Under the bright moonlight, Ban Han and Rong Xia stepped into the Qinzheng Hall side by side. Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Under the gaze of all the officials, Rong Xia held Ban Han's hand tightly and said to the crowd: "Madam has helped me a lot in the past year. Without her, I wouldn't be who I am today. I can't be the only one receiving the gifts from all the officials. "
"Your Majesty, this gift …" An official wanted to say how could a woman receive the gift with a man, but a general came out of nowhere and covered his mouth. He widened his eyes and cursed in his heart. These generals were too rude.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty. Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty. "Zhao Zhong lifted his robe and knelt down in front of the two.
After he knelt down, countless other generals followed suit. The civil officials who were friends with Rong Xia all knelt down willingly.
The ground was cold. Shi Jin knelt on the ground and looked up at the man and woman standing under the moonlight. Then he slowly lowered his head.
From now on, he would be the official and she would be the Empress. He couldn't have any delusions.
Ban Han and Rong Xia didn't immediately move into the main palace. Instead, they lived in a side hall of the Great Moon Palace. Ban Han had been to the Great Moon Palace many times, but this was the first time she lived here. Even after midnight, she didn't fall asleep.
"Huahua?"
"Did I wake you up?"
"No," Rong Xia pulled her into his arms, "I can't sleep either."
"Then tell me a story," Ban Han leaned into Rong Xia's arms, "Tell me a story that starts with a sweet beginning and ends with a happy ending."
"Okay."
"It's said that there's a strange stone in the land of Shu. It has a big head and a small body, but it can stand on top of a mountain. A passerby passed by and was shocked when they saw it … "
Before the story was finished, Ban Jin had already fallen into a deep sleep. Rong Xia kissed the corner of her lips, closed his eyes, and fell asleep while smelling the fragrance of her hair.
Rong Xia had never dreamed since he was a child. But tonight, he had a strange dream. He stood on a frozen lake. A little girl dressed in fluffy clothes stood in front of him and looked at him with her big eyes, "Brother, can you take me to the ice to play?"
He wanted to say that it was dangerous on the ice, but the face of the little girl gradually changed into Ban Han .She smiled at him, and his heart softened. But in the next moment, Bi 'an disappeared. He looked around in panic, only to see the thick fog and the empty surroundings.
"Caw caw!" Rong Xia opened her eyes and turned to look beside her. It was empty and there was no one there.
"Come!"
"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
"Empress"
"Your Majesty, the empress," Wang by De by De Translation. by Empress by By Wang Wang by by. Wang De saw that Rong Xia's expression was not right and said, "Niangniang said that you haven't been sleeping well these days, so she didn't let us come in to disturb you."
"I know. Come in and help me wash." Rong Xia rubbed his forehead, "How long has the Empress been gone?"
"About two cups of tea," Wang De hesitated, "Your Majesty, if you have something to ask Niangniang, nubi will go and ask Niangniang."
"No need," Rong Xia hesitated, "The Empress has the final say in this palace. Let her go."
"Yes." Wang De heard this and confirmed Ban Han's supreme status.
Ban Han sat below the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager looked haggard, but there were no flaws in her etiquette. But Ban Han could feel that the Empress Dowager was not as close to her as before.
"Little girl," the Empress Dowager's smile was more polite than intimate, "I haven't seen you in a year. You are more dignified than before."
"Niangniang is joking with niece?" Ban Han took a sip of tea, "Since childhood, when have I ever been dignified?"
"How have I treated you these years?" The Empress Dowager did not care about her excuses and asked directly, "Have I ever treated you badly?"
"Niangniang treats me like your own child. You have never treated me badly." Ban Han shook her head.
"Then tell me, why did you join with Rong Xia to force the Empress Dowager to abdicate?" The Empress Dowager was not without resentment towards Ban Han and Rong Xia, "This is how you repay me?"
Ban Han did not speak.
"Now that things have come to this, I have nothing more to ask," The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly. She looked at Ban Han with red eyes, "I know you have a lot of face in front of the new Emperor, so can you agree to a request of mine?"
"Please speak, niangniang."
"Can you ask the new Emperor to let Luo 'er go?" The Empress Dowager tightly gripped the handkerchief in her hand, "I know he has done many wrong things, but the biggest mistake is on me. I did not teach him well. I can promise that as long as you spare his life, I will not let him do anything rash again … … "
"Why should I?"
