Chapter 96: CH 88.2

The next day was Duke Cheng’s birthday, he was the Empress’s father and the Emperor’s father-in-law. Ban family was still in mourning, but Duke Cheng’s house sent several invitations, repeatedly expressed that it did not care for the custom, kept stressing that Ban family had to attend.

The earnest hospitality made it impossible for Ban family to refuse. Ban Hua put on a piece of plain dress embroidered with ginkgo leaves pattern. Ginkgo leaves symbolised fortune making it quite appropriate for a birthday, while the subdued colour fitted the still in-mourning Ban Hua.

When their carriage entered, the attendants of Duke Cheng residence had been waiting. As soon as Yin-shi and Ban Hua got off the carriage, they were ushered to the rear courtyard with great enthusiasm.

They could hear laughters as they were walking pass the second gate, it should be very lively inside. Everyone immediately stood up to welcome Yin-shi and Ban Hua.

“Finally here, we have been expecting you.”

“How is Duke Jingting?”

“We have the prescription for a supplement for mental nourishment at home, how about trying a dose?”

Yin-shi exchanging greetings with these ladies, answered each of their questions one by one. The atmosphere was cordial and lively, and it was faintly apparent that many of the ladies were trying to ingratiating themselves with Yin-shi, either deliberately or not.

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Ban Hua sat with the younger generations. As a famous female idler of the Capital, ladies closer to her were of the more outgoing sort, so they sat down together to chat. While they were chatting happily, a sweet-faced young girl approached, her face slightly reddened, she asked, “May I sit here?”

Miss Zhou, who was Zhou Changxiao’s blood sister, looked up and lightly asked, “Aren’t you the miss from Yao family. Don’t be shy, come sit here.”

T/N – (Refresher) Zhou Changxiao was Ban Heng’s friend.

Yao Ling smiled her gratitude, then carefully made her way to sit next to Ban Hua.

Watching this, Miss Zhou suddenly laughed, “Look, look, this face of yours is really attractive to young girls. Miss Yao has just returned to the Capital, and she also loves to stare at you until she blushes herself.”

Ban Hua thought this Miss Yao whose face was still quite child-like looked a bit familiar. She grabbed some nibbles from the table to put in Miss Yao’s palm, “Ignore Miss Zhou, she loves teasing cute young girls like you.”

People around them laughed. Miss Zhao was a rather quiet one among the girls, but she still wanted to comment, “Miss Zhou is not lying. Whenever you go out, haven’t you been ‘inviting cats and teasing dogs’, getting yourself a bunch of little girls swarming around, chirping sister this sister that.”

Ban Hua touched her face, her eyebrows shot up, “Can’t blame me for being beautiful, it’s destiny.”

“Let’s see how thick your skin is,” Miss Zhou pinched Ban Hua’s cheek, it was so smooth and soft that even a woman like herself wanted to pinch more and more, “The skin on the face is not thick though. You are just simply shameless.”

The crowd burst into laughters. Yao Ling stole a glance at Ban Hua, this Junzhu was too good-looking, in this world nothing looked better than her smiling face.

If she had been a man, she would have asked to marry her. She would give her the most comfortable life, let her live a leisure life, let her be forever happy and cheerful. When Ban Hua grew old in the future, she would still be a beautiful old woman.

Noticing that Miss Yao kept stealing glances at herself, Ban Hua couldn’t help laughing, “Miss Yao, what are you looking at?”

“I…….” Yao Ling twisted the handkerchief in her hand, “I am looking at your beauty.”

Ban Hua laughed at the answer, “It’s nice to hear that.”

“Ah?” Yao Ling’s mouth opened in bewilderment. Shouldn’t you be modest or shy?

“I’ve told you before right, this one is shameless, but you’re still giving her praises.” Miss Zhou beckoned to Yao Ling, “Come. Better stay away, don’t let her corrupt you.”

“Junzhu is very good,” Yao Ling added after thinking for a while, “She won’t lead me astray.”

Seeing everyone was about to laugh again, Ban Hua said, “Alright, stop making fun of a little girl. My face is thick, you all can laugh at me.”

