CH 19

Ban Heng trot all the way to Banhua's yard, interrupting the story that the female storyteller was doing. He took the tea that the maid had poured, drank a few mouthfuls before he said, "I have found out."

Ban Hua waved her hand to let unwanted people around them retire. Then she tapped the coffee table with both hands: "Who is it?"

"Count Zhongping's eldest son, Xie Chongjin. " Ban Heng drank a whole cup of tea before barely catching breath, "He is the 1st-Imperial-Scholar who passed the exam three years ago, but went to work outside the country. After Xi Qilin broke one of his eyes, he was transferred back to Capital City. He just arrived in Capital City yesterday. "

"Sister, what do you want me to check him for?" Ban Heng sat down on the chair, he suddenly looked at Ban Hua with a skeptical eye: "You don't think he looks good, do you?"

"Can you think of something normal in your mind?" Ban Hua hit Ban Heng's hand which was about to take a snack, "Your sister isn't in your heart, is that it?"

Ban Heng was at a loss. Wasn't it the case?

Ban Hua felt that her hands were itchy, and almost slapped Ban Heng's silly face. But she couldn't help it anymore.  Seeing him sweaty, she threw the handkerchief into his hand, "You say, how likely is it for Zhongping Bofu to rebel?

"Sister, do you think it is Zhongping Bofu's one? What can they use to rebel?"  Ban-Heng's eyes widened. " I know you don't want to see this family, but this matter can not be put on them. Doing that will be an insult to the rebellion"

"Your words seem to make some sense." Ban Hua peeled the melon seeds, threw away the shell, and put the peeled seeds in the small silver bowl, "There are so many men in black in the world, and it may not be him."

"Maybe people in other places raised their flags to rebel. A hundred responses..." Ban Heng paused suddenly, "It's not quite right, how big is this power that will make the four powers raise their flags to rebel?"

"The new emperor succeeded to the throne, but his position is unstable, and the people's grievances are boiling," Yin-Shi said as she entered the yard, and sat across from the brother and sister, "The world of the Jiang family is not as secure as they thought."

Today the emperor is extravagant, and he is so happy that he even overlooked the Queen's family members for selling merchandise. There had been dissatisfaction among the people, but the North Hann and Chinese officials had suppressed those rumors. It can last for a while, can it still last a lifetime?

"Mother, do you think we should tell grandmother about the dream of a sister?" Ban Heng touched his head, and asked"Anyway, our brains are not good, so why don't we let grandma think of a solution?"We don't have good solutions

"No." Yin Shi immediately objected. "This matter can never be told to your grandmother."

"Why?" Ban Heng was puzzled, "If we don't hand it over to your grandmother, who will give her?"

"Your grandmother is not just your grandmother, but Jiang The eldest princess of the royal family. She is getting older, if you let her know that the Jiang family dynasty will be overthrown, will her old self accept it?" Yin Shi, "You go to your grandmother to greet her and accompany her more often. Other things are not something you should worry about."

Ban Heng nodded obediently, "I remember." Then, he poured the melon seeds from the silver bowl on the table into his mouth.

"Ban Heng!" Seeing that the melon seeds she peeled were gone, Ban Hua almost couldn't help but drop the dessert plate on Ban Heng's head. "You master, you grabbed my melon seeds." 

"I'm your brother, not old man," Ben Heng jumped up from his chair, "What's the matter with peeling melon seeds? In the future, I will marry a daughter-in-law who peels melon seeds."

"Pooh. You are so beautiful," Ban Huan, said with hands on hips, "If I find a husband like you, I will definitely beat him every day."

"Then what kind of husband do you want to peel melon seeds for you?" Ban Hengbeng Fleeing staggeringly, "Keep dreaming."

Looking at the noisy and loud pair of children, Yin Shi couldn't help shaking her head and laughing. There were no servants in the family, and the two often made noises about such trivial matters. Don't know where they were going with this kind of temper.

On the street, Ban Huai wandered around with his guards at any time. This bracelet has a good color. Buy it for furen. This hairpin looks beautiful. Buy it for my daughter. These books are well written, I should take a few for my son. Because he spent a lot of money to buy things recently, didn't overpower others, paid as much as he should, and didn't bully the merchants who did business, Ban Huai was very popular among the shopkeepers in the street of luxury goods. The shopkeepers really wanted to welcome him every day.

"Master Hou, this colored glaze lamp has just arrived this year. Although it is not as exquisite as the one in the palace, it is also quite elegant and interesting." The shopkeeper enthusiastically introduced a star painted glaze lamp to Ban Huai. "At night, it looks as if the stars are going to fall on the ground. The women of your house will definitely like it."

Ban Huai glanced at this glazed lamp. The workmanship could be considered excellent. "How much is it?", he asked.

"Master Hou, you are our regular customer. I dare not  give you high price," The shopkeeper looked around and whispered, "If others want it I must sell it for one thousand taels. But if you want it, I will charge 688 taels. It can be regarded as a fortune."

