After the argument between Ban Han and Ban Heng, she used the excuse of exercising his body to drag him to go shopping with her. The siblings had just walked to the door when they heard a commotion outside. They didn't know what was going on.
The two walked to the door and saw two manservants helping their father out of the carriage. Their father looked drunk. It was obvious that he had gone to drink.
"Sister, did Mother leave?" Ban Heng looked behind the door. If Mother saw her father like this, she didn't know if Mother would be angry.
"No, Mother just said she was going to take a nap," Ban Han looked sympathetically at Ban Heng. Just as she was about to go forward with Ban Heng to help Ban Huai, another person came out of the carriage.
"Junzhu, Shizi," Rong Xia straightened her clothes and apologized to the siblings, "Just now, this one was eating with Marquis and accidentally let him drink a few more cups of wine. I'm really sorry."
"Thank you for bringing my father back, Boye." Ban Han felt that this matter couldn't be blamed on Rong Xia. She knew how bad her father's alcohol tolerance was. The only thing she didn't expect was that her father would get together with Boye Rong. It was like a cat playing with a swan. No matter how she looked at it, it was awkward. "My father is not good at drinking. If he has offended you in any way, Boye, please don't take it to heart."
"Junzhu's words are too serious. Marquis didn't offend you in any way," Rong Xia saw that Ban Huai had already been helped into the sedan by the manservants and said, "Marquis has been safely brought back. This one will take my leave."
"Boye, why don't you stay and have some refreshments before you leave," Ban Heng walked over and bowed to Rong Xia, "Boye, please."
"How could I disturb you again …"
"Boye Rong," Ban Huai, who was sitting in the sedan, stuck his head out of the window and said drunkenly, "You are my friend for sure!"
"Ahem," Ban Heng coughed dryly, "Uncle, there's no need to be polite, please!"
Ban Han silently covered his face and turned his head to signal the servants to carry her father into the inner courtyard as soon as possible. As for the rest, he would leave it to her mother to worry about.
"Then I'll have to be thick-skinned and disturb you."
Rong Xia followed the siblings into the house. This was his first time entering the Ban Family. The inside of the Ban Family was similar to what he had imagined, but there were many differences. The mansion was luxurious and exquisite, with famous flowers and strange trees, and richly ornamented rafters and painted rafters. If one wanted to enter the second gate, they had to pass through a nine-turn bridge. Under the bridge was a clear lake, and the golden koi fish were leisurely wagging their tails, looking fat and lazy. However, the servants of the Ban Family were more disciplined than he had imagined. They weren't like some of the families that were related to the Imperial Family. Although they were rich, they couldn't even manage their servants well.
This must be the work of the Marchioness. It was rumored that the Eldest Princess had liked the Marchioness of Jingting very much, so she had specially asked for her son's hand in marriage. Fortunately, although the Marchioness of Jingting had accomplished nothing and was idle, she was very good to her wife. Even he had heard people say how beautiful and clever the Marchioness of Jingting had been when she was young.
He looked at the Ban Family siblings. Perhaps this pair of siblings' temperaments were more like the Marchioness of Jingting?
The three people sat down in the viewing pavilion in the middle of the lake. Ban Heng was the most impatient to talk to people of culture, but after a few words with Rong Xia, he and Rong Xia became brothers. There was no other reason other than that this person's words were too pleasing to his taste. Although he had great literary talent, he didn't put on airs in front of him. His temperament was also more pleasing to his taste than those famous scholars. He finally understood why his father could sit together and eat and drink with this person.
"I only hate that I didn't get to know Brother Rong sooner," Ban Heng raised his teacup, "Come, I'll use tea in place of wine to toast Brother Rong."
"Brother Ban is too polite," Rong Xia raised her teacup and clinked her cup with Ban Heng's. She tilted her head back and drank the tea in one gulp.
"Refreshing, I hate those stupid rules about drinking tea the most," Ban Heng said, "When you're thirsty, you drink in big gulps. When you're not thirsty, you can slowly savor it. There aren't so many stupid rules."
"Brother Ban is refreshing, I'm not as good as you," Rong Xia raised the teapot and poured tea for the two. She turned her head and saw Ban Han holding her chin with one hand and not speaking. She poured away the cold tea in her cup and filled it with warm tea, "Why isn't Junzhu speaking?"
"What do you want to say?" Ban Han blinked and waved her hand, "I'm not interested in the topic of you men."
Rong Xia couldn't help but laugh: "What is Junzhu interested in?"
"Jewelry. The more beautiful things are, the more I like them," Ban Han sighed, her face full of emotion, "Life is short. Thinking that there are so many beautiful jewelry in the world that don't belong to me, I feel distressed."
"Cough cough cough cough!" Ban Heng coughed several times. My dear sister, you should be more careful. How bad is your reputation? You still dare to say that you like such tacky things like jewelry. Can't you pretend to be more elegant?
Ban Han rolled her eyes at him. A person who said something like "a cow chewing on peonies" so confidently had no right to dislike her.
