"I heard that these barbarians eat raw meat and drink blood. They are very barbaric and are eyeing our prosperous land covetously. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for the Jingting Marquessate to have dealings with the barbarians?" Kang Ning stood up and curtsied to Ban Han as an equal. "Of course, I don't mean anything else. I just hope that you can be more careful."
Ban Han tilted his head and looked at Kang Ning in confusion. He didn't return her salute. "Dealings?"
Kang Ning saw that Ban Han was still sitting steadily and smiled. "Yes, people like us shouldn't have dealings with these kinds of people."
"That's right. People like us only need to ask for food and someone will bring it to us. Don't tell me that we need to deal with someone just for a mouthful of food?" Ban Yu looked baffled. "Princess Kang Ning, what are you thinking about?"
"Huahua is right. You little girls don't need to worry about these things." The Empress smiled. "Kang Ning, you little girl, everything is good, but your mind is too deep."
The Empress' words were like a slap to Kang Ning's face. An unmarried little girl was being criticized by the mother of the country for being too deep. It wasn't a compliment. Kang Ning's heart was bleeding with hatred, but she still bowed to the Empress. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your advice."
What the Empress disliked the most was her forbearance because it reminded her of the days when she was the Crown Princess but wasn't valued by the previous Emperor. Kang Ning's mother was more respected by the Empress Dowager. As the Crown Princess, her words didn't carry as much weight as a Wangfei. She always remembered this shame in her heart.
Kang Ning was the child of this couple. The Empress couldn't like her. Kang Ning was usually obedient in front of her, but in the Empress Dowager's eyes, it was all an act, just like her mother, who was good at acting.
If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked.
Princess Anle felt that Kang Ning was a little boring. She whispered to Ban Han, "She can talk so much about eating. Isn't she tired?"
"Do you think … she wants to eat chili sauce but is too shy to ask me?" Ban Han brushed a thin layer of chili oil on the skewers and hid the chili sauce between the two of them. "I only have half a jar, and I snatched it from Ban Heng."
"Did you bully him again?" Princess Anle couldn't help but laugh. "Other older sisters all treat their younger brothers like the apple of their eye, unlike you."
Also, what was wrong with this girl's brain? How could she think that Princess Kang Ning was making things difficult for her just because of some chili sauce?
Ban Han said, "I'm just a weak little girl. He should give in to me."
When An Le heard this, he was both envious and sad. Although Imperial Father doted on her, she could never surpass the Crown Prince and Second Brother. Even the man she married was not chosen by herself. If it wasn't for this man seeking death and having a mistress, she wouldn't be able to live as freely as she was now.
After the barbecue, Emperor Yunqing sent someone over. He said that he had built a shooting range outside for the Empress and the other noble ladies to watch the warriors compete.
When the Empress heard this, she smiled and said, "Okay, we'll go now."
After the group washed their hands and rinsed their mouths, they followed the Empress to the shooting range outside. In just a short two hours, there was a row of targets for the archery competition in the original open space.
Ban Han saw that Ban Heng was with a few of his disreputable friends, so he didn't go over to find him.
"Royal Prince Ban," Kang Ning took the opportunity to walk in front of Ban Han. "I misspoke just now. Please don't take it to heart."
When Ban Han saw her wronged and pitiful appearance, he raised his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"
"It's … it's …" Princess Kang Ning's cheeks were red, and she seemed to find it difficult to speak.
"Ban Han, you should know your place." A little girl wearing a blue riding suit walked to Kang Ning's side. "Her Royal Highness has a good temper and won't lower herself to your level. But you're just a small Royal Prince. Can you accept the Royal Princess's gift?"
"And who are you?" Ban Han glanced at the little girl lightly. "I didn't ask her to give me this gift. Why can't I accept it?"
She didn't know what was going on. These unmarried noble ladies liked to play the game of retreating in order to advance. They pretended to be wronged so that others would sympathize with them. She didn't know what it meant. Was the sympathy and pity of others so important that they had to bend their backs and do things they didn't want to do?
If she were Kang Ning, she would never bow to a Royal Prince. Even if others said that she was a bully, she wouldn't bend her back.
