CH 20

───※ ·· ※─── 

After having a fight with Ban Heng, Ban Hua dragged him to go shopping with her, with the excuse of exercising his body. As soon as the siblings walked to the door, they heard some noise outside. 

The two saw that two young men were helping their father get out of a carriage. Their father was so drunk that he needed other's help to even walk.

"Sister, has our mother gone out?" Ban Heng glanced behind the door. If his father's appearance was seen by his mother, he did not know whether his mother would be angry or not.

"No, mother just said she was going to take a nap." Ban Hua glanced at Ban Heng sympathetically. As she was about to go forward with Ban Heng to help Ban Huai, another person walked out of the carriage.

"Princess, heir," Rong Xi straightened his robes, and apologetically said, "I was next to Hou Ye for a meal and accidentally let him drink a few more glasses of wine. I'm really sorry."

"The Lord has sent my father back," Ban Hua felt that this matter could not be blamed on Rong Xiao. She knew how bad her father's liquor capacity was. The only thing she didn't expect was that her father would be able to get together with Count Rong. It was like a cat and a swan playing together. It made people feel awkward. "My father is not good at holding alcohol. If he said something offensive, Count, please don't take it to your heart."

"Junzhu speaks seriously, Hou Ye has done nothing to offend," Rong Xia saw that Ban-Huai had been escorted into the sedan by the manservant, and said, "Since Hou Ye has safely arrived, I shall take my leave. "

"Bo-Ye, it's better to stay for some refreshments before leaving," Ban-Heng came over and suggested to Rong-Xia, "Bo-Ye, please." 

"How can I disturb you again....."

"Rong Bo-ye", Ban Huai, who was sitting in the sedan, stuck his head out of the window and said drunkenly," I am sure you are our friend!"

"Cough," Ban Heng coughed dryly, and said, "Yes, Bo-Ye, you are welcome!"

Ban Hua covered her face silently, turning her head, she signaled the servants to carry her father into the inner courtyard as soon as possible and leave the rest to her mother to worry about.

Rong Xia followed the siblings into the house. This was the first time he entered the Ban's house. The appearance of Ban's house was similar to what he had imagined, but there were still many differences. The mansion was luxurious and exquisite, with famous flowers and trees, carved beams, and painted buildings. If you wanted to enter the second gate, you had to pass a Jiuqu Bridge. (1) Under the bridge was a clear pond. The golden kois in the pond,swishing its tail leisurely ,looked fat and lazy. 

However, the subordinates of the Ban family turned out to be more disciplined than he thought. Unlike some people who had a relationship with the royal family, but could not even manage the subordinates despite their status.

It was Madam Hou's credit that it was this way. It was said that the princess liked Jingting Hou Furen so much that she specially asked someone to arrange marriage for her son. Fortunately, although Jingting Hou didn't accomplish anything and lived idle, he was very good to his wife. Rong Xia had also heard that Jingting Hou Furen was very smart and beautiful when he was young.

He glanced at the Ban sister and brother. This pair of sisters and brothers might be considered more casual?

The three of them were seated in the viewing pavilion in the lake. Ban Heng was most impatient to talk to the nobilities, but after saying a few words to Rong Xia, he became close with Rong Xia, even considering him brother. There was no particular reason for this, it was just because Rong Xia's way of speaking was to his liking. Although Rong Xia is very literate, he did not hang a book bag in front of him, and his temperament was better than those of famous literary talent. He finally understood why his father could sit with this man and eat and drink together.

"I wish I had got acquainted with Brother Rong sooner," Ban Heng held up his teacup, and said, "Come on, I will use tea instead of wine, and respect Brother Rong."

"Brother Ban is polite," Rong Xia held up his teacup and touched Ban Heng's cup, raised his head and drank the tea in the cup.

"Relax, I am most impatient with the rules of drinking tea," Ban-Heng said. "Drink when you are thirsty, and drink slowly when you are not thirsty, why does one need rules."

"Ban Brother is cool," Rong-Xia raised the teapot and poured tea for the two. He turned to see Ban-Hua holding her chin with one hand and not talking. So he poured out the cold tea from her cup and added warm tea."Why doesn't Junzhu speak?"

"What?" Ban Hua blinked and waved her hand. "I'm not interested in your men's topics."

Rong Xia couldn't help but ask further, "What is the princess interested in?"

"Jewelry, the more beautiful things I see, the more beautiful things I like. "Ban Hua sighed, with emotion on her face, "Life is short. I feel distressed when I think that there are so many beautiful jewelries in the world that do not belong to me."

"Cough cough !" Ban Heng coughed several times, my sister, can't you just have a snack, and not speak. Don't you know what's your reputation like? Still, dare to say that I like tacky things like jewelry, can't even pretend to be more elegant?

