That night, when Thai Thuy said he wanted to buy the male prostitute, Khac Tuan made an excuse to escape first.
He was skeptical at first as the familiar figure slowly walked up the stairs, he doubted that he would be able to meet that person here in the midst of life. There're a lot of people who look alike, and his figure is also common. However, the fact proved that Khac Tuan met Huu Quan again in a bustling brothel in Hue.
Khac Tuan was so terrified when the cloth was removed, to the point he couldn't breathe.
Huu Quan, in Khac Tuan's memory, was a bright student, a respectable opponent in both ethics and school application. Huu Quan was a hard worker who was also gifted, intelligent, and bright. Huu Quan was faultless in both talent and virtue. It was unusual at the time for someone to be fluent in both Chinese and French.
Huu Quan is said to be the person Khac Tuan most respects among those who study the words of sages and saints. Nguyen Huu Van Quan, in the classmate's eyes, is a shining pearl.
Then disaster struck, burying a talent. Huu Quan's father, Sir Nguyen Huu, was charged with smuggling prohibited products into the mother country. Someone in the family committed a serious crime, and Huu Quan obviously had difficulty entering high school. After more than ten years of studying, the result was like water off a duck's back.
He had only heard his father tell the story perfunctorily at the time and had no idea what it meant for the clan's influence to be blocked. His father also said that Sir Nguyen Huu's family have a lot of properties in France, so it wouldn't matter if they couldn't stay in Linh Nam. He now realizes that when the offender is arrested and sent to prison, the family is separated. Children in the family can't study properly as well. Sir Nguyen Huu, who was close to the Head Quarters family, was unable to prevent the disaster. So many properties in France for what, as it was all sealed by Goverment in the end.
Even as a male prostitute, he displayed no signs of weakness yesterday. Huu Quan did look Khac Tuan in the eyes yesterday, and there was no shame in his eyes.
Huu Quan is still the same as he remembers, stubborn and tough, and his face is still bright with hope, despite his distressing circumstances.
Because of this, Khac Tuan is unsure whether a person like Thai Thuy will add to Huu Quan's already miserable life becoming even more miserable.
Thai Thuy appears in court's meetings this morning as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary. Even after looking at it several times, Khac Tuan can't tell if Thai Thuy has done "that thing" to Huu Quan the day before.
The thing that Thai Thuy always do when he intersted prostitutes in the past.
"Yesterday..." Before he can remember what he's doing, Khac Tuan opens his mouth to ask Thai Thuy.
Thai Thuy behaves differently in the court's meetings than he does in free time. In his free time, Thai Thuy is rebellious, staggered, and unruly. Thai Thuy is playful in the court as well, but perhaps the Royal gown he wears forced Thai Thuy into the stereotypes that only a person wearing it should do. Thai Thuy continues to carry out the Emperor's duties negligently, but thoroughly.
"What is it?" Thai Thuy asks surprisingly.
Khac Tuan, in his opinion, rarely speaks hesitantly, especially when speaking to Thai Thuy. A mandarin of the Rites Ministry like him is known for good communication and is silver-tongued. It's difficult to find the time Khac Tuan stutters. However, there were times when this person was at a loss for words with him. Usually when Khac Tuan feels guilty, or when he realizes he has let someone down.
"Did you buy that male prostitute the day before?"
"Yes. What happened?"
"You have done 'that thing' with him?"
Thai Thuy laughs as he raised his brows slightly:
"Would you have any other reason to buy a male prostitute? Rather than do 'that thing'?"
"Did he let you do it?"
Thai Thuy turns himself back. Thai Thuy looks different when he's dressed in the Royal Robe. Maybe it's the Family blood flowing in him that makes Thai Thuy look even more like an Emperor, even if what he thinks and does isn't really like that. However, the majesty of Thai Thuy's gestures at this time makes Khac Tuan a little concerned.
Even though he has never been concerned towards this childhood friend.
"What happened to you? Why are you suddenly interested in a male prostitute?"
"He's more than just a prostitute." Khac Tuan responds. "He's very special to me."
Thai Thuy folds the fan in his hand, signals the maid to prepare tea, and signals Khac Tuan to take a seat under the pavilion to cool off.
