Chapter 9 — Truc Ma risked his life to protect the noble lady. After being reborn, I stood coldly watching

"Don't you want her to know that you're not something she can manipulate and send away at will?"

Tan Mac's eyes turned red little by little. Not grief. It's the kind of hatred that has been suppressed for so long and has finally found a way out.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Very simple.” I stood up: "Foreignly, we announce that the engagement between you and I will continue, and we will settle down next month. The bride price can be simplified, but the news must be spread to the point where everyone knows."

“Especially it must be transmitted to Tran Quoc Cong palace.”

Tan Mac was silent for a long time. It took so long that I thought he would refuse. But he suddenly burst out laughing. The mournful laughter is like a night owl in the middle of the night.

“I agree with you.”

"Tran Nguyen, you better not lie to me. Otherwise ——"

“If not, then what?” I interrupted him: "Kill you? Tan Mac, I can't even stand up right now, what else can I do to you?"

His facial muscles convulsed violently.

“But don't worry.” I turned around and turned my back to him: "If you say yes, do it. After leaving the capital, you and I will completely settle the bill, no one owes anyone else."

As he walked out of the resort, he suddenly called me from behind.

“Tran Nguyen.”

“You… did you never think of marrying me from the beginning?”

I stopped walking, but didn't turn back.

"That's right."

“Because…” I raised my head and looked at the gray and gloomy sky: “You are not worthy.”

The news that Tan Mac and I "resumed our old love" was like thunder in the clear sky, shocking everyone to the point of stupor. The mother was so impatient that she stomped her feet continuously:

"A Nguyen! Are you crazy?! It was so difficult to break up the kiss, why now... So how should the Vinh Xuong Marquis's side explain?"

“No need to explain.” I stood in front of the mirror and tried to put a simple silver hairpin in my hair: "Isn't father always trying to ask for a transfer to take office? Still no news?"

"It's true, it's a remote prefecture in the South. Next month, I can take office. But what does this have to do with you and Tan Mac..."

“Mother!.” I interrupted her: "Mother, believe me. This is the best retreat for our family."

Vinh Xuong Marquis Palace indeed quickly had movement. First, he sent someone to "remind" him, saying that the person whom the crown prince of Vinh Xuong Hau's palace had his eyes on had never had anything he couldn't have before. Immediately after that, new rumors began to spread in the capital. Saying that I was flirtatious and flirtatious, after marrying a disabled person, I felt that the gate of Vinh Xuong Hau's pavilion was too high, I couldn't climb it, so I finally turned around and went back to eating old grass. They say I have two feet in two boats and don't know how to be shameless. Mother went out to a party, was mocked by several ladies in the morning and in the dark, and when she returned, she fell ill. I stayed beside her bed to take care of her, giving her medicine myself.

"A Nguyen, let's go, this capital city... I can't stay in one more day..." Mother said while crying.

“Wait a little longer.” I wiped her tears: "Almost."

Three days later, the decree to send his father out to take office was issued. Dispatched to Linh Nam, a poor, remote place whose name had never even been heard of. On the surface it's a promotion, but in reality it's a demotion position. Everyone speculated that the Tran family had offended Vinh Xuong Hau's palace, so they were exiled far away. The day we left the capital, the sky was gloomy and heavy. The Tan family actually came to see them off. Tan Mac sat in a wheelchair, was pushed by a private servant, and stopped in front of the carriage. He was so thin that he was only skin and bones, but his eyes were a little brighter than before, as if smoldering a dark fire.

“Tran Nguyen.” He said hoarsely: "Don't forget me."

"No." I bent down, leaned close to his ear and softly said: "Tan Mac, I wish you a long life of 100 years. In this life... you can't forget Tham Thanh Lan."

His whole body shook violently. I stood up straight, smiled at him, then turned around and got into the carriage. The car curtains fall, blocking all outside views. When the carriage left the city gate, I lifted the curtain and looked back at the royal citadel that had imprisoned me for two lifetimes for the last time. It's also like we'll never see each other again. Three months later, Linh Nam. We settled into life in a small town. Although my father was demoted, he was far from the capital's troubles and was much more relieved. The mother's health also gradually improved. Although life is not the same as before, it is peaceful. Occasionally a merchant team from the capital will bring some news. It is said that the crown prince of Vinh Xuong Marquis married Tham Thanh Lan. The wedding was held extremely solemnly, with ten miles of red pageantry. But the big wedding night of Vinh Xuong Hau's palace eventually turned into the biggest joke in the capital. That day, Tan Mac sat in a wheelchair and rushed straight into the wedding hall amid the bustling sounds of gongs and drums and congratulations filling the hall. He was wearing an old, faded black shirt, his head still covered with cold, unmelted snow. In his hand he held an old wooden box. Inside... were handkerchiefs, perfume bags, and a lock of hair that Tham Thanh Lan had personally given to him in the past. Right in front of all the guests, he placed the box in the middle of the main hall. His bloodshot eyes looked straight at the bride wearing a red veil in front of her.

“Tham Thanh Lan.”

"You said these things back then were tokens of love."

“I'll give it back to you.”

“From now on, between you and me…”

“No more debt to each other.”

The entire main hall was completely silent. No one dared to speak up. Only the sound of inhaling cold air could be heard continuously in the crowd. Immediately afterwards, the crown prince of Vinh Xuong Hau became angry. It is said that that night he smashed the entire study room. Also heard... Tham Thanh Lan cried all night in the new room. After leaving Vinh Xuong Hau's palace, Tan Mac immediately disappeared from the capital. He was in a wheelchair, going all the way north. No one knows where he wants to go. Just know... that capital no longer has anything worthy of his attachment. After Ngan Chu finished speaking, he looked at me cautiously:

“Miss, tell me… where did Mr. Qin go?”

I was watering the vegetable garden in the yard. Hearing that, I immediately raised my head and looked towards the northern sky...

“Don't know.”

“So… are you worried about him?”

"Negligent." I put down the water bucket and smiled faintly: "The love debt he owes, the life he personally ruined, all of it no longer has anything to do with me."

“In this life, I only live for myself.”

In the distance, the mountains are as green as ink. Nearby, water gurgled. The wind blew through the vegetable beds, the green leaves swayed gently. I took a deep breath, filling the air filled with the fragrance of mud and young grass. This is truly humanity. It's our own humanity. (FULL TEXT)