Xie Wanyu suddenly pushed open the door and walked in. She looked at the Empress Dowager with resentment, "Why should you spare his life after he has done so many evil things? Just because the blood of the Jiang Dynasty flows in his veins, other people's lives are not lives and should be at his mercy?"
"Empress Dowager, you have a son, everyone in the world also has a son. When Jiang Luo killed them, did he ever think that these people's parents would also be sad?" Xie Wanyu's eyes were red and her voice carried a bit of satisfaction, "Jiang Luo's ending today is all because of his own actions. He deserves it!"
"Madam Xie, you … …" The Empress Dowager did not expect Xie Wanyu to suddenly appear. She sat in a daze in her chair, unable to refute a single word.
"Empress Dowager, I am very grateful that you protected my life from Jiang Luo." Xie Wanyu knelt in front of the Empress Dowager and kowtowed three times, "But on this point, I will not agree with you."
She climbed up from the ground and turned to bow respectfully to Ban Han, "Many thanks for niangniang's help last night."
Originally, she was going to be locked up in the Imperial Prison like Jiang Luo. However, because Ban Han said a few words, she and the other female members of the imperial harem were all brought into a palace hall. Although it was a bit crowded inside, the room was at least clean. There were also people who delivered hot water and food. It was countless times better than the Imperial Prison.
"Jiang Luo's wrongdoings have nothing to do with you female members of the imperial harem." Ban Han saw that Xie Wanyu was full of depression and had fine lines at the corners of her eyes. He felt a bit conflicted. He did not expect her to become like this.
Xie Wanyu forced a smile and said self-mockingly, "Two years ago, I was still proud that I was about to marry into the imperial family. You finally had to bow to me. I didn't expect that I would make a mess of my life. But you … … "
Thousands of years later, there would still be people who knew who Ban Han was. She would probably be a pitiful person in the history books. It was uncertain whether she would even leave behind a family name.
"There is no point in talking about this anymore." Xie Wanyu bowed slowly to Ban Han, "I will take my leave."
Ban Han looked at her departing figure, his expression somewhat moved.
"Huahua, I … …"
"Niangniang," Ban Han interrupted the Empress Dowager and said directly, "Rong Xia is my man."
The Empress froze. What did she mean?
"He is willing to listen to me because he treats me well. But I will not abuse this kindness, especially if I make a request that does not benefit him." Ban Han stood up from the chair and bowed slowly to the Empress Dowager, "He treats me well and I want to protect him. How can I harm his interests because of an outsider?"
"Please forgive me, Niangniang. I cannot help you with this." She turned and prepared to leave, but the Empress Dowager grabbed her wrist.
"Huahua, I am begging you. I am begging you." The Empress Dowager grabbed her arm and knelt in front of her. This woman, who had been in the limelight all her life, threw away her elegance and face. She only wanted to save her son's life.
"Niangniang," Ban Han looked at the disheveled Empress Dowager and pushed her hand away, "For the sake of the public, for the sake of the people, I cannot agree to your request. For personal reasons, I will not allow my husband to keep the previous emperor and cause more trouble for him in the future. Today, even if you continue to kneel here, I will not agree to your request. "
"You are truly so cruel?" The Empress Dowager screamed as she grabbed Ban Han's skirt, "Why is your heart so cruel, why?"
Ban Han ignored the Empress Dowager's scolding and said calmly, "Don't worry. After the ascension ceremony, I will have His Majesty confer you the title of Empress Dowager. You will live in another palace and will not suffer any hardship."
"And the Crown Prince," Ban Han paused, "His Majesty will not take his life. As long as he is honest, he will live a life of wealth and glory."
The Empress Dowager weakly let go of Ban Han's skirt and sobbed.
"Niangniang, if I were you, I would not make a fuss at this time. If you continue to make a fuss and offend His Majesty, I am afraid that even the Crown Prince's life will be lost."
The Empress Dowager looked at Ban Han in shock. She did not think that Ban Han, who only knew how to eat, drink, and play, would say such words.
"Niangniang, do you know how my grandfather passed away?" Ban Han lowered his head to look at the Empress Dowager. Her eyes were bright and clear as if she knew everything, but also as if she was simply asking the Empress Dowager a question she did not know.
