"Niangniang, Shi is gone. Novel w-w-w … c-o-m. "
Ban Han's hand paused. She put down her eyebrows and sighed, "When did she disappear?" She hated Shi because this woman didn't care about anything for power. She even wanted her man's life. But she also felt that this woman was a bit pitiful. She was raised to change her personality. She didn't know if she lived for herself or for the vanity her parents cultivated.
She knew that Shi Shi would not be able to live. Even if she let Shi Jin take Shi Shi back, Shi Shi would still die.
If she didn't die, she would always be a thorn in the imperial family's heart. Even if she lived, she could only live a lonely life. She might even affect Shi Jin's career. Shi Jin was the only one left in the Shi Family. She was a woman who valued power and status. She couldn't bear to let Shi Jin be implicated.
"Last night, after midnight, she died from overdose." Ruyi took a comb and tied up Ban Han's hair, "It is said that when she was found this morning, she was already dead."
"I know." Ban Han opened the lipstick box and put some lipstick on her finger. Then she touched her lips and closed her eyes, "Let them prepare a horse. I want to leave the palace.
The imperial family gave Shi Jin a grace. Even if this grace committed suicide, Shi Jin could only be grateful.
Ban Han stood up in front of the bronze mirror and changed into riding clothes with the help of the palace maids. She looked at the magnificent and spacious room and took a deep breath, "Let's go."
Jingting Gongfu.
Ban Heng had just finished practicing a set of martial arts. He was lying on the table and groaning as a servant massaged his shoulders. When he heard a servant say that Zhou Changxiao, the son of Minister Ling's family, had come, he said, "Let him come in."
Zhou Changxiao entered and saw Ban Heng lying on the table drinking tea. He walked over and sat down beside him, "What's wrong with you these days? You don't go out to play with us anymore. Don't tell me you want to study hard?" He originally wanted to ask if the Empress was injured, but seeing how relaxed Ban Heng was, he was sure that the Empress wasn't injured.
Otherwise, with Ban Heng's character, he would have jumped up and down and dragged them to find a way to catch the murderer.
"What advancement?" Ban Heng said with a frown. "You won't understand my pain."
"You're already the Imperial Uncle. What's there to be bitter about?" Zhou Changxiao rolled his eyes. "This is like hugging a golden wawa and saying that you're poor. If others hear you, they'll beat you up."
"You think …"
"Your Highness, the Empress is here!"
Hearing this, Ban Heng jumped up from the stool. He turned around and tugged at a middle-aged man. "Master Jiang, I've been practicing hard these days. When my sister comes, you have to tell her the truth. Otherwise, she'll beat me up."
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will definitely tell you the truth."
Zhou Changxiao was even more shocked than Ban Heng. The Empress … had left the palace?
Yesterday, the entire capital had been turned upside down by His Majesty, and the curfew had been lifted. How could His Majesty let Her Majesty out? Could it be that the murderer had been caught?
Zhou Changxiao thought a bunch of nonsense in his head. When he saw Ban Han come in, he still respectfully bowed.
"Chang Xiao seems to have put on some weight these days?" Ban Han looked at him carefully and sat down on the stool. Her beautiful phoenix eyes swept over Ban Heng. Ban Heng smiled and moved in front of her. "Sister, he eats and drinks all day. How can he not put on weight?"
Ban Han reached out and touched Ban Heng's arm. She nodded with satisfaction. "It seems that you've practiced a few moves these days." She stood up and cupped her hands to the middle-aged man. "Master Jiang, you've worked hard."
"Your Highness is too kind." Master Jiang smiled and returned Ban Han's bow. He turned and left.
Zhou Changxiao and Ban Li were quite familiar with each other, but Ban Li was just a noble woman of noble birth. She could be considered one of the more prestigious members of the hedonistic group. When they talked to her, they didn't have much scruples. Now that she was the Empress, he felt a bit uncomfortable.
He didn't know whether to stand or sit. Ban Han teased him that he had put on weight. He just laughed and agreed. He secretly regretted coming to the Ban Family today.
"Chang Xiao, why are you still standing?" Ban Han saw Zhou Changxiao's uncomfortable appearance and couldn't help but laugh. "You don't have to pretend in front of me. Do you think I don't know what you look like?"
