4. My Chau and Trong Thuy

Once upon a time, there had a king, named An Duong Vuong. After many years fighting, he get a large area.
The king planed to build a castle but whenever it had been built as tall as a men’s height then it was ruined. The king was unhappy. Therefore, the king had made an altar to pray God for few days until an early morning, a old man from seaside went to talk him God Turtle was going come to help him.
The king was very happy and forced soldiers to wait on the seaside. The next day, in the water appeared a big gold turles toward seaside. The soldiers invited God Turtle to set sat on a big gold platter and brought to the king.
The God Turtle told the king that the castle couldn’t have finished because of demons. God Turtle helped the king to kill the demons so all demons was killed. Besides, the God Turtle help the king design a castle look like a seashell with many gate levels.
Half a month later, the castle had been finished. The king was very pleased but a little worry. He asked God Turtle how to fight against enemies when they appeared.
The God turtle gifted him a claw and told that:”make an arrowhead from this claw and shot toward enemy”
 “If you are in emergency, go toward seaside call three time God Turtle I will appear” the God Turtle added
A shot time later, God Turtle left.

My Chau Trong Thuy
Years later, a big country from the North, Trieu Da, went to fight Au Lac. The war began but not to long time. From top of castle, about ten people control a machine. The putted the arrow into the machine. Lead it toward the enemy and shot to sky. The arrow flew higher and higher. At last, it was disappeared. The sky went dark. Seconds later, thousands of arrows covered in fire from the sky flew down toward the enemy who was running all direction madly to save their life but did not much. Minutes later, sky was bright again showed up a terrible sight, a mess of cadaver, blood and fire. Few people were alive but lost their head, they yelled, ran madly, and muttered something you couldn’t hear. The war was over, Au Lac won.
Years passed, Au Lac was more prosperous. Mi Chau, a little princess had be come a beautiful lady, was ready to marry. An Duong Vuong advertised he was looking for a man to marry with his daughter. This new came to King of Trieu Da. He called 3 his sons to the hall.
“My sons”, He glanced around 3 men, turned his back, “Did you remember the defeat years ago?  Did you remember how many soldiers we lost? I was very angry, painful”, “NOW”, he turned back, gazed to 3 young men.”, An Duong Vuong want a groom for his daughter, we must grab this chance. I want a volunteer for my plan. Who can?” he said sternly“You could trust me, father” a young man replied. He was Trong Thuy, the youngest son of King, also most intelligent, courageous
The King was pleased, “Follow me” he said to Trong Thuy. They left the hall, turned left, went along the passage through 2 entrances and got in a building, the workplace of the King.
“Sit down” pointed at a chair, he said. “We need a detailed plan” he added.
They had stayed at that building for few days to manage the plan.
“Ok. We will support you to pass all contests and get married with Mi Chau but you yourself must do the rest of work. Remember, success or died.” The King said
“I know. Father, you can trust me” said Trong Thuy confidently
Two day later, Trong Thủy and 10 others left the castle, went forward to Au Lac. They had ridden for few days until they were 2 miles to castle of Au Lac. They stopped riding to eat at a restaurant. Eight of his partners left before. Trong Thuy and 2 partners left after few minutes. They went up to the castle to sign their name. They had to participate competition to find out who was deserved to marry with the princess.
“What is your name?
My name is Trong Thuy.
What is your Job?
I am a traveler.
Where were you born?
I was born at northern border.
How many people in your family and what do you do?
I am live alone. My parents had died when I was a child.…..”
Trong Thuy had passed and 2 partners also had done. About 8 others, they were hired to support the competition. Two of them took care of horses. Two others checked archeries, two worked in kitchen and the others was messenger. About 1000 people had signed. The competition had 3 contests that were riding, archery and ball-catching.
“Lady and gentlement, I am the referee of this contest. We have 1000 people parted in 50 terms with 20 people. The contest is place in 6 days. Every day, from 8.00 to 12.00, break out 1 hour, restart at 13.00 and ending at 17.00, we have 50 minutes for a  horse race and the next other will have 10 minutes to prepare. The first and the second will pass, the others fail. Good luck”, said a man, “Now we will split”.
Trong Thuy would race in the morning second day, and his partners raced on third day and fourth day. Trong Thuy was easy to win the first rank. The others also pass with first and second rank in their contest. The first contest had finished with 100 people passed already for second contest.
“Five people will compete together, only take the first rank, Good luck” said the referee.
 The competition of Trong Thuy was boring two competitors of him was absent and he had to play with wealk competiors. At the competitions of his partners, someone broke their archery when had been stretching it, some sprinted out the competition for the toilet they were harmed. Of course, 2 partners of Trong Thuy also passed this contest.
“The third contest, ball-catching, the princess will stand at third floor throw a ball as size as a coconut made of silk down to you and you must try best to get this ball before time out. All you have 30 minutes. Violence is allowed.” Said referee,”Now, look up and see the princess” he added.
Trong Thuy gazed at a gentle lady she wore silk-scarf on her head over her face that prevent her face from eyes. She grabbed a ball, raised her hand and threw it down the crowd. Seconds later, the crowd was chaotic. From this crowed you could hear the loud voice of punch, bone crack. Time out, only 3 people were standing on their foot, those were Trong Thuy and 2 partners while the others was lying on the ground. The ball was on Trong Thuy’s right hand raising.
The wedding was held. Appear from entrance, groom was wearing red silk suit held bride’s hand who was wearing a red silk dress too and red silk scarf on her head down over her face, they walked toward the end of room where An Duong Vuong was sitting in a gold chair, stopped front An Duong Vuong.
