Chapter 12 — The Marquis was wronged, I hid with my young master, and later overturned the capital to collect debt.

Asking a question... makes me feel like I'm falling into an ice cellar.

“He talked to me and mentioned one word.”

“Ah Niang, what is… ‘Marquis Palace’?”

“He said, in the capital, there are many palaces like that.”

The blood in one's body, in this moment... seems to freeze. I look at it. Look at its clear eyes, full of desire to learn. The eyes... are exactly like his father. I opened my mouth. But one word... can't be said. How should we answer it? How should I tell him... that the words he just uttered were so light. It was the beginning of all nightmares. Also... the sea of blood and deep hatred that it is carrying on its shoulders. The peace that I painstakingly maintained for eight years. In this moment... was shattered by one of his questions. I know, I... can't hide it anymore. These two words are like a thunderclap. It exploded in my heart, which had been quiet for eight years, and a huge wave rose up into the sky. I looked at Co Chieu. Look at its clear, impurity-free eyes. In those eyes, filled with curiosity towards the unknown world. It doesn't know. Those two words that he just uttered softly. For me, it's like hell, it's like a nightmare. It was a great fire that burned for three days and three nights. It was Lady Hou's warm blood splashed on my face. It is the decisive back of Uncle Ly when he stays behind to stand behind us. These are all the days of wandering, nine deaths and one birth on my path. A lie that I painstakingly maintained for eight years. The warm cocoon named "A Nuong" and "Chieu Nhi" that I didn't weave for it. In this moment... it was punctured by itself, using the most innocent way. I opened my mouth. In my throat... like a lump of cotton stuck in my throat. I can't make any sound. In the medicine jar, the smell of herbs is inherently familiar. At this moment, smelling it makes me dizzy. Co Chieu saw that I didn't say anything, so he called me again. His small hand gently pulled the hem of my shirt.

“What's wrong with you?”

“Your face is so white.”

I come back to my senses. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Don't panic. Tham Dien, don't panic. If you panic, what should Chieu Nhi do? I squatted down and looked straight into its eyes. I tried to force a smile that was even more unsightly than crying.

“A lady is okay.”

“It's just that today I'm so tired.”

I know, this excuse is very clumsy. Co Chieu's eyes were no longer like those of a normal eight-year-old child who was easily deceived. He looked at me, his small eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“You are tricking me.”

Its voice is very solid.

“Every time you have a confession, you will ruffle your shirt.”

“Currently, you are rubbing.”

I bowed my head down. Only then did I realize that I didn't know when my hand had been rubbing the hem of my shirt until it was wrinkled and out of shape. My heart sinks little by little. It was raised by me alone. We understand it, like we understand the palm of our hand. How can it not understand me? We can't hide it anymore. That name is Ve Huan. He is like a stone thrown into the water. Looks like he left quietly. But in life, it is very difficult for us to find peace, stirring up ripples that cannot subside. He definitely did it on purpose. He deliberately planted a seed called doubt in Chieu Nhi's heart. This seed will sooner or later take root and sprout. Until grows into a giant tree that cannot be ignored. I was silent for a long time. It took so long that the oil lamp in the medicine jar made a crackling sound. I finally made up my mind. There are things that cannot be avoided. Compared to letting it come from someone else's mouth to hear a distorted story. It's not as good as letting us tell it ourselves. Although this story will be cruel.

“Chieu Nhi.”

I held its hand. Its hand is very small, very warm. Bring full vitality.

“Let's go out for a walk, okay?”

It nodded. Don't ask why. It always understands things like that. Understanding things to the point of making me heartbroken. I led him out of the medicine jar. Step out of camp. We go to a bamboo forest behind the camp. Moonlight fell through the gaps in the bamboo leaves. Printed in patchy patches of light and dark on the ground. The wind blew, the bamboo forest rustled. It was like countless people were whispering softly. I found a clean rock and sat down. I pulled it into my heart. Just like eight years ago, in that dark corner filled with dry firewood.

“Chieu Nhi, the next words you say will probably make you very sad.”

“But you must listen to every word clearly.”

“Because this has something to do with your past.”

It leans into my heart, saying nothing. Just use those bright eyes to look at me quietly. We know it's waiting.