───※ ·· ※─── 

After having a fight with Ban Heng, Ban Hua dragged him to go shopping with her, with the excuse of exercising his body. As soon as the siblings walked to the door, they heard some noise outside. 

The two saw that two young men were helping their father get out of a carriage. Their father was so drunk that he needed other's help to even walk.

"Sister, has our mother gone out?" Ban Heng glanced behind the door. If his father's appearance was seen by his mother, he did not know whether his mother would be angry or not.

"No, mother just said she was going to take a nap." Ban Hua glanced at Ban Heng sympathetically. As she was about to go forward with Ban Heng to help Ban Huai, another person walked out of the carriage.

"Princess, heir," Rong Xi straightened his robes, and apologetically said, "I was next to Hou Ye for a meal and accidentally let him drink a few more glasses of wine. I'm really sorry."

"The Lord has sent my father back," Ban Hua felt that this matter could not be blamed on Rong Xiao. She knew how bad her father's liquor capacity was. The only thing she didn't expect was that her father would be able to get together with Count Rong. It was like a cat and a swan playing together. It made people feel awkward. "My father is not good at holding alcohol. If he said something offensive, Count, please don't take it to your heart."

"Junzhu speaks seriously, Hou Ye has done nothing to offend," Rong Xia saw that Ban-Huai had been escorted into the sedan by the manservant, and said, "Since Hou Ye has safely arrived, I shall take my leave. "

"Bo-Ye, it's better to stay for some refreshments before leaving," Ban-Heng came over and suggested to Rong-Xia, "Bo-Ye, please." 

"How can I disturb you again....."

"Rong Bo-ye", Ban Huai, who was sitting in the sedan, stuck his head out of the window and said drunkenly," I am sure you are our friend!"

"Cough," Ban Heng coughed dryly, and said, "Yes, Bo-Ye, you are welcome!"

Ban Hua covered her face silently, turning her head, she signaled the servants to carry her father into the inner courtyard as soon as possible and leave the rest to her mother to worry about.

Rong Xia followed the siblings into the house. This was the first time he entered the Ban's house. The appearance of Ban's house was similar to what he had imagined, but there were still many differences. The mansion was luxurious and exquisite, with famous flowers and trees, carved beams, and painted buildings. If you wanted to enter the second gate, you had to pass a Jiuqu Bridge. (1) Under the bridge was a clear pond. The golden kois in the pond,swishing its tail leisurely ,looked fat and lazy. 

However, the subordinates of the Ban family turned out to be more disciplined than he thought. Unlike some people who had a relationship with the royal family, but could not even manage the subordinates despite their status.

It was Madam Hou's credit that it was this way. It was said that the princess liked Jingting Hou Furen so much that she specially asked someone to arrange marriage for her son. Fortunately, although Jingting Hou didn't accomplish anything and lived idle, he was very good to his wife. Rong Xia had also heard that Jingting Hou Furen was very smart and beautiful when he was young.

The three of them were seated in the viewing pavilion in the lake. Ban Heng was most impatient to talk to the nobilities, but after saying a few words to Rong Xia, he became close with Rong Xia, even considering him brother. There was no particular reason for this, it was just because Rong Xia's way of speaking was to his liking. Although Rong Xia is very literate, he did not hang a book bag in front of him, and his temperament was better than those of famous literary talent. He finally understood why his father could sit with this man and eat and drink together.

"I wish I had got acquainted with Brother Rong sooner," Ban Heng held up his teacup, and said, "Come on, I will use tea instead of wine, and respect Brother Rong."

"Brother Ban is polite," Rong Xia held up his teacup and touched Ban Heng's cup, raised his head and drank the tea in the cup.

"Relax, I am most impatient with the rules of drinking tea," Ban-Heng said. "Drink when you are thirsty, and drink slowly when you are not thirsty, why does one need rules."

"Ban Brother is cool," Rong-Xia raised the teapot and poured tea for the two. He turned to see Ban-Hua holding her chin with one hand and not talking. So he poured out the cold tea from her cup and added warm tea."Why doesn't Junzhu speak?"

"What?" Ban Hua blinked and waved her hand. "I'm not interested in your men's topics."

Rong Xia couldn't help but ask further, "What is the princess interested in?"

"Jewelry, the more beautiful things I see, the more beautiful things I like. "Ban Hua sighed, with emotion on her face, "Life is short. I feel distressed when I think that there are so many beautiful jewelries in the world that do not belong to me."

"Cough cough !" Ban Heng coughed several times, my sister, can't you just have a snack, and not speak. Don't you know what's your reputation like? Still, dare to say that I like tacky things like jewelry, can't even pretend to be more elegant?

Ban Hua gave him a look.He was not qualified to judge her.

Rong Xia pretended not to see the small interaction between the two brothers and sisters, but smiled: "The princess is beautiful, indeed only the most beautiful jewelry in the world can match you."

