Chapter 4 — My Younger Sister Took My Place as the Bride

That day, the weather was hot, so I made some perilla leaf juice myself, preparing to bring it to the library for my brother who was reading a book. When we went outside the library, past a round gate, we saw Tham Hoai Canh again. He wasn't wearing official uniform, just a simple light-colored long dress. He was standing in the hallway, gently guiding a child to write. His expression was attentive, his profile under the sunlight became especially gentle. He is completely different from the court official who is always serious and rarely smiles. My heart doesn't understand why it misses a beat. As if possessed by a ghost, I carried the food box and walked towards him. Hearing movement, he raised his head. Seeing me, surprise flashed in his eyes, then a bit unnaturally he looked away. I took out a bowl of cool perilla water from the food box and brought it in front of him. I tried to make my voice sound calm:

"The weather is hot, Sir Tham should drink some to cool down."

He looked at that bowl of cool water but slowly refused to accept it. After a while, he spoke in a low voice, his voice a bit difficult:

“Miss Wen, if you are truly dissatisfied, Tham will absolutely not force you.”

The fire of anger inside me immediately flared up. I understand now. He thinks that I've been shutting the door and not going out for the past few days because I'm secretly protesting this marriage. So, today he came to give me a step to walk down, ready to give up his marriage? Good for a Tham Hoai Canh! My hand holding the bowl shook, I threw the food box directly to the ground. The sound of the porcelain bowl breaking was deafening.

“Your Majesty is more reluctant than me, so stop it!”

I left those words behind and turned to leave, but my eyes turned red uncontrollably. I had only taken two steps when my wrist was grabbed by the person behind me. Very strong, but extremely careful, as if afraid of hurting me. I struggled a bit but couldn't get out. Behind him came his slightly urgent voice:

“No!”

Finally, he didn't hide it anymore. His ears turned red and he spoke frankly, word by word:

"That day I met her for the first time in the garden. Tham Mo... fell in love as soon as I met her."

My heart suddenly stopped beating, I immediately turned my head to look at him. Being looked at by me, he became even more confused, his panicked eyes darted everywhere. He didn't dare look directly at me, but the hand holding my hand never loosened. Looking at his innocent, clumsy appearance, the little bit of anger in my heart immediately disappeared into thin air. I bowed my head, looked at our holding hands, and said softly:

“I agree.”

8

After that day, the marriage was decided. On the big wedding day, he lifted my veil. Under the candlelight, that always cold face became a little softer. He looked at me for a long time before awkwardly saying one sentence:

“From now on, this place is her home.”

At first, I thought that by marrying an important court official, life would surely be as respectful as new, as calm as water. But I didn't expect that Tham Hoai Canh, after getting married, would be completely different from my imagination. It seems that he always has a way to take time out from his heavy official duties to accompany me to all the newly opened stores in the capital. From cakes in the south of the city to lipstick in the west, if we just look one more time, the next day that item will definitely appear on our dressing table. He doesn't talk much, but is always by my side. Gradually, we discover that we also have some changes. Whether in my previous life or this life, in front of outsiders, I am always a dignified and proper daughter of the Wen family. But in front of him, I seem to become a different person. That afternoon, I was checking the books in the government. He returned from the palace, holding a box of flower waffles that had just come out of the oven in his hand, determined to feed me. I was calculating an important number when he interrupted my thoughts. For no reason, I felt a little frustrated in my heart. Without thinking, I pushed his hand away and said sulkily:

"Don't make trouble. The books aren't consistent yet. You'll lose your own money later. Let's see what you have to do."

After I finished speaking, I was surprised to discover that my tone contained some coquettishness and unreasonableness. I regretted it a bit and was about to hide it when he burst out laughing. He pulled me up from behind the table and hugged me. He lowered his head to look at me, a gentle smile in his eyes that couldn't fade away.

“I like her like that.”

I was stunned. He used his fingertips to gently caress my cheek, his voice low and serious:

“In front of others, she is always dignified and correct, without any loopholes.

But in front of me, she knows how to frown, how to lose patience, and how to act childish. A girl like that makes me feel like she is a real, lively person." Our heart is like being soaked in warm water, both soft and warm. It turns out that the little temperaments that even I find difficult to understand are so adorable in his eyes. Those days were as sweet as honey. We have almost forgotten the unbearable people and events of our previous life.