able to feed?”

I walked up to him and poured myself a cup of tea.

“General.”

“I don't seek anything.”

“I just feel… you shouldn't be humiliated like that by others.”

"He once shed his blood for Dai Thinh, lost his leg and was crippled for his country. He should have been respected by people, not hated by people like trash."

He was stunned. It seemed unexpected that I would say such words. Under the candlelight, his facial features were still sharp and handsome, just a little more pale due to long-term illness.

“It's easy to say.”

He turned away, not looking at me anymore.

"The To family married her here, but just wanted to cut off relations with me."

"Now that the ceremony is over, you can go."

“I will present it to your Majesty, saying that our personalities are not compatible, please separate.”

“I won't let you down.”

I looked at him and suddenly understood. He is not cold. He was just using that layer of sharp spikes to protect his last bit of dignity. I don't leave. I gently pushed a cup of tea in front of him.

“General, it's late at night.”

"After drinking the wine, let's rest."

He frowned at me.

“Don't you understand what I said?”

I raised my glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

“But I'm not going.”

"The holy decree has been given, I am To Nguyet Kien, I am Tieu Bac Da's wife."

“Regardless of whether you are a god of war… or a waste.”

"As long as I am your wife for one day, this place... is my home."

My voice is very calm. But it carries unquestionable steadfastness. The darkness in his eyes rolled up, as if he was trying to suppress something. After a long time, he slowly raised the glass of wine and drank it all.

“It's up to you.”

He threw down two words, then turned the wheelchair himself and walked towards the bed. The bed is very large. But there is only one blanket. I'm a bit confused. He seemed to see my confusion and coldly said:

“She sleeps on the bed, I sleep on the floor.”

Having finished speaking, he immediately tried to defend himself get out of the wheelchair. I quickly walked over to hold him back.

"Your feet are not comfortable, how can you sleep on the floor?"

“No need for her to manage.”

His personality is very stubborn, like a stubborn donkey. I sighed softly.

“General, I know you look down on me and also look down on this marriage.”

"But we are husband and wife, we can't split bedrooms on the wedding night. If it was spread out, people would laugh."

“If you don't want to… then we each have half, no one will cross the limit.”

He looked at me for a long time. In the end... still tacitly accepted. I helped him onto the bed and helped him take off his clothes and shoes. His leg... is truly useless. From the left knee down, I completely lost feeling. I covered him with a blanket. As for me, I was still in my clothes, lying on the edge of the bed outside. A wordless night. Early the next morning, when I woke up, my side was empty. I stood up and walked out. Seeing Tieu Bac Da sitting in the yard, looking at a dry leafless tree, he was lost. A neatly dressed woman walked over carrying a bowl of medicine, her attitude full of arrogance.

“General, it's time to take your medicine.”

She placed the bowl hard on the stone table, the medicinal liquid splashed out. Tieu Bac Da did not move, as if he did not hear. The woman pouted, her voice full of sarcasm:

“Oh, now that the general has a wife, the words of subordinates like us probably won't reach our ears anymore.”

I step forward.

“What is your name?” "Is it"

The woman glanced sideways at me and slowly answered.

"This old slave is Ngo ma ma, and has served in this palace for twenty years."

I picked up the medicine bowl and brought it closer to smell it. Then, I walked in front of her and splashed the entire bowl of medicine straight on her face. Ngo ma ma screamed. I threw the empty bowl to the ground, the shattering sound was deafening.

“From today, you no longer need to serve me.”

“Get out of the general's palace.”

Mother Ngo was stunned, then immediately began to riot.

"What are you using to chase me away! I'm an old person in the government!"

“Just based on the fact that I am the female owner of this place.”

I looked at her, my eyes cold as ice.

"Or... do you want me to invite the government to come and look into this bowl of medicine... what exactly was added that shouldn't be there?"

Mother Ngo's face immediately turned pale. She looked at me in panic, not daring to say a word, just rolled and crawled away. The yard immediately became quiet. Tieu Bac Da turned his wheelchair around and looked straight at me for the first time. In his eyes... there was a light that I had never seen before. I bowed softly to him.

“Do you… have any comments?”

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. That smile was like ice and snow that had just melted, bringing with it a bit of warmth. At this moment, the old butler quickly ran in, his face full of worry.

“General, ma'am, it's not over!”

"The plan says... our government... has run out of money, we won't even be able to buy rice next month!"