"Okay, I will wait for you to arrange someone to send it to my house," Ban Huai nodded, turning his head to see 'Magu gives her birthday greeting' (1)hanging on the wall. He remembered that his mother had always liked calligraphy and painting antiques. So, He asked, "How much does this painting cost?"

"Master Hou...this painting has already been finalized. Would you like to see others?" The shopkeeper laughed, "I will let people fetch some paintings and let you pick one slowly." "Forget it." Ban Huai felt pity. This painting had a very good meaning, and it was perfect to give to his mother.

"If Master Hou wants it, the youngster will give you this painting," The voice continued as the man walked in from outside, "As long as Master Hou doesn't dislike it." Ban Huai looked back and saw the person who came: "Count Cheng An"

Rong-Xia saluted Ban-Huai as a junior. Then turned to the shopkeeper and said, "Prepare the painting and give it to Master Ban ."

"How can this be? Since Count Cheng An chose this painting, how can I take it?." Although Ban Huai was older than Rong Xia, and his rank was higher than Rong Xia, he was not a person willing to take advantage of juniors. 

"Master Hou is polite," Rong Xia once again gave a salute of a junior, "Master Ban Hou fancies the painting.It's fate. If you continue to refuse, then you will be looking down on this junior."

In terms of eloquence, ten Ban Huai could not compare to even a half of Rong Xia, so in the end, Ban Huai accepted the painting. He also did remember that he couldn't take advantage of others for nothing, so he decided to invite this generous, well-mannered, and handsome young man to dinner in the most expensive building in the capital, Wangyue Tower.

Rong Xia not only did not dismiss him as an idle master but also showed great respect for him along the way. This made Ban Huai's impression of him turn from a very powerful young Count to a very pleasing young man. and he felt it would be nice to have such a son like him. But to his dismay, his son is a scumbag.

The man in Wangyue Tower was also very familiar with Ban Huai, and when he saw him, he enthusiastically greeted them to sit upstairs.

As Ban Huai went up the stairs, he asked the guide, "I remember your daughter-in-law is about to have a baby?"

"Master Hou, she has already given birth, but it's a girl." Tang Hao didn't have much joy on his face.

"It's a good thing," Ban Huai touched his pocket, took out two peanut-sized silver coins, and handed them to Tang Hao, "Bring this to your girl to put under the pillow and bless her to live a long life, without any disease and disaster."

"Master Hou, how can you .."

"It's okay, this is what I used to give to juniors," Ban Huai continued, "Anyway, my family has ten thousand gold, and I can do what I want. " 

"Just take it."

"Thanks, thank you, Lord Hou!" Tang Hao took the two silver pieces with a grateful expression on his face.

Rong Xia watched the exchanges between Ban Huai and Tang Hao with a deep smile on his face. After the two sat down in the box, Rong Xiao said, "Master Hou is really kind."

"It's not that I am kind," Ban Huai shook his head and took a sip of the tea, "If I didn't open my mouth, that girl might not survive."

For the nobles, raising a daughter was not a big deal, but for ordinary people, especially ordinary people who want to have a son but get a daughter, this daughter is superfluous. In his early years, when he was idling out to play in the countryside, he once witnessed an old woman throwing her dead granddaughter under the bridge, only to make her trampled by thousands of people so that no daughter would dare to be reborn in her home.

After the incident, he had felt ill with fright when he went back. He had to take several medicines to relieve him.

Rong Xia didn't expect that Ban Huai would say such a sentence, and was stunned for a moment, "It can still be seen that Lord Hou is kind-hearted."

Ban Huai waved his hand, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

After a while, the food was on the table. Ban Huai drank a wine, and ate, talking some boundless nonsense to Rong Xia. What is rare was that Rong Xia also spoke up , which was worthy of praise.

"The bastards in Zhongping Bofu want their eldest son to work in the household department. He wants to work!" Ban Huai put the wine bottle on the table again, "They bullied my girl but want to pretend like things didn't happen. No way! It can't happen!"

Rong Xia remembered the rumors in the capital that Mr. Ban Hou favored the eldest daughter the most. After the second son of Count Zhongping eloped with a woman from a brothel, Ban Houye immediately went to Zhongping Bofu to teach them a lesson, he thrashed Count Zhongping’s house, even the gates had to be changed. Later, after Xie Qilin got it back, he was also beaten countless times. Then, Count Zhongping went to sue Ban Huai in the imperial court, saying that this was done by Jingting Hou's family, but unfortunately, there was no evidence, the emperor also favored Jingting Hou's house again. So, the matter was considered over.

"This youngster also thinks that Xie Chongjin is not suitable to go to the household department," Cheng An gave Ban Huai a drink. "Where do you think he should go for a job?"

"For him, it's better to stay at home!" Ban Huai was already drunk. He cursed, "Let him hold his father and stay home to have milk."

Although Ban Huai hadn't learned his military commander's father's ability to advance and fight, he had learned a lot of cursing skills.

Note:1. Magu -In Chinese mythology, she is the protector of women, the Goddess of longevity, and is able to brew the elixir of life.  ( The painting of Magu is given to women wishing them longevity)From - thecannachronicles You can click on it if you want to know more! There is also a Wikipedia article.