Chapter 18 — The night I left, even the stones in the garden were taken with me

Tham Nghien's benefits are simply not enough. He had no other choice but to gradually sell his property. First, sell two estates, then sell a few more stores. But that amount of money is just like salt. The prestige of the Hau palace has long been unsupportable. The servants were cut off time and time again, and in the end there were only a few old servants left. Vinh Ninh Hau Palace, which used to be bustling with guests, is now deserted and extremely cold. Everyone in the capital said that the Vinh Ninh Hau palace had already failed. It was all for the sake of retiring his wife that he personally chased away the God of Wealth, it was strange that he did not fail. Those words reached Tham Nghien's ears, and he could only endure it quietly. The path is his own to choose, the consequences can only be borne by himself. After Lieu Nhu Mi was detained, life became even more difficult. Dressing and spending money are no longer the same as before, every day I have to look at my grandmother's faces to live. She regretted it so much that she was blue in the stomach. Knowing that it would end like this, no matter what, she would not have urged the Marquis to retire. Now it's good, Mrs. Hau's position is not stable, the Hau palace is also in decline, and even she herself ends up being banned. That day, while the guard wasn't paying attention, Lieu Nhu Mi secretly escaped. And stole the last remaining bit of silver from the Hau palace. When Tham Nghien knew what was going on, he did not send anyone to chase after him. Just go, just go. It's useless to keep it anyway. When she learned that Lieu Nhu Mi was running away with money, she was so angry that she choked and fainted on the spot. After being revived, her health deteriorated further and she became bedridden. Tham Nghien looked at the empty Hau palace, looked at his mother lying sick on the bed, his heart was filled with indescribable sadness. A Marquis palace that was originally stable, yet continued to fail. It's all his fault. If he had not retired from To Uyen that year, if he had known how to cherish her, the Marquis Palace would not have fallen into the same situation as today. Unfortunately, in this world there is no medicine for regret. Occasionally we also hear some news about the Hau palace. Every time I listen to it, I just think of it as hearing a story and don't take it to heart at all. Whether the Marquis Palace fails or prospers has nothing to do with me anymore. I'm still busy with my business, living my own life. Luc Tac Dien - my senior brother, also a servant in the court, is always by my side. He is an elegant writer, well-educated and talented, and speaks to me in a very pleasant way. He admired my abilities, respected my thoughts, and never looked down on me because I was a woman. He also expressed his thoughts to me, saying he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I didn't immediately agree. Not because he's not good, but because we still don't want to get married. Having gone through a failed marriage, we no longer have too many expectations for marriage. I feel like life is very good now, free and unconstrained by anything. Luc Tac Dien did not force me, he was always by my side, quietly taking care of me as a friend. He said he could wait. Wait until the day we think clearly, he will always be there. I am very grateful to him. As for what will happen next, just follow nature. One year later. My Uyen Hoa business has become One of the largest and most powerful trading routes in Dai Tinh. We also opened a women's school, teaching women from poor families vocational training and bookkeeping, so that they could also have a living skill and rely on their own hands to make a living. This received strong support from the Queen and was also rewarded by the Emperor. My name To Uyen spread throughout the North and South. Everyone praises me as a wonder woman. That day, I took Thanh Hoa to the manor house outside the city to inspect. On the way through a small town, I saw a familiar figure. It's Tham Nghien. He was dressed in rough clothes and was sitting in a small tea shop talking to a man who looked like a businessman, with some ingratiation and confusion on his face. The energetic and spirited look of Vinh Ninh Hau of the past was no longer there. It was said that he sold the old palace of the Marquis's palace, moved to this small town, and did some small business to make a living. Life is just enough.