CH 89.2

“This way, Minister Yan, please.”

“This way, Minister Shi, please.”

Yan Hui and Shi Chonghai arrived not long after. They sat down at the same table after saluting the Crown Prince.

The strange atmosphere at that table made the poor heir so suffocated that he couldn’t swallow. It was until his old man came and sat at the main seat between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince that he was able to let out a sigh of relief. Whatever was in the mind of everyone at the table, at the presence of his father, each of these people had to show a smile.

Duke Cheng’s personality had reverted to be child-like. Since the banquet started, he kept on urging his two maternal grandsons and Rong Xia to eat more, ordering servants to serve them more food. Because he only talked to his favourites and ignored everyone else, the heir had to take care of the people his father left out.

After the meal, Duke Cheng suddenly said, “Little Rong, let me see your fiancee. It was too crowded in the rear courtyard, I didn’t have a good look.”

Duke Cheng’s Shizi inwardly cried in distress. This was a junzhu, not some cats or dogs for display. But he had no choice, he sent people to invite Fule Junzhu from the rear courtyard with an apology.

* Shizi = the heir. Junzhu = princess of second rank (the rank below the emperor’s daughters).

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Ban Hua had finished eating, she was chatting with some lady friends when Duke Cheng’s granddaughter came over to apologise, saying her grandfather wanted to see her.

Considering Duke Cheng’s advanced age, Ban Hua agreed to follow her.

“Terribly sorry,” Duke Cheng’s granddaughter smiled bitterly as she led Ban Hua to the main hall of the inner courtyard, “Grandfather has become similar to a child these recent years, and his memory has also regressed. If he says something offensive, Junzhu must not take it to the heart.”

Ban Hua hurriedly supported Duke Cheng’s granddaughter who was bowing in apology, “The house with elders is the house with treasures. Sister still has your grandfather and grandmother around, it is a real blessing.”

Recalling of the Grand Princess who used to spoil Ban Hua so much, Duke Cheng’s granddaughter was unsure whether to comfort Ban Hua or to change the topic.

The two soon arrived at the main hall, Duke Cheng’s granddaughter took Ban Hua inside. The hall was very lively with conversations and laughters.

“Miss is here.” A servant in blue dress came up and saluted Ban Hua, “Please come this way.”

The servants opened the curtain for them, Ban Hua went inside and saw Duke Cheng and his wife at the main seats of a table. The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and Rong Xia were also there, Ban Hua was a bit confused of what was going on.

“Come, come.” Duke Cheng’s wife was a very kind old lady, she smiled, “Sit next to me.”

The maids came with tea and snacks, Ban Hua was being coaxed like a child.

“I know this girl is very clever.” Duke Cheng laughed in satisfaction, he turned to tell Rong Xia, “Such a good girl, you must treat her well.”

Rong Xia’s and Ban Hua’s eyes met. Rong Xia laughed, “Wanbei will definitely treat Junzhu well.”

* wanbei 晚辈 = This Younger Generation (referring to self)

The Crown Prince laughed, “You will be my cousin’s husband in the future. If you are not good to Ban Hua, I won’t forgive you.”

The Second Prince drank his tea morosely. He was an impulsive man but he understood he had to control his temper in front of the elderly grandfather. He had to watch his words and actions if he didn’t want to kneel at the Imperial Temple.

“Brother Crown Prince, Count Rong won’t dare to bully me.” Ban Hua laughed lightly, “He can’t beat me.”

“Your grandmother has also said something like this.” Duke Cheng suddenly said, “That time His Majesty was worried about her marrying the old Duke Jingting, but she said that as the daughter of the noblest man, who dared to bully her? But your grandfather treats your grandmother very well, sort of living up to her words.”

“Live your life well,” Duke Cheng’s eyes were both muddy and clear at the same time. Glancing at the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, he pulled Rong Xia to himself. Then he told Ban Hua, “He is different from your grandfather, but he will be good to you, don’t worry.”

Ban Hua was stunned. She rose to curtsey the old man, “Many thanks Duke Cheng, wanbei is not worried.”

She was telling the truth. Life was unpredictable, who knew what tomorrow would bring? As long as her family was safe and sound, what else she needed to worry about?

“It’s good not to worry.” Duke Cheng smiled a childish smile. He let go of Rong Xia’s hand and yawned, “I am sleepy.”

The Crown Prince and the Second Prince stood up, “Grandfather, please take a good rest. Grandsons won’t disturb you resting.”

“En.” Duke Cheng grabbed his wife’s hand, in his old and hoarse voice, he said, “Come, Wife. Let’s go to sleep.”

