Chapter 9 — The Prince Regent's Gossip Has Escaped

“You think that if you just give me a little pitiful love, I will be like a dog that owes you gratitude.”

"But you forget, I am also human. I know pain, I also know hate."

“I was wrong… I really know I was wrong!”

Tieu Hanh suddenly knelt down, his knees hitting the stone floor heavily, emitting a dull sound. He covered his face with both hands, his suppressed cries echoing in the empty prison room.

“Van Van, I beg you…

“Don't leave me alone…

“Without her, I can't live…”

I silently watched him completely collapse before me. That man, who was once incomparable, finally experienced the feeling of being completely robbed by others, no matter how desperately they tore and trampled him.

“You can live.”

My voice is a bit lighter, but colder than frost.

"Ta Van Thu will not kill you. She wants to keep your life to show people the tolerance of the Ta family.

“You will live in this cage until you are seventy or eighty years old, day after day reliving your past glory and your present decline.”

“Kill me…”

Tieu Hanh suddenly raised his head sharply, his bloodshot eyes staring at her.

“If you refuse to forgive me, then kill me! Don't let me live in this dark place where I don't see the sun anymore!"

“How can that be?”

I bent down slightly, looking at his eye level.

“That year when you forced me to take abortion pills, you also looked at me with such a noble look, telling me that this was the price of power.

“Now I return the same sentence to you.”

She stood up, picked up the lantern, didn't look at him again, turned around and walked out.

“Shen Quy Van!”

Behind him came Tieu Hanh's desperate screams.

"You can't leave! Stop for me!"

“High mountains and long rivers, Tieu Hanh, we will never meet again.”

My voice followed the closing door of the room and completely disappeared down the long hallway. Giang Nam ferry wharf, cool autumn wind. A large passenger boat is anchored on the shore. Father stood at the bow of the boat, watching me slowly walk forward, a smile he had not seen for a long time appeared on his face.

“Van Van, is everything okay?”

I stepped onto the boat deck, felt the river breeze blowing in front of me, and took a deep breath.

“Father, news has just come from the capital that Ta Van Thu has officially let go of the government and is assisting the little emperor.

"The Ta family seems to have completely achieved their wish."

“That woman's intentions are too deep.”

Father sighed softly.

"But as long as she doesn't continue to find trouble for our father and son, what does this world have to do with us?"

"That's right."

I looked at the rushing river before my eyes, the corner of my lips curled up into a gentle, peaceful smile.

“She pursues her imperial career, and I pursue my own freedom. Everyone gets what they want, that's very good."

“So where do we go next?” Ban Ha poked his head out from the cabin and asked excitedly.

“Let's go to Thuc Trung.”

I turned around and looked at the endless green mountains in the distance, at the bottom of my eyes sparkling bright light.

“I heard that the medicinal herbs there are very good and the people are also simple.

"Let's go there and open a slightly bigger medical shop, treat diseases and save people, without asking about worldly matters."

“Great! Go to Thuc Trung!”

Ban Ha was so happy that he jumped up and down. The passenger boat slowly left the wharf, following the water downstream. I stood at the stern of the boat, watching the silhouette of Giang Nam in my sight gradually become smaller, eventually turning into a pale streak at the intersection between the water surface and the horizon. I know, in that dark prison room, there is a man who is in pain because of me, wanting to live but not being able to die. I also know that in that splendid golden citadel, there is a woman who is fighting and plotting with each other for power. But all of those things no longer have anything to do with us. The gilded birdcage that imprisoned me all those years ago was soon smashed to pieces by my own hands. Now I am an eagle flying high in the sky, a free wind on the surface of this river.

“Miss, the wind is strong outside, let's go to the cabin and rest.”

Ban Ha picked up a cloak and draped it over her body. I closed my cloak tightly, smiled and nodded. On the surface of the river, a bright moon broke through the clouds and appeared. The cold moonlight covered the water surface, illuminating the road ahead. (FULL TEXT)