Chapter 10 — This life is not a stepping stone

I shook my head.

"Le Canh Hanh, you once asked me if I hadn't married Thoi Minh Thu that year, would there have been a possibility between us?"

His breath stopped.

“Today my answer is still the same. No.”

"Later, you saved me and also helped the princess. Grace is grace, love is love. I thank you, but I will not repay it myself."

The last light of expectation in his eyes disappeared. But he is no longer angry like before. He bowed his head:

“I understand.”

Going outside the door, he looked back at the wooden sign "Bat Phan".

“This name is very nice.”

“I see that too.”

After he left, Han Le walked out from behind the dye rack, holding a roll of river maps in her hand. I raised my eyebrows:

“Eavesdropping?”

“Wait for you to finish speaking.”

“What's the difference?”

“Yes. I won't come close.”

He spread the river map on the table, his ears were slightly red.

"Phuong Nam is about to build a new Ha Van mansion, and is lacking a general manager. The court wants to invite you."

“What about you?”

“I was assigned to be the Southern envoy.”

I looked at him:

“Lord Han is here to recruit people for the court, or for himself?”

He was silent for a long time.

“Both.”

That was the first time he said something not entirely related to official duties. No jewels, no promises, no words "I will protect you". There is only one river map waiting for us to edit together. I took a pencil and circled a place on the map.

"This is the wrong choice. Please fix it first."

Han Le looked down for a moment and said seriously:

“Okay.”

11

Seven years later, Bat Phan flags appeared all over the north and south rivers. The women's academy was changed into a women's school, teaching cloth dyeing, accounting, sailing, and also teaching law. When the ladies complete their studies, there is no need to sign a bust contract, just answer one question. If someone wants to use food and clothing in exchange for your whole life, what should you do? At first, some people responded that they had to repay the favor. Later, more and more people answered: convert food and clothing into silver and pay it all. Then, a twelve-year-old girl stood up, her voice clear:

"First you have to ask the price. If he asks too much, then there's no need."

The whole school burst into laughter. I also laugh. Han Le walked in from outside and placed the newly drawn nautical chart on my table. Now he is the governor of Ha Dao, but in front of me he can still argue about a number for half a day. We've been married for three years. The marriage letter also included a contract agreement. Everyone's property is kept, everyone's benefits are managed. Housework is shouldered together, big matters are discussed together. If one day we cannot be together, then the union will be happy, and the separation will also be peaceful. Outsiders say that doesn't sound like a husband and wife. I feel that husband and wife should be like this. It's not that anyone clings to anyone. It's that both people stand firm, then walk side by side forward. That winter, I returned to the capital on official duty. The old apricot garden has been abandoned, and the empty lake is more than half filled. The bamboo pole on the shore has long since rotted, only a piece of dark brown wood remains. Le Canh Hanh did not return to the capital. It is said that he has achieved several victories in the Northwest, but until now he is still alone. Some people also said that in his study he always kept a piece of fake jade pendant engraved with the word "Kneel". Whether it's real or not, it has nothing to do with me. Snow fell, covering the dry mud on the lake bed. Han Le held an umbrella and stood a few steps away from me, without urging. I suddenly remembered my past life. Female ten The six-year-old took off his coat and without hesitation jumped into the ice hole. She tried her best to save a person's life, but everyone stole the credit and forced her to atone for someone else's choice. She is not wrong. Honesty is never wrong. Wrong are those who treat her kindness like a rope, tying her up for the rest of her life. If I could return sooner, I wouldn't advise you to stand by and watch. I'm just telling you— It's okay to save people. Don't spend your whole life on it. I picked up the broken bamboo pole in the snow and conveniently threw it into the dry grass.

“Let's go.”

Han Le took the book box in my hand:

“What do you want to eat?”

“Goat meat soup south of the city.”

“Yesterday she said it was too salty.”

“I want to eat again today.”

“Makes sense.”

We step on the new layer of snow and slowly go outside. Behind, there is no more Marquis Palace, no more concubines, and no one waiting for me to turn back. The sky is high, the road is far. In this life, I do not cling to high branches. I grow into a tree myself. END OF STORY.