Previously Yao Ling was still embarrassed, but as her heart moved by what Ban Hua said, she couldn’t resist looking a few more times. She felt Fule Junzhu was a very gentle person, and after Fule Junzhu said the words, the other misses stopped teasing her, they included her in the conversation from time to time. With this group of people, her initial awkwardness disappeared.

It turned out that the Capital had many interesting places, it turned out that an outwardly elegant gongzi of some family was secretly very bad. The more she listened, the more interesting it was. Yao Ling felt the days she had had since her return to the Capital were too boring, unlike the colourful life of these ladies.

“Did you live in Xuezhou?” Ban Hua suddenly remembered the owner of the noodle shop she once went with Rong Xia, he seemed to be from Xuezhou as well, “How was it there?”

“I used to hear that it used to be not very good, but since a few years ago, after the new provincial governor came, the people of Xuezhou have been having it better.” Yao Ling replied, “I went with some people to visit the provincial governor’s Furen, she is a very gentle woman.”

“Xuezhou’s provincial governor?” Miss Zhou turned to Miss Zhao, “Wasn’t he your elder brother?”

The smile on Miss Zhao’s face brightened up a few notches, “Miss Yao, how are my older brother and sister-in-law, are they thin or plump? Is my nephew well?”

Yao Ling had yet to figure out the people network in the Capital, she had no idea that Xuezhou provincial governor was Miss Zhao’s elder brother. After a moment of pause she said, “I have been to their residence only a few times, but I’ve never heard any less than good news of Governor Zhao’s health. The little son is only 2 – 3 years old, but he is very cute and smart. Before I departed for the Capital, I heard the little gongzi could already speak clearly.”

“Good then, good.” Miss Zhao’s smile was happier, she pulled Yao Ling for more of Xuezhou’s local news.

With this interlude, Yao Ling became thoroughly integrated into the small group. Before the banquet was even started, many people have switched to calling her Sister Yao instead of the formal address Miss Yao.

“Hua Hua,” Miss Zhou took Ban Hua into a corner, whispered, “About Shi family, be more careful.”

Ban Hua nodded.

Zhou family had a quite good relationship with Ban family, and with Shi family could be considered not too bad either. Shi family had suffered a huge loss of face in public this time, Miss Zhou was worried that Shi family would retaliate.

“You are good in everything, except that your personality is too direct.” Miss Zhou glanced around, “This Miss Yao Ling seemed nice, but she has been hanging out with Shi Feixian’s group since her return to the Capital. After Shi Feixian’s incident, the Seven Fairies of Bamboo Forest or Seven Talents or whatever it was, has broken up. It is wiser to be cautious of other people, and you……”

“Elder Sister Zhou, I know you are thinking for me,” Ban Hua squeezed Miss Zhou’s hands, “I won’t think too much of it.”

“Who cares wheter you think much or not,” Zhou Wenbi humphed lightly. She reached out to touch the silver dangling hairpin on Ban Hua’s temple, “Just make me worry a little less about you, and I’ll be satisfied already.”

Ban Hua gave Zhou Wenbi an ingratiating smile. A clamouring noise came from outside, like some important guests have arrived. The two of them went out to look, it turned out to be the Second Prince and his Consort. They were walking side by side with their hands linked, opposite to the rumours that their relationship was not good.

—

Once the Second Prince was inside, he gave a deep salute to his maternal grandfather and grandmother as a gesture of filial piety.

Had it not because the rumours of his messy behaviour were too aplenty, noone would believe he was a douchebag. Setting aside his character, his outer appearance was quite good. Say he hadn’t been a prince, by just relying on his face, he could still become a noble lady’s pretty man.

After paying respect, Jiang Luo was about to join the male guests sitting outside, but at the turn of the head he noticed Ban Hua among the crowd.

He moved up a few steps to the front of Ban Hua, his tone was slightly mocking, “How come you aren’t at home mourning, why are you having fun here?”

Ban Hua hated it that she could not roll her eyes now, “It’s an honour for This Humble Woman to be here to celebrate Duke Cheng’s birthday.”