Ban Hua's suddenly smiled with her eyes curving into a crescent. A man with a beautiful face and sweet mouth surely is likable.

"Count Rong, this dim sum tastes good, try it." Ban Hua pushed a light green pastry in front of her to Rong Xiao. This dim sum looked simple, but in fact, it took a lot of costs to make. A plate of dim sum cost nearly a hundred taels of silver. It's just that she liked this, so the house would make this dish several times a month. 

"Thank you." Rong Xia took it with silver chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The pastry taste was very light, with a slight tea fragrance and... the smell of spring grass which could be found everywhere. This taste could not be easily described, but it was truly good, it tasted very good.

"It's delicious." Rong Xia took a sip of tea and wiped the corners of his mouth. "Your chef's craftsmanship is really superb."

Ban Hua looked at the four pieces left on the plate, picked one out with chopsticks, and put it on the plate again. Pushing in front of Rong Xiao, "Eat more if you like."

Rong Xia saw the reluctance in Ban Hua's eyes, and then took the chopsticks and slowly ate all three snacks with great enjoyment.

Ban Hua's mood was very complicated. She was very happy that others like what she liked. However, she only got a limited amount of dim sum for one month, when others ate four pieces,she felt a little painful.

She touched her chin. Is this the "pain and happiness" described in books?

Rong Xia stayed in Jingting Hou Mansion for more than an hour, and when he returned to his mansion, his face still had a smile.

"Count, did you encounter any good things today?" His close man-servant brought hot water and waited for him to wash his hands and wipe his face. "It's been a long time since I saw you so happy."

"Snatched a little girl's snack. It's not a good thing to eat so much." Rong Xiao wiped his hands, took a book, and lay on the soft couch, "Go and tell the kitchen to prepare less dinner."

"Yes." Xiao Si was suspicious, What's wrong with their family's Count now? He even grabbed a little girl's snacks. If this spread out, what should they do?

The Dynasty had three-day small meeting and five -day big meetings. People like Ban Huai were too lazy and didn't even want to go for a meal. Only when the big meetings happened would they go to stand in a crowd to make up for numbers.

However, this time, Ban Huai was extremely energetic at today's meeting. Not only did he comb his hair tidily, but he even kept his waist straight the whole time.

He walked into the crowd. And when he saw Count Zhongping, he threw a contemptuous look at him. Then, turned his head and went to stand with the other idle masters.

Count Zhongping was glared at by Ban Huai but he couldn't glare back, let alone hit him. His whole body was felt incomparably uncomfortable. After a while, he saw Ban Huai whispering and talking with a few masters in the other area. Ban Huai also looked around to Zhongping's side from time to time. Count Zhongping felt even angrier. These were not productive and were idle all day long. What right did the idle people have to say bad things about him?

"Ah, I heard that Junior Concubine of Wang gave him a son. Oh, people are all in their fifties, but still don't pay attention to their bodies much."

"What is this, that usually always righteous, Li Yushi went to the brothel two days ago and was seen by my little servant." "What is your little servant doing in that kind of place?"

"The wine in Baihuayuan is delicious. Can I ask the young man to buy me a few jars?"

"Shuiqing, I heard that you have bought a lot of good things recently."

"My Furen is the most gentle, but when did she control me?"

The idle Hou masters were talking about gossip, but in the eyes of Count Zhongping, they laughed and talked about him. He squeezed the slab in his hand. He was worried that in the end, he would not be able to stop from rushing over to hit Ban Huai.

"Quiet!" A eunuch walked in and said while clapping his hand, "Masters, his Majesty is here." The lobby suddenly became quiet, and the courtiers ranked in order, no longer seeing the slightest idleness just now.

After halfway through the dynasty meeting, Wang De, who was standing next to the emperor, said:  "If something is going on, you can make it known."

Ban Huai stepped out with one foot, but someone else moved faster than him.

"Your Majesty, the minister has something to play." It was Li Yushi who had been to the brothel a few days ago.

" This minister wanted to talk about in Zhongping Count's Eldest-son Xi Chongjin. During his tenure in Pingzhou, he abused his powers, showed favoritism, and pampered his subordinates. He is a moth in the court."

Ban-Huai didn't want to see Li Yushi at first. He felt that he had a sharp-mouth and a mean look. Now that he heard him speak, he felt that his sharp chin was wise, the not-so-good cheeks were also wise, he felt that the whole person was pleasing to the eye.

"Your Majesty, this matter has also been heard by this minister. As an official, this minister prays for the emperor to thoroughly investigate this matter."

This time, it was the current minister, Yan Hui, who stood up.

Although His Majesty trusted Master Shi Youxiang more, now that Yan Hui stepped forward in this incident, it seemed he would have to investigate even if he didn't plan to do it before.

Ban Huai rubbed his hands. He could barely suppress the excitement in his heart. This was really a good show, both lively and exciting.

Notes :1. A nine turned back bridge