I Am This Type of Woman

Chapter 99

“Each of you are well-read intellectual with compassionate heart for the people, why don’t you express your thoughts directly. If you do it right, you may even make a name of yourself in history.” Ban Hua’s tender and delicate fingertips went up to support her chin. Her slightly raised face looking down in arrogance, the officials felt the anger from the belittlement crept up in their hearts.

“Military officials make merit by defending the borders, civil officials make merit by keeping the country peaceful, by working hard, by giving it all for the people.”  The corners of her eyes rose, the noble aura was imposing, “Why are you all here asking me, this weak woman?”

“If our death appeal has any use, today we would not be here to disturb Junzhu.…”

“But aren’t you here now?” Ban Hua’s eyes lowered, she picked up the fine porcelein cup produced by the official kiln, “When Darens’ death appeal is proven useless, then This Little Woman will enter the Palace to meet His Majesty.”

She was just short of saying that they needed to die first, otherwise how would they know that it was useless?

T/N – Death appeal 死谏, the final-resort petition submitted by civil officials for something the emperor did not like to hear. A lot of 死谏 stories in Ming dynasty.

“What a great Fule Junzhu,” An official said in rage, “It’s because there are too many of parasites like you that the Court’s law and discipline degenerates, and the commoners are starving and destitute …..”

“Isn’t this Daren surnamed Wang? I remembered what you’ve said outside, you called us Ban family absurd and useless, that we are the termites of the Court.” Ban Hua laughed lightly, “Wang-daren is valiant and meritorious, if someone like me helps you, would it not be a disgrace to your impeccable name?”

The raging and blustering official instantly shrunk like a deflated frog with it’s mouth opened wide but nary a squeak. He did say something like that in front of his colleagues, but never in wide public. How did Fule Junzhu know?

Was any of the colleagues passed it on to Fule Junzhu in order to curry favour with Ban family?

“Wang-daren need not be afraid.” Ban Hua’s eyes swept over the darens, who uncomfortably tried to avoid her eyes, not daring to return her stare. “You are not the first to speak ill of me, and you won’t be the last. In this life, it will be too lonely if noone speak ill of us. I don’t blame any of you.”

Ban Hua said that to all of them, not just to one particular person.

Wang-daren saw his colleagues looking awkward, his own awkwardness diminished. He was not the only one to have made that mistake.

Among them, only the new zhuangyuan was still standing dignifiedly in front of Ban Hua, neither proud nor humbled, unflinching of her gaze. He had never spoken ill of Ban Hua, and he had even spoken up for her when Xie Qilin eloped.

Unfortunately that time he was not yet a zhuangyuan, noone paid attention to him.

“Forgive me for not being able to help, please everyone return.”

Everyone was still trying to think of something else to say, only the zhuangyuan saluted, “We have intruded, farewell.”

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