Rong Xia pretended not to see the small look between the brother and sister. Instead, she smiled and said: "Junzhu is so beautiful that only the most beautiful jewelry in the world is worthy of you."
Ban Han's eyes instantly turned into crescents. In this world, only beautiful men with a sweet mouth were likable.
"Uncle Rong, this dessert tastes good. Try it." Ban Han placed a light green dessert in front of her and pushed it in front of Rong Xia. This dessert looked simple, but in reality, it took a lot of energy to make. A plate of desserts cost nearly a hundred taels of silver. But because she liked them, the fu would specially make these desserts several times a month.
"Thank you." Rong Xia used silver chopsticks to pick up a dessert and put it in her mouth. The dessert was very light, with a faint tea aroma and … the taste of spring grass. Rong Xia couldn't describe this taste, but it was very good.
"It's very delicious," Rong Xia drank a mouthful of tea and wiped the corners of her mouth, "Your fu's chef is very skilled."
Ban Han saw that there were four desserts left on the plate. She used her chopsticks to pick up one and pushed the plate in front of Rong Xia, "Eat more if you like."
Rong Xia saw the reluctance in Ban Han's eyes. Then, she took her chopsticks and slowly ate the three desserts with great enjoyment.
Ban Han's mood was very complicated. She was happy that the things she liked were liked by others, but her monthly supply of desserts was limited. She felt a bit of pain in her heart when she let others eat four desserts.
She touched her chin. Was this the "pain and happiness" described in the novel?
Rong Xia stayed at Jingting Marquessate for more than two hours. When he returned to his fu, his face was still smiling.
"Uncle, did something good happen to you today?" His personal servant brought hot water to help him wash his hands and wipe his face, "I haven't seen you so happy in a long time."
"Is it a good thing to steal desserts from a little girl?" Rong Xia wiped his hands clean, took a book and lay on the soft couch, "Go tell the kitchen to prepare less desserts for dinner."
"Yes." The servant was suspicious. What was wrong with their Uncle? He even stole desserts from a little girl. What if this got out?
The rules of the Daye Court Assembly were three days of small court assembly and five days of large court assembly. People like the Marquis of Jingting, who took an idle job and didn't even want to go to the roll call, could only go to court assembly and appear in the crowd to make up the number of people.
However, today's Imperial Court Assembly was exceptionally spirited. Not only was his hair combed neatly, even his back was straight.
He walked into the crowd. When he saw the Count Of Zhongping, he threw him a disdainful look, then turned to stand with the other idle Marquis.
The Count Of Zhongping was glanced at by the Marquis of Jingting, but he couldn't look back, let alone hit him. He was extremely sullen. Not long after, he saw Ban Huai talking to a few locusts in the court. From time to time, they would look in his direction. The Count Of Zhongping was even angrier. What right did these locusts, who didn't work and were idle all day, have to speak ill of him?
"Hey, did you hear? Lord Wang's concubine gave birth to a son for him. Aiyo, he's already in his fifties, but he still doesn't take care of his body. Tsk tsk tsk. "
"That's nothing. That Imperial Censor Li, who usually speaks righteously, even went to a brothel two days ago. My servant saw him clearly."
"Why did your servant go to that brothel?"
"The wine in Hundred Flowers Park is delicious. Can't I have the servant buy me a few jars?"
"Shui Qing, I heard that you recently got a lot of good things. Doesn't your wife care about you anymore?"
"My wife is the most gentle. When has she ever cared about me?"
The idle Marquis were gossiping, but from the Count Of Zhongping's point of view, they were talking and laughing. They were speaking ill of him. He clenched the wooden tablet in his hand tightly, worried that he couldn't help but rush over and hit Ban Huai.
"Silence!" A eunuch walked in, clapped his hands, and said, "Everyone, His Majesty has arrived."
The hall suddenly quieted down. The court officials lined up in order. There was no longer any of the idleness from before.
Halfway through the court meeting, Wang De, who was standing next to the Emperor, said, "If there's something to report, we'll report. If there's nothing, we'll end the meeting."
Ban Huai took a step forward, but someone else moved faster than him.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report." The one who stood up was Imperial Censor Li, who had gone to the brothel a few days ago.
"I want to report that the eldest son of the Count Of Zhongping, Xie Zhongjin, during his tenure in Pingzhou, had engaged in malpractice for personal gain. He condoned his subordinates to prey on the common people. He has no virtue as an official and is truly a parasite of the court."
Ban Huai originally didn't like Imperial Censor Li. He felt that he had a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks, and had a mean appearance. Now that he heard that he was involved in the Xie Family, he felt that his sharp chin was wise and farsighted. Those ugly cheeks were also wise. Even his entire person was pleasing to the eye.
"Your Majesty, I have also heard of this matter. As an official of the Great Cause, I beg Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter. "
This time, the one who stood up was the court's Left Prime Minister, Yan Hui.
Although His Majesty trusted Prime Minister Shi more, even Yan Hui stood up for this matter. He was afraid that he would have to investigate even if he didn't want to.
Ban Huai rubbed his hands, barely suppressing the excitement in his heart. This was really a good show. It was lively and exciting.
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