CH 85.1

The ancients said when women rang their battle cries, men should not poke their nose in or they risk becoming the war casualties.

The Dalisi crowd unconsciously released their breaths when the battle between Fule Junzhu and Miss Shi began.

“Ban Hua, don’t run wild. The world doesn’t belong to your Ban family!” Shi Feixian said, “I won’t let you bully me.”

“Of course the world isn’t our Ban family’s, it’s His Majesty’s.” Ban Hua moved up and grabbed Shi Feixian’s arms, clipped them behind the back, and as Shi Feixian screamed, tied up the latter’s hands, “Since it’s all up to His Majesty, then you, as the suspect should go to Dalisi to explain.”

“Let me go!” Shi Feixian did not expect Ban Hua’s gut was big enough to cover the sky, she struggled but could not break free. She wanted to ask Shi Jin for help, but Ban Hua had wrenched her tightly, not letting her turn to Shi Jin, “Miss Shi, let’s go.”

Dalisi group: Running into someone’s house to grab people, tying someone up in front of her brother, Fule Junzhu’s gut…...

“Junzhu!” Shi Jin tried to block Ban Hua, but before he could touch her, she said, “Men and women should keep their distance, do you understand that?”

Everyone watched as Shi Jin withdrew his hand awkwardly, embarrassment and helplessness on his face.

Liu Banshan drily coughed, “Shi-daren please don’t worry. As long as your sister tells us everything, she can return without a problem.”

—

“You’re taking my daughter to Dalisi to interrogate, and you still say she won’t suffer?” Shi Chonghai entered the room, his face darkened as he saw his daughter’s arms were tied up behind her back, “Liu-daren, what does this mean?”

“Minister Shi, please don’t misunderstand. Since Miss Shi has refused to cooperate with Dalisi’s investigation, I have no choice but to tie her up.” Ban Hua curtseyed to Shi Chonghai, “Asking Minister Shi not to be upset.”

“This case is with Dalisi, what is Fule Junzhu doing here?” Shi Chonghai was not polite to Ban Hua, “This is not proper.”

“Minister Shi please be assured, xiaonüzi has consulted His Majesty for his guidance. Xiaonüzi has the right to be involved.” Ban Hua’s pretty eyes swept over Shi Chonghai. “If Shi-daren isn’t satisfied with xiaonüzi’s conduct, then xiaonüzi can only request Shi-daren’s forgiveness.”

That was a provocation. The Emperor did not object, could you object?

* xiao nüzi 小女子 = This Little Woman (self, humble)

Someone at the top generally exuded a kind of awe-inspiring majestic air around them. Lower ranked Dalisi officers did not even dare to look directly at Shi Chonghai, unable to withstand the fear of being in his presence.

But who was Ban Hua. She was someone who dared to act spoiled and make a fuzz in front of the Emperor, could Shi Chonghai’s bits of aura scare her? She pushed Shi Feixian to Dalisi guards and smiled a fake smile at Shi Chonghai, “Shi-daren, Miss Shi, we have to disturb you for now.”

“Fule Junzhu!”

Shi Chonghai’s expression was absolutely ugly, he reached out to pull his daughter but Ban Hua moved to blocked him, “Shi-daren, is this a show of guilt?”

“Fule Junzhu be careful with your words!”

“Since Shi-daren is not afraid of the truth, why stop us from taking Miss Shi away. It’s not good for a lady still in boudoir to bear a criminal reputation, thus it’s better to investigate and clear her name early.” Ban Hua did not budge an inch, if they let Shi Chonghai block them today, it would be more difficult to take Shi Feixian in the future.

Shi Chonghai’s face sunk as deep as water, “Fule Junzhu really intends to do this?”

Ban Hua said, “It’s not what I want, it is Dalisi’s process.”

Shi Chonghai turned away from her, asking at Liu Banshan, “Liu-daren, is this how you Dalisi handle the case?”

There was threat in his eyes, Liu Banshan was only a third-ranked Dalisi official, he simply would not dare to go against him.

“Shi-daren,” Liu Banshan smiled lightly, wrapped his hand for a salute to Shi Chonghai, “It is indeed Dalisi’s procedure, please Shi-daren forgive.”

Shi Chonghai narrowed his eyes at Liu Banshan, Liu Banshan looked back at him respectfully, the smile on his face did not falter.

“Daren, Count Cheng’an requests to meet.”

