CH 78

“Wang-daren, is there anything else?” As if Rong Xia had not noticed the embarrassment on the official’s face, he spoke very normally, “If there isn’t, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Rong-daren, take care.” That Ministry of Personnel official secretly sighed in relief. It was lucky that his superior was not ill-tempered or vindictive because what he had just said was quite offensive. An old man like himself had no business paying attention to his superior’s fiancee. If this was heard outside……

It was not his fault actually, the blame was on Fule Junzhu for being too good-looking. If a heavenly swan descended amongst a flock of chicken, anyone who was not blind would find their eyes attracted to the swan.

Moreover, whenever she went the Junzhu was always on a white horse followed by a group of guards, this was quite her trademark.

He heard the personal guards were specially selected by the old Royal Duke himself for Junzhu. Since she was young, it was not  poetry or music that she learned, but riding and shooting, kicking and fisticuff instead. He could accept riding and shooting, but kicking and fisticuff….

Wang-daren shook his head in secret. A dainty girl like this one could not possibly be actually powerful, more likely just some fancy fist and feet movements. It must be the guards’ deliberate exaggeration that made her sound like a phenomenon among women.

A beautiful woman like this, even if she was only pretending, countless people would come to her help, it was just natural.

—

Ban Hua and Akeqi had their guards between them, both have been maintaining the friendly but proper distance, neither too far nor too close. As one was a Junzhu from Daye and the other was a foreign prince, it was important to observe the proper conduct.

Ban Hua found this foreign prince’s uncertain understanding of Daye culture to be very interesting. He kept asking about custom and tradition from time to time, and Ban Hua kept answering in full smiles. Until he started to ask about poetry, music and famous literati that Ban Hua directly said, “Wangzi, maybe you misunderstood. Not everyone in Daye likes poetry and music, or philosophy. We in Daye, some like poems, some like military and army, some are interested in social and agriculture. If you ask questions on poetry to someone who doesn’t like poems, they won’t be able to explain for you.”

Du Aqi foolishly froze for a long time before he understood what Ban Hua mean. Scratching his head, he asked, “Isn’t Daye famous for placing importance on literary the first, and military the second?”

“Of course not. Our Daye His Majesty is outstanding in both literary and military. He doesn’t only value literary, but he also considers military training to be important. Your Highness the Prince has not been in Daye for long, your understanding of Daye is not thorough yet, it is natural to misunderstand.” Ban Hua smiled, “My ancestors were all military people, but His Majesty is very generous towards us.”

Actually Akeqi was not wrong, Daye had been increasingly civil-oriented. A military official was considered slightly beneath a civil official even if both were of the same rank. Literary people still learned ‘the six arts’ but most just went through the motion, the old standard that a gentleman should be ‘proficient in both literature and martial arts’ had been abandoned for a long time.

* Six Arts 六艺 = rites, music, archery, chariotry, calligraphy, mathematic.

Military officials endured the bitter cold to guard the borders, staked their lives to keep the realm safe. However in the eyes of the civil officials, this was a matter of course to take for granted. If they did well, it was what they had to do, but if any aspect fell short of expectation, the Court would react with condemnation and rebukes.

Grandfather once told her that pen was an invisible killing knife. If the civil officials at the Court targeted you, even if you had ‘flung your skull and spilled your blood’, you would still find yourself a criminal who had colluded with enemies to sell the country.

To prevent unnecessary troubles, nowadays a lot of generals stationed at the borders would send yearly gifts to the Capital so civil officials would put in some good words in front of His Majesty, otherwise their army provision and soldier wage wouldn’t come through, and the soldiers would have to freeze and starve.

Most generals cared about their troop, wanted the soldiers to live better, so they had no choice but to send gifts to please civil officials in the Capital.

What integrity, what back bone, as the esteem of military officials continued going downhill, whatever twisting had long bent, whatever fading had long gone.

This was the fact, but Ban Hua definitely would not admit it in front of a foreigner. She diverted the conversation, after talking here and there, they came to the topic of Aipo weapons.

“Junzhu, the sort of knife you mentioned is indeed a common weapon in our Aipo country. But since it is too bulky and heavy, only commoners still use it. Ever since we learned your country’s smelting technique to produce sharper blades, the nobles prefer the new kind.” Tu Aqi did not carry a knife on his body but his two guards did, and like what he said, their knives were very similar to Daye’s despite the Aipo tribe pattern engraved on the sheaths.

Ban Hua smiled, “Your country’s knife is very distinctive.”

Tu Aqi’s smile was simple and honest, revealing his gleaming white teeth.

The dazzling smile blinded Ban Hua’s eyes that she had to turn her head to the side. Then she saw Rong Xia’s figure. What was he doing there?

—

“Junzhu,” Rong Xia approached Ban Hua, he gave a salute to Tu Aqi, “Your Highness the Prince.”

