I Am This Type of Woman

65

The smile on Rong Xia's face froze, but in a blink of the eye, he asked in surprise, "So the prettiest peacocks are not female? My fault, every time I see you, I always think of prideful and leisurely pretty peacocks."

"It is fine. It's not a big deal to not know that all pretty peacocks are male," Ban Hua assured Rong Xia with understanding tone, "We have some peacocks in our bieyuan, next time I will show you."

"Good." Rong Xia sighed, "In the past I had teachers to teach me to write, and now I have Hua Hua to answer my questions."

He performed a student salutation to Ban Hua, "Many thanks Teacher Hua Hua."

Ban Hua covered her mouth and laughed lightly, the tips of her brows were tinged with laughter. Sunlight sprinkled in her hair, the whole person appeared to be glowing. Rong Xia looked at her with a smile on his face, his eyes gradually warmed up.

—

At Count Zhongping residence, Xie Qilin was about to enter when the head eunuch of the Empress' palace came out followed by a few young eunuchs. He stopped and greeted them.

"Second Master Xie, greetings," The head eunuch smiled gently, "Zajia is here on Empress Niangniang's order to bring Miss Xie some gifts."

* zajia 杂家 =  I, myself (a eunuch).

"Many thanks Empress Niangniang, have troubled Gonggong." Xie Qilin said his thanks and tried to slip the eunuch a jade pendant but it was rejected.

"Second Master Xie is too courteous." The head eunuch smiled, "Zajia is looking forward to drinking the wedding wine from your noble family."

Xie Qilin and the head eunuch exchanged a few more polite words. After the head eunuch left on his horse, Xie Qilin walked passed the gates of Xie residence. In the main hall, his sister and mother were looking at the gifts from the Empress. He could see the smiles on their faces from far.

"Qilin, you are back?" Mother Xie put down the pearl in her hand, beckoned to him to sit down. "Empress Niangniang rewarded this year's new tea, I'll let the servants brew it for you."

Seeing his mother's and sister's joyful faces, Xie Qilin didn't mention the slanderous rumours heard outside. He plainly said, "The gifts from the Empress Niangniang should be good things. This Son isn't a particular person, no need to specially brew for me."

Mother Xie saw his face was not very good, she thought he was still unreconciled with the lost of his one eye, "Nonsense, tea is for drinking. Nothing to do with being particular or not, good to drink then it's fine."

Xie Wanyu put down the things in her hands, she sat besides Xie Qilin, "Second Brother, what happened?"

"I am fine," Xie Qilin forced a smile and patted her forehead, "Next month is your wedding with the Second Prince, don't go out these days. People in the Capital are troublesome, I am afraid people will go on at you."

"Don't worry, Second Brother. I am learning rules with the momo's from the Palace everyday, so busy that my head is spinning, how do I have time to go out meeting people." Xie Wanyu was perceptive, she could see Xie Qilin's face was not right and guessed that he had encountered something. "Brother, did you hear anything outside?"

Xie Qilin laughed, "Nothing, you think too much."

"Second Brother, don't lie to me. There must be something." Xie Wanyu was close to Xie Qilin since they were children, she knew when he lied. "Is it related to me so you don't tell?"

"Nothing to do with you." Xie Qilin shook his head, "I saw Fule Junzhu today."

"Her?" Xie Wanyu's expression was a little complicated. She used to hate Ban Hua very much, and still did, just not to the extent of wishing to snuff her out.