Chapter 5 — This little sister plotted to harm me, but I didn't expect that this life would lead me to a dead end

But she and Ninh Vuong stayed in the deserted temple all night, and this time her reputation was completely ruined. The old lady of course refused to accept it, her daughter-in-law had not even stepped through the door before this kind of thing happened, in return no one in the family could swallow that anger. But Co Truong Phong is different. The next day he went to the General's Palace. When he entered the palace, I was just walking inside. Originally planning to go to the flower garden to cut a few begonia branches to bring back to put in a vase, who would have thought that they just happened to pass by the East courtyard where To Lien Nhuy was staying. From afar, I saw Co Truong Phong standing in front of the courtyard gate, looking a bit panicked. My steps unconsciously slow down. We went around the outside of the courtyard wall, using the flower door frame to look inside. I'm really curious to see how To Lien Nhuy will perform this play. Inside, there was first a moment of silence. Then Co Truong Phong spoke up.

"Nhui Nhi, I've heard everything about yesterday, I don't care, as long as you want, I will still marry you, the wedding period will not change, everything will not change."

To Lien Nhuy's voice was small and soft, also carrying the sound of crying.

"Brother Truong Phong, don't talk anymore, I'm no longer worthy of you, my reputation is ruined, if you marry me, you will be laughed at by people... I don't want to involve you, go away."

Co Truong Phong's voice immediately became urgent: "I won't go! I already told you, I don't care, I don't care about those rumors at all, as long as you're by my side, I won't be afraid of anything!"

“Brother Truong Phong, you are so kind to me… but, do you really still not understand?”

Obviously Co Truong Phong still doesn't understand. To Lien Nhuy sighed softly: "Now I have the attention of Ninh Vuong. He even sent someone to ask for my hand. Although father refused, you also know how powerful Ninh Vuong's palace is... what if he vents his anger on you? I don't want anything to happen to you." Co Truong Phong's voice was low but steadfast: "I am not afraid of Ninh Vuong. She is my fiancee, the one I married in a righteous way, no one can take her away from me." To Lien Nhuy was silent for a long time. A moment later, she turned around and turned her back to him, her voice also lowered: "Brother Truong Phong, please go back, I don't deserve you to do this." Co Truong Phong's fist tightened then let go, let go then tightened again. He suddenly opened his mouth, his voice dry and difficult: "Are... you don't want to marry me?" To Lien Nhuy's shoulders trembled slightly. She turned around, tears streaming down her face: "Brother Truong Phong, don't force me."

“I asked you, do you not want to marry me anymore?”

Co Truong Phong's whole body stiffened.

"What you said just now was not because you were afraid of implicating me, but because you basically didn't want to marry me anymore, right?"

He stared at her, his eyes gradually turning red. To Lien Nhuy finally stopped pretending. She wiped her tears and coldly opened her mouth:

“Co Truong Phong, do you really want me to say it so directly?”

"You're just a sixth-grade official, how can you marry me?"

“If I marry you, it will be for the rest of my life I have to live in that small two-room yard. I don't even have a decent carriage outside. Wherever I go, I have to look at other people's faces to live."

“I don't want to.”

She spoke every word very clearly. Co Truong Phong's face cleared up little by little. He opened his mouth, but after a long time, he could hardly say it out loud: "So... the last time at the spring banquet, To Cam Thu and I were locked in the frost room, was it arranged by you?" To Lien Nhuy said nothing.

“At the time of the eight-word match, the Taoist that your mother found was also arranged by you?”

"The story of me falling into the lotus pond, that stray cat... also the story of her falling into the water, the story of her going to offer incense..."

“None of this is a coincidence, right?”

Finally she spoke up, her tone extremely calm: "You've already figured it out, why bother asking?" Co Truong Phong's whole body seemed to have been drained of all its strength, and he staggered back two steps. He retreated to the doorway, his voice hoarse: "So from beginning to end, you were just deceiving me."