Chapter 13 — The Queen Reorganized the Marquis Palace

So Nghien knocked on the door three times in succession, until a narrow crack opened inside. As soon as the gatekeeper showed up and saw us, he panicked and tried to close the door. Thanh Hoa immediately blocked the door with a kick.

“What, after stealing the house contract, you're still planning on pretending to be dead?”

The gatekeeper quickly shouted loudly for someone. When Mrs. Bui Lao was led to the lobby, her face was covered with a thick layer of powder, but still could not hide her haggard appearance.

“What are you doing here, Miss So, causing trouble again?

The Bui family was harmed to such an extent by you, isn't that enough? I said bluntly: "Repay the house contract." Her eyelids twitched in surprise.

“What house contract?

The old man didn't understand." So Nghien threw half a copy onto the table.

“Three storefronts on East Street, So Nhu secretly smuggled them to Bui Hanh.”

Lady Bui didn't even bother to glance at her.

“Second Miss So was spitting blood, do you guys believe that too?

My family comes from a pure family background and has never harbored things of unknown origin." Thanh Hoa sneered sarcastically: "The moldy rice hidden in Thanh Thuy Trang's basement will also grow legs and run in on its own?" Mrs. Bui Lao banged on the table.

“Insolent!”

I ordered: "Please Bui Hanh come out here."

“Hanh Nhi is not at home.”

“So I have to ask the official to come and search.”

Lady Bui Lao's face turned pale.

“You dare.”

I stood up.

“Go.”

“Stop!”

From behind the screen came Bui Hanh's voice. He walked out, dressed neatly, but his face was much gloomier and colder than before.

“Lanh Nghi, you really don't intend to give me half a point to back down.”

I asked: "Where is the house contract?" He grinned.

“So Nhu actually gave me a box.

But I have never opened it, and I have already sent someone to return it to her. So Nghien roared: "You lie." Bui Hanh looked at him provocatively.

“Where is the evidence?”

I asked back: "What wood is the box made of?" Bui Hanh paused.

“What?”

“You said you never opened it, so how do you know it's a box?

So Nhu only said to give you the house contract, he didn't say it was in a box." Mrs. Bui Lao's face changed. So Nghien immediately rushed up.

“Bring it out here.”

Bui Hanh's face darkened.

“So Lenh Nghi, being good at talking about things cannot be evidence of guilt.”

I leisurely sat down.

“Then just wait and see.”

He frowned. Outside the hospital gate suddenly came the sound of the servant's footsteps. Mrs. Bui Lao looked up at me in panic.

“Have you already reported it to the authorities?”

I replied: "I told you before coming here." Thanh Hoa whispered loudly: "If you still bother to talk about morality with the language of stealing, there will be a day when morality will also be stolen by them." The crowd of officials rushed in, followed by Mrs. Tham accompanying them. Mrs. Tham smiled: "Today I happened to pass by the temple. I heard that Miss So was looking for her mother's lost dowry, so I turned here to testify." Mrs. Bui Lao was so angry that she was shaking. The officials followed the law and searched Bui Hanh's study. A box made of mahogany wood was brought out. Bui Hanh's face finally broke. Opening the lid of the box, inside were three house deed papers, a forged guarantee paper stamped with the Old Lady's personal seal, and a handwritten letter from So Nhu. So Nghien grabbed the letter, just glanced at one line, his hands were shaking.

“She wrote, sooner or later Elder Sister will be kicked out of the Marquis Palace, the shop will be kept only to benefit outsiders.”

Bui Hanh closed his eyes. Mrs. Bui Lao is still trying to salvage excuses. Mrs. Tham slowly spoke.

“Stealthily stole the contract for the store that belonged to his mother's dowry, forged a guarantee stamp, and plotted to transfer property.

Lady Bui, I'm afraid it won't be very glorious if this story spreads out." Mrs. Bui Lao pointed her trembling finger straight at Bui Hanh.

"It's that despicable woman, So Nhu, who has the bold face to entangle Hanh Nhi. Hanh Nhi is just temporarily confused."

Bui Hanh raised his head.

“Grandmother!”

I kept the three house deed carefully.

“What the Bui family said is really funny.

When you take in all the bargains, you call yourself a family member. When the house is on fire and the rat's tail is exposed, it's all because of other people's involvement." So Nghien stared at Bui Hanh.

“I used to respect you as a senior brother.”

Bui Hanh smirked blandly.

"Now I have a senior sister, no longer lacking a senior brother."

So Nghien was not angry at all.

“Yes.

I used to only lack a brain.” Thanh Hoa couldn't help but laugh. Bui Hanh stared at me.

“If you get your house contract back, so what?

The Marquis has already injured his tendons and bones. Can you, alone as a woman, be able to cope? I entrusted the contract to Thanh Hoa to keep carefully.

“Can you resist or not, there's no need for rice thieves to worry about whitening their teeth.”

The officials escorted the box and letter away. The gate of the Bui family's house was crowded with red and black people watching excitedly. Mrs. Bui Lao fainted right at the battle. Bui Hanh didn't bother to reach out to help. He just stared at me, for the first time there was no trace of contempt in his eyes. It's hatred. I am so familiar with this look. When the rotten garbage was exposed to light, no one resented the thief. They only longed for the person who single-handedly lit the lamp that illuminated everything. The night we got the house contract back, the old man called me to Vinh Tho Duong. So Nhu knelt in the middle of the hall, right in front of her was a handwritten letter written by herself. Seeing me, she smiled mockingly.

"You're so talented, you can still get it back at this point."

The old man's voice was deep.

"So Nhu, tomorrow I will send someone to take you to the family temple."

So Nhu's smile disappeared.

“Grandmother, do you really want to send me away?”

“You stole your mother's dowry, colluded with outsiders, and pushed the Marquis Palace to this point.

The punishment is already too lenient." So Nhu suddenly pointed his nose at me.

“So what about my sister?

My sister forced her younger brother into vain, refused the engagement, reported to the mandarins, and trampled on the honor of the Marquis Palace until there was no more armor left. Why do you punish only me? The old man turned to look at me. I don't bother to speak up. So Nghien spoke first.

“Because she is saving the Marquis Palace.”

So Nhu glared at him.

“Now you're acting like you're protecting my sister.

Who scolded my sister for not having a heart? Who said my sister was cruel? Who on my behalf forced my sister to hand over power? So Nghien's face suddenly turned pale.

“It's me.

That's why I admit my mistake.” So Nhu laughed shrilly bad.

“What's the use of admitting your mistakes?

Will I forgive you? So Nghien glanced at me slightly.

"It's natural that she won't forgive."

So Nhu was speechless. She doesn't understand. She always believes that admitting mistakes is an exchange. Whenever you shed tears, you have to be forgiven. Whenever I kneel down, I have to be helped up. Every time you open your mouth and say "I was wrong", the other person has to clear your debt. The old man tiredly waved his hand.

“Pull it away.”

So Nhu suddenly rushed forward and tightly clung to the old man's leg.

“Grandmother, I can't go to the family temple.

Bui Hanh promised to marry me, he won't have the heart to leave me alone." The old man closed his eyes.

“The Bui family still has snails that cannot carry their bodies.”

So Nhu was not willing.

“No way.

He once whispered that I was the most honest woman he had ever met. He criticized his sister for being as barren as a rock. Only by her side can he feel the warmth of human love."