"Hehe," Zhou Changxiao sat down next to Ban Heng. "Yesterday, we heard that Your Highness was attacked by an assassin. We didn't dare to casually talk about it. It was even more inconvenient to enter the palace. So today, I came to ask A Heng if you were hurt."
In any case, they were friends who had tricked people together and listened to songs together. Even though the other party was rich now, they were still a bit worried.
"Don't worry. If something happened to me, I wouldn't be leaving the palace right now." Ban Han took a sip of tea. "I just felt a bit bored in the palace, so I came out for a walk."
Zhou Changxiao instantly showed a bright smile. "Your Highness is a phoenix. You are blessed by the heavens. Misfortune will definitely turn into good fortune."
"I haven't seen you for a while. You can read faces." Ban Han put down the teacup. "Why aren't father and mother in the fu?"
"This morning, they went to the temple to pray." Ban Heng thought for a moment. "They probably won't be back until the evening."
Yesterday, something had happened to her. Today, father and mother went to the temple to pray. It was obvious who they were praying for. She put down the teacup with a bit of guilt. "I made them worry."
"It's not your fault. It's all the fault of the assassins." Ban Heng slapped the table and scolded angrily. "Do you have enough personal guards? If you don't have enough, then transfer some of the personal guards from our fu."
Zhou Changxiao's mouth twitched. She brought the personal guards she had trained into the palace. Did she think that His Majesty was too good to the Ban Family and was causing trouble for herself? In reality, when he heard that His Majesty had taken the initiative to summon the personal guards of the Empress into the palace to protect the Empress, he had been very surprised. What kind of place was the inner palace? That was the Emperor's bedroom. How could he allow an outsider to bring a general in? Was he not afraid of causing a rebellion in the palace?
It had to be known that Emperor Yunqing had died at the hands of his own son. With the previous example, His Majesty still treated Her Highness so well. Her Highness's way of teaching men was really amazing. No wonder his sisters loved to ask him about Her Highness' interests and hobbies. They wanted to learn how Her Highness controlled her father.
At the beginning, how many people said that His Majesty had no choice but to marry Her Highness?
However, reality slapped them hard in the face. After the two were married, there were rumors that Marquis Cheng 'an bought something for Princess Fule. Marquis Cheng' an accompanied Princess Fule to her parents' home for a short stay. Especially when the Ban Family's property was confiscated, Marquis Cheng 'an was not afraid of being implicated. Not only did he take care of the Ban Family, but he also took care of Princess Fule. This matter made countless women in the capital envious.
He was a man himself. If he wanted to treat a woman like this, he probably couldn't do it. He also didn't want to do it.
"Since your parents aren't home, you two ride a horse and accompany me outside." Ban Han used a handkerchief to wipe the fine sweat on Ban Heng's forehead. "Go change your clothes."
"Okay."
Ban Heng happily ran into the room.
After Ban Heng left, Zhou Changxiao obediently lowered his head. He didn't dare to look at Ban Han's face.
"How is Wenbi?" Ban Han was asking about Zhou Changxiao's younger sister, Zhou Wenbi. He had a good relationship with Zhou Wenbi, so he wanted to ask a few more questions.
"My sister is doing well. A few days ago, she got engaged to someone. The wedding date is set for March of next year. At that time, please …" Zhou Changxiao wanted to invite Ban Han to the wedding banquet, but he remembered that it was not appropriate for him to attend his sister's wedding banquet with his identity as Ban Han. So, he swallowed the rest of his words. "At that time, I hope that Her Highness will bestow some good things to add to my sister's dowry and give her some face in her husband's house."
"Don't worry, your sister will definitely receive good things." Ban Han smiled. It seemed that the turmoil this time had changed these playboys a lot. If it was in the past, with Zhou Changxiao's personality, he would say whatever he wanted to say. But now, he knew to swallow back the inappropriate words.
People had to grow up. Even playboys had to grow from a frivolous playboy to a slightly more mature playboy.
Not long after, Ban Heng ran out and said, "Sister, I'm done changing."
Ban Han pressed a wrinkle on his lapel and nodded with a smile.