Ban Hua looked at the old couple with their linked hands, she couldn’t help laughing.

—

The four of them left the main hall, the Second Prince glanced at Ban Hua and Rong Xia, “It’s late now, This Prince is going back to the Palace.”

“Your Highness the Second Prince, please take care.” Rong Xia stepped forward, placed himself in front of Ban Hua and saluted. The Second Prince looked at Ban Hua behind Rong Xia, snorted twice, and left without looking back.

The Crown Prince smiled gently at the two, “Second Brother is straightforward, you should not take it to the heart.”

“It’s fine, I am used to him.” Ban Hua’s eyebrows were up, “I am going back to the female guest area, Mother is waiting for me there.”

“I’ll go with you.” Rong Xia said, “You haven’t been here much, I am more familiar with Duke Cheng residence.”

The Crown Prince smiled and waved, “Go. I’ll find Uncle for a chat.”

Ban Hua and Rong Xia saluted the Crown Prince and left to the direction of the female guest area.

“You are here often?” Ban Hua found Rong Xia to be really familiar with Duke Cheng residence, he was not talking empty.

Rong Xia nodded, “The Old Madam and my maternal grandmother was very close when they were young. After my parents and my brother passed away, the Old Madam was worried that I was not doing well on my own, she took me here to play quite often. Duke Cheng’s grandchildren and I call each other brothers in private.”

No wonder His Majesty trusted Rong Xia so much. He was the orphan raised under the eyes of the Emperor’s father-in-law, His Majesty must be clear of his character and personality.

“I am sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up the unfortunate thing.” Ban Hua was a bit ashamed, if she had known this was related to Rong Xia’s painful past, she wouldn’t have asked.

“It’s alright. It’s all the past, there is no problem talking about it.” Rong Xia smiled, “Moreover, everyone at Duke Cheng residence treats me very well. There is nothing to be sad about.”

The corners of Ban Hua’s lips twitched, for a moment she didn’t know what to say.

“We are almost there.” Rong Xia suddenly stopped walking, he turned to Ban Hua, “Hua Hua.”

“En?” Ban Hua looked up without thinking. She could see her reflection in Rong Xia’s pair of beautiful eyes. Ban Hua became somewhat flustered.

“Marry me after the mourning, would you?”

Ban Hua was stunned. She stood still, not knowing what to say.

Seeing her hesitation, Rong Xia smiled gently, reached out to touch the place between her eyebrows, “Get inside. The courtyard for female guests is just after this door, it’s not appropriate for me to go.”

Ban Hua turned around in a daze. She halted after a few steps, and turned back to him. Rong Xia was still at the same spot, his smile for her was like the spring breeze. Ban Hua paused.

Rong Xia saw her not moving, thinking that she still had something to say to him, he walked up, “What is it?”

“Nothing.” Ban Hua stood on a tiptoe, she touched the place between his eyebrows and smiled, “Giving it back to you.” After that, she turned away and ran inside.

Rong Xia touched the place between his own eyebrows, and he couldn’t stop himself from laughing.

“Your Highness the Second Prince.” Rong Xia said to the direction of the person standing in the corner, “Aren’t you going back to the Palace?”

“This Prince doesn’t report to you.” The Second Prince was leaning under a tree, watching Rong Xia without any expression. “It’s really unexpected that the elegant and jade-like Rong-gongzi who treats women like water has such a tender side.”

Rong Xia smiled, “The fair lady is the gentleman’s dream. Xiaguan is fond of Fule Junzhu, naturally xiaguan treats her differently from other women.”

* xiaguan 下官 = This Lowly Official (self)

“Is it so.” The Second Prince wrapped his arms around his chest. “Pity the hearts of all talented ladies in the Capital. In your eyes, they can’t compare to a woman’s mortal flesh.”

“Xiaguan is quite surprised to learn that Your Highness feels that way.” Rong Xia’s smile was vague, “It’s indeed the fact that many women don’t have the appearance of Fule Junzhu’s. Xiaguan is lucky to be liking a beautiful and lively woman. What is there to pity?”

Jiang Luo knew Rong Xia was mocking his own love of beauty, he snorted coldly, “So many words. In reality you are just a hypocrite who salivates over beauty.”

Rong Xia calmly said, “Your Highness is wrong on this. The one xiaguan likes is Fule Junzhu, and she happens to be a rare beauty.”

“Lies.” Jiang Luo disliked scholars for their ability to talk white into black and black into white, then convince the world to swallow it all without question. “Rong-daren is very good at talking. Is this how you talk to His Majesty and the Crown Prince?”