“First, bow heaven and earth”, said old woman in red suit. They knelled, bent down their head toward ahead.
“Second, bow parents”, said woman. They bent down their head toward An Duong Vuong.
“Third, groom and bride bow each other, said woman. They turned to each other and bowed their head.
“Go to wedding-room”, said woman in the noise of people clapping. The groom lead led his left the room toward the wedding-room. He left the bride alone in wedding-room back to party and drank with others. He couldn’t go back wedding room until midnight. That was customary.
Back from the party, Trong Thuy went toward Mi Nuong was still sitting on the bed waiting for Trong Thuy. He sat down next to Mi Nuong taking off silk scarf on her head showing up her face, at the moment, he seemed to be lost his brain, front his face he saw a gentle beautiful girl with black eyes. He had gazed her for seconds she bowed shyly that made him realized he had been so attentive at her face. Maybe, he had fallen in love. He turned away to not catch her eyes.
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“I am Trong Thuy as you had known, uhm, I am your husband” said Trong Thuy softly. Mi Nuong looked up at Trong Thuy face, nodded gently. Her cheek was turning red.
Three moths had passed. Trong Thuy and My Nuong were now very please about their wedding but for Trong Thuy he had never forget his duties he came here to steal the magical arrow. He remembered all passages he had crossed, all staircase he had landed, all gate he had passed. He had asked Mi Nuong where magical arrow was but Mi Nuong only smiled and say nothing. He had planned to wander around in night to looking for the arrow. He waited for My Nuong had slept then he walked on his tiptoes, opened the door ajar and swept pass. He went straight to where he had never landed, prohibited areas. At the corner deep on shadow, he saw soldiers were marching surround a building.”Sixty seconds, I have sixty seconds to get into building without their noticing”he muttered. The soldiers had just passed the front of buiding. He sprinted toward the building, passed in to its entrance. He went upstairs, along passageway. He saw many rooms with similar door, opened some doors but he didn’t see the things he needed.
“Sorry sir, but you are not supposed to be here” a cold voice emanate behind him when he was wandering around.
He turned back, “Glad to see you, I am looking for a help. I have just wake up and realized I am not in my room” he said.
“What is happening to you?” said the soldier in doubt
“Maybe, I had just got sleepwalking” said Trong Thuy
“Follow me, I will lead you to your room” said soldier coldly
He followed the soldier to go back his room. He had come to the building few times but got not much. Day by day, he and My Chau were more and more familiar. One day, he asked My Chau another time where the magical was.
“Honey, if war happens I know we have magical arrow so we don’t fear. But what if we have betrayers and they confuse us to prevent us from using the arrow. Do you think I had better know where the arrow is that I can take it and use it?” he said softly. My Chau keep silent for seconds.
“My dear husband” she said”You know I can talk you about where it is but I can’t lead you to come”;
“Do you know the secret building, in the end of corridor third floor, you can see a wall with a stone face on it, poke on its nose three times. The face will ask you for password and the the password is God Turtle. That is all things I know” she added. Trong Thuy was very happy. He had planned to come the room the next day.
Passed soldiers, went up to third floor, straight the end of corridor. He, now, was standing at front of the wall. He poked 3 times on the stone face.  The stone face move. An echoed voice out of its mouth:”Password”, “God turtle” he asked quickly. The wall trembled and was split in two and showed up a dark humid passageway. He went toward the door end of passageway it was locked.
“What can the key be” he thought. He looked around and saw two iron armors standing next to the door. He took a look for the key and found out it. He putted the key into look turned it and opened the door. Front of his fake is a blank chamber end of it is the door. “I only need walk straight to open this door. No, it can’t be easy” he thought. For seconds, he grabbed a pocket of coins and threw it down the floor, meanwhile dozens of arrows shot from the wall front his eyes. He looked down around bricks and thought “if the bricks is often stepped on, it will be cleaner than the others”. He walked carefully. Trong Thuy, now, had not believed that he had passed the chamber. He pushed the door. Front his face, gold, silver and treasure was stacked in pile. Middle of chamber, the arrow was placed on gold shelf. He grabbed it, replaced by a fake arrow and came back his room.
Trong Thuy requested to come home for his father’s dead-day anniversary. Before leaving, he asked his wife, ”if the war occurs before I came back how I could find you”. “I have a goose-feather coat, if the was occurs I will leave feather along the way I pass”.  A short time later, Trieu Da planned to fight Au Lac. An Duong Vuong still thought that he had magical arrow so he did feel worry about that. When enemies had surround his castle he forced his soldiers to take the arrow and shot to enemies but nothing happened. Being frightened, he grabbed Mi Chau’s hand and mounted a horse riding as fast as he can to the seaside. He called god turtle three times. In the water, the turtle appeared and said quickly “the enemy after you”. He turned back and saw nobody. He realized My Chau was the enemy. He drew his sword and killed Mi Nuong. Mi Chau was dead. God Turtle splitted sea in two showing up a passageway and led An Duong Vuong down the sea. Minutes, the passage disappeared. Mi Chau dead, her blood flowed down water. The mussels ate the blood they would create gems.
Trong Thuy followed feathers and saw My Chau lying on the ground. Not believe in his eyes, he trudged to her, stand on his knees, held her head by his hand. His eyes became wild. His lip was dry. His ears heard nothing. He lost connection to real world. He had sat at that place, tore until the next morning, he buried Mi Nuong and came back Trieu Da. Months later, every talked a rumor that Trong Thuy thought that he had seen Mi Nuong under a well so he jumped into the well and dead. And another rumor was that any gem was cleaned by water in the well would be brighter than others.
"Translated by Hung Nguyen"
The end.🎭🎭🎭

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