In the teahouse and wine shop, the storytellers were talking about the love and hate between the hero and the beautiful woman. Ban Han sat at the table and listened to the storytellers use an impassioned tone to describe her beauty. They also talked about how powerful she was and how she killed ten people with a single strike. He couldn't help but hold his teacup and laugh.
Ban Heng asked her in a low voice, "Sister, to kill ten people with a single strike, how long is this saber?"
"Thirty or forty feet?" Ban Han couldn't help but laugh, "I can't carry such a long saber."
"These storytellers love to exaggerate," Zhou Changxiao clicked her tongue, "The only thing that's true is the part where they describe your beauty and prestige in the army."
Ban Heng glanced disdainfully at Zhou Changxiao. This flattery wasn't even half as good as his, and he didn't feel embarrassed to show off in front of him.
"Old man, you don't make any sense. The Empress and His Majesty are husband and wife. It is natural for her to accompany him on the battlefield," a man who looked a little shabby said. "What heroine? What wise and powerful? If she was really that powerful, why would she have been abandoned by so many men?"
This man drank a few mouthfuls of wine and became more daring. He saw that after he spoke, no one else dared to speak. He appeared even more proud, "If you ask me, this is all because His Majesty is a good person. He gave a woman the chance to go on the battlefield and made her the Empress. If I married a woman who had been broken off several times, I definitely wouldn't let her be the Empress. "
"So people like you can only drink on credit here," the waiter said sarcastically, "You can't even find a wife, and you have the nerve to say such things to our Empress. Why don't you pee on your nail and see what kind of thing you are?"
When the waiter said this, everyone in the hall laughed. Some laughed at him for being poor, some laughed at him for not being able to find a wife. No one said that there was anything wrong with the Empress having been broken off several times.
"So what if our Empress has broken off several engagements? This means that these men aren't worthy of her," a matron glanced at the man, "People like you aren't worthy of talking about Empress, peh."
A trend of imitating the Empress had started in Jing at some point. Girls were proud of being able to ride horses and shoot arrows. Even if they didn't go on stage to write poems, they could still speak. Even if their Empress wasn't skilled in poetry and painting, she could still command heroes and amaze the world.
Ban Heng, whose anger had risen halfway, saw that the man in the hall had been surrounded by the anger of the crowd. The anger that had just risen silently disappeared. For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He turned to Ban Han and said in a small voice: "Jie, I hadn't thought that you would have such power now."
In reality, there were many girls in Jing. Not all of them knew how to play the zither, go, calligraphy, and painting. It was just that these were highly valued at the time. Those who didn't know how to play had to brace themselves. Now that there was finally an Empress who wasn't so mainstream, they took the opportunity to vent their emotions.
They weren't crowding around her, but themselves.
Ban Han smiled: "Let's go, there's no meaning in listening any longer."
She had just stood when a man in blue robes walked in. Ban Han saw him and sat back down.
"The Empress' engagement was broken off, not because she wasn't good, but because she was too good. Men felt ashamed and didn't dare to be with her," Xie Qilin had heard people gossiping about Ban Han from outside and walked in, "His Majesty and the Empress were a match made in heaven. The other men in the world who were with the Empress were an insult to her."
The man was being ridiculed by a group of people, and he was not in a good mood. Now that he saw a little white face speaking, he mocked back: "Who are you? You said that those fiancés are not worthy of the Empress, so they broke off the engagement. You are not them, how do you know?"
"This one isn't talented, but I am the former fiancé of the Empress," Xie Qilin said lightly, "The Empress is as beautiful as an immortal and of noble birth. This one purposely broke off the engagement because of my low self-esteem. A dirty person like you doesn't have the right to talk about the Empress, but if I don't make it clear today, there will be people like you who will talk about the Empress in the future. You will tarnish the Empress' good name. "
"From beginning to end, the one who wasn't good enough for the Empress was me," Xie Qilin lowered his eyes, his expression distant, "You don't have to talk about this in the future. If it causes trouble, then it's your own fault."
No one had thought that the person involved would hear them gossiping behind their backs. They had heard that the Empress did have a fiancé with the surname Xie, but they didn't know why the engagement was broken off. Some said that the Xie gongzi disliked the Princess Fule for not being elegant enough and eloped with someone else. Others said that the Ban Family looked down on the Xie Family for not being prominent enough and disliked them.