The Empress Dowager sat on the ground in a daze. Even after Ban Han left, she did not come back to her senses.
Originally, she did not know how her uncle died. However, after His Majesty fell ill, she gradually guessed the truth. Why did Ban Han ask this? Did she … already know?
She felt chills all over her body. Ban Yu … when did he find out?
When Ban Han returned to the side hall of the Great Moon Palace, Rong Xia, dressed in black, was sitting in front of a desk and reading some official documents. However, after interacting with Rong Xia for a long time, Ban Han could tell at a glance that he was pretending because he did not look like this when he was reading.
"Huahua, you've come back?" Rong Xia stood up and pulled Ban Han to sit beside him. Then, he spread out the auspicious days calculated by the Imperial Astronomer. "The Imperial Astronomer said that five days from now is a good day, suitable for holding the coronation ceremony. They calculated three days for the coronation ceremony. One is twelve days from now, one is the eighth of the next month, and the last one is two months from now. I think that twelve days from now is a good day. What do you think? "
Ban Han saw that Rong Xia had made notes on these dates. He nodded and said, "I don't know much about these things. It's fine if you think it's suitable."
"I'm in a hurry to have everyone in the world call you the Empress." Rong Xia kissed the tip of her nose. "Next month is too long. I can't wait."
"Wouldn't it be better for everyone in the world to call me Queen?" Ban Han said casually. He played with the booklet written by the Imperial Astronomer in his hand.
Rong Xia chuckled. He hugged her and sat her on his lap. "How about I call you Queen? Everyone in the world calls me Emperor, and you are my Queen. I'm the Emperor who is second only to one person and above everyone else. "
"Shameless." Ban Han rubbed his cheeks and jumped off his lap. "I have a headache just looking at these things. You should worry about it yourself."
"Where are you going?" Rong Xia grabbed her hand.
"I'm going out of the palace to see my family." When it came to her family, Ban Han's eyes lit up. "I haven't seen them for almost a year. I wonder how they are doing now?"
"Don't worry. I'll send people to protect them." Rong Xia stood up. "I'll go with you."
"Don't." Ban Han hurriedly pushed him back. "I know your intentions, but it's not suitable for you to go out of the palace right now. Jiang Luo left behind a mess for you to deal with. Moreover, if this matter spreads out, it will be said that our Ban Family is monopolizing power. How can our Ban Family be justified? "
Rong Xia: … …
He clearly intended to bring glory to the Ban Family. Why did it sound so different in Huahua's mouth?
"Our family wants to be prominent and lazy. We want to be a rich family that no one dares to offend. However, we don't want to be a distant relative who manages everything. This kind of thing requires too much brain power, just like my father and younger brother … …" Ban Han coughed. She felt that when she spoke, she should leave some face for her family. "You know what I mean."
Rong Xia couldn't help but laugh. "Don't talk nonsense. Father-in-law and younger brother Heng are very good."
"That's right. The two of them are the top rich families in the capital." Ban Han clicked her tongue. "Okay, it's settled. You should send a few more respectable attendants to follow me out of the palace. This is also giving face to my maternal family."
After careful consideration, Rong Xia called over Du Jiu, Wang De, and two of his trusted aides. He had them accompany Ban Han to Jingting Gongfu. Ban Han hadn't held the coronation ceremony yet. However, because of Rong Xia's attitude towards Ban Han, the servants in the Department of Household Affairs were eager to curry favor with their new mistress. They prepared carriages as fast as possible. The number of bodyguards, eunuchs, and maids accompanying them was arranged according to the rank of the Empress.
Ban Han didn't object to this arrangement. At this time, her position was more stable. No one dared to offend the Ban Family.
Before stepping onto the carriage, Ban Han asked: "When did my family move back to Jingting Gongfu?"
"Niangniang, last night, His Majesty arranged for people to clean up Jingting Gongfu and then welcomed Duke and Furen back to the fu." Wang De bowed and replied, "Niangniang, the gifts His Majesty prepared have been packed. You can leave now."
"Gifts?" Ban Han paused. So Rong Xia had prepared gifts. As a daughter, she only wanted to see her family and forgot about the gifts.
