Chapter 3 — The whole capital is waiting for me to discover the truth

And he really did send someone to take it away every time. I always thought he drank it all. Until that night, when I woke up in the middle of the night and accidentally passed by the kitchen. I heard two servants huddled together chatting.

"The lady told me to bring soup to the old man, but the old man has never drank it before, so he always brings it to Concubine Trieu."

"Isn't that right? Madam has always thought that the old man likes to drink your soup. I heard it but couldn't bear to tell her the truth."

I'm standing outside the door. My legs looked like they were nailed right on the spot. Then I heard even more wild words —

"Hey, don't say any more. I've been betting at the casino for over three years. Don't let the lady know in advance."

“Don't worry, if that stupid lady can find out, it's truly a devil's thing.”

The two of them burst into laughter. Even the people next to me are betting on my ignorance. I leaned my back against the wall, the corners of my lips slowly curled up into a smile. It's been eight years. In every bowl of soup I stewed, not a single drop actually entered his mouth. Those words like "the craftsmanship is really good", "the soup is especially delicious today" - were originally just praising Concubine Trieu for her enjoyment. I want to confirm one last time. Last. That day I pretended to be sick and told the maid to pass on the message to Wei Cheng Duan - no need to come visit me, to avoid being infected with the disease. Sure enough, he didn't come. There wasn't even any hesitation. At night, I put on my cloak and went alone to Concubine Trieu's house. The hospital door was ajar. The warm light from the window shines out, and in the air there is still a faint smell of longan soup that I just stewed today. I stand under the window. Wei Cheng Duan was sitting next to Concubine Trieu, personally wiping the soup stains from the corner of her mouth. Aunt Trieu leaned on his shoulder, her voice soft and coy:

“Today's soup is sweeter than yesterday.”

“Um, she changed the formula.”

“She” in his mouth.

But from beginning to end, Wei Cheng Duan didn't even mention my name. Concubine Trieu covered her mouth and smiled softly:

“She is really easy to command.”

Wei Cheng Duan also laughed. Then he said —

"Fortunately, she's easy to fool. She won't know for the rest of her life."

In that smile, there was a kind of cruel understanding. It's like I'm just a joke that they've meticulously maintained for years. All of them are people who know the truth clearly. I stood outside the window, in the cold darkness. The spring breeze is clearly very warm. But my whole body felt cold. It turns out that the so-called "face" that Wei Chengduan gave us was not respect. But just maintaining stability. He was afraid that after I found out, he would make a fuss, and then the last person who would lose face would still be him. I am nothing more than a layer of yellow paint on his "Good Prime Minister" sign. You can also shave it off. It just won't be beautiful anymore. I don't expose him. Don't cry. Don't go to the casino and destroy it. Don't go back to your mother's house and cry. Don't even stand in front of him and ask a single question. I still continue to be a "good wife". Continue stewing. Continue to manage government affairs. Continue to replace him with good manners at banquets. Thirty-eight years. In the fifteenth year of marriage, Concubine Trieu gave birth to a son. Wei Thua Duan hugged the baby and smiled to the point where I couldn't close my mouth. My child called him father, he just said "yes" as a response. Concubine Trieu's child called him father, he happily lifted the baby over his head, hugged and ran around the yard. In the twentieth year of my marriage, my son passed the doctoral exam, and he only faintly said "not bad". Concubine Trieu's son, who was learning to ride a horse, fell down. He immediately left the house and ran back at night, staying by his side for three days and three nights. The thirty-eighth year of attainment. I get sick. The disease is very serious. Wei Chengduan came to visit me. He sat next to the bed, holding my hand, his eyes were red.

"Tri Y, the person who is most at fault in this life... is you."

Concubine Trieu stood outside the door. The expression on her face couldn't tell whether she was proud or guilty. I look at the canopy above my head. Don't say a word. Until my death, I never complained once. Until her death, everyone in the capital always thought that the Prime Minister's wife was pitiful, and in the end she still did not know the truth. I slowly closed my eyes.