Now it seemed that it was because the Empress was too good that the fiancé felt that he wasn't good enough for her. That was why he found a reason to break off the engagement and save their face.
When a person achieved success, everything in their past would be beautified by them and become a moving or inspirational story. In essence, this was the admiration people had for the strong.
Everyone present automatically imagined how beautiful the Empress would be. In the end, they concluded that the Empress's fate was too good. Ordinary men were not worthy of her. Only the wise and merciful His Majesty could match the Empress's Eight Characters and become an unparalleled couple.
Ban Han listened to the discussion below without any expression.
"He actually stood up and admitted such a shameful thing," Ban Heng sneered, "I thought that his conscience was rotten to the core."
Zhou Changxiao coughed dryly: "A Heng, a new restaurant opened recently. Let's go and try it."
He didn't dare to listen to the Empress' past grievances. He felt that it wasn't safe to listen to too much.
Ban Han smiled at him and nodded: "Let's go."
When she stood up, the men and women in the private rooms upstairs all stood up. Because they weren't guests, but Ban Han's guards.
After eating lunch, Ban Han prepared to return to the palace.
Ban Heng walked her all the way to the Zhu Que Gate before stopping.
"Sister," Ban Heng stuffed a bundle into Ban Han's hands and said in a small voice, "I found this especially for you. Don't let His Majesty find out."
Ban Han saw his mysterious expression and took it with a smile: "There are no forbidden items in here, right?"
"You are my sister. Would I trick you?" Ban Heng sighed, "You have a straightforward personality and don't like to use your brain. The servant girls by your side were all carefully selected by mother. I can still put my heart at ease. Right now, our family is doing well. Don't try to get benefits for your family. I'm not suited to be an official anyways. The current situation is good. In dramas, those imperial concubines who try to get benefits for their family don't have good endings. Don't learn from them. "
"What are you reading at home all day?" Ban Han reached out and tapped Ban Heng's forehead, "If you're stupid, don't worry about these things. I know what I'm doing."
"If you really know what you're doing, then I'm relieved," Ban Heng sighed, "I'll say the same thing. Don't make yourself suffer and don't worry about us. There aren't many people who can make our family suffer."
Ban Han saw Ban Heng's smug expression and couldn't help but laugh, "Okay, I know."
"It's good that you know," Ban Heng turned his head, "Okay, you can go in. I should go back too."
Ban Han nodded. She turned her horse around and rode slowly into the palace. When she turned around, she saw Ban Heng was still outside the Zhu Que Gate, craning his neck to look at her. She chuckled and waved at Ban Heng. Ban Heng then slowly rode his horse away.
Returning to the Great Moon Palace, Rong Xia was in the front hall discussing politics with the ministers. She didn't disturb them and opened the package Ban Heng gave her. There was a book box in the package. It was quite heavy.
Was it a new storybook? There were people in the palace who specialized in writing storybooks for her. These people were all experts in writing storybooks. Why would she need to buy books outside the palace?
Opening the box, Ban Han took out a thick stack of books.
《Daily Life of the Chun Ming Empress》?
《The Women of the Sima Family》?
《Gentleman's Degree》 was a proper name. Flipping it open, it was about the behavior of men when they didn't mean what they said.
《The War of the Harem》 was about how the women in the harem seduced the Emperor and how those vicious and merciless women schemed against the Empress.
After flipping through all the books, Ban Han stroked the covers and couldn't help but smile.
"Niangniang," Chang momo said in a small voice, "There are some books in here that may be true. Even though Shizi worries too much, these books aren't completely useless."
Ban Han put the books back into the box and shook her head with a smile. She didn't say anything and just had Ru Yi pick up the books.
Shi Suyue's suicide didn't cause much of a stir in the capital. Her jade tablet was taken down. Even when she was buried, she was only buried with the rank of a village lord. This was the result of Ban Han's benevolent decree. Otherwise, she could only be buried with the standard of a normal woman.
Even though no one in the palace announced it, but with the previous dynasty's people being dealt with, Shi Shi being divorced by Prince He, and finally committing suicide, anyone with a bit of intelligence could guess that Shi Shi was related to the assassination of the Empress.
Not long after Shi Shi was buried, Prince He took his family and went to guard the tombs of the previous emperors.