"En, let's go."
"Let's go!"
Jingting Gongfu. The three members of the Ban Family sat in the courtyard. The three of them had dignified expressions. No one spoke. The fu was very clean. It was almost exactly the same as it was before the confiscation. But right now, the focus wasn't on the fu, but on their minds.
They had chosen a talented, handsome, and considerate man for their daughter. They had thought that they would be able to live a peaceful life for a few years. Who knew that not long after, Jiang Luo would ascend the throne and their family's title would be removed?
This wasn't a big deal. In any case, they had already mentally prepared themselves. The main point was … how did Rong Xia collude with the rebel army in the blink of an eye?
In the blink of an eye, Rong Xia became the leader of the rebel army. He even led the army into the capital and became the new Emperor.
Last night, the people who welcomed them back to the fu kept calling them His Majesty and Niangniang. This was the first time they had seen what it meant to be more absurd than fiction.
"Father, do you think I'm dreaming?" Ban Heng stared blankly at Ban Huai, "I've become the Emperor's brother-in-law?"
Ban Huai pinched his arm. After hearing his scream, he shook his head with certainty, "You're not dreaming."
"What are you doing?" Yin Clan slammed the table, "Do you think it's easy to become the Emperor's father-in-law?" Since ancient times, how many Empresses' maternal families had courted death? In the end, not only did they court death, but they also courted death with their entire families.
Ban Huai and Ban Heng both bowed their heads in obedience.
"Before Huahua married him, none of us could tell that he had such intentions. This person's scheming is something neither of us could have imagined …"
"If even we thought of it, how could his rebellion succeed?" Ban Huai retorted in a low voice, "It's normal that we couldn't see through it."
"If you shut your mouth now, I won't treat you as a mute."
Ban Huai, "…"
"A scheming Emperor. How many tricks does Huahua have to play with him?" Yin Clan couldn't help but mock, "Can she beat him?"
Ban Heng felt that his mother was quite fierce. Even at this time, she didn't want their family to bask in the glory of the Imperial Family. She only wanted his sister to suppress the new Emperor. Her mindset was different from that of other women in the harem.
"I'm not bragging, but my sister can easily beat up two Emperors." Ban Heng proudly raised his chin, "I heard from those people yesterday that my sister has been on the battlefield and is highly respected by the soldiers."
"If you were half as capable as your sister, I wouldn't have to worry so much!" Yin Clan turned to Ban Heng, "Look at you. You have the nerve to say that you're Huahua's younger brother. Don't you think you're embarrassing your sister?"
"It's been more than ten years. You can't expect me to pick it up all at once, right?" Ban Heng looked at Yin Clan pitifully, "Mother, I'm your biological son."
"If you weren't my biological son, I would have thrown you out long ago." Yin Clan took a deep breath, "Alright, you father and son, stop fooling around. There are two things I must remind you of."
"First, in the future, no matter who comes to you for help, don't agree so easily."
"Second, Heng 'er's wife must be chosen carefully. Our Ban Family won't mistreat our daughter-in-law, but we can't let our daughter-in-law implicate the whole family. "Yin Clan looked at Ban Heng," Don't be seduced by any flower girl and do anything shameful. "
"Mother, don't worry," Ban Heng said honestly, "I'm used to seeing my sister's face. In my eyes, all the women in the world are ordinary."
"Nonsense." Yin Clan raised her eyebrows, "A woman's beauty doesn't lie in her appearance. If you use this kind of attitude to look at a girl, you might as well not get married. You don't want to ruin a good girl."
Ban Heng's expression became serious, "Mother, I was just joking. I didn't mean that …"
"Master, Madam, the Imperial Concubine has come to see you." The housekeeper ran in with a face full of joy, "Outside our fu, there are many carriages and horses. The Imperial Concubine came in a phoenix carriage."
The three members of the Ban Family were stunned for a moment. The Imperial Concubine that the housekeeper was talking about was none other than their daughter who had been kidnapped by Rong Xia to rebel.
Yin Clan stood up excitedly, "Why did she come at this time? Will the imperial court have any objections?"
She muttered, but didn't stop running. She hurriedly ran out.
