Following the Elder Lady's advice, only the relatives and a few close colleagues of Duong Tong Thanh were invited to Thu Nguyet's birthday party, although no small number of subordinates secretly sent congratulatory gifts to the family. According to the custom of the official place, he still received those gifts, and reserved a table worth of food to send to their home as a thank you, and also a signal of approval of the relationship with those people.

In the yard at this time, the lights were on, there were five tables in the front yard for Tong Thanh and his male peers, another six tables were placed in the backyard along the fish pond for the relatives and the guest ladies. The atmosphere was vibrant and relaxing, so many delicious dishes were displayed.

“Sis Lan, quickly bring Thu Nguyet up, I want to say hello to my little niece.” - Said a beautiful young woman. Her mother was Ninh Lan's mother's sibling.

“Where's A Thien? Quickly carry Thu Nguyet out to meet the ladies” - Ninh Lan suddenly remembered and looked for her to give an order. Then continued to chat with her cousin - “Phuong, I heard that your marriage with the Chief of the Tomb Honored Guards has already been planned?”

“Yes! It's early next year!” - The other girl blushed and said shyly - ”So today, if you don't let me see Nguyet Nhi, I won't have the opportunity to meet you both in the next half year, I haven't even finished my wedding embroidery work.”

“Alright, she will come soon. Have you prepared a gift yet, as her aunty, you have to give the best of them all.” - Ninh Lan joked, then looked at everyone in the yard and lamented. - “It's been a while since I heard anything about sister Yen?”

“Poor her, my mother and her both are too demanding, she ended up wasting her youth.” - The girl named Phuong shook her head slightly - “In the end, she mistakenly chose that filthy bastard, and day by day washed her face with tears.”

“Lady Lan, Miss Nguyet has arrived.” - A Thien walked up with the baby in her embrace and interrupted the conversation between the two.

Ninh Lan smiled and got Nguyet Nhi in A Thien's arms, put the baby in her lap, and parodied a baby voice: “Nguyet Nhi greets aunty, and wishes you have a sweet smooth marriage next year, and have a happy life and lots of luck forever later. Now where's my gift?”

“You are still as childish as before. Hold her well so I can wear this bracelet for her. I went to Thien Lac pagoda by myself and asked the abbot to bless it.” - She carefully removed the silver bracelet carved with lotus flowers from the silk, and gently put it on Thu Nguyet's neck.

Ninh Lan smiled when she saw her daughter holding the silver lotus pendant and playing, looking like she really loved this gift and not letting go. The ladies nearby also saw this scene and gathered around to cheer.

Thu Nguyet wears a red bib embroidered with contrasting lively colors of butterflies. Her big round black eyes blinking naively, blush white skin that accentuated her plump lips, she now looked like a little angel, it could be imagined that when she grows up she will be beautiful.

When one started, the others would follow suit, other ladies also gave master-worked toys to the little girl in turn, Lady Lan smiled on behalf of her daughter to thank them. Moments later, a maid brought up a wooden tray covered with red silk containing a few auspicious items for Nguyet Nhi for the traditional selection etiquette.

On the tray, there is a colorful silky flower ball symbolizing dance skill, a gourd’s plucking stick made from iridescent conch shells representing music skill, a fragrant agarwood cannon symbolizing the chess skill, a box with the scarlet cinnabar makeup powder represents painting skill and a Tusk ink brush symbolizing for education.

(* Ancient people highly judge women's talent based on their skills such as: Dancing, playing musical instruments, chess, painting and making poems…)

Looking at the traditional etiquette tray specially prepared for the baby, all the noble ladies lightly admired, then together they clapped their hands to encourage little Thu Nguyet.

At the same time, the baby was sitting on the wooden daybed, raising her black big eyes to look around, and then quickly be attracted to those colorful objects. Rapidly reaching out her chubby right hand to grab the silky flower ball, the adults shouted and then competed with each other to say favorable words to congratulate Lady Lan.

“Miss has one more choice!” - A Thien had never taken her eyes off Thu Nguyet, so she was the first to see the baby use her left hand to pick up another object from the tray.

The adults marveled again when they saw Thu Nguyet picking up the box of cinnabar and simultaneously clapping and praising. Thu Nguyet didn't pay much attention to these people, she put the silky ball aside and poked the box with her fingers and hooked the red cinnabar powder all over her face and dress.

“Congratulations to Lady Lan, in the future, she will surely be both beautiful and talented.” - A lady in a pink brocade flattered.

“Thank you Madam Truong! - Ninh Lan responded

“Your little baby is playful and smart, and will definitely become a great muse in the future. Congratulations Lady Lan!” - Another lady also butters up.