The previous dynasty finally came to a clean end.
In a side palace in the capital, Princess An Le listened to the servant's report. After a long time, she smiled bitterly and said, "Rong Xia has finally driven us out of the previous dynasty. Don't mention Shi Shi Shi's matter to Imperial Mother. I'm worried that she won't be able to take it."
"What happened?" Empress Dowager Fu Ping walked in. Seeing Princess An Le's pale face, she steadied her mind, "Speak, I can take it."
"Imperial Mother," Princess An Le didn't expect Empress Dowager Fu Ping to hear her. Her expression changed slightly and she didn't know whether to speak or not.
"If you have something to say, just say it. I can even take a change of dynasty. What else can I not take?" Empress Dowager Fu Ping walked to the table and sat down, her expression firm and calm.
"Imperial Mother, Shi Shi is gone."
Empress Dowager Fu Ping's eyebrows twitched. "She values power too much. If she can't overcome this hurdle, she'll die sooner or later." She sighed, "Your eldest brother sent someone to say that he went to guard the tombs of the Jiang ancestors. In fact, this is also good. At least he won't arouse the suspicion of the new Emperor and can save his life. "
"Mother, is Rong Xia … Father Emperor's bloodline?" Princess An Le remembered that Ban Han once said that Rong Xia wasn't Father Emperor's illegitimate child. But Ban Han even gave the Three Army Tiger Tally to Rong Xia. How could she still believe Ban Han?
She and Ban Han had a sisterly relationship for so many years. In the end, Ban Han rebelled with Rong Xia and destroyed the Jiang family's hundreds of years of foundation. Now, she didn't know whether to hate or love Ban Han more.
"Where did you hear this nonsense?" Empress Dowager Fu Ping's expression changed greatly. "An Le, your Father Emperor and I have doted on you for so many years. Have we spoiled your brain?"
Princess An Le didn't expect Empress Dowager Fu Ping to be so angry. She bit her lip and said with a pale face, "Imperial Mother, just tell me. At least let me understand."
"So what if you understand? So what if you don't understand?" Empress Dowager Fu Ping pulled the corners of her mouth into a smile, but it wasn't a smile at all. "You ask me, but who should I ask?"
"Even you don't know?" Princess An Le looked suspiciously at Empress Dowager Fu Ping. Did Imperial Mother not know, or did she not want to tell her?
Returning to her courtyard, Princess An Le thought for a long time. She summoned a palace maid and handed her waist token.
"Send someone to the palace and say that I want to see His Majesty."
"His Majesty?" The palace maid thought she heard wrong and asked again, "Is it His Majesty?"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Princess An Le lowered her eyelids and looked at the dressing table that was only eighty percent new. Her eyes gradually dimmed.
In the Great Moon Palace, Ban Han lay on the bed, smiling as she watched Rong Xia change into the dragon robe and sit in the imperial carriage. She lay on the bed for an hour before getting up to eat breakfast. After eating, she suddenly remembered Madame Zhao mentioning Madame Yang to her. She said to Ruyi, "A few days ago, didn't you say that Madame Yang wanted to see me? I think today is a good day. Summon her into the palace."
"Is it that Madame Yang who remarried?" Ruyi asked in a small voice.
"Who else could it be?" Ban Han sneered. "I want to know what she wants to see me for."
"It's nothing more than a show of friendship, or a plea to Your Majesty and Her Majesty not to pursue the past." Ru Yi smiled. "Is there any other reason?"
"You're right." Ban Han smiled. "It's just these methods."
After court, Rong Xia was preparing to go to the bedchamber when Wang De said in his ear, "Your Majesty, Princess An Le of the previous dynasty wants to see you."
"Princess An Le?" Rong Xia thought for a moment. "The princess who has some friendship with Huahua."
"Yes."
"Since she has some friendship with Huahua, why does she want to see me?"
"Nubi doesn't know. Princess An Le said she has something to report to Your Majesty."
Rong Xia thought for a moment. "Summon her."
"Also, invite the Empress to sit behind the screen for a moment. Zhen can see her for Huahua's sake. But if she wants to say something, Huahua can't ignore it."
Wang De's eyelids moved slightly. He bowed and said, "Nubi understands."
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