Chapter 6 — The Queen Feigned Illness For 3 Years, The Marquis Palace Was Completely In Chaos

I flipped through the books and casually replied:

"Whether they regret it or not, it won't stop us from clearing the books."

Xuan Dao laughed even harder. I went to the Marquis Palace to visit the old lady. She was very ill, lying in bed. When he saw me, tears quietly flowed from the corners of his eyes into his sideburns.

“Thanh Mien, do you still resent me?”

I pulled back the corner of the blanket for her.

“No more resentment.”

There was a ray of hope in her eyes. We continue:

“Nothing makes sense anymore.”

Her hand slowly loosened. Leaving Tho An Duong, my father waited for me in the yard. After 3 years of not seeing him, he was visibly old.

“Stay for dinner?”

“Grandmother is still waiting for her daughter.”

He said softly:

“This place is also my home.”

I look at the courtyard wall of the Marquis Palace. The lipstick paint has peeled off, moss covers the stone steps. In my previous life, I risked my life to defend this palace so that it could always maintain its dignity. Now, it is finally as old as it looked.

“Father.”

“Home is not the place to treat family members like that.”

His face was pale. I won't say any more. When leaving the palace, Xuan Dao had already prepared the carriage.

“Miss, are we going back to Jiangnan?”

I nodded. When the carriage passed through the gate of the Hau Palace, the wind blew a corner of the carriage curtain. I saw a sign with the four words An Vien Marquis Palace. The yellow paint is old, the corner of the sea is covered with dust. Before, I was always afraid it would be stained with dust. Now I see nothing bad. Things that are worth getting old don't need to be wiped clean anymore. Spring in Jiangnan comes earlier than the capital. The willows on the riverbank are green, and the new fabrics in the shop have just been delivered. I sat on the second floor of Cam Tu Phuong, choosing silk. A soft blue silk tree, the color is like sunlight after the rain. Xuan Dao held books and walked in, her steps light.

“Miss, this month we have 3 more profits.”

I pushed that silk tree aside.

“Making a spring shirt for my grandmother.”

After answering, she pulled out an envelope from her sleeve.

“A letter has arrived from the capital.”

You don't need to look to know that it was written by your father. Over the past few years, he has often sent letters. Telling about the recent Marquis Palace, telling about the old lady's health, telling that Tham Nhuoc Lan gave birth to a child, telling that Tham Thua Trach in Trang Tu changed his personality. Always ask a question at the end of the letter. When will you come home? I put the envelope in the box and did not open it. Xuan Dao asked:

“Miss, don't you see?”

“Don't watch.”

“What if there is an urgent matter?”

I smiled.

“The previous marquis also had a lot of urgent matters.”

Urgent enough to force me to attend a banquet. Urgent enough to make me housekeeper. Urgent enough to force me to make up the books. Urgent enough to force me to get married. Later I became ill. Their urgent tasks naturally found someone else to take care of them. In the evening, after closing the shop, Xuan Dao went to the bridge to buy sugar cakes. The cake had just come out of the oven, so hot it burned my hands. When she gave it to me, the paper package was still steaming white.

“Miss, eat while it's still hot.”

I took a bite, it was so sweet and hot. On the river's surface, a boat slowly passed by, the sound of oars breaking the waves. The restaurant on the shore was lit up, someone was singing, but it was only vaguely carried by the wind. Xuan Dao asked:

“Miss, will we return to the capital next year?”

I think for a moment.

“See the mood.”

She laughed. I also laugh. After eating the sugar cake, we brush off the layer of sugar on top fingertips. Not far away, the shopkeepers in the shop were closing each wooden door, lanterns were hanging under the eaves, the light shone down on the blue stone road, dyed a warm yellow color. Xuan Dao asked:

“About the store?”

I look at that lamp. She helped me down the bridge. When I got to the front of the store, my grandmother's little man had just arrived and told me that my grandmother was waiting for me to come home for dinner. Xuan Dao quickly responded, then turned to urge me.

“Miss, hurry up, otherwise the old lady will say that you only care about the shop and forget to eat.”

I gave her the package of sugar cookies in my hand.

“Bring one home for your great-grandmother too, she likes sweets.”

Xuan Dao took it, smiled and ran away. I stood in front of the store, raised my head and looked at the three words "Cam Tu Phuong". The lantern shook slightly, the golden letters on the sign immediately lit up. Those three words are not big. But it's mine. It was not given by the Marquis. Nor is anyone giving alms. It's because we ourselves little by little do the books, run the shop, stay up late, pay the price, and then win it back ourselves. The wind blew from the river surface, bringing with it damp steam. I closed my cloak tightly, turned around and walked towards my grandmother's house. Behind him, the shop door closed, the sound of the door locking ringing loudly. It was just a very normal day. There are no quarrels. There was no crying. There's no one waiting for us to clean up the mess anymore. Suddenly I feel it. To live like this. It's been very good. (COMPLETE STORY)