Chapter 8 — The Tofu Seller Who Wouldn't Wait for Him

Nhi Cau came closer and asked in a low voice: "Auntie, are you okay?" I shook my head and continued to play the abacus.

“Go get the books and see if we can open another branch this month.”

Nhi Cau replied and ran away. Outside the door, the sun is beautiful.

12

The day Moc Bac Than left, I didn't see him. Then Nhi Cau told me, he stood at the corner of the street for a long time, just quietly looking towards the shop. Wait until I feel that gaze and look out, the street corner is already empty. He went to the frontier. Please ask yourself. No goodbyes, no words left. I stood on the street corner, the wind blowing my shirt, suddenly remembering the mornings in the small town. He grinds beans, I light a fire, sometimes he hugs me from behind. At that time, we thought that life would go on like that forever. Turns out it was just what I thought. When the queen arrived, I was smoking tofu in the backyard. Suddenly there was chaos in front, Nhi Cau ran in, his face pale: "Auntie, people from the palace are coming!" I wiped my hands and walked out. She stood in the middle of the shop, still wearing the same gorgeous outfit, next to the palace maid. It's just that he's gotten a lot thinner, and he can't hide the haggard look under his eyes.

“Kieu Mong Vi.”

She stared at me, her voice very cold.

"Moc Bac Than is blind to appreciate an ordinary woman like you. But why don't you know how to appreciate him? Why do you trample on his sincerity?"

I was stunned for a moment. Then I burst out laughing.

“Your Majesty,” I looked at her, “you are on high, so you can't tell right from wrong, can you turn black and white upside down?”

Her face changed.

“What did you say?”

"I said," I took a step forward, "the one who tramples on your true heart is not me. It's you."

Her face turned red, then white again. In those lipsticked eyes, hatred almost overflowed.

"What are you? Are you worthy of speaking to this palace like that?"

She took a step back, her voice becoming sharp.

"Where are you? This woman dares to insult this palace, immediately kill her on the spot!"

Several guards rushed in. Nhi Cau and the others shouted and rushed forward, but they were all children, so how could they stop them? The blade's light was about to fall, and a figure, faster than everyone else, rushed out to block me.

“Your Highness!”

Blood splashed on my face. Do Than Chi slowly fell down, his chest was dark red. His hand was still clutching the blade, his knuckles were white.

“Do Than Chi!”

I rushed forward and pressed his wound with my hand. Blood flowed from between his fingers, hot and burning. He opened his eyes and looked at me, his lips moving slightly.

“Tofu…”

Then my eyes closed. What happened after that, I don't remember clearly anymore. I only remember the cry of the Marquis, Mrs. Hau, the sound of the emperor's anger, and the queen's pale face as she was dragged away. Empty queen. Banished to the palace. It is said that the queen in the cold palace is always talking crazy nonsense, mentioning something called the system, asking why lovesick men no longer help her. When I heard those stories, I was sitting next to Do Than Chi's bed. For three days and three nights, I didn't sleep a wink. His face was terrifyingly white, his lips were dry and cracked, and he couldn't even drink water. I can only use a towel to absorb water, little by little wetting his lips. On the morning of the fourth day, his hand moved slightly. I was startled and leaned closer.

“Do Than Chi?”

His eyelids trembled and slowly opened. Those eyes were dreamy for a moment, then gradually gathered, stopping on my face. He looked at me for a long time, his lips moving slightly.

“Tofu…”

I was stunned.

“I want to eat… your tofu…”

He tried to grin, but winced in pain. I looked at him, suddenly covered my face, stomped my feet and ran out. Run to the door and turn around, standing next to the bed and looking at him.

“Wait!”

13

When the war news came back, I was storing tofu in the backyard. The border was victorious, the enemy retreated three hundred miles. The name Moc Bac Than was also in the war report - he risked his life and did not retreat, was hit by three arrows, and fell before the battle. After I heard Do Than Chi speak, the bamboo saw in my hand stopped in mid-air. After a while, I put it down and continued to flip the tofu. The sunlight is very beautiful, the tofu is dried golden. That year in a small town, I also picked him up on the side of the road. His whole body was covered in blood and he was unconscious. I carried him home, brewed medicine for three days and three nights, and then pulled him back from the demon gate. Now, he seems to have returned to his original fate trajectory. I finished turning the last batch of beans and wiped my hands.

“Nhi Cau, the store is left to you.”

It stopped: "Auntie, where are you going?"

"Don't know." I look at the clouds on the horizon, "going for a walk."

That night, Lady Hau arrived. She sat opposite me, looking at me for a long time.

“Mong Vi, Than Chi cannot leave you.” She held my hand, "Take him away."

I was stunned.

“Madam, what do you say?”

"I said," her eyes turned red but she still smiled, "you take him away. Anywhere."

I don't believe my ears.

“Madam, do you… agree to let me kidnap the little prince?”

She laughed, laughed until she cried.

“This child has lived for twenty years, only in the last few days has he looked like a living person.” She squeezed my hand, "Mong Vi, I know what you're afraid of. But we're not afraid. As long as she lives well, she can go anywhere."

I opened my mouth, speechless. But I don't have the courage. Furthermore, we know that Do Than Chi's anorexia is almost cured. He was at the maid's shop, competing for food with Nhi Cau and the others, eating everything. If he leaves me, he won't starve to death.

“Madam, I can't.”

I withdrew my hand and bowed my head. Early the next morning, I packed my luggage and left the city. Not having gone far, the sound of horse hooves could be heard from behind. We don't have to turn around to know who it is.

“Mong Vi!”

He chased me, jumped off his horse, and blocked me.

“Where are you going?”

"Don't know."

“I'll go with you.”

I raised my head to look at him.

"Do Than Chi, I have no support, I don't dare to marry into such a high-ranking Marquis. Don't be stubborn anymore."

He was stunned. Then he laughed.

“Who said to let you marry into the Marquis Palace?”

I frowned.

“Mong Vi,” he took a step forward, standing very close to me, “I can bring a dowry and live with my son-in-law.”

I stood still. My mind was pounding, I couldn't react for a long time.

“What did you say?”

"Dowry." he said seriously, "I've saved up a lot of money, enough to open a few tofu shops. I'll be your son-in-law, and in the future I'll take your family name. How about that?"

I opened my mouth and looked at him. He took advantage of the moment I was still stunned and hugged me.

“Mong Vi,” he rested his chin on my shoulder, his voice deep, “please give me a name.”

The wind blew, the trees on the roadside rustled. I lowered my head and saw his arms wrapped around my waist, squeezing very tightly. After a long while, I sighed.

“Do Than Chi.”

"YES?"

“You let go first.”

“Don't let go.”

I raised my head and looked at the distant sky. The clouds are still there, the sun is still there.

“Do Than Chi,” I said, “do you know why I'm afraid?”

He shook his head.

“Because I have seen the true heart, and in the end it all changed.”

He was silent for a moment, then hugged me tighter.

“Mong Vi,” his voice was very light but very firm, “what changed was not the true heart from the beginning.”

I was stunned. He let me go, took a step back, looking straight into my eyes.

"The true heart will not change. What changes, was never real."

The wind blew, the hem of his shirt flying up. Sunlight fell on his face, his eyes were clear as if they had never been hurt. I suddenly thought, maybe he was right. The true heart will not change. RUN OUT OF