“Rong-daren.” Tu Aqi returned the salute. He knew Rong Xia, his staff had told him Rong-daren was one of the few on top of the list of officials closer to the Emperor who should not be offended.

Rong Xia smiled politely at Tu Aqi, then drove his horse to be alongside Ban Hua’s. “Where are you going to, I’ll come with you.”

“Aren’t you very busy lately?” Ban Hua haven’t seen Rong Xia for several days, he kept sending things over from time to time but the person himself didn’t appear.

“A bit busy. I am new at the Ministry of Personnel, there are things that I can’t complete yet.” There was a bunch of old foxes at the Ministry of Personnel. Him occupying the Minister position at such a young age caused a lot of dissatisfaction, some opposed him openly and some defied his orders in secret. But he wouldn’t tell Ban Hua this, only lightly said, “Things are settled, I will have more time to spend with you in the future.”

Ban Hua leaned her head towards him and whispered, “Is it because many people are jealous, and hate you?”

Rong Xia froze for a while, then laughed softly. Under Ban Hua’s questioning eyes, he slowly nodded.

“I know it. Some old men are average in ability but always think highly of themselves. You are so young, good looking, and talented, it would be odd if they were happy to see you stepping on their heads.” Ban Hua tsk-ed, “For this kind of people, there is no need to give them face or they will climb up your nose to step on your face. Find an opportunity to catch their mistakes, sort them out firmly first, then give them something sweet later. They will behave in the future.”

Grandfather told him of the times he encountered arrogant pricks in the military. He would first give them a very good lesson to show them his ability, then he would find a chance to give them some face of appropriate portion, not too much and not too little. Those people would not only became obedient, but would also be grateful.

In Grandfather’s coarse language, thieves needed to be intimidated first, after a few times of sorting out they would behave.

Of course, the first condition was having the ability to sort things out.

And on this point, she had never doubted Rong Xia.

It was a bit coarse to the ear but the logic was correct. Actually Rong Xia had used the same method to handle two people, but seeing Ban Hua wholeheartedly tried to help him, Rong Xia’s mood became very good. He nodded in agreement, but kept a distressed look on his face while telling her of more things.

Like about how this person said because his upper lips were hairless so he must be incapable of solid work.

“His upper lip is so hairy but he never achieved anything himself. The beard is long but the knowledge is short. Don’t mind them. Next time I meet his son, I’ll help you sort him out.”

That other person deliberately put a wrench on his commands and still pretended innocence.

“People like him need sorting out, after a few times they will be good. His son always want us to take him along, since his father is insensible, we won’t take him out.” The idler group had standard too, not everyone was qualified to play with them.

Rong Xia’s smile grew brighter to hear that Ban Hua wanted to help him vent, but when Ban Hua turned to look at him, he quickly wiped out the smile. “Thank you Hua Hua.”

“What are you being polite for,” Ban Hua looked at him bewilderedly, “You are one of our Ban family’s. Who can bear to see one of their own being wronged?”

One of their own?

Rong Xia stared at her in a daze. The corners of his mouth rose, but he did not realise it.

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—

One other member of Ban family, Ban Huai, was in a shop. He was buying everything good, especially girls stuff, whatever caught his eye, he would take it.

“Master Duke, are you buying all these for Junzhu?” The shopkeeper was quite familiar with Ban Huai so he dared to tease with him. He would not have done it with other customers, this Royal Duke was an idler, but a very reasonable idler, he would not be angry of joking remarks.

At this moment noone in the Capital didn’t know the Duke’s daughter was engaged to Count Cheng’an. They heard this Count Cheng’an was extremely handsome, and not only he had a title, but he was also very much appreciated by the Emperor. He was indeed a good son-in-law.

“Ai,” Ban Huai sighed, he was selecting a tray full of hair dresses, “The dowry for a girl, no matter how many is still not enough.”

“Because you care for Junzhu, nothing is ever enough.” The shopkeeper said, “For people like us, it’s already generous if we can give our daughter a piece of silver hair piece.”

In his eyes Fule Junzhu was wealthy and titled, her engagement was also not bad, the Duke should be happy, why was his face so miserable?

Ban Huai knew they would not understand his feelings. He pointed at a few sets of hair dresses, “Use this material, but the design should be unique. If anyone else has worn similar thing, then forget it.”

“Alright,” The shopkeeper happily took note, he noticed Ban Huai was in bad mood. After Ban Huai left, he said to the attendant behind him, “Rich families is different, their daughters are more precious than sons.”

—

Ban Huai rode his horse slowly, he was still lost in thought when he saw his daughter just a distance away. Ban Huai pulled the rein at once, and the horse turned around.

It had just moved two steps away when there was a loud ‘clang’. A huge earthenware pot fell down, right at the spot Ban Huai was originally going to be. If he hadn’t turn around in a sudden, that pot would have smashed on his head.

The faces of Ban Huai’s guards instantly changed, their blades pulled out out, and they ran to surround the building.