The girl in blue was Li Xiaoru, who was ridiculed by Ban Han last time when Princess Anle held the chrysanthemum and crab feast. He had never paid attention to her. Since that incident, Li Xiaoru had been ridiculed for a long time. So when she saw that Ban Han dared to accept Princess Kang Ning's gift, she couldn't help but jump out.
"Royal Prince Ban, as expected, you have short memories. I'm Li Xiaoru, who was ridiculed by you for having an ordinary appearance." Li Xiaoru sneered. "What? You don't remember me?"
Ban Han gave her a knowing look. "Miss Li, you really have great foresight."
"Pfft!"
Ban Han turned his head and saw a well-dressed young man standing not far away. He looked a bit similar to Kang Ning. He should be the Heir Apparent of the Prince Hui Mansion, Kang Ning's twin brother, Jiang Yuchen. Didn't he go out to study three years ago? Why did he come back now?
"Brother." When Kang Ning saw Jiang Yuchen, she looked even more wronged. She walked in front of Jiang Yuchen and lowered her head without saying a word.
Ban Han frowned. Was she going to ask her brother for help? She reached out to pull out the horsewhip at her waist and saluted Jiang Yuchen. "Greetings, Heir Apparent."
Jiang Yuchen saw that the whip in Ban Han's hand didn't look like an ordinary thing. The handle was wrapped in gold and black silk. He guessed that this horsewhip was probably used by the emperor. But he didn't know how it ended up in this girl's hands. No matter what the reason was, this girl should be very respected in front of the emperor. Otherwise, with his sister's personality, she wouldn't be so patient with her.
No one knew his sister's personality better than Jiang Yuchen.
But what this girl said just now was quite interesting. He rarely saw people speak and act so straightforwardly. She didn't give people a way out.
"Miss, you're too polite. I don't know what my sister has done wrong to offend you. I apologize on her behalf. Please forgive me." Jiang Yuchen saluted Ban Han.
Ban Han felt that the brother and sister of the Prince Hui Mansion were a bit strange. They liked to salute people for no reason. They were simply looking for trouble.
"What are you doing?" Ban Han saw a girl dressed in blue glaring at his sister from afar. He was worried that his sister would be bullied, so he rushed over with a few bodyguards and blocked Ban Han behind him. When he saw who it was, he said in a strange tone, "Oh, isn't this His Highness Prince Hui's Heir Apparent? Didn't you say that the capital was noisy and tacky, so you went to travel around to study? Why are you back now?"
Eight years ago, Ban Han followed his grandmother to visit a minister's home. He was young and playful, so he hid in the rockery and waited for others to come find him. Who would have thought that he would hear Jiang Yuchen badmouthing his father to the servants? He had been a devil incarnate since he was young. How could he tolerate others badmouthing his father? He immediately shouted this matter out.
Because of this, the matter became a big deal. Not only did His Majesty issue an imperial edict to reprimand Prince Hui for not teaching his son well, but he also said that Jiang Yuchen had no respect for his elders and went against the principles of a gentleman. After this matter, he almost lost his position as heir. In the end, his grandmother was soft-hearted and spoke a few good words for him in front of His Majesty. Only then did His Majesty withdraw the edict to remove Jiang Yuchen from his position as heir.
Since then, Jiang Yuchen rarely appeared in front of others. Four years ago, he left the capital to study. Before he left, he said that the capital was filthy and not a peaceful place.
It was clear that one shouldn't speak too confidently. After only a few years, he came back with his tail between his legs.
"Ban Heng, shut up!" When Kang Ning heard this, he remembered that the things his brother had encountered were all caused by Ban Heng. His hatred for the Ban Family grew even stronger!
"Why are you yelling at my brother?!" Hearing Kang Ning yelling and glaring at his brother, Ban Han was unhappy. He pulled his stupid brother to his side, "Princess Kang Ning, this is my Ban Family's heir, not your family's servant. You don't have the right to be angry at him!"
Kang Ning's anger was also provoked by Ban Han, "He's just a Marquis's heir. In front of my brother, he has to be obedient and salute. What's there to be arrogant about?"
"Junpo, why are they quarreling over there?" Emperor Yunqing heard the faint sounds of arguing not far away. One of the voices sounded like Ban Han, so he called Rong Xia over and whispered to him, "Take some people over there and have a look."
Junpo was so handsome. When those young girls saw him, they would restrain their anger.
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