Ninh Lan carefully answered each person, her happy and proud eyes did not leave her child's side. At the same time, the Elder Lady and the Marquis’s woman were chatting a few tables away, involuntarily turning to the crowd. The Elder Lady was pleased to see her daughter-in-law's behavior and then praised Ninh Lan in front of her mother's side with a lot of wholesomeness.

When the Elder Lady's eyes stopped on her naughty niece on the daybed, her pupils suddenly shrank at the red streak on Nguyet Nhi's temple. Her heart battering, a shock rushed over, causing her to faint down from the chair. Fortunately, there was Thuy Diep behind her, so she was able to catch her superior in time.

The Marchioness hurriedly called for her daughter - Ninh Lan, the maids gently spread the mattress on the ground and helped the Elder Lady lie there while waiting for the doctor to come…

“Mama, what's going on? Why did my mother-in-law faint?” - Ninh Lan worriedly asked her mother.

“Maybe she had a heat syncope because of the sun? Before that, we were still talking normally.” - The Marchioness was bewildered - “Quick! send someone to report this to your husband.”

“Thuy Nhi, go find Master!” - Ninh Lan turned around and ordered - “There are many people outside, try not to cause panic.”

Thuy Nhi nodded in response and quickly ran to the guest hall. Soon the doctor had also arrived, he quickly ran to kneel beside the Elder Lady and took off his tool box. Then asked people around to spread out and lower the blinds to avoid drafts then performed acupuncture.

“Everyone did a great job! Fortunately, the Elder Lady did not move too much, so she is stable now!” - After the acupuncture was finished, he used a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead and said to Ninh Lan - “Everyone should be careful when moving the Elder Lady to her room, it is best to avoid the wind. I will prescribe some medicine for her.”

“So why did my mother faint?” - Ninh Lan asked worriedly.

“At this age, she must avoid inciting excessive anger, which can easily cause evil energy to rush to her heart. If this happens again, remember to gently let the person lie down, use a small hot needle to prick the blood at the tips of the fingers, toes and ears while waiting for the doctor.” - He said while swiping his ink brush - “People of this age should do as they please.”

Taking the medical prescription from the doctor, she carefully sent him out, and ordered the housekeeper servant to escort the doctor home. When Ninh Lan returned to the garden yard, she saw Tong Thanh clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth with a worried expression. As soon as he saw her, he ran over and asked:

“How's mother? When can we bring her back to the room?”

“She is saved now, I don't know why she got angry all of a sudden!” - Ninh Lan shook her head and sighed and said - “The doctor told us to let her stay here until she was fully awake, then carefully lift her back, to avoid both the wind and strong movements.”

“So can I get in?”

“Yes, you should come with her for a while and then go back to the guest hall. The guests are still there, lemme take care of the rest.” - Said Ninh Lan.

Tong Thanh nodded to his wife and lifted the curtain to visit his mother, then he returned to the hall with the guests. After some time, the servants brought a soft bed to carry the Elder Lady back to Thanh Tam gate.

The other female relatives and guests were no longer in the mood to have a party, so they split up and chatted while waiting for the male guests outside to finish the party to go back home. Feeling that the Elder Lady's situation was stable, Ning Lan sent someone to inform her husband so that he could calmly treat the guests.

In the late afternoon, when the party was over, Tong Thanh tried to finish the work of a host, farewell guests and only when there was no one left then he rushed back to Thanh Tam Gate to check up on his mother.

“Look at you, all sweaty!” - Ninh Lan used a handkerchief to wipe his forehead - “Mother is fine now.”

“I was planning to cancel the party, but after hearing Thuy Nhi's report, I tried to continue to treat guests until now.” - Tong Thanh took that handkerchief to wipe his neck, then looked up at his mother's bedroom and asked - “Did mother tell you why she fainted?”

“From the moment she woke up, she only drank medicine and ate porridge. Perhaps it would be easier for the mother and son to talk to each other.”

Tong Thanh patted the back of his wife's hand, understood, then stood up and walked into the inner room. He knew that his mother did not like Ninh Lan from the beginning. Remember that day, when the Marquis asked him not to have any concubines after marriage, his mom frowned and criticized Ninh Lan for not fulfilling the four virtues, also because the position of the mother-in-law's family was higher at that time, so his mother agreed in frustration, even though she ostracized the bride.

“Mama, are you feeling better?” - Sitting down by the bed, watching his mother's eyelids still moving, knowing she was not asleep, he said.

“Maybe I'm about to die.” - She still didn't open her eyes, but began to play the old people's trick - “Restlessly!”