"How special?"
…
Phat An sits in the yard, gazing out at the front porch's cotton tree. The leaves have all withered, and the weather is still partly sunny, but the cold wind has come.
When the weather is this bad, heavy rain may fall tonight.
"Sir... Sir... Sir..." The young boy rushes in, panting.
"What? Why do you look like you're being chased by a ghost?"
"It's not a ghost." The boy shakes his head. "Young Master Huu Quan, Young Master Huu Quan has returned."
"What?" When Le Phat An hears his nephew's name, immediately stands up and runs out. Huu Quan dashes into the house yard at the same time.
"Uncle" Huu Quan quickly folds his hands and bows. "Uncle, I'm back."
Phat An ignores all the communication rules. He squeezes Huu Quan in his arms like a precious object, hugging his nephew who has been away from home for a long time. He would have kissed Huu Quan's cheek like when he was a kid if he hadn't cared more about the rules.
"You're back, did anything happen? How did you escape from there?" Phat An inquires hastily. "Oh, my dear nephew. You've lost a lot of weight. How can I talk to your mother now?"
This nephew, his sister's son, is unique and special to Le Phat An. Despite his claim that he loves both his children and grandchildren equally, Le Phat An still favors Huu Quan. Never frustrated towards difficult situations, and never give up in hopeless circumstances. Huu Quan, like a succulent that a friend brought for him from France, is strong and wise, rising above the gravel to live on barren land.
Le Phat An was heartbroken when he heard about his nephew being assigned to a brothel to pay his family's debt. Le Phat An wanted to give up everything in exchange for ransom. But even if this old property was sold, it wouldn't make eight hundred Indochinese piastre. Besides, if he sells it, where will his sister live?
He can only wait for the right moment.
However, Huu Quan can now come back on his own today. Phat An is both happy and angry at himself.
"I'm not escaping." Huu Quan smiles. "I was bought by a customer."
Huu Quan says nothing else after that. Phat An also avoids asking what should not be. He understands the meaning behind the word "buy", it's not that simple. Huu Quan will tell him when he's ready.
"Thank God, thank you my God!" Phat An exclaims "Your mother misses you so much, go and greet her."
Huu Quan doesn't waste any time and runs inside to find his mother. He keeps going and going until he finds her sitting idly by the window in the bedroom.
Huu Quan's face is like his mother's. For real, their faces appear to be created from the same mold, including the sad frowns they have whenever complaining about their fate or recognizing their difficult life circumstances.
"Mother." Huu Quan is hesitant to call.
Madam Nguyen Huu cried for days, her eyes blurry seeing her son, and all she can do is walk slowly closer, and say:
"Huu Quan, Huu Quan..."
Huu Quan dashes over to assist his mother. Madam Nguyen Huu hugs her son, rubbing it back and forth until she is certain Huu Quan is still as healthy as when he left the house a few months ago, just a little thin, she chokes in tears and says:
"You're too skinny..."
"I'm all right. No worries." Huu Quan replies "Mother, how are you, did something happen while I was away?"
Madam Nguyen Huu can still hold back, but Huu Quan's final question causes her to burst into tears.
"They said that they would prison your father in France. What should we do, Quan? You need to save your father."
What? Why is this the case? Huu Quan is shocked while assisting his crying mother, he can't control the panic and anger on his face. This woman must have been through a lot. Her face is thin and puffy, her eyes are full of blood vessels, and her body gets slimmer.
"Have they made a decision?" Huu Quan opens his lips, only to be able to say one sentence "They don't need to open the trial?"
Madam Nguyen Huu can't say anything, only shakes her head and sobs.
"When… When will he leave?"
"They said they still have to wait for the train, but it should arrive on this Lidong day."
Huu Quan bites his lips, now it's August on the lunar calendar. The Lidong day is four moon months away.
"Don't worry Mother, I'll try. I'll be meeting His Majesty soon." Huu Quan grips his mother's hand firmly "Is that alright? Just a moment, please?"
Madam Nguyen Huu stays quiet, nods, and then shakes her head. Huu Quan sighs. What he promised is not only for his mother. He has to make it happen.
That person will not break his promise.