Chapter 11 — The Queen Mother Returns to the Dynasty

The director was silent for a moment, then lowered his voice: "Yes, yes, but it needs that soul to volunteer... or there must be the thing he values most during his life as bait." "Voluntary?" I smiled slightly, "What if he doesn't volunteer?" "Then we must set up an altar to make a law, use blood as a guide, use thoughts as a knife, cut off all connections between him and the world." The Director's voice became even lower, "This is just a way to damage Thien Hoa." "Thien Hoa?" I smiled lightly, "Over the years, has this palace caused little harm to Thien Hoa?" The director did not dare to answer. "Go prepare." I said, "Three days later, set up an altar at Duong Tam Palace." "Follow the order." 9Three days later, at Duong Tam Palace. At this time, the dharma altar had been set up in the hall, yellow flags were flying, and candlelight was flickering. The chief held a peach wooden sword in his hand and recited a spell in his mouth. Chu Hanh Chi floated in the palace, bewilderedly looking at everything that was going on. "Thu Nguyet," he flew to my side, "what are you doing? Exorcising evil spirits? There is indeed a bit of negative energy in the palace, I can sometimes feel it..."I didn't look at him, just quietly followed the dharma. The director began to cast spells. He burned amulets, sprinkled cinnabar, and used a peach wooden sword to trace out each talisman in the air. Chu Hanh Chi suddenly felt bad. His soul began to suffer intense pain, as if thousands of hands were tearing him apart, wanting to pull him into pieces. "Thu Nguyet... this is..." he looked at me full of pain, "what are you doing?" Only then did I raise my head to look at him. "Chu Hanh Chi," I said calmly, "the past five years have been hard for you." He froze. "It's been hard for you to have to watch Tham Ngoc Dao suffer, watch the Tham family perish, look at you." Your son will die.” I say every word. “Now… you can rest.” “Thu Nguyet… you…” his soul had begun to fade, “are you planning to… make my soul disappear?” “And what if?” I asked again, "so that you can always be by my side and Vinh An, like before, the three of us can live happily?" I smiled, my smile without any warmth: "Chu Hanh Chi, late love is cheaper than weeds. What's more, the feelings you talk about, are they real or fake... in your heart, you know clearly." "Do you really regret it, love me, want to make it up to me? Or is it just because you lost Tham Ngoc Dao, lost everything?" all, then remembered me - the person who once loved you madly like a fool?" His face stiffened. "I... I'm sincere..." he tried to open his mouth, "Thu Nguyet, I know I was wrong... give me a chance, to make up for you and Vinh An..." "No need." I interrupted, "Me and Vinh An, we don't need you to make up for it." The chief's chant became more and more urgent. Chu Hanh Chi's soul gradually became faint to the point of being almost invisible. In the last moment before disappearing, he looked at me, his eyes filled with complex emotions. There was regret, unwillingness, pain... and a hint of begging. "Thu Nguyet..." his voice was as light as a breeze, "so... will you forgive me?" I did not answer. Just quietly watching him - the man I once loved, also hated - little by little, disappearing into thin air. It's like it never existed. The director stopped, his forehead full of sweat. "The Queen Mother," he gasped, "it's over." I nodded slightly, waving my hand to signal him to step down. The palace became quiet again. The candle still dances, the yellow flag still flies, but the soul that wrapped itself around us for five years — has finally disappeared. I walked to the window and pushed it open. Outside, the bright sunlight shined on the palace's golden tiles, sparkling warmly. Vinh An was practicing his sword in the yard, his small figure in the sunlight became even tougher. "Mother!" Seeing me, the little girl ran to me and smiled, "Have you finished your work yet? Can you join me for a meal?" I looked at it, looked at that face - both similar to me, and similar to me.

like Chu Hanh Chi. “Okay.” I replied softly, reaching out to pat my child's head. Outside the window, peach blossoms were blooming, pink petals flying with the wind, just like that spring, when Chu Hanh Chi helped me brush off fallen flowers on my shoulder. But it's all in the past. All love - hatred - love - enmity, all gratitude - resentment - entanglement - ended with the disappearance of that soul. The cruel fate of this life has come to an end. What about forgiveness? I raised my head to look up at the sky - the place was empty, no one. "Chu Hanh Chi," I said softly, "I will never... never forgive you." The wind blew, carrying those words, also carrying the dream of spring from last year - which had long since shattered. RUN OUT OF