“Why do you say that? The doctor said that if you take the medicine regularly, all will be good.” - Realizing his mother wanted his attention, he grabbed her hand and gently patted it. - “What makes you so angry?”

The old lady's body trembled, she opened her eyes, looked at her son, and began to cry. Tong Thanh tried his best to comfort her. Ninh Lan heard it from outdoor, she impatiently entered and asked:

“What's the matter?”

“You go out.” - The old lady shouted - “You all too, get out.”

Knowing her illness, Ninh Lan did not dare to disobey, although she did not understand why, she and the maids still withdrew quietly, carefully closing the door, leaving the mother and her son alone.

“Mama, what did Lan Nhi do to make you so angry?” - Tong Thanh had a headache at his mother's attitude, but he still complied.

“Thanh, everything I do is for you, for the future of the Duong family. Even if those cliques torment me, I will not falter. Promise me that you will do your best to bring Nguyet Nhi to that position… That's our family honor!”

“Just follow the flow, mama. I am also doing what I can to ensure her future will shine...” - Tong Thanh said slowly - “But we have to see how God wishes”

“Find! You must find that Taoist!” - The Elder Lady almost shouted, her red eyes looking at her son - “Only he knows how to fulfill Nguyet Nhi’s fate. I have to see it with my own eyes before I die.

“I'm still looking for him!” - Seeing his mother so agitated, he panicked and held her back, using a warm voice to reassure her. - “Mama, sleep, I'm here.”

After a while, the Elder Lady seemed to be tired, so she fell asleep, still muttering a few broken words. Tong Thanh sadly sat on the edge of the bed, gently waving a rattan fan to cool his mother's sleep.

After a few days, the Elder Lady regained her strength, but she always avoided meeting her niece. Realizing the strangeness, Lady Lan stopped carrying Thu Nguyet to Thanh Tam gate, and also told Tong Thanh her doubts. On his day off, Tong Thanh stayed at Thanh Tam gate with his mother to drink tea and play chess almost the whole day. After he had withdrawn all the outsiders, he softly asked:

“Mama, lately why don't you want to see Nguyet Nhi anymore?”

“Do you have nothing to do but poke your nose in the women's hall?” - The Elder Lady frowned and said - “Why doesn't that Lady Lan ask me directly but has to go around like that?”

“Mama, don't be mad at Lan Nhi, she's afraid that she has made you angry for some reason, so she doesn't dare to ask.” - Seeing his mother angry, he hastily explained - “Lan Nhi always tries to please you, out of pure filial piety, please be more generous with her.”

“I don't hate her. - The Elder Lady, when playing chess, put down the cannon in her hand and said quietly - "It's just that the Duong family has only had Van Truong so far, what will our future be like? I wanted you to have a concubine but that’s not for a love affair, why doesn't she understand this?”

“Mama, have you ever thought of my other half-brother, he is now just a low-ranking official in a distant borderland. Do you expect Van Truong's future to be treated like him…” - Tong Thanh sighed in reminiscence - “Wasn't everything changed because we successfully won our father's favor? I don't expect history to repeat on my mainline son.”

“But you and I are here. Who dares…?”

“Wasn't my grandma still there at that time? But you still won!” - Tong Thanh interrupted his mother's words.

The Elder Lady fell into silence, her son's explanations were solid, helping her realize her mistake. Tong Thanh slowly placed his horse to attack his mother’s charitot and continued:

“The last winner is the luminary. Why do we need to create more enemies for ourselves?”

“All right, I'll never bring this up again.” - The Elder Lady finally agreed to compromise.

They played chess for two or three more rounds, and the Elder Lady checked, Tong Thanh laughed and surrendered even though still had a way to move. Knowing that he let her win, the Elder Lady glanced a little.

Seeing that his mom was in a better mood, he immediately lifted a cup of stewed chicken soup nearby and passed it to her, rhythmically waving a fan with one hand. Watching his mother finish eating, he ordered the maid to clean the dishes and help her sit on the counter of the daybed and lean on folding pillows.

“Mama, you still refused to tell me what made you angry about that day. Please share with me, let me carry it with you.”

“Thanh, Nguyet Nhi is all my hope and my pride. I can hate anyone but her, do you understand? But in this life, there's too much blood on my hands, so I don't dare to touch her," - she said quietly - “This is guilt, not contempt.”

Tong Thanh nodded slightly, although he didn't understand why his mother did not want to make it clear, he did not try to force it anymore. When she expressed her desire to take a lunch break, he immediately left the complex and returned to his library, checked all the work from the subordinates, and finally returned to the Southern gate. The fresh scent of flowers emanating from the inner room made all his worries disappear, he smiled and walked inside.