“Tsk. Keep on pretending.” The Second Prince let out a insinuating laugh, then turned to walk away.

Zhou Wenbi whispered to Ban Hua, “The Second Prince dislikes you that much?”

Ban Hua’s eyebrows raised, “His brain is out of sort. I forgive him.”

The Crown Prince arrived not long after the Second Prince. Unlike the Second Prince, he was by himself without any female family member.

In contrast to the swaggering Second Prince, the Crown Prince was a refined and composed man. Ban Hua could see that Duke Cheng family preferred the Crown Prince, or it could be said they were more appreciative of this sort of grandson.

After some pleasantries, Duke Cheng’s Furen asked, “And where is the Crown Princess?”

The Crown Prince answered, “The Crown Princess is not well, so I let her rest in the Palace. But she prepared some gifts she personally made herself. Grandfather and Grandmother, please don’t dislike.”

“The Crown Princess is very honourable, how can you let her prepare gifts with her own hands?” Duke Cheng’s Furen smilingly glared at the Crown Prince, “You are too inconsiderate.”

“It’s not me being inconsiderate, the Crown Princess herself has the two of you in her heart. I couldn’t stop her.” The Crown Prince spoke slowly, and very gently. Such a man was easily liked by the elders.

Watching the scene, Ban Hua thought that had she been an elder, she would prefer a grandson like the Crown Prince too.

Pity she had no grown up grandchildren. Aside, it was possibly just her imagination but there seemed to be a problem between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, or he would have taken her to attend an occasion such as this one.

Whether the Crown Princess was really unwell, only the Crown Prince knew.

—

“Master Duke, Furen, Count Cheng’an has arrived.”

“Hurry, let him in!” Everyone knew that Duke Cheng liked Count Cheng’an very much, he treated him like his own grandson. A bright smile appeared on his face at him arriving.

When one reached the advanced age, it was inevitable that one would start to be wilful like a child again.

Rong Xia was still in the uniform of an official, he seemed to be rushing and had no chance to change. Performing a deep salute to Duke Cheng, he said, “Wanbei arrives late, please Duke Cheng forgive.”

* wanbei 晚辈 = This Younger Generation

“Stand up, stand up.” Duke Cheng laughed happily, telling him to rise, “You are the Minister of Personnel now, it’s expected that you are busy. If you are not busy, I would be angry.”

After that he carefully observed Rong Xia, “Thinner now, thinner. You should eat well even if you are busy. After you get married later, you can’t continue this way.”

Rong Xia turned at Ban Hua in the middle of the crowd, he replied with a smile, “Yes, wanbei will remember.”

Duke Cheng was pleased with the obedience, “Right, I remember that you are engaged now. Which family’s miss she is?”

“Replying to Master Duke, she is Duke Jingting’s daughter, Fule Junzhu.” The corner of Rong Xia’s lips couldn’t help curling up higher when he was saying Ban Hua’s name.

“Fule Junzhu?” Duke Cheng was a bit muddled due to his old age, but he still had some impression of Ban Hua. After a while, he nodded in approval, “This is good, this is good. Her grandmother is the number one beauty in Daye. This child is also full of spirit, it’s your luck to marry her.”

That’s right, in Duke Cheng’s heart, the Eldest Princess Dening remained the number one beauty in Daye. These younger generations were all just juvenile sprouts.

He would never acknowledge someone of their generation as a ‘Number One Beauty’.

T/N – I bet the old Duke Cheng was reminiscing his youth when Ban Hua’s grandma was still single!

“Yes, it is wanbei’s good fortune to be engaged with Fule Junzhu.” Rong Xia smiled in agreement, turned to look at Ban Hua who was making faces at him.

“Then when is the wedding?” Duke Cheng asked, “The other day, I said to the Grand Princess, I’d take my Furen to her grandchildren’s wedding. You need to move faster, don’t let me wait too long.”

T/N – Do you remember Yao Ling? That’s the 14 years old girl from chapter 66, the talented girl who painted a cockfight instead of flowers and plants. She was the daughter of Yao Peiji the Minister of Revenue.