“Not meeting!” Shi Chonghai’s face darkened to hear the three words Count Cheng’an, “Ask Count Cheng’an to please return on his own.”

“Wait, wait.” Shi Chonghai looked at his weeping daughter. Thinking of the consequences of letting the matter going too far, he sullenly said, “Let him in.”

A daughter was important, but Shi family was more important.

—

Ban Hua did not expect Rong Xia would follow her here. She turned to look outside, Rong Xia in a light-coloured brocade robe was striding in. As far as she could remember, Rong Xia seldom walked this fast.

“Minister Shi,” Rong Xia arched his hands to Shi Chonghai as he came into the inner hall, “Xiaguan is here  without an invite, please Minister Shi forgives the nuisance.”

“Dare not.” Shi Chonghai replied flatly, “Rong-daren is His Majesty’s favoured person, how dare Shi-mou put a blame.”

* -mou = This Person (humble). Shi-mou = This Shi Person.

“Shi-daren saying so, how will xiaguan be at ease?” Rong Xia moved to stand next to Ban Hua, and said with a slight smile, “Xiaguan received His Majesty’s order to assist Dalisi investigate the case of the attack on Duke Jingting conclusively.”

“Oh?” Shi Chonghai raised his eyebrows, “Rong-daren is the Minister of Personnel, what is this about being in charge of Dalisi?”

“It is not being in charge of Dalisi, but to assist.” Rong Xia replied. “It is an official’s duty to help His Majesty sharing the burden, it has nothing to do with department.”

“Father, it’s not me. I did nothing like that.” Shi Feixian struggled more with Rong Xia being there. “I am being wronged. This cheap Ban Hua sets me up.”

“Miss Shi,” The smile on Rong Xia’s face has completely vanished, “From the beginning, this case is with Dalisi. Your suspect status is based on witness testimony and material evidence, what does it have to do with Fule Junzhu?”

Shi Feixian dazedly look at Rong Xia, “You don’t believe me?”

“Zaixia believes the evidence, and believes Dalisi’s investigation.” Rong Xia cupped his hands to Shi Feixian, “Zaixia has one more thing to say to Miss Shi, please Miss Shi not be offended.”

“What do you want to say?” Shi Feixian felt somewhat hollow. In front of this handsome but ruthless man, she was a joke.

“A person should be wise with their speech and action.” Rong Xia’s tone was slightly cold, “Zaixia’s fiancee is a good lady. Where does the word cheap come from, Miss Shi needs to speak carefully in the future.”

Shi Feixian was stunned, so what he wanted to say was to defend Ban Hua?

She was tied up behind her back, her courtyard invaded, scourged all over, wasn’t all of these brought by Ban Hua?

If not because of Ban Hua, where was today’s humiliation from?

“Miss Shi, have to ask you to bear this one.” Right after speaking, Rong Xia ordered the guards outside, “Take the person away.”

“You…..” Shi Chonghai took a step forward.

“Shi-daren, xiaguan advises you not to disobey the decree.” Rong Xia paused his steps, turned back at Shi Chonghai. There was a warning in his next sentence, “The silenced man used to be a steward at Hui-wang’s residence.”

What flashed in Shi Chonghai’s mind was unknown, but his face drastically changed. He looked at the pleading daughter, let out a long sigh, then turned away to avoid her eyes.

“Father?” Shi Feixian could not believe her father looked away. He would not help her?

She looked around in panic, her eyes fell on Shi Jin, “Big Brother, I am wronged, this is really not my doing.”

Shi Jin wanted to respond but seeing his father shaking his head slowly, his opened mouth was closed again with difficulty. But he did not avoid Shi Feixian’s begging eyes, he walked up to her, gently touched the top of her head, “Sister, please calm down. Father and I will bring you out very soon.”

Shi Feixian wanted to tell them, she did not want to be taken away, she wanted them to stop these people from taking her away.

But she knew, in the face of the clan’s interest, she was no longer important. She should have understood this since she was a child, she should have learned to scheme and to plot, she should have mastered the art of controling the rear courtyard. Mother had been telling her, as a daughter of Shi family, she could not be wilful.

Both of them was born in nobility, why was Ban Hua allowed to be unrestrained? Did Ban family not need Ban Hua to gain a good name, to grasp fame and power for the family?

T/N – Ban Hua started a battle cry with Shi Feixian reminded me of a song. Please allow me to link you to Youtube clips of an Aussie singer, Guy Sebastian. His song Battle Scars, and Before I Go that I like so much.