Chapter 5 — Xuan Vu Nhiem Nhiem

"It's just... I don't have the ability to make a living on my own, and I don't have anyone to help me." "Meng Niang, tell me... am I having an unrealistic dream?" After hearing that, Manh Nuong gently poked my forehead, her tone was both joking and relaxed. "It's nothing." "It's okay to have a female household, not being married is fine." "But that doesn't conflict with wanting a man." "Isn't it just a civil registration form?" "I have a brother. I'll be back from the border in a few days. He's an honest person, just a little naive." "When he comes back, I'll make a match for you two." "If you find it pleasing to your eyes, then marry him, and by the way." "And if you don't like it... then just be a fake husband and wife." "First get a permanent household registration, then after it's settled, then separate, raise a few handsome little white-haired girls, wouldn't it be better to be a free woman?" her laugh. Manh Nuong raised her eyebrows. "Don't think otherwise when you see that I'm a widow." "People living in this world..." "Should live for themselves."… It was late at night. I lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Temporary civil status… only one month left. Although Manh Nuong's method sounds somewhat fanciful. But really... that's the fastest way right now. Thinking for a long time... The next morning, I immediately agreed to her proposal. Manh Nuong was overjoyed and immediately wrote a letter, asking when Manh Toan would return. … The date for the blind date arrived quickly. But these past two days, the District Governor has ordered people to buy a lot of precious ingredients. It is said that it is to entertain distinguished guests from the capital. Everyone in the palace was so busy that their feet didn't touch the ground. I'm a chef, so I hardly have a moment of free time all day. Until night fell. The party in the lobby was almost over, so I took the opportunity to change into clean clothes. We went around the flower hall, intending to follow the corridor around the rockery to the back door. The night was dark, I used the moonlight to walk up the stone steps. Suddenly... someone covered my mouth and nose. Then forcefully pulled him straight into the fake mountain cave. Heavy breathing, and an enchanting scent lingering throughout the space. A familiar voice rang out above my head. "Don't move." My mind went blank for a moment. It's... Cui Tuan! Why is he here? I'm still in shock. Before he could organize his thoughts, he turned around. Under the dim moonlight. Cui Tuan's body, which was always noble and inviolable, trembled slightly. He begged hoarsely: "Help me..." Before he could finish his words, he bowed his head despite everything and pressed his lips to mine. His movements were hasty and out of control, bringing with him a hysteria that was almost beyond reason. The corners of his lips conveyed clear pain. I woke up. Two lifetimes of patience, half a lifetime of humbleness, so much humiliation, unwillingness and resentment... in this moment all surged together, making me extremely nauseous. I immediately raised my hand and slapped him hard in the face with all my strength. Chat! Thoi Tuan's movements immediately stopped. Both were stunned. It seemed he had regained some consciousness. But in the blink of an eye, reason disappeared. He held my hands tightly, his throat moved slightly. "Don't be afraid." "I will take responsibility." "A Vu..." I right now... am like a fish lying on the cutting board, even if I want to struggle, I have no way to escape. There was only the sound of heavy breathing in my ears. With broken, choking sounds wrapped around each other. In the end, I couldn't hold back the feeling of nausea rising in my throat and vomited straight onto Cui Tuan's body. He stiffened again, his eyes completely restored to alertness. When he saw the rejection in my eyes, the corners of his eyes turned red, as if there was a hint of tears. Then suddenly let go. "I..." Before he could finish speaking, I used my strength to push him away and ran away in panic. … One

Tired road back to the hospital. The night sky was drizzling, Manh Nuong stood with an umbrella in front of the door, waiting. As soon as she saw me return, she breathed a sigh of relief, but there was still a trace of worry between her eyebrows. "Finally, you're back. Did you meet anyone on the way?" I pursed my dry lips and shook my head. "No." "It's just that I came back too late today, I didn't have time to meet Manh Toan..." "It's okay, it's okay." Mrs. Manh pulled me into the room while folding an umbrella, casually recounting what happened in the lobby as if discussing household chores. "Today a distinguished guest from the capital came to the party. I don't know who was poisoned by someone without eyes." "Just now, my drug addiction kicked in and I suddenly lost control." Having said this, she lowered her voice. "Just now, the lobby was in chaos. I heard that that distinguished guest slept with a maid." "I also insisted that the District Governor find that person, saying that he wanted to take him as a concubine." "Currently, the lobby has been blocked, and everyone is being interrogated one by one." Finished speaking, Manh Nuong lightly spat. "Today, all the maids in the palace are trying to get closer to that distinguished guest, just hoping to be the noble's concubine." I was so angry that I burst out laughing. It turns out... that was Cui Tuan's calculation. He thought that just by promising a position as a concubine... he could make me proactively cling to him. It's true that you look down on me too much. For the next few days, the maids all competed to dress up. However, Cui Tuan repeatedly criticized this person for being too low, and criticized the other person for not having a decent appearance, and finally returned it all. That made Manh Nuong laugh endlessly, until she turned around and saw me sitting by the window embroidering. She suddenly let out a "oh" sound. "Or..." "The person the distinguished guest is looking for is not a maid?" "A Vu, why do I see what he described... exactly like you." After hearing it, I just thought it was a breeze in my ears. Right now there is only one thing that can make us not eat well or sleep well. My civil status… only three days left.