“His Majesty is the sovereign, and the Crown Prince is the heir apparent, xiaguan doesn’t lie in front of them.” Rong Xia cupped his hand, “Of course, xiaguan doesn’t speak falseness in front of the Second Prince either.”

“Fine. No need to pretend to my face.” Jiang Luo imitated a cutting throat motion, “Sooner or later the tail of a fox will reveal itself.”

Rong Xia flatly laughed, arched his hands in a salute to Jiang Luo.

At the bland expression on Rong Xia’s face, Jiang Luo turned away and left. His scorn of Rong Xia has grown more. A man with such a steady composure could not be just that simple and elegant man as seen by everyone else. He did not get how Rong Xia was able to make the scholars looked up to him so much that even his father and the Crown Prince could not stop praising.

This was a man with a great ambition. If he was to ascend to be the next emperor, this was a person he could not spare.

—

Ban Hua leaving with Duke Cheng’s granddaughter was noticed by some people, but despite the countless conjectures in their heart, noone asked her questions when she returned. In particular, the Second Prince’s consort Xie Wanyu, who since they were both little girls had never been in a good relationship with Ban Hua. Shi Feixian’s incident had reduced some of her animosity but she was still looking forward to Ban Hua obediently bowed to her to vent the remaining ill-will.

She had intended to make things difficult for Ban Hua, but as Ban Hua was taken away after the banquet, she could only swallow the raw anger. Nevertheless, when she remembered how often she was made suffocated with anger, Xie Wanyu still could not let it go.

The only way to relieve it was to find Ban Hua to lash out.

“Fule Junzhu,” Xie Wanyu sipped the tea, “Haven’t seen you for a while, you’ve lost some weight.”

“Perhaps it’s because I have been eating less,” Ban Hua smiled innocently, “It’s my fault to make Wangfei worried.”

Xie Wanyu smiled coldly, “Yes, ever since I entered the Palace, I have never stopped worrying about you.”

This sounded like the exchange of a pair with a connection, but many knew the connection was a combative one. Furthermore, the Wangfei usually came out short.

It was clear that the Second Prince Wangfei was seeking revenge, pity that Fule Junzhu had a truly strong mental capacity. In face of Wangfei’s provocation, she had remained unfazed, keeping up the attitude of playing it dumb.

The Second Prince Wangfei could not do anything to Ban Hua because she had His Majesty and the Empress backing her. Wangfei’s status was higher, but as the daughter-in-law of the royal family, she still needed to please the Emperor and the Empress.

As long as Ban Hua did not respond to the provocation, Second Prince Wangfei had no excuse to flare up.

From this, it could be seen that status was not everything, the crucial part was still whom the royal couple favoured. The relationship between Wangfei and the Second Prince was not great, one of her brothers was expelled and still remained expelled, the other brother was disabled and was still so. Even if Wangfei wanted to exert her authority, noone feared her.

There was only one way for her if she wanted to oppress Ban Hua.

The Second Prince had to get to the throne so she could become the empress. When that happened, Ban Hua was hers to do as she wished.

Others knew this, and Xie Wanyu herself also understood. When she saw Ban Hua was not intimidated, she stopped humiliating herself and turned away to talk to the other noble ladies. Her heart could regain the peace and balance through their flattering.

From the beginning to the end, Yin-shi did not put in any word. In her opinion, childish bickerings did not need her to speak up. When Hua Hua married into Count Cheng’an’s estate in the future, there would be many more ungracious people to encounter, she could not help Hua Hua forever.

—

Duke Cheng’s birthday banquet was very lively, and it also ended beautifully. His two maternal grandsons were there to congratulate him, important Court officials came to show their regards, and His Majesty sent special envoys to bring him birthday gifts, properly giving Duke Cheng some face.

In the recent years, only one other occasion was comparable to this banquet, it was the Grand Princess’ birthday when she was still alive. Now the Grand Princess was dead while Duke Cheng was still living, his daughter was the current Empress, and he had the Crown Prince as his maternal grandson.

Duke Cheng estate had more weight than Duke Jingting estate.

However, when Ban family was leaving, the masters of Duke Cheng establishment were at the gate to personally see them off. The attitude of the Empress’ maternal family reflected the Empress’ attitude, everyone caught on the point.

In the eyes of the sovereigns, Ban family was still the one with the great favour.

—

That night, after Duke Cheng’s birthday banquet ended, all of a sudden thunder hit the sky, and clamouring sound was heard from the Palace.

His Majesty was seriously ill and had vomited blood!