Chapter 13 — Brother Poinsettia Forced Me to Replace Him as Official

He looked straight into my eyes. For the first time, there was no more scrutiny in those peach blossom eyes, no more half-truth, half-false smiles. Only seriousness remains.

"Three years ago."

He said slowly.

"I once went to Tham residence to ask for a favor."

My fingertips tighten. He continued to take a step forward. The distance between us is so close that we can clearly see every line on his face.

"Three years later."

"I saw her standing on Kim Loan Palace again, wearing official uniform, receiving respect from the whole court."

I took a breath. The whole person stiffened. At this moment, all disguise becomes meaningless. Because his eyes told me that. He has known for a long time. Bui Dien Chi bowed his head slightly, his voice loud enough for only two people to hear.

"Exam Tri Y."

"You really think..."

"So many days."

"I never recognized her?"

That moment. The wind passes through the cinnamon pavilion. My hands are cold. There was only one thought that appeared in my head. The biggest secret of the Tham family. In the end, I was still seen through by this person. 【Chapter twelve】 I looked at Bui Dien Chi for a long time. It was so long that the wind in the cinnamon pavilion blew several times, his sleeves moved slightly, and my palms were so cold that I almost lost feeling. Finally, I heard my voice ring out, much hoarseer than usual.

"When did you know?"

I originally thought he would beat around the bush. After all, this person is Dai Ly Tu Khanh, famous in the capital as a crazy dog who bites people and doesn't let go. People like him, even drinking a cup of tea can make people feel like there are three layers of meaning inside. But this time, he answered very directly.

"First day."

Those three words gently fell. My heart also followed that and fell straight to the bottom of the abyss. First day. That is, from the time he said "Master Tham today is much more interesting", he knew that the person standing in front of him was not Tham Tri Hanh, but me. Yet we naively think we hide it very well. I thought he was just checking to see if my brother would be replaced or not. It turns out that from beginning to end, the only one who was seen through was me. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

"On what basis did you realize that?"

Bui Dien Chi lowered his eyes and looked at the tea cup on the stone table, the corners of his lips curled slightly. I frowned. He raised his head to look at me.

"Tham Tri Hanh looks at others like he's looking at a pile of unfinished business. Annoying, lazy, just wants to get rid of them quickly."

This word is hard to hear. But very standard.

"But she is different."

His voice slowed down.

"She will evaluate first when looking at others, then consider later. If she sees danger, take half a step back. If she sees an opportunity, then immediately move forward."

"She thought she looked a lot like him."

"But the eyes are different."

I was momentarily speechless. Bui Dien Chi continued to say:

"Still has the habit of holding a cup."

I instinctively looked down at my hands.

"Tham Tri Hanh always holds the cup casually, like drinking tea or taking medicine, there is no difference. As for her, when she holds the cup, her little finger will be slightly retracted, and the cup will be placed down very lightly, like the habit of a woman who has been taught etiquette since childhood."

I'm stiff. He even saw this?

"The most important thing is the way of thinking."

He looked at me, the smile in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a very rare seriousness.

"During the Jiangnan water disaster, she said to set up a Ngu patrol history, alternately every month, reported directly to the heavenly hearing."

"In the case of Trieu Binh's slander, she bet Tham Tri Hanh did not write a letter."

"Ministry of Household Affairs, she read the testimony without missing a word, but when Qi Van Uyen's face changed, she looked at him first, then at His Majesty."

I tightened my sleeves. Even we ourselves don't pay attention to those things. Yet he saw it all.

"Tham Tri Hanh is a person who uses the mind of a genius to solve problems."

"But she is different."

"She used instinct, experience, and the very realistic perspective of someone who was thrown into danger but still wanted to live."

He paused for a moment, then said softly:

"So, the person in Kim Loan Palace that day was not him."

I look at him. I don't know whether I should be afraid, angry, or cold.

"Then why don't you expose me?"

"Because if you want to make achievements, want to capture the Shen family's weaknesses, want to please His Majesty, just saying one sentence is enough."

"Why don't you say?"

Bui Dien Chi was silent for a moment. Then he looked straight at me.

"Because the person they're looking for is Tham Tri Y."

"Not Lord Tham."

That sentence is like a small stone falling into a lake. But it makes my heart rise in waves. I suddenly didn't know how to respond. Since the day I started pretending to be my brother in court, I have always lived in fear. Afraid Tieu Duc will find out. Afraid that Trieu Binh will expose him. I'm afraid the whole civil and military court will see the loophole. But no one has ever told me: The person he saw was not that class of mandarins. It's Judge Tri Y. In that moment, my heart wavered a bit.