Ban Han's phoenix carriage passed through the main road of the capital. The imperial guards cleared the way, accompanied by eunuchs and palace maids. It was a grand sight. Even the common people who hadn't seen much of the world would immediately stay far away from the carriage when they saw the dragon and phoenix engraved on the carriage and the eighteen horses driving it.
The carriage arrived at the Jingting Gongfu in a grand manner. Ban Han held the hand of a palace maid as she got off the carriage. Looking at the familiar plaque on the gate, her eyes became slightly hot. She refused the sedan prepared by the servants and directly walked through the gate with her skirt lifted.
Every blade of grass and every tree looked familiar, as if she had never left.
Ban Han's long palace skirt swept across the clean limestone floor. Her steps were very fast. The palace maids and eunuchs behind her quickly followed, afraid to slack off.
When she approached the Second Gate, she suddenly stopped.
At the Second Gate, the three members of the Ban Family stood there. They craned their necks and looked around. When Ban Han appeared, Ban Heng hurriedly greeted her.
"Sister!" Ban Heng ran to greet her. Then, he surrounded Ban Han and asked her questions. While he was at it, he snatched the skirt from the palace maid and followed behind Ban Han like a little dog.
Seeing him like this, Ban Han smiled until her eyes turned red. She reached out and tapped his forehead: "Look, you've grown a bit taller."
"I really grew taller?" Ban Heng smiled brightly, "I've been practicing martial arts for the past year. My appetite has increased a lot."
"It's good for a man to eat more," she patted Ban Heng's shoulder. Indeed, he was more muscular than before. The brother and sister chatted and laughed as they arrived in front of Ban Huai and the Yin Clan.
"Father, mother," Ban Han knelt down in front of the two, "Your daughter is unfilial and has made you worry."
"Get up, quickly get up," the Yin Clan wiped away their tears and helped Ban Han up from the ground, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Ban Han rubbed against the Yin Clan's body like a little girl.
She looked at the palace maids and eunuchs behind her and said to Wang De: "You all wait outside. You don't need to serve inside."
"Yes." Wang De respectfully took a step back.
The Yin Clan recognized this person as the eunuch who served the Emperor Yunqing. However, she didn't show any emotion on her face. After the family of four entered the inner courtyard, she said: "Wang De is from Rong Xia?"
Ban Han nodded: "Yes."
"No wonder …" Even the Emperor had his own people, and this person was the head eunuch of the Imperial Palace. If Rong Xia wasn't the Emperor, who would be?
The three of them surrounded Ban Han and asked her a lot of things after leaving the capital. Ban Han also picked out some interesting things and told them. The three of them laughed heartily. Unknowingly, the sky darkened.
The family of four finally remembered that from noon until now, other than tea and snacks, they hadn't eaten anything.
The Yin Clan looked at the sky and wanted to ask Ban Han to stay for dinner. However, her reason told her that her daughter should return to the palace.
She trembled as she touched her daughter's hand and forced a smile: "It's hard to travel at night. You … be careful."
Ban Han smiled and looked at the Yin Clan: "Mother won't ask me to stay for dinner?"
"Yes, yes." The Yin Clan turned her head and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then she smiled at Ban Han and said, "I'll have the kitchen prepare dinner."
In the guest room of the second gate, a young eunuch came to Wang De's side and said: "Gonggong, it's already late. The Empress, she …"
"Shut up." Wang De's face darkened as he said, "The Empress has her own way of doing things. There's no need for you to say more."
An hour later, Wang De heard a message from outside. The Empress was preparing to return to the palace. He hurriedly got up and straightened his clothes. He even used tea to rinse his mouth before running out of the guest room.
Under the night sky, the Ban Family walked the Empress step by step until she reached the gate. Even the Empress's skirt was carried by the Ban Family's shizi.
Wang De knew how deep the feelings of the Ban Family were. Seeing the scene in front of him, he had the urge to sigh in his heart.
Perhaps the Ban Family never thought that Princess Ban would become the Empress.
"The Empress is returning to the palace." Wang De waved the horsetail whisk in his hand and announced loudly.
The carriage slowly moved forward. Wang De, riding on horseback, turned his head. The red candles outside the Jingting Gongfu were shining brightly. The three members of the Ban Family were standing at the bottom of the steps, motionless.
He turned his head and looked at the motionless carriage. He shook his head and sighed. This was fate.
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