CH 77.1

“Minister Shi is joking, Fule Junzhu is still in mourning, how can I bring this up in her time of grief?” Rong Xia smiled, “Zaixia cares about Junzhu, how can I let her suffer.”

Shi Chonghai smiled, “Right, right. I have forgotten that Fule Junzhu is still in mourning. It is Count Cheng’an who suffers for waiting for the other half.”

“Being able to marry Jule Junzhu is the blessing of three lifetimes. Zaixia is very blessed even with a long wait.”

Shi Chonghai had goose bumps to hear it. It was a very good answer full of righteousness that others ought to praise.

Originally everyone had the mind to taunt Rong Xia on the matter of Fule Junzhu, but as refined people with good manners, it would look vulgar to chew someone in mourning.

Shi Chonghai who had started it was now put in an awkward position, luckily other people at the table changed the topic and saved the atmosphere.

However Rong Xia was not willing to let Shi Chonghai off the hook. As if without any intention, he asked, “Minister Shi has a pair of outstanding son and daughter, wonder who would be lucky to become Minister Shi’s in-laws?”

Shi Jin was about the same age as Rong Xia but he had not taken a wife. Second Miss Shi was around 17 or 18 years old, it was not too early to talk about her marriage.

Shi Chonghai lightly smiled, “Marriage is a big matter, it can’t be done carelessly. We are taking it easy, there is no rush.”

Rong Xia said thoughtfully, “Shi-daren has a point.”

Other people at the table suddenly realised something. Rumour said Shi Chonghai had intended for his eldest son to marry Anle Gongzhu, it didn’t happen for some reason. From Shi Chonghai’s reaction today, this was not a mere rumour.

His Majesty had several daughters, but the one really valued by the Emperor and the Empress was Anle Gongzhu who was born by the Empress. Anle Gongzhu had been married once, but an emperor’s daughter was never short of marriage prospect. She was a few years older than Shi Jin, but marrying an older wife was said to be hugging gold and diamond, especially as this was a royal gold. Not to say a few years older, even if it had been ten years older, fetching a royal gold home was still a good thing.

Everyone looked at Shi Chonghai with an odd expression. So it seemed that anyone, regardless of their class and status, could sell their sons and daughters for glory.

—

Outside the Palace. The idlers who had witnessed a secret was no longer interested at spring scenery. The first thing they did after returning to the Capital was sharing the spectacular secret with family and friends. This thing called secret, when many people knew of it, it turned into a public rumour.

Within one day, the secret meeting between the Second Prince on his wedding day and the second miss of Prime Minister Shi’s had circulated all around the Capital’s upper class. The idlers were not gentle people who refrained from bad-mouthing. Moreover, it was not bad-mouthing if it was a fact.

Once spread, the Second Prince, Shi family, and Xie family were all affected. Especially for Shi Feixian, it was akin to placing her face on the ground for everyone to step on, and it was not possible for her to go out and explain.

If she tried to explain, people would say she was enraged out of embarrassment. If she didn’t explain, people would take it as a silent admission. The best person to provide an explanation was the Second Prince Jiang Luo, but Jiang Luo had never been a considerate person in his whole life. After returning to the Palace, he didn’t care of the storm outside. Shi Feixian had hurt his feelings, he cared nothing of the impact of the rumours to Shi Feixian.

At most the Emperor and the Empress would scold him if the rumours got ugly, then he would just make public appearances at some important events with Xie Wanyu. As for whatever they said about him, he was just a naïve unmarried young man in his romantic adventure, as long as the prodigal young man made amends after marriage, then he was a good man.

Moreover, as a prince there were plenty of women around him, why should he be worried of how others view him?

The thing with rumours, the more they spread the more they grew. When it came to Ban Hua’s ears, it had transformed into how Shi Feixian had seduced many men in the Capital while pretending to be pure and aloof, Shi Feixian had made silly scholars wrote poems and paintings for her, making them foolish.

Ban Hua had also been enveloped with all sort of rumours before, and she didn’t care at all. Whether Shi Feixian could be like her and ignore everything, Ban Hua didn’t know. But she was certain of one thing, from now on the label ‘high moral character’ would not be used to describe Shi Feixian anymore.

The rumours about Shi Feixian was spreading in full steam, while very few people heard of the murder of Zhao Jia. Ban Hua had never heard of it until the official of the Court of Judicature visited.

—

The Assistant to the Director of the Court of Judicature was a cultured man in his thirties. He came to ask questions about the case but his attitude towards Ban Hua was very respectful, his every word was carefully considered lest Ban Hua took offence.

T/N – From now on The Court of Judicature will be “Dalisi” because it is quite long.

Actually he really didn’t want to come to Jingting residence. Having heard the fierce Fule Junzhu had whipped the unfaithful tanhua, he whose hands couldn’t truss a chicken, was terrified of such a fiery woman. But there was no other official of sufficient level, sending a lower level one visit Jingting residence might be offensive, while a visit of the Director of Dalisi would be too heavy-handed so that asking a few simple questions might become not so simple anymore.

After a restless night of tossing and turning in bed, he finally summoned up the courage to visit the legendary violent and unreasonable Ban family.

What he didn’t expect was the guards at the gates of Ban residence were very normal. Noone gave him a sidelong glance, noone attacked him with vicious words, he was ushered inside in utmost politeness. The interior of the residence was more elaborate and sophisticated, but as a Royal Duke residence a little sophistication was expected.

