Chapter 2 — Widow Holding Flag

3

The drama at the shrine has ended, the white flag is still waving. Kieu Thi Thi knelt alone in front of the coffin, looking like a widow who had not yet buried her husband. The Second Judge used the excuse of "helping Concubine Kieu" and asked her confidant, Nanny Tuong, to stay behind. Tuong Mu rolled her eyes at Kieu Thi Thi's back, then intentionally glanced at me. Unrighteous heart. Wait for the paper money to burn out. Kieu Thi Thi rubbed her back, the soft tears on her face were completely gone. She glanced at me, her lips curled up:

"Are you still showing off your official appearance for anyone to see?"

“Master has guessed, the child I am carrying is a noble son with good fortune.”

"You have no children, this great inheritance must naturally belong to my child."

I thought she was standing next to me, eyes looking at nose, nose looking at heart, but the corners of her lips were slightly drooping, revealing a disdainful expression. I didn't pay any attention, just asked Kieu Thi Thi:

“Where did you get that piece of jade pendant?”

“Of course the general gives it to me.”

She was still lying, her smile gradually carrying a hint of teasing:

"Do you really want to know? That general, said that I have a soft waist, not stiff like you, and every time he finishes tormenting me, he has to bring out a precious object to comfort me..."

The words haven't finished yet. I reached out my hand and gently pushed it. She let out an "ah" sound and fell down the spiritual hall's stone steps, her butt hitting the floor hard. The maids and boys in the yard all bowed their heads, not daring to look up. Kieu Thi Thi was stunned for a moment, then began to scream and curse:

"Ha Lan Minh Duong! You evil woman! I must sue the old clan, I must make them burn you to death! Burn you to death, you evil man!"

I didn't move, just gently lifted my chin to signal to the two maids. The two ladies went up, pulled her up, and forced her back in front of me.

“What are you going to do?!”

I looked at her frightened face, raised my hand and pushed again. This time she was on guard, screaming to try to hold on, but was stopped by two women. She rolled down again. Thick winter clothes hindered the damage, only making her more miserable, unharmed. Tuong Mu finally couldn't bear it anymore and stepped forward to shield herself in front of Kieu Thi Thi:

"After all, you are the mother of the palace! If you can't tolerate her and your child, then you shouldn't have accepted the clan's words! At worst... at worst, force her to drink a bowl of soup to induce a miscarriage, there's no need to torture a pregnant woman like that!"

I nodded. The maids stepped forward, letting Mrs. Tuong cry and struggle, and several times stripped her of all her clothes. She was shivering naked, so cold that her teeth were sore, and her teaching spirit from before was gone.

“Search.”

Fragrance bag, sleeve, inner lining. Each small package fell apart. The royal physician in the palace was already waiting, trembling as he came forward to examine.

“This package is a strong abortion medicine, the other package is extremely toxic spring medicine, if you use it too little, it will cause people to burn their hearts out and die.”

No need to say who to prepare for. Thinking she craned her neck:

"The slave is unjust! Someone harmed me! It was someone who accused the slave!"

I ignored her, turned around and walked to where Kieu Thi Thi had just been brought back to the stone steps by two midwives. Then, the third time pushed her down. This time, on the white stone steps, there was a dark stain of blood. Kieu Thi Thi's screams turned into gut-wrenching screams:

"My belly! My child! Ha Lan Minh Duong, you will not die peacefully!"

I squeezed her distorted face:

“Your sister never told you about me Is it an inevitable enemy? Or, do you refuse to listen to her?"

"That's right, if you had been obedient, you wouldn't be as bad as you are now."

I thought she was so scared that she collapsed on the ground. My expression remained unchanged, and I coldly instructed:

“I thought she acted carelessly, causing Concubine Kieu to slip and lose her child. Pull it, beat it to death.”

“You slander!” Kieu Thi Thi lay curled up on the ground, tears streaming down her face, screaming loudly and cursing.

“My clan will burn you alive, will drown you! You just wait!”

The mother also raised her head, her eyes were venomous:

“Words without evidence, you cannot condemn me! No one will believe you!”

“Really?”

"So, does anyone believe the story about your second aunt having sex with your third uncle and not allowing Kieu Thi Thi to have children?"

One sentence made both of them immediately fall silent.

“My mother-in-law is a gentle person, and when she discovers an affair, she doesn't expose it.”

"But the second and third rooms still did not tolerate her, and many times colluded with the concubine to harm her."

“Finally, she died in the ruined temple of the beggars, with not a single piece of clean cloth left on her body.”

“The type of spring medicine used is the medicine that the second room sent.”

"Lam Kha was bathed in the blood of the head of the department. Before he could investigate the matter, I had already investigated it clearly on his behalf."

“Do you think that by hiding in the dark and sharing the things your grandmother left behind, you can enjoy it leisurely?”

“Now you still want to play your old tricks with me?”

“I — do not — give — permission.”

Kieu Thi Thi's sobs were choked in her throat. The blood on Tuong Mu's face disappeared cleanly, her dead eyes looked at me, as if she had seen a devil.