The maids and the servants were all well-behaved, noone poked their heads or ran around, they looked even more conscientious than other residence’s servants. They were also clad in better clothing than other residences’ servants.

“Liu-daren, please come this way,” The steward led him into the main hall and saluted, “Please.”

Liu-daren saw Duke Jingting and his Furen on the main seats while the Shizi and Junzhu were seated on the sides. He saw no arrogance on the faces of the four, only curiousity and confusion.

“Xiaguan pays respect to the Royal Duke, Furen, Shizi, Junzhu.” Liu-daren saluted Ban Huai. Ban Huai smiled widely and told him to sit down, the bright smile made Liu-daren felt things even more unreal.

* xiaguan 下官 = This Lowly Official

After a few pleasantries, Ban Huai asked the main topic, “Liu-daren, for what reason that your noble person comes to the humble abode today, is there an important matter.”

“Dare not, dare not. Xiaguan is here uninvited is for the murder case of the Assistant Head of Ministry of Works, Zhao Jia.”

“Who, who?” Ban Huai almost thought his ears had problem, “Who was murdered?”

“Replying to the Royal Duke, it was Assistant Head of Ministry of Works Zhao Jia, Zhao-daren.” Liu-daren observed Ban Huai’s expression, his stupefied face didn’t look be faked, he seemed to really did not know. When he turned to Fule Junzhu, her face was more bewildered like she had no idea who Zhao Jia was.

Ban Huai froze for a long time before asking incredulously, “Who did he offend?”

If he hadn’t offended anyone then why had him killed? Zhao Jia’s position in Zhao clan was not high, and he only muddled through at the Ministry of Works. He was not skilled in either literature or martial arts, he usually spent his time gambling or drinking with courtesans, what good it was to kill such a person?

Ban Huai’s disdain was too obvious that Liu-daren couldn’t pretend not seeing. Liu-daren said in a lowered voice, “Zhao-daren’s corpse was found outside the red-light district by a failed scholar.”

This explanation made Ban Huai dumbfounded, was he killed in a fight for a singer girl?

“According to this failed scholar’s verbal statement, some armed guards of this noble residence passed that place. Xiaguan is here as a matter of routine enquiry.” Liu-daren had inquired clearly that the two guards were Fule Junzhu’s people, his main target for questioning was Ban Hua.

“Furen, I don’t go to such places,” Ban Huai turned to Yin-shi, “You have to believe me.”

Yin-shi never wanted to embarrass Ban Huai in front of outsiders, she smiled gently, “Qieshen believes in Fujun.”

* qieshen 妾身 = This Concubine (妾 usually refers to concubines, but even main wives called themselves qieshen). Fujun = husband.

Ban Huai squirmed in his seat, he was totally uncomfortable but dared not speak too much in front of Yin-shi’s smiling face.

“Did you say two nights ago?” Ban Hua saw her father fidgeting in discomfort, she spoke up to relief him from blame, “Liu-daren, the two guards were sent by me.”

Liu-daren secretly cried in his heart. Why should you, a decent Junzhu, sent guards to that kind of place. This put him in a difficult position, it’s wrong to ask, it’s also wrong not to ask.

“I met a woman called Yunniang that day, I sent guards because I was worried she might meet problem on her way back.” Ban Hua thought for a moment, “Count Cheng’an and his guards were also there.”

The mention of Count Cheng’an made Liu-daren convinced. He also found Ban Hua was a grounded person, not as mean and unreasonable as rumours said. He said in relief, “Please Junzhu let xiaguan know, this Yunniang, who is she and what’s her relationship with Junzhu?”

“She is…….” Ban Hua thought for a moment, how to explain what was between Yunniang and herself, “She was the one who eloped with Xie Second Gongzi.”

Liu-daren: ? ? ?

Xie Second Gongzi’s eloping partner? The Yunniang who had dug Fule Junzhu’s corner wall, the woman who hooked Xie Second Gongzi to elope together? If that was her, why would Fule Junzhu be concerned of her safety on the way home and sent guards to escort her, shouldn’t Yunniang and her be enemies?

* digging someone’s corner wall = poaching someone’s employee, or stealing someone’s lover.

Shen Yu was whipped because he withdrew from their engagement, but Yunniang who had caused Fule Junzhu a huge loss of face received no retaliation?

Ban Hua couldn’t resist laughing to see the obviously conflicted Liu-daren trying hard to maintain his composure, “Liu-daren, Yunniang is only a working girl. She was deep in trouble, and naturally would grasp a hand offered to her. I don’t really put myself in her rank.”

Liu-daren smiled drily, “Junzhu has Bodhisattva’s heart, xiaguan has great respect.”

Ban Hua rolled her eyes. What Bodhisattva’s heart, it’s just that Ban family believed ‘a grievance has a cause, a debt is owed to the lender’. Why placed the anger on someone else, the one without moral was Xie Qilin.

T/N – The Court of Judicature and Revision (Dalisi大理寺) had one Director 设正卿 (a third ranked official) and two Left and Right Assistants 大理寺少卿 (fourth ranked officials). Liu Banshan was a 大理寺少卿, I can’t find the English title for 少卿, so let’s go with Assistant to the Director.

T/N – Governmental positions and military ranks is a huge confusion for me. Not to say ancient China’s, in modern world I don’t even know if a major is higher or lower than a captain (yes, it’s that bad). On my defense, it’s not that easy to find consistent translation of ancient positions. Anyway, if you spot mistakes and can